Australia So Much to See

Cooked produce can be brought safely across exclusion zone and state borders.  We have a cooking night the day before reaching a border. 

Potatoes and onions may be accepted if thoroughly peeled and free of any soil – always declare these at the checkpoint and have the inspectors check these.  They will last a few days wrapped in plastic without refrigeration.  Alternatively peel, slice, par-boil and freeze or refrigerate.  Entering Western Australia, they now require that potatoes be cooked not just peeled.  Salad greens are just about the only thing you cannot treat. 

Fruit and vegetables such as green vegetables, carrots, tomatoes and stone fruit can be prepared for cooking, par-boiled and frozen or refrigerated to use in cooking over the next few days. 

At caravan parks, produce is readily given away to others travelling in the opposite direction.  At Penong in South Australia, caravanners travelling in either direction were heading for quarantine (Ceduna or Western Australian border), so produce was offered to the caravan park proprietress, who said she knew someone in need who always welcomed the donations. 

On our first trip towards the Riverlands, we thought our route would not quite meet the exclusion zone, so were happy to keep the tray of nectarines we'd just purchased.  We saw the first sign "EAT FRUIT NOW".  Still thinking our route wasn't going to cross the zone border we ate a few nectarines anyway.  Then we got to the zone border, bin and more signage "EAT FRUIT NOW" so we did - we sat there and ate the lot.  We were probably only inside the zone for a few kilometres.

Whether entering the country, crossing state borders or meeting exclusion zones set up to protect a specific type of agriculture, there will be things you cannot bring. 

To find more about restrictions when coming to Australia, read Can you bring or mail your item to Australia?   

The following is not a complete list of items that you must declare on arrival. In many cases, items you declare will be returned to you after inspection. Some may be allowed in if accompanied by an import permit (issued by AQIS prior to arrival), or with treatment in Australia to make them safe (fees and charges apply). Alternatively, you can drop them in quarantine bins at the airport. 

Food commercially prepared, cooked and raw food and ingredients

• dried fruit and vegetables*
• instant noodles and rice*
• packaged meals*
• herbs and spices*
• herbal and traditional medicines, remedies, tonics and herbal teas*
• snack foods*
• biscuits, cakes and confectionery*
• black tea, coffee and other beverages
• infant formula (must be accompanying a child)
• airline food/snacks.

Dairy and egg products

• dairy products (fresh and powdered) including milk, cheese and 'non–dairy' creamers
• cheese—must be commercially prepared and packaged and originate from countries free from foot and mouth disease
• airline food containing dairy including milk, yoghurt and sandwiches containing cheese
• all whole, dried and powdered eggs, and egg products that contain more than 10 per cent egg as an ingredient, such as mayonnaise
• homemade egg products including noodles and pasta that are not commercially manufactured.

 Animal products

• all uncanned meat including fresh, dried, frozen, cooked, smoked, salted or preserved—from all animal species
• sausages, salami and sliced meats
• airline food including sandwiches containing meat
• fish and other seafood products*
• pet food—including canned products and rawhide chews
• rawhide articles and handicrafts including drums.

  Seeds and nuts 

• cereal grains, popping corn, raw nuts, pine cones, birdseed, unidentified seeds, some commercially packaged seeds, and ornaments including seeds.

 Fresh fruit or vegetables

• all fresh and frozen fruit and vegetables.

  Live animals and animal products

• all mammals, birds, birds eggs and nests, fish, reptiles, amphibians and insects
• feathers, bones, horns, tusks, wool and animal hair
• skins, hides and furs
• stuffed animals and birds (taxidermy certificate required—some may be prohibited under endangered species laws)
• shells and coral (including jewellery and souvenirs)
• bee products including honey,* beeswax and honeycomb
• used animal equipment including veterinary equipment and medicines, shearing or meat trade tools, saddlery and tack and animal or bird cages.

 Other goods

• biological specimens including tissue culture*
• craft and hobby lines made from animal or plant material
• used sporting and camping equipment including tents, footwear, hiking boots, golf equipment and bicycles (need to be checked to ensure they are clean and free from soil contamination)
• used freshwater watercraft or fishing equipment including rods and nets, waders, kayaks, paddles and life jackets.

 Plant material

• all potted/bare rooted plants, cuttings, roots, bulbs, corms, stems and other viable plant material
• banana products including food (fresh and dried) and souvenirs made with banana plant material
• souvenirs made with or filled with straw, including Thai cushions
• wooden articles and carvings including painted or lacquered items
• items that include bark
• artefacts, handicrafts and souvenirs made from plant material
• mats, bags and other items made from plant material, palm fronds or leaves
• straw products and packaging*
• bamboo, cane or rattan basket ware and furnishings 
• potpourri* and coconut shells
• Christmas decorations, wreaths and ornaments 
• dried flowers and arrangements
• fresh flowers and leis.

When crossing state borders, particularly when entering Western Australia via the Eyre Highway (Nullarbor), it may be some time before larger shopping complexes are reached, although limited supplies may be available at smaller places.   Soon after most borders there will be shops with a ready supply of fresh fruit and vegetables. 

What can’t you manage without?  Dried or tinned fruit will suffice until fresh supplies can be readily purchased.  With a back up supply of dried potato or even tinned potato, dried or frozen green vegetables and tomatoes, fresh salad is about the only meal lacking.  

Whether you are coming to Australia from another country, or you are an Australian touring within your home country, you will meet restrictions on what you can bring into the country, a particularly state, or even a specific agricultural area.  Research beforehand will save you losing property, gifts and food.  Links on how the find out precisely what you can and can’t bring are set out on this page. 

Always be quite honest at inspection points as our primary production needs the protection from diseases, pests and which can so easily destroy our livelihoods and food supplies.  Significant fines apply for those attempting to breach the regulations. 

Read tips about what to do with your fresh produce before crossing a quarantine checkpoint or exclusion zone, and what you can use as substitutes until more supplies can be purchased.   

If you have gone past a checkpoint and realise you have something you shouldn’t have kept, do not just throw it out.

Seal the produce, seeds or soil in a plastic bag and contact that state's quarantine as soon as possible to discuss safe disposal.

Australian Capital Territory 02 62076376  

New South Wales 02 63913100

Northern Territory 08 89992118

Queensland 07 34046999

South Australia 08 82077820

Western Australia 08 93341800