Hi everybody,

I want to share my experience with everyone who wants to clear his bike on his own.

Shipping German registered bike from Santiago de Chile to Melbourne.

Agent used on Chile side: Julio.harboe@dydcargo.com

I received the information from Julio that my bike is ready for pickup at Melbourne Airport. He sent me the Air Waybill and Shipping declaration. I had no further information on the process, I simply went to the customs office and was at the correct spot there. (-37.676103, 144.851917)

I was sent upstairs. A lady processed my carnet de passage for customs, then she told me to go to the other counter and talk to quarantine. They did some paperwork and made me pay their bill via telephone. They also told me, to call another number to schedule the inspection. I was lucky to get an inspection on the same day (2h later), because it was still before lunch time. The quarantine people also checked where my motorcycle is stored at the airport and then sent me to the Qantas freight office. (-37.677295,144.850412)

There I waited for the quarantine inspector to come around. With him I went through security to enter the freight area. Customs office and Qantas Freight office are outside the security zone. You need to wear safety boots and a high vis vest, so bring that with you, otherwise they don't let you in. No other requirements to enter.

You are escorted by security and have the bike inspected by the Quarantine Inspector.

The inspections guy went through my panniers, tent, sleeping bag, mattress and boots. He looked into every hole and crack of the bike with a torch light and checked the pallet for the stamp, which shows its treated wood. Make sure there is a stamp on the pallet before you send off the bike at your departure location to avoid an extra fee and hassle.

The bike should be spotless clean, I spent about 15 hours cleaning everything in Chile before driving to the airport , first with pressure cleaner then with cloths, removing crash bars, plastic covers, sump guard and radiador protection. Then cleaned tires and boots again at the airport and gave the motorcycle another wipe. The bike was clean as new.

He will look everywhere (without removing parts or covers), but he looked under the seat as well. Even though there was a bit of debris under the radiador it passed the inspection without further cleaning. Tarmac spots on the sump guard were OK. Most important is that there is no mud, grass or other organic stuff. (I heard other Airports like Sidney and shipping via container is more strict on the quarantine inspection.)

He will enter into the system that your bike passed quarantine. You are escorted back outside.
Go back to Qantas, pay and get all the shipping paperwork. At this point the bike is yours again.
Go again to the bike. For some reason me and my friend were not allowed to walk there this time, we had to drive inside with my friend's car. At that point we were not escorted by security.

They brought the pallet with everything out of the warehouse to the loading area. The workers helped with a forklift to pull up the bike to install the front wheel again.
They were very nice and interested, so it should not be a problem to get a bit of help from them lifting the bike.

Then I put the rest of the bike back together and drove off the lot. Luckily I was not out of fuel (shipping requirement is 1 liter or less in the tank) and could drive to the gas station a kilometer away.

I was never asked to show ownership document or proof of insurance.

I paid 80AU$ at Customs and Quarantine and 213 AU$ at Qantas Freight.

It took me, six hours to do everything: 2 hours carnet /customs, talking to quarantine people and schedule an appointment, 2 hours waiting until the appointment, 1 hour quarantine inspection, clearance from Qantas and payment, 1 hour putting everything back together.

I'm happy I did everything on my own and did not pay a lot of money an agent like bikes abroad.

All above information might change anytime and for any other airport or harbor.

Good luck and safe travels!