Ocean and Air Shipping from Australia to New Zealand

Given their proximity to each other, it’s no surprise that the ocean and air cargo trade lanes between Australia and New Zealand are busy.

You could already be importing goods between the two countries. Or you might be looking to make your first export from Australia to New Zealand.

Experienced international shippers and novices alike will find some useful information on this page. It features guidance and advice to make shipping easier for everyone.

What Are Your Options for Shipping From Australia to New Zealand?

There are two ways to ship goods when importing from Australia to New Zealand—by air or sea. Both modes of shipping have their pros and cons, as we’ll explain in the related sections on this page.

Ocean Freight From Australia to New Zealand

Less than Container Load (LCL): For many businesses, LCL is the most economical way of shipping freight from Australia to New Zealand. Instead of hiring a whole container, you can rent space in a shared unit that will be shipped aboard a cargo vessel.

Full Container Load (FCL): With FCL you get exclusive use of a shipping container for your goods. A carrier will ship your container from Australia to New Zealand without the need to combine your consignment with goods belonging to other shippers. FCL shipping is sometimes less expensive than LCL and often quicker.

Air Freight from Australia to New Zealand

The fastest way to move commercial goods between Australia and New Zealand is to send it as air freight. However, that usually works out more expensive than ocean shipping.

How Much Does it Cost to Ship Cargo From Australia to New Zealand?

Several factors come into play when your freight forwarder calculates a quote for your shipping:

• The type of cargo you’re moving
• Your preferred mode of transport (FCL, LCL, Air)
• How much your freight weighs
• The size of your shipment
• The distance from your goods’ origin to their destination
• The delivery service you select, which might be port-to-port, door-to-port, door-to-door or port-to-door

For consignments with a weight of over 100kg, sea freight is usually the most cost-efficient mode of transportation. There’s rarely much difference between the cost of air or ocean shipping for consignments that weigh between 35kg and 100kg. Goods weighing 35kg or under won’t be handled by many freight forwarders, including Shipa Freight, as it’s simply not viable to do so.

How Long Does it Take to Ship Cargo From Australia to New Zealand?

The transit times associated with shipping goods by air or ocean vary considerably. The fastest option is to use an air-freight carrier, with air freight from Australia to New Zealand typically spending between 3 and 5 days in transit.

Maritime carriers will need anything from 13 to 37 days to ship ocean freight from Australia to New Zealand. The actual duration will depend on whether you choose FCL or LCL, and your choice of ports of origin and arrival.

How Long Does It Take to Ship Cargo by Sea From Australia to New Zealand?

Below are sample transit times for transporting a shipping container from Australia to New Zealand:

• Brisbane to Lyttelton – 26 days LCL
• Brisbane to Wellington – 14 days LCL
• Fremantle to Auckland – 26 days FCL, 17 days LCL
• Fremantle to Lyttelton – 37 days FCL, 20 days LCL
• Melbourne to Auckland – 34 days FCL, 13 days LCL
• Melbourne to Christchurch – 22 days LCL
• Sydney to Auckland – 37 days FCL, 13 days LCL

How Long Does It Take to Ship Cargo by Air From Australia to New Zealand?

You should allow the following times in order to complete an import from Australia to New Zealand using air freight services:

• Brisbane to Wellington – 3 to 5 days
• Sydney to Christchurch – 3 to 5 days
• Adelaide to Auckland – 3 to 5 days

Customs Clearance in Australia and New Zealand

Despite the many trade agreements between Australia and New Zealand, there are still plenty of customs formalities associated with shipping goods. Such is their complexity, many businesses prefer to leave them to a freight forwarder to manage.

Unless your business has expertise in the area, it’s a good idea to delegate customs clearance to these experts. They can help you to avoid delays and ensure your consignment complies with local and international shipping laws.

That said, there are still tasks you’ll need to perform. Crucially, you will need to ensure appropriate documentation accompanies your consignment. The documents listed below are the ones customs authorities will need to see in every case:

1. Commercial Invoice

2. Packing List

3. Certificate of Origin

4. Letter of Credit or other payment terms (depends on the contract between the parties involved)

5. Bill of Lading for ocean freight or Airway Bill for air freight (Shipa Freight will provide this for you)

Your freight forwarder may ask you to provide additional documentation, which could include a license, permit, or certificate. For more information about the documents listed above and to see samples of the forms, please visit our documents list page.

Should You Choose Ocean Freight or Air Freight?

Ocean Freight

The Tasman Sea in the Southwestern Pacific Ocean is the body of water that lies between Australia’s east coast and New Zealand’s west coast. A freight forwarder can make the necessary arrangements for ocean shipping over Tasman Sea routes for your cargo.

