Bringing souvenirs from NZ to Australia

We will be on a cruise from Auckland to Sydney. I am presuming when we reach Australia we will be required to declare what we have purchased or are bringing from NZ. Is this correct? Is there anything that we could purchase on our cruise in NZ that we will not be allowed to bring into Australia? such as a souvenir made from wood, etc.? I do not care to buy something and then have it confiscated. Would prefer to know ahead of time. We have purchased many beautiful seashells in our travels. Will we be allowed to bring that into Australia?

Our origination point is the U.S. but we fly into Sydney and then take another flight from Sydney to Auckland to board the ship.

Thanks for any advice.

No seashells but treated wood is OK. Don't bring Honey or seedlings

Just make sure you declare it.

NZ is more rigorous with customs and quarantine than we are.

Is there anything that we could purchase on our cruise in NZ that we will not be allowed to bring into Australia? such as a souvenir made from wood, etc.? I do not care to buy something and then have it confiscated. Would prefer to know ahead of time.

We will be on a cruise from Auckland to Sydney. I am presuming when we reach Australia we will be required to declare what we have purchased or are bringing from NZ. Is this correct? Is there anything that we could purchase on our cruise in NZ that we will not be allowed to bring into Australia? such as a souvenir made from wood, etc.? I do not care to buy something and then have it confiscated. Would prefer to know ahead of time. We have purchased many beautiful seashells in our travels. Will we be allowed to bring that into Australia?

 

Our origination point is the U.S. but we fly into Sydney and then take another flight from Sydney to Auckland to board the ship.

 

Thanks for any advice.

Below taken from Australian Government website -

http://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity/travel/cant-take

Australian biosecurity

Live animals and plants, plant material, animal products and some food from overseas could introduce some of the world’s most serious pests and diseases into Australia, devastating our valuable agriculture and tourism industries and unique environment.

The Department of Agriculture (the department), along with other jurisdictions, industry and the community, plays a vital role in maintaining Australia’s clean and wholesome food supply—at home and abroad. Australia’s biosecurity system protects our human, animal and plant health by reducing the risk of unwanted pests and diseases arriving in the country. Everyone benefits from a strong biosecurity system so everyone has a role to play.

Declare it

You will be given an Incoming Passenger Card before you arrive in Australia. This is a legal document.

You must tick YES on your card to declare if you are carrying certain food, plant material or animal products. You can take these declared items with you to the clearance point where they will be assessed by a departmental officer.

Alternatively, you may dispose of food, plant material or animal products on arrival in the quarantine bins located in the airport terminal.

On arrival your baggage may be assessed by x-ray, detector dog or inspected by a biosecurity officer. If you fail to declare or dispose of any biosecurity risk items, or make a false declaration:

• you will be caught
  
• you could be fined $340 on-the-spot, or
  
• you could be prosecuted, fined more than $66000 and risk 10 years jail and a criminal record.
  

You will not be penalised if ALL items are declared, even if they are not allowed into Australia.

Important information for domestic passengers travelling on international flights

If you’re carrying food or other items of biosecurity risk, you must show a biosecurity officer a receipt or other document proving that the product is of Australian origin. If you cannot show proof, your items will be seized. Please note that some states prohibit the entry of fresh fruit from other parts of Australia.

On arrival

The following is not a complete list of items that you must declare on arrival. In many cases items you declare will be returned to you after inspection.

If biosecurity concerns are found during the inspection, a Biosecurity officer may give you the option of treating goods (at your cost), after treatment they will be returned to you.

Some items may be allowed in if accompanied by an Import Permit (issued by the department before your arrival) or with mandatory treatment in Australia (fees and charges apply). Alternatively you can drop them in quarantine bins at the airport.

Food

• airline food and snacks
  
• commercially prepared, cooked and raw food and ingredients
  
• dried fruit and vegetables
  
• instant noodles and rice
  
• packaged meals
  
• herbs and spices
  
• herbal and traditional medicines, remedies, tonics and herbal teas
  
• snack foods
  

Dairy and egg products

• infant formula (must be accompanying a child)
  
• dairy products (fresh and powdered) including milk, cheese and ‘non-dairy’ creamers
  
• cheese—must be commercially prepared and packaged and originate from countries free from foot and mouth disease
  
• all whole, dried and powdered eggs, and egg products, such as mayonnaise
  
• egg products including noodles and pasta that are not commercially manufactured
  

Animal products

• meat including fresh, dried, frozen, cooked, smoked, salted or preserved—from all animal species
  
• sausages, salami and sliced meats
  
• fish and other seafood products
  
• pet food—including canned products and raw hide chews
  
• rawhide article sand handicrafts including drums
  

Seeds and nuts

• cereal grains, popping corn, raw nuts, pinecones, birdseed, unidentified seeds, some commercially packaged seeds, and ornaments including seeds
  

Fresh fruit and vegetables

• all fresh and frozen fruit and vegetables
  
• all fruit and vegetables must be accompanied by a valid import permit. Please search the department’s Import Condition Database (ICON) for specific commodity requirements.
  

Plant material

• tea containing seeds, fruit skin (for example citrus and apple peel) and fruit pieces
  
• remedies and medicines containing herbs, seeds, bark, fungi and dried plant material
  
• fresh or dried flower arrangements and potpourri
  
• dried herbs or leaves
  
• handicrafts—including wreaths and Christmas decorations—containing seeds, raw nuts, corn, pinecones, grapevines, bark, moss, straw or other plant material
  
• wooden items, such as carvings, souvenirs or other articles made using timber
  
• for more detail on import requirements for personal items brought back from overseas, please search ICON (Australia’s import conditions database).
  

Live animals and animal products

• all mammals, birds, birds’ eggs and nests, fish, reptiles, amphibians and insects
  
• feathers, bones, horns, tusks, wool and animal hair
  
• skins, hides and furs
  
• stuffed animals and birds (taxidermy certificate required—some may be prohibited under endangered species laws)
  
• shells and coral (including jewellery and souvenirs)
  
• bee products including honey, beeswax and honeycomb
  
• used animal equipment including veterinary equipment and medicines, shearing or meat trade tools, saddlery and tack and animal or bird cages
  

Other items

• biological specimens including tissue culture
  
• craft and hobby lines made from animal or plant material
  
• used sporting and camping equipment including tents, footwear, hiking boots, golf equipment and bicycles (need to be checked to ensure they are clean and free from soil contamination)
  
• used freshwater watercraft or fishing equipment including rods and nets, waders, kayaks, paddles and life jackets
  

What happens to items I declare?

In many cases items you declare will be returned to you after inspection. However, any items that present a biosecurity risk will be withheld. Depending on the risk, you can:

• pay for the item to be treated (for example fumigation, gamma irradiation)*
  
• store the item at the airport for collection upon departure from Australia*
  
• export the item*, or
  
• have the item destroyed.
  

The department makes every effort to minimise the risk of damage caused as a result of treatment, but does not accept liability for any damage that may occur.