shipping riding kit to Australia
 

We will be doing a tour of Oz and NZ from July - Oct 2004. We will be hiring bikes in both Oz and NZ for the trip.

We will fly from the UK via USA and then on to Perth to do a bit of diving first. We will then travel on to Syndey to pick up the hire bikes and start the riding from there.

My question is how do we ship our riding gear for the trip. This will include kit for two riders, e.g. boots, jackets, trousers, helmets, gloves and other kit such as a few tools, first aid kit, tent etc.

Anyone any idea how we ship this gear? Do we crate it and send it on beforehand? If so any links to shipping sites, any idea of prices.

Thanks a lot,
C.

I sent my stuff from Germany to NZ as unaccompanied luggage, which is a lot cheaper than normal overweight stuff. Or, you can wear your boots and jacket, which is about half the weight, then perhaps you have enough weight available in your suitcases. Once in the plane you can take them off to be comfy.

I hope you like riding in cold and wet weather, cause that's what you're going to get in NZ in Winter.

------------------
Salut from Southern France, the bikers' paradise,

Peter.

i totally agree with beddhist, his method is the best way to go, even if you have to pay for excess luggage it will much cheaper than freight, and there is a better chance it wont go missing on route..phil.

One thing to be careful of if you ship your helmets. I shipped mine in with my bike from India and customs confiscated it at Freemantle docks as it wasn't on their list of helmets approved for sale in Australia. I pointed out that I didn't want to sell it but they kept it for 7 months untill I returned to Freemantle to ship the bike home. If I had had it with me on the plane customs wouldn't have noticed it. Had to ride around Perth for 3 days until I managed to get another lid. It took 3 days as I wasn't going to buy one and had to wait till I was given one. Regards Chris

I'd not ship helmuts .. too easy for them to be damaged ... take them with you as hand luggage.
As for shipping.. try the post office. There rates may be better than the airlines?