How much does it cost to take furniture etc. to Australia?

Hi,
Please could anyone tell me how much a shipping container from the UK to Australia and are there any import taxes to pay on any of our belongings such as furniture and quad bikes.
We have also been told it is very expensive to buy cars and boats in Australia. Would it be cheaper to bring ours from the UK to Australia and what taxes would there be.
I appreciate any advise.
Thankyou

Adding on to Ken E ....

Also you need to consider that we have VERY strict Quarantine rules. For your Car and bike it means that you have to EXTREMELY clean it so that no dirt, leaves etc. are all gone.

Don't underestimate the TAX. You will have to pay tax to import your car, quad and boat. That can be quite a bit depending on when you bought them and in what state they are.

I migrated from Germany here with 2 Suitcase and about 120Kg ~ 1m^3 in a shared container. Like Ken said furniture only if REALLY important to you.

Cars are actually LESS expansive then in Europe. (except luxuries cars like Mercedes and BMW...but then I cam from Germany where that stuff is cheap anyway).

You should get in contact with a international moving company and get a quote that will give you a good idea on taxes etc. To get an idea what stuff worth here go to the links below or goggle for used cars and boats.

I would not ship furniture to Australia from the UK unless it is particularly good stuff. Antique dealers bring stuff over in containers from the UK and Europe generally but we do have good furniture made here.

I don't know about boats, but I would say that cars are probably cheaper or as cheap in Australia. UK cars might not meet Australian Design Rules and converting them to comply can be expensive. In addition, if you import one the local dealers will not want to know you. They have tools for the local versions so foreign versions are more trouble than they are worth to them.

I have known two local people who have bought cars that turned out to have been imported and they have had problems with getting parts. Then when you come to sell the market would not want the vehicle. I would not touch a grey market vehicle with a 40 foot pole.

As for quad bikes, I don't know about import duties but the same sort of thing applies to them as to cars.

Why don't you contact shipping companies in the UK about this? They can give you prices and probably information on import duties. Random Australians don't know about these things because we never use them.

I've been told it cost between $10,000 and $15,000 just to ship a small car from the UK, so I would suggest not bothering as you can buy a small car for that price here. Quad bikes may cost you the same amount, so I'm suggesting that you contact either a moving firm or shipping agency to get a more accurate price for your belongings.

I moved to Australia from Holland about 8 years ago, I've send little parcels via post with things that i really wanted keep, All the other things i've sold....From what i understand is yes AQIS is very strict next thing if you get a shipping container or space in one you have to be there when it arrives in Australia and you have to tell them what's in it, If there is something that you missed that's too bad you can't have it.