Interstate Moving Guide

Dedicated truck vs backloading

Two ways to move interstate: a dedicated truck just for your stuff (fast, fixed date), or backloading where your goods share a truck already heading that direction (cheaper, flexible window).

Typical timelines from Melbourne

Transit times below are typical door-to-door windows. Backloading adds 1–4 days for shared-truck scheduling.

• Melbourne → Sydney — 1–2 days (backload window 3–5)
• Melbourne → Canberra — 1–2 days (backload 3–5)
• Melbourne → Brisbane — 2–3 days (backload 4–7)
• Melbourne → Adelaide — 1–2 days (backload 3–5)
• Melbourne → Perth — 5–7 days (backload 7–14)
• Melbourne → Hobart — 3–5 days (Bass Strait ferry)
• Melbourne → Darwin — 7–10 days (backload 10–14)

How much lead time you need

• Sydney / Adelaide / Canberra — 1–2 weeks ideal
• Brisbane — 2 weeks ideal
• Perth / Darwin — 3–4 weeks ideal
• Tasmania — 2 weeks (ferry slot dependent)
• Peak season (Dec–Feb) — add 1 extra week for dedicated trucks

Inventory & valuation

Interstate moves are billed by volume, not weight. An accurate inventory is the difference between an accurate quote and a surprise on truck-day.

• List every room and count of boxes
• Note all furniture larger than a bedside table
• Photograph valuable items before wrapping
• Note items needing dismantling (beds, dining tables, wardrobes)
• Identify anything fragile or specialist (piano, art, safe, gym gear)
• Set a replacement value for transit insurance

Quarantine, biosecurity & restricted items

Different states and territories restrict what you can bring across the border. WA, TAS and the NT are the strictest.

• WA — fruit, vegetables, honey, plants, soil, used beehives
• TAS — fresh fruit & veg, plants in soil, salmonid products
• NT — bananas, grapevines, sugarcane
• All states — empty soil from pots, clean garden tools and bikes
• Firearms — must be declared and licensed at destination
• Aerosols, flammables, gas bottles — not accepted on any interstate truck

Insurance for interstate

Standard carrier liability is limited. For interstate moves we strongly recommend transit insurance valued at full replacement.

• Standard carrier liability — limited per kg, not full value
• Transit insurance — replacement value, single-trip cover
• All-risk vs named perils — all-risk recommended for full-home moves
• Pair-and-set clauses — covers damage to a matching set (e.g. dining chairs)
• Document condition with photos and an inventory before pickup

Tracking & delivery windows

• We share the driver's mobile when the truck is dispatched
• Daily updates on transit progress via SMS
• Delivery window confirmed 24 hours before drop-off
• Drop-off requires someone present to direct placement
• If delivery is delayed, we offer same-day storage at no extra cost

Cost-saving tips

• Choose backloading if your dates are flexible — 30–50% less
• Reduce volume — donate, sell or rubbish-remove what you don't need
• Disassemble large furniture yourself to save crew time
• Bundle storage at one end — often cheaper than rebooking a delayed move
• Move mid-week and mid-month if possible — softest demand
• Get at least two quotes — we'll beat written quotes from comparable companies