Usually, a standard 20ft or 40ft shipping container that opens at one end will suffice. Should your goods require a different type of container, such as a refrigerated or ventilated one, your freight forwarder will let you know.

Whatever type of container proves best for your consignment, there are two ways to ship it to a port in New Zealand: FCL or LCL. Below is some information to help you decide on the best option for your sea freight:

Considerations for LCL Freight Shipping

Pick LCL shipping if:

• You’re only shipping a small quantity of goods—14 CBM or under (around six standard pallets).
• There is no urgent need for your goods in New Zealand.
• You don’t want the hassle of choosing a container size.
• Your goods can be shipped in a shared container.
• Sending your cargo as air freight isn’t an option.

You should avoid LCL shipping if:

• Your goods are perishable, delicate, or of high-value.
• Frequent moving and handling of your goods could damage them.
• You can’t accept delays to your shipping or risk missing a delivery deadline.
• The goods you’re transporting are large or very heavy.

Considerations for FCL Freight Shipping

Shippers generally find that transporting their goods as a Full Container Load (FCL) is best if:

• Their freight must be delivered to New Zealand by a certain date.
• They want the container to be sealed in Australia, and for it to remain sealed to its destination
• Their goods are extremely delicate or very heavy.
• They’re shipping a consignment that’s bigger than 14 CBM (around half the load capacity of a 20ft container).

Air Freight

Choose air shipping for your import from Australia to New Zealand if:

• Your client in New Zealand needs the shipment urgently.
• You value the speed of delivery above costs.
• Your cargo is high-value and needs the extra security measures provided by airports and airlines.
• Your goods have a limited shelf-life.
• You’re sending a consignment that’s small and/or light—three to four pallets at most.
• Your supplier in Australia and recipient in New Zealand are based closer to an international airport than a seaport.

Ocean Cargo Port Guide

Cargo Ports of Origin in Australia

Fremantle

Port Facts:

• Western Australia’s largest cargo port and only containerized goods port.
• The inner harbor is located on the mouth of the Swan River.
• Handles around 1,000 container vessels annually.
• LCL shipments to Auckland can be completed in 17 days. FCL shipping takes around 26 days.

Owned By: Fremantle Port Authority.

Annual Container Volume: >780,000 TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: AUFRE.

Adelaide

Port Facts:

• Situated 14km northwest of Central Adelaide.
• A medium-size natural river port.
• A 510-meter quay is devoted to loading and unloading container vessels.
• The cargo terminal covers 23 hectares and includes 3,000 square meters of warehousing.

Owned By: Flinders Ports Pty Ltd.

Annual Container Volume: >322,000 TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: AUADL.

Brisbane

Port Facts:

• One of Australia’s fastest-growing container ports.
• Located on Fisherman’s Island off the east coast of Queensland.
• Nine deepwater container berths.
• Ideal if your supply chain involves the movement of goods from Queensland.
• LCL shipments can be completed in 14 days to Wellington and 26 days to Lyttleton.

Owned By: Port of Brisbane Corporation.

Annual Container Volume: >1.4 million TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: AUBNE.

Sydney

Port Facts:

• The site covers over 40 hectares.
• Over 33% of Australia’s container traffic is processed here every year.
• Specializes in bulk liquids and manufactured goods.
• It facilitates more than $60 billion in international and domestic trade every year.
• LCL shipments to Auckland can be completed in 13 days. FCL can take up to 37 days.

Owned By: Sydney Ports Corporation.

Annual Container Volume: >2.6 million TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: AUSTD.

Melbourne

Port Facts:

• Largest container port in Australia.
• One of the top four container ports in the Southern Hemisphere.
• Handles over 1,100 vehicle exports and imports daily.
• Situated at the mouth of the River Yarra.
• Able to handle the world’s largest container vessels.

Owned By: The Lonsdale Consortium.

Annual Container Volume: >3 million TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: AUMEL.

Cargo Ports of Arrival in New Zealand

Lyttelton

Port Facts:

• The export and import gateway for Canterbury and Christchurch.
• New Zealand’s third-largest container port.
• The biggest port on South Island.
• Four gantry cranes.
• Shipments from Fremantle can be completed in 20 days.

Owned By: Lyttelton Port Company.

Annual Container Volume: >420,000 TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: NZLYT.

Auckland

Port Facts:

• 55 hectares of wharves and storage areas.
• Features the three largest container cranes in New Zealand.
• Committed to zero emissions by 2040.
• LCL shipments from Sydney can be completed in 13 days.

Owned By: Ports of Auckland.

Annual Container Volume: >930,000 TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: NZAKL.

Tauranga

Port Facts:

• Largest port in New Zealand by cargo volume and container throughput.
• Only natural harbor between Auckland and Wellington.
• Features 2.5 hectares of covered storage.
• The port’s ninth crane was delivered in January 2020.

