luckily G's dad has his own printing co so all bubble wrap from there and boxes from friend with shipping co so are of the strong variety!!

Pollyanna were they ok with your toiletries from Boots?

Teresa:)

Hiya T!
Thanks fo rthe info... just be careful not to snag your vacuum bags. We got a few rips, but managed to repair them with parcel tape. I was putting too much in and hubby wasn't that careful with them.
see ya!
Larissa

Anyone :confused:
I thought that you just had to be careful to remove any pine cones... but I could be wrong.

Maybe try the returning to the UK forum, or approach a local packers?
I will have a snoop on the Aqis website and post anything I find regarding stuff to be set aside for inspection.

Hi there Larissa

Just had three shipping firms in over the last week, ok to take christmas decs as long and there are not wood, or natural untreated products ie, feathers etc. Was told that they would pack all slightly suspect goods (bike, skateboard, garden furniture, golf clubs etc) in one box clearly marked so hopefully will not get everyone looked at.

Got a letter today from our agent, asking for bond Wa hey! Not long now hopefully.

Keep packing

Love Lisa :D

Congratulations Lisa!!! :beer: Maybe you'll have your visas by the next meet!
Make sure you keep us posted on packers etc. I think Debbie and Rich used White and co., but haven't heard how it all went yet.

Hiya Irishmolly
I read it as they're Ok, but take out the cones... just had another look at the Aqis website. Sometimes these things aren't that well written and they can get pretty confusing!
Here's some stuff I've cut and pasted:
From the Aqis webiste:
http://www.affa.gov.au/content/outpu...A7D8C8015E4BDD
Common items of quarantine concern include:
wooden items; food; soil on garden tools; vacuum cleaners with un-emptied dust bags; carpets; Christmas decorations; dried flowers; seeds; straws; skins; feathers; equipment used with horses or other animals; toys containing cotton waste, sand, straw or water.
*I read "concern" as meaning they will have a closer look, but they may be alright. If not, you'll have to pay to have them treated or just ask to destroy them.*

When packing your personal effects, prepare a list that includes all the items in your consignment. This should include the package number (for example, Box 1) and a list of items contained in each package. Pack all items of Quarantine concern in one box to aid inspection of your goods.

Make sure all used cars and tyres, garden tools, outdoor furniture, lawn mowers, bicycles, sporting equipment, shoes and boots are free of soil and seed contaminants, and empty vacuum cleaner bags. Items with soil attached will be cleaned at your expense. *Very expensive*

If items of quarantine concern are found among your personal effects they will be treated, and you’ll be billed for the cost of the treatment. Christmas decorations such as pinecones or dried flowers will be heat-treated: this could damage wreaths and decorations.

Used fruit, vegetable and flower boxes, used egg cartons, straw and sawdust are prohibited imports. Do not use these items to pack your goods.

Timber items with evidence of insect infestation must be treated by fumigation before they are released. You may consider having these items fumigated before transporting them to Australia. Lists of acceptable and unacceptable fumigation providers outside Australia appear in Chapter 3, Sections 14 and 15 of the Containerised Cargo Clearance (CCC) scheme for FCL/X: CCC Manual, which can be found at the AQIS website at www.aqis.gov.au/cargobas.

The ICON database
http://www.aqis.gov.au/icon32/asp/homecontent.asp
*This is for looking up about specific things… I can’t get into it at the moment.*

Hiya Irishmolly
I got all excited a few weeks ago as Argos were selling them half price.
They are these huge bags, which you can get duvets/clothes etc. in. You then zip them up. There is a vacuum valve and you attach your hoover and suck all the air out. They reduce in size (can be about a 1/3 of the original). They protect against mildew etc. but you need to be careful that they don't get snagged. They're about £10 for two. One of my concerns was that everything would get damp on the boat, but many people haven't had problems with this.

Whats with vacuum bags ? :confused: :confused:

They are either sealed plastic bags or vacuum cleaner bags - how do they help with packing - sorry if it is a stooopid question.

DEFINITELY! Offends against all good taste. :(

mr un-Pleasance, sensible answers only please !!! :p

I stand corrected, wouldn't have that artificial stuff in my abode though!!! :( :( :beer: :beer: :beer:

The thing with the Christmas decs is the pine cones - even when painted they still have seeds in them and you will have to pay for destruction. AQIS WILL open any box containing decorations. Anything they destroy or have to treat will cost you lots of dosh:scared:
Pot Pourri, all that kind of thing, get rid of t. If you have any really old teddies - check out their stuffing. Lots of old ones were filled with straw, so find them new parents in the UK rather than risk destruction......
My Boots stuff was fine - large box of Natural Collection goodies. I did notice though that all the boxes which said "Toiletries" had been checked by AQIS!

Hello!

I've been looking into packing our own stuff as we only have a few boxes worth of stuff to take over.... here are some useful websites that sell boxes and packing stuff. They all sell boxes individually, or in migration packs which includes a selection of boxes, bubblewrap, tape etc.

now all we have to do is figure out exactly how much stuff we are taking and when to pack it!

www.bigbrownbox.co.uk
www.boxes-for-moving.co.uk
http://cardboard-box.net
www.removalboxes.co.uk

Um, what about egg-timers? (Do contain sand, but are sealed.) And duvets? (Aren't toys, but do contain cotton, not waste exactly but what does "waste" mean in this context and why should it make a difference?) Questions for AQIS perhaps, but when I asked them about acoustic guitars they were singularly unhelpful.

Mark