Shipping times and costs from Charleston, United States of America to Auckland, New Zealand

Shipping times
1 - 3 Days by air
24 - 29 Days by sea

1 Bedroom flat

Shipping costs by air £12,589 - £13,915
Shipping costs by sea £6,609 - £7,305

3 Bedroom house

Shipping costs by air N/A
Shipping costs by sea £10,168 - £11,239

5 Bedroom house

Shipping costs by air N/A
Shipping costs by sea £15,252 - £16,859

Please note: the prices listed here are meant as an estimate only. The best way to get a comprehensive, tailored quote is to fill out our form and be matched with a supplier.

Shipping Container Costs to New Zealand

Auckland has the best of both worlds. If you want stylish cosmopolitan living, you’ve got it. If you want natural beauty, you’ve got it. With the Pacific Ocean on one side and the Tasman Sea on the other, Auckland is blessed with one of the best major city locations in the world. There are two mountain ranges, more than fifty nearby islands and nearly 30,000 km of coastline. The lifestyle in this New Zealand city is world class - which is why Auckland placed third in Mercer’s 2017 Global Quality of Life survey. The City of Sails contains nearly 1.5 million people and around 40% of them are expats, so you won’t be alone. Auckland’s multiculturalism has produced an incredibly diverse city. Before you can start life as an Aucklander, there are a few practical things you should know about.

Different shipping options

Assuming you want to bring a few belongings with you on your move, you need to think about how you’re going to get them to Auckland. Your choice is between air freight and sea freight, each of which come with their pros and cons.

Air freight is the quick option. Your cargo will jet off and arrive in Auckland in a matter of days. It’s very helpful if you’re moving abroad in a rush, but it’s much more expensive than ocean shipping.

Sea freight is slower but it’s also much cheaper. Your cargo will go off in a container ship across the sea and it’ll take several weeks to reach Auckland. As long as you’re not moving last minute, we strongly recommend that you choose sea freight. Depending on how much stuff you want to bring, you will either use a 20ft container or a 40ft container. If you’re bringing less than 15 cubic metres of cargo, it’s more economical for you to choose a groupage shipment (known as Less Than Container Load, or LCL). This is where several people share the use of a container. Most of our suppliers offer a full door-to-door service, which comes at a higher price than port-to-port but it’s much more convenient.

Major shipping routes

If you’re moving to Auckland, your container will be sailing to the Port of Auckland. It’s New Zealand’s largest container port, and it handles around 31% of the country’s annual container trade. The port is currently working on a “30-year masterplan”, including a big fancy hotel and driverless cranes. It’s all very exciting. If you have opted for a door-to-door service, once your container reaches the port it will go by truck to your new home in Auckland.

Auckland customs

Clearing customs is nothing to worry about; your shipping company will help you through the process. The more prepared you are, the quicker and less expensive it will be. To get a shipping container through the Port of Auckland, you must complete an Unaccompanied Personal Baggage Declaration form. In this, you’ll have to create a clear and detailed inventory of everything inside the container. Every inventory is assessed by the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI), who will decided whether to physically inspect your container. Any wooden items (either furniture or packaging) will have to be examined, which comes with a biosecurity inspection fee. You can avoid paying customs duty on all used household goods, as long as you’re moving to New Zealand permanently and you intend to use these belongings in your new home. Be sure not to bring any prohibited items, such as double-edged swords, straw and honey. Check out the official New Zealand customs website for more information.

Shipping Container Options

20Ft Shipping Container

Dimensions:
33 Cubic Meters
5.9m x 2.35m x 2.39m (l x w x h)

Price: £10,168 - £11,239

Get a quote for a 20ft container
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  • Boxes
    16 x medium boxes
  • Kitchen
    1 x american fridge, 1 x small fridge, 3 x kitchen appliances
  • Bedrooms
    1 x wardrobe, 1 x double bed, 1 x single bed, 2 x lamps
  • Lounge
    1 x sofa, 4 x chairs, 1 x table, 1 x armchair, 1 x television
  • Various
    1 x motorbike, 4 x bicycles

Please note that this is an estimate and is intended for rough guidance only.

40Ft Shipping Container

Dimensions:
67 Cubic Meters
12.03m x 2.35m x 2.39m (l x w x h)

Price: £19,320 - £21,354

Get a quote for a 40ft container
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  • Boxes
    28 x medium boxes
  • Kitchen
    1 x american fridge, 1 x small fridge, 3 x kitchen appliances
  • Bedroom
    1 x wardrobe, 1 x double bed, 1 x single bed, 2 x lamps
  • Lounge
    1 x sofa, 4 x chairs, 1 x table, 1 x armchair, 1 x television
  • Various
    1 x car, 1 x motorbike, 4 x bicycles

Please note that this is an estimate and is intended for rough guidance only.

Car shipped by sea freight

Max Dimensions: 5.75m x 2.2m x 2.2m (l x w x h)

Base Price: £3,147 - £3,479

Quarantine & Taxes: £1,000 - £2,500

Price: £12,268 - £16,489

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Unusual Restricted Items

Laser Pointers
Hand held high power laser pointers are prohibited without consent.
Radio Jammers
Devices which disrupt or jam cellular or GPS reception are illegal to use in New Zealand.
Golf Clubs
Should be declared and may require quarantine if improperly cleaned.
Weapons
Weapons are prohibited.
Pipes and Smoking Utensils
Hookah pipes, water pipes and smoking utensils are prohibited.
Plants
Some orchids and cycads are restricted.