Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB - From Malaysia to Australia by Motorcycle, my experiences June 2014

I like to share my experiences when I traveled from Malaysia to Australia by a motorcycle.
The following information’s are not “the bible” and each’s way is a little bit different. Maybe the information’s are not up to date anymore, then let me know and I’ll update it also on Horizon Unlimited.

From Malaysia to Australia by Motorcycle, my experiences June 2014

A good place to start is Georgetown (Malaysia). There are many cheap guesthouses to stay in a relaxed atmosphere.

Georgetown, Malaysia to Medan, Indonesia
There is no ferry anymore! To ship the bike is the only option. The easiest way is to do it with Mr. Lim (he is the man)
Cakra Enterprise
187, 2nd Floor
Lebuh Pantai
10300 Penang, Malaysia

Tel: 04-2625879
Mob-cell: 0124 709717
E-mail: cakrashipping@gmail.com
Coordinates of the Office: 5.414588, 100.33842

Contact Lim. He responses your emails and is good organized.

Lim organizes everything in Malaysia. Loading is in Butterworth. Lim guide you all the time and show you how to come back to Georgetown.
Cost are around 600 Ringgit on Malaysia side (~200 U$, on June 2014). The flight from Penang to Medan costs around 30 U$. You can take a bus from Georgetown to the airport.
You can leave bags and helmet on the bike, but fix it with a locker. Caution: Other travelers told me, that some stuff was missing when they pick up the bike!
Do not wear shorts! This is a rule in all ports all over the world and it’s because of security.

Pick up the bike in Medan:
The port is in Belawan and from Medan we took a “Marina” (minibus) to Belawan which cost around 7000 Rupees (~0.6 U$). A taxi is around 120000 (~10 U$).
In Belawan we meet the Agent, Mr. Adnan, coordinates of the office: 3.78047, 98.685295. He organizes everything on Indonesia side. Costs are around: 1’200’000 Rupees (~90 U$). I had not a good feeling with this agent. Everything went fine, but it’s too expensive. Try to get the custom clearance by you self.
Coordinates of the customs office: 3.7852793, 98.690765

Sumatra to Java
Departure Port: ~70 Kilometer south-east of Bandar Lampung (-5.87005, 105.75443)
Arriving Port: Merak (-5.93093, 105.99634)
There is every hour a ferry. It took about 3 hour to reach Java. Just pass the entrance where you buy a ticket and go onto the ferry. On all ferries are some small shops with drinks and food. But do not expect too much and it is expensive. Better buy all you need before.
Tip: You need a ticket and they will ask you for how many cc. You pay more if your bike has more than 500cc (Category=Gologan). (my Africa Twin, XRV 750 had 450cc ;-) nobody checked it.

Java to Bali
Departure Port: close to Banyuwangi,
Arrival port: Gilimanuk
From Java to Bali every hour is a ferry. It took about 1 hour to reach Java.

Bali to Lombok
From Bali to Lombok are many ferries in a day
Departure Port: Padangbai (-8.53337, 115.50771)
Arrival Port: Lembar (-8.72870, 116.07715)
Many ferries in a day, it took around 4 hours to reach Lombok. There are no hotels near the port, but in Mataram are many guesthouses, it’s about 15 Kilometer from the port.

Lombok to Sumbawa
Departure port: Lebuhanlombak (-8.48792, 116.67478)
Arrival port: Tambak Sari (-8.52193, 116.83169)
Many ferries in a day, it took around 3 hours. There is no hotel near the port, but it’s easy to pitch up the tent everywhere.

Sumbawa to Flores
Departure: Sape (-8.573449, 119.02085)
Arrival: Wae Mata (-8.49255, 119.87664)
2 Ferry in a day: one in the night and one at daytime
Some people try to sell you a ticked on the road or say you can go direct to the boat and it’s cheaper. But don’t do this, its corruption. Finally with the trick of the 450cc gives me the cheaper ticket, but the guy who let the people to the boat was not happy and says I need a more expensive ticket. After I told him many times that my bike has less than 500cc he let me on the boat.

