Every week, thousands of boxes leave Australia for PNG: clothes for the kids, tools for a cousin's business, school supplies for a village. Getting them there affordably is mostly about choosing the right service for the size of the shipment and knowing what PNG won't let in.
This guide compares the three main options, explains PNG's restrictions, and shows how to pack and declare boxes so they arrive without fuss. For larger shipments, see our complete guide to shipping from Australia to PNG.
Key points
- Australia Post suits small parcels; couriers are faster but dearer; consolidated sea freight is usually cheapest for heavy boxes.
- Australia Post's guide lists items PNG won't accept by post, including noodles, eggs and egg products, lard and plants.
- PNG accepts used clothing from Australia only for wearing, not as rags or flock.
- Any shipment worth AUD 2,000 or more needs an export declaration number.
- The person receiving the goods may have to pay PNG duty and GST before collecting them.
Three ways to send boxes to PNG
| Option | Best for | Trade-offs |
|---|---|---|
| Australia Post international parcels | Small parcels to individuals, especially where the recipient collects from Post PNG | Size and weight limits; tracking and delivery vary once the parcel reaches PNG |
| International express courier | Urgent documents and parcels needing door-to-door tracking | Highest cost per kilo; bulky parcels are charged on volumetric weight |
| Consolidated sea freight through a forwarder | Several heavy boxes, tool kits, furniture, household items | Slower; collection is usually from a depot in Port Moresby or Lae |
As a rough guide, post and courier make sense for a parcel or two. Once you're sending several heavy boxes, consolidated sea freight is usually far cheaper per kilo, even after depot and clearance charges.
Sending boxes with Australia Post
Australia Post sends parcels to PNG through its international services, with delivery handled by Post PNG on arrival. Before you post anything, check Australia Post's international post guide for Papua New Guinea. It lists the items PNG won't accept by post, and some of them surprise people:
- noodles
- eggs and products containing eggs
- lard
- plants or parts of plants, manures and organic fertilisers
- animal teeth and bones, and imitations of them
- gambling instruments and playing cards
- pornography and counterfeit money.
Firearms are restricted, and used clothing is only admitted from Australia for use as clothing, not as rags or flock. Every international parcel needs a customs declaration describing the contents and their value, and if the value is AUD 2,000 or more, you'll also need an export declaration number from the Australian Border Force.
Using an international courier
Couriers offer door-to-door delivery with tracking, and they usually arrange PNG customs clearance themselves, billing any duty and GST to the receiver. They're the right choice for urgent documents, phones, spare parts and anything that needs to arrive this week.
The catch is cost. Couriers often calculate volumetric weight with a divisor of 5,000, so a large, light box is charged far more than its scale weight. Pack tightly and use the smallest box that fits. Our guide to air freight from Australia to PNG explains volumetric weight in more detail.
Consolidated sea freight for heavier boxes
Forwarders who specialise in the PNG lane run regular consolidations from Brisbane and other cities, combining boxes and pallets from many senders into shared containers. You drop the boxes at a depot or arrange a pickup, and the receiver collects from a depot in Port Moresby or Lae once the goods are cleared.
Pricing is usually per box or per cubic metre, with a minimum charge. Ask what's included: some quotes cover clearance and depot fees in PNG, while others stop at the wharf. Our guide to the cost of shipping from Australia to PNG explains what to check, and remember to send to the port nearest the receiver. A box landed in Port Moresby for someone in Mount Hagen still has a long way to go.
Packing and declaring boxes properly
- Use strong, double-walled cartons and plenty of tape. Boxes are handled many times on the way.
- Put a copy of the sender and receiver details inside each box as well as on the outside.
- Number the boxes (1 of 4, 2 of 4) so the receiver knows if one is missing.
- List the contents of every box with honest values. Vague descriptions such as "gifts" or "personal items" invite inspection.
- Leave out food, plants, aerosols, lithium batteries and anything flammable unless you've checked the rules.
- Weigh each box and keep within the carrier's limits.
Gifts are still declared
Goods sent as gifts still have to be declared at their real value. In PNG, the receiver may have to pay duty and GST before collecting them, so tell them what's coming.
What happens when the boxes arrive
On arrival, parcels and freight are cleared by PNG Customs and checked by NAQIA if they contain anything of biosecurity interest. Low-value goods with a value for duty of K5,000 or less can qualify for simpler reporting, though duty and tax may still apply. For more on how clearance works, see our guide to PNG customs clearance, and for estimating any tax the receiver will pay, PNG import duty and GST.
If you're unsure whether something can be sent at all, check our guide to prohibited and restricted imports into PNG before you pack it.
Frequently asked questions
Can I send food to family in PNG?
Many food items are restricted or prohibited, especially anything containing meat, eggs, dairy or fresh produce. Australia Post's list for PNG includes noodles and egg products. Packaged goods that are allowed should still be declared.
Will my family have to pay anything to collect the boxes?
Possibly. Duty and GST may apply depending on what's inside and its value, and sea freight services may charge depot or clearance fees at collection. Ask your forwarder what's included.
What's the cheapest way to send a lot of boxes?
Consolidated sea freight through a forwarder that runs regular PNG services is usually the cheapest per kilo for heavy boxes.
Part of our complete guide
This article is one step in Shipping from Australia to PNG: The Complete Guide. Other guides in the "shipping by cargo type" stage:
This guide is general information, current at the date of last review. Rates, schedules, duty rates and procedures change, so confirm the details of your shipment with a licensed freight forwarder or customs broker before you act.