RORO Shipping from Australia to New Zealand

RORO shipping is a practical, budget-friendly way to move vehicles internationally, especially between Australia and New Zealand. It typically offers quick port processing, competitive pricing, and regular sailings on established routes. Since vehicles are driven directly onto and off the ship, there’s generally less lifting and handling involved, which can help reduce the chance of transit damage. 

RORO is best suited to standard, running vehicles, and it’s a great option if you want a straightforward, dependable shipping method without the extra time and cost of crating or container packing.

RORO shipping works best for vehicles that can be driven, since the car needs to be operated on and off the vessel. It’s also usually not the right choice if you want to load personal items or spare parts inside the vehicle, as RORO shipments are typically vehicle-only with strict rules on what can be left inside. 

While RORO is widely used and generally very safe, it does offer less physical protection than a sealed container, since the vehicle travels on an open vehicle deck and can be subject to normal marine conditions. If you’re shipping a non-running vehicle, transporting a high-value car, or need to send additional items at the same time, container shipping may be the better fit.

RORO shipping from Australia to New Zealand typically takes around 2 to 4 weeks, depending on the departure port, the New Zealand arrival port, vessel schedules, and clearance time on arrival. In many cases, east coast Australia to New Zealand ports is around 12 to 19 days port-to-port, then allow extra time for processing and collection. 

With frequent sailings, your vehicle can often be booked onto the next available vessel once it’s ready. We’ll keep you updated throughout the process and confirm a clearer timeframe based on your specific route and shipment details.

Not all Australian ports support roll-on roll-off (RORO) shipping. RORO services are generally limited to major ports with dedicated vehicle handling facilities. Common RORO ports in Australia include Brisbane, Sydney (Port Kembla), Melbourne, Fremantle (Perth), and Adelaide. If you’re located in another area, we can help arrange transport to the nearest RORO-capable port and coordinate the process from there.

RORO (Roll-on/Roll-off) is when your vehicle is driven onto a purpose-built car carrier ship, secured during the voyage, then driven off at the arrival port in New Zealand. It’s usually the simplest and most cost-effective option for standard, running vehicles. 

Container shipping is when your vehicle is packed into a shipping container for transport. This can provide added protection and is often a better fit for non-running vehicles, higher-value cars, or situations where you need to ship additional items alongside the vehicle. Container shipping typically costs more and can involve extra handling and coordination compared with RORO.

If your vehicle doesn’t meet MPI biosecurity standards on arrival in New Zealand, it may be held for further action before it can be released. Most commonly, MPI will require the vehicle to undergo professional cleaning and, if needed, additional treatment. This can lead to extra time at the port, plus additional storage, handling, inspection, and cleaning fees. Once the required work is completed, the vehicle is typically re-inspected before it can be cleared. In rare cases where the biosecurity risk can’t be managed, MPI may direct that the vehicle be re-exported or destroyed.