Flores to Timor
Departure: Larantuka. The port is outside of the village (8.344756, 122.95138).
Arrival port: Kupang (a little outside of the city, -10.21969, 123.51934)
There are about 3 ferries in a week. While a storm the ferries do not operate and you have to wait. If you have a tent you can sleep at the port. You buy the ticket there too. The ticket counter is open a couple hours before the departure.
Go early on to the ferry to have a good place. Finally the ferry was crowded with less security standard. If you feel not comfortable with too many people and no space, don’t go!!!
It took around 13 hours to reach Kupang. In Kupang are many hotels. Because the ferry arrived in the early morning (3 am) we slept the rest of the night just with a sleeping bag in the port area.

Kupang to Dili
You need an Authorization Letter, go to Lavalon Guesthouse there are people who help you. You can apply for this letter in Bali too, but the letter is valid for 30 days only. And you need a passport photo with red background.
Visa on arrival (if you have the letter), cost 30$ and is to pay in the customs house.

Backpacker Hostel in Dili, is the cheapest, if it’s full ask for a madras to sleep somewhere in a corner. The hostel is a good location to meet other travelers who can tell a lot of stories about their travels. It’s also fantastic to collect all kind of information’s from other travelers.
There is space and water to clean the bike. Bring your own soup, brush and sponges. The bike must very clean for importing in Australia. Don’t forget to clean the camping gear.

Dili to Darwin
To ship the bike, there is one company who provide this service. It’s Toll Marine Logistics. Contact person is: Lenor Castulo, lenor.castulo@tollgroup.com, T: +670 3310183, M: +670 77293210. She is organized and answers your email and phone calls. She provides all documents and explains you what is to do.
Location of the office: Manluana, Dili, East Timor (-8.56008, 125.53217)
Schedule: there is every 2 week a vessel (sometimes every 4 weeks) call with Lenor to ask for the next one. -> Edit: I just check the schedules again and it seems that the change it completely. There is no direct service from Dili to Darwin. The vessel goes to Singapore first and it took about 15 days!!! Because Dili is more expensive, some friend did fly back to Bali, for waiting. BTW the flights to Darwin are cheaper from Bali than from Dili.
Organize ratchet straps (minimum 4) to fix the bike on the container, more expensive in Dili, better buy in Indonesia. Remove the fuel and disconnect the battery.
Taxi from Backpacker Hostel to Toll Marine office ~2$, Minibus 0.5$ (~2.5 Km walk)
Costs are around 600$ in Dili
Organize as much as possible for the customs clearance for Australia from Dili, because Darwin is much more expensive.

Customs clearance in Darwin
A big difference to Asia is that in Australia all officials/government are very friendly and helpful.
Tip: try to do as much as possible from Dili, so you don’t lose time in the expensive Darwin. I’m not sure if everything is possible.
1. First go or call the custom to register your bike. Contact: Cargo, Compliance & Trade, 21 Lindsay Street, Darwin NT 800, +61 8 8980 6526, ntclientservices@customs.gov.au, -12.45879, 130.84040. You need the carnet, passport, driver license and the documents for the bike.
2. Contact Quarantine Inspections. Contact: Department of Agriculture, 8998 4940, and make a booking for the inspector. Call back even they promise you to call to you. You have to pay the cost of the inspection (~140 USD). The easiest way is by credit card. Bank transfer is also possible.
3. Contact the customs again to let them know when is the booking there will be in the port at the same time.
4. Contact Toll Marine Logistics to let them know the booking time and file number. Don’t write email to James (James.Geddes@tollgroup.com, T +61 8 89822016, he never answered to me)!!! Contact Kertu, Kertu.Talts@tollgroup.com, T: +61 8 8982 2018, -12.461065, 130.847748. She will answer all your questions and is very helpful. You have to pay the port fees too (~110 USD).
Custom and Toll are near to the city center (Mitchel Street where are a lot of hostels) and you can reach them by walk.

After the inspection you are freeeeeeeeeeee……………….

Have fun
Christian

bigdream@infiniteroad.ch
www.infiniteroad.ch