Owned By: Port of Tauranga Ltd.

Annual Container Volume: >1.2 million TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: NZTRG.

Wellington

Port Facts:

• Also known as CentrePort.
• Features fresh produce handling and storage facilities.
• Specialist container packing and unpacking service.
• LCL shipments from Brisbane can be completed in 14 days.

Owned By: CentrePort Wellington.

Annual Container Volume: >78,000 TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: NZWLG.

Flying Your Freight: Airport Guide

Airports of Origin in Australia

Adelaide

Airport Facts:

• Situated 6km west of Central Adelaide.
• Accommodates wide-body aircraft.
• Air freight exports increased by nearly 50% in 2018-2019.
• Serves nine international destinations.
• Most freight is carried on passenger aircraft.
• Direct flights operate to Auckland.

New Zealand Airports Served: Auckland.

Adelaide to New Zealand Cargo-Only Operators: None.

IATA CODE: ADL.

Perth

Airport Facts:

• Ranks as Australia’s fourth-largest airport.
• Located 10km to the west of Central Perth.
• The facility has two runways.
• Major cargo carriers use the airport, including Emirates SkyCargo and Singapore Airlines.

New Zealand Airports Served: Auckland, Christchurch.

Perth to New Zealand Cargo-Only Operators: None.

IATA CODE: PER.

Sydney

Airport Facts:

• Located 8km to the south of Sydney.
• About 45% of Australia’s air freight passes through the airport.
• Features three runways and seven terminals.
• Facilities include 41 aircraft stands for freight carriers.
• Carbon emissions have been reduced by 30% since 2010.

New Zealand Airports Served: Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington.

Sydney to New Zealand Cargo-Only Operators: Parcelair, Airwork, FedEx Express, DHL Aviation, Qantas Freight, Singapore Airlines Cargo.

IATA Code: SYD.

Brisbane

Airport Facts:

• Australia’s third-biggest freight facility.
• Accommodates wide-body aircraft.
• 82,000 square meter apron accommodates big air freighters.
• The airport saw a 6% growth in freight volumes in 2018-2019.
• Accounts for 13% of all Australian air freight imports and exports.
• 190,000 tonnes of cargo moved through the airport in 2018-2019.

New Zealand Airports Served: Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington.

Brisbane to New Zealand Cargo-Only Operators: None.

IATA Code: BNE.

Melbourne

Airport Facts:

• Located 23 kilometers northwest of the city of Melbourne.
• Also called Tullamarine Airport.
• Australia’s second busiest airport.
• Handles over 30% of Australian air freight.

New Zealand Airports Served: Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington.

Melbourne to New Zealand Cargo-Only Operators: Singapore Airlines Cargo.

IATA Code: MEL.

Airports of Arrival in New Zealand

Wellington

Airport Facts:

• It occupies a 110-hectare site.
• Located 5.5 kilometers southeast of Wellington city center.
• Formerly known as Rongotai Airport.
• A short runway limits the number of commercial flight operators able to use the airport.

Connected Airports in Australia: Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney.

Australia to Wellington Cargo-Only Operators: None.

IATA Code: WLG.

Christchurch

Airport Facts:

• Located 12km northwest of the city center.
• Became New Zealand’s first international airport in 1950.
• Annual air cargo throughput of 30,000 tonnes.
• The world’s main gateway to Antarctica with 100 direct flights each year.

Connected Airports in Australia: Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, Perth (seasonal).

Australia to Christchurch Cargo-Only Operators: DHL Aviation (seasonal), Parcelair, Qantas Freight.

IATA Code: CHC.

Auckland

Airport Facts:

• The biggest and busiest airport in New Zealand.
• One of only two airports in New Zealand to accommodate Boeing 747s and Airbus A380s.
• Direct flights from all major Australian airports.

Connected Airports in Australia: Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Adelaide.

Australia to Auckland Cargo-Only Operators: DHL Aviation, Qantas Freight, Singapore Airlines Cargo, Airwork, FedEx Express.

IATA Code: AKL.

Why Ship From Australia to New Zealand With Shipa Freight?

International shipping from Australia to New Zealand is much easier when you partner with Shipa Freight. We’re a cutting-edge freight forwarder with an advanced online platform that simplifies the shipping process. You can rely on us to manage and coordinate air and ocean shipments and satisfy all your logistics requirements.

The benefits of trusting your shipping to us include:

• Easy online registration, quotes, bookings, and payments.
• You’ll always know which shipping documents you need to send with your consignment.
• We’ll manage customs requirements so you don’t have to.
• You can see all your shipping activity in one place.
• Our friendly team of customer service advisors can answer your queries 24/7.
• We can ensure your consignments comply with rules and regulations.