Advice on How to Move a Bicycle, Massage Table, 2 Boxes Clothes, Coffee Machine from QLD to TAS [Courier or Removalist or ?]

TL;DR = Want to move a few belongings from QLD to TAS that won't fit in our car. OK if it takes a while to arrive. Looking for suggestions re courier vs (small load) removals company or other options I'm not aware of, hoping for under say $200 to achieve, please!

We are house sitters and don't have many possessions - everything mostly fits in our car as we move house to house… but a few larger items have been acquired for our current 6 month house sit, or have been in longer term storage at a friends place - like the espresso machine (gotta have good coffee!).

Moving from Sunshine Coast to Tas (hoping around December - assuming Covid not an issue by then) - initially wanting to just send my 12kg single speed bike (packed in an empty cardboard bike box from a bike shop) and a folding massage table (an Aldi one) which is in its own carry bag.

Thinking a courier might work but no idea of cost (and my very limited, can count on one hand, past experiences trying to estimate courier costs online always seems to be a very uncertain estimate or simply comes out with a crazy price, hence asking advice here).

Then also wondering, well if we are already sending a couple of items, maybe its actually worth making it a decent thing and adding in the coffee machine, 2-3 medium boxes of clothes/personal items (books etc) - but thats about it as the rest we can easily drive down with in the car (and will need with us on the way as we may end up house sitting along the way down, taking a month or two to drive down).

So the less we have to move with us, the easier it is to house sit… but the more expensive it will be to send more down to Tassie ahead of us (we have parents who can receive it).

We also have time, so we would be happy for it to sit somewhere until there was a 'gap' in someone else's load, for example. Is a partial load or not urgent courier even a thing?

Ideally we would send the bike, massage table and these other few boxes down ahead of us, saving us the need to travel with it or sell it and replace it when we get there, but my initial thoughts is that its only worth it if its less than say $200 to move these items down there, since the bike cost me around $250, the massage table $100, the coffee machine $200 and the clothes/books/pillows are just easier to move than replace, provided costs allow this. If relocation is more than say $200, probably easier to just sell and replace later(?)

Comments

  • There are one-way $5 rentals (usually campervans) where companies want vehicles moved around the country. You get a few days to drive it over for cheap and they get free labour essentially.

    Example: https://www.drivenow.com.au/onewayrentals.jspc#/relocations/…

  • +1

    Thanks for the novel. Just sell it, I seriously doubt anyone is going to send that stuff to Tassie for under $200.

    • Haha fair comment mate! My aim is $200 but also would be very interested to know out of interest how others might have done something similar to this, and if so - what would be a fair price?

      • Try calling interstate removalists and ask them about backloads etc. I'd it were me, I'd just sell them. Buy new ones when you get there.

  • I'm not sure it will be economical, but you could get an online quote to confirm: https://www.freightseek.com.au/list_freight1.php

    • Thanks! Looks interesting, I'll see what they come back with :)

  • +13
    1. Ride 100km on bike
    2. Set up masage table
    3. Ask passer by for massage, in exchange for a garment from your box and a latte.
    4. Repeat until you get to TAS.
  • +2

    Does your car have a tow ball?

    • Good question - no, it doesnt.

  • +1

    One way trailer hire?

  • +4

    How are you getting through Victoria?

    • Very good point. But how else to get to TAS ?

      • Ferry?

        • Yep……from VIC……

      • +2

        Go to Sydney, join yacht crew, wait for xmas…

    • It will be once we can get through VIC. Currently planning for Nov/Dec - but who knows!

  • +1

    if you regularly housesit and want to keep possessions down generally, I'd suggest ditching the espresso machine for a moka pot or pourover thing, which are tiny and dirt cheap if you need to chuck them, but also make good coffee. big space waste here

    and then give each other massages on the floor or dining table or something, and get a car that lets you lay the bike box flat in the back like an old suv or stationwagon

    or just get a bigger car and ignore the rest of this post

    • +2

      Massages on the dining table? Glad I'm not one of your dinner guests.

    • Absolutely re the keeping possessions down, I agree. I only got the espresso machine because it was a 50% off at Sunbeam deal here on OzB! And because we had a 6 month sit to enjoy it (which we have, and the Sunbeam grinder). So not really an issue to sell it for what I paid for it, then buy again in Tas. But it's a good machine, so just thinking of the options here (NB mainly interested in the bike and massage table being sent ahead, and only add in the rest if its worthwhile). Thanks!

  • +2

    Having moved from SA to Tas

    It worked out better to sell everything that wouldnt fit in our cars and buy it again here

    • Was there anything you regretted selling in hindsight? Or was it more fun to just buy again, would you say… the issue is no Aldi in Tas as you know (so cannot replace the massage table that easily or cheaply), and also the bike is well loved, no longere bothered about scratches and can just use it stress-free, and has a great frame that would be hard to replace with as good quality or for the same money (but on the other hand, an opportunity for a new bike). I know I cant really lose either way, so its just about finding new options (lots of great ideas so far, thanks everyone!)

      • +1

        I miss one of my bikes (had 6 but could only bring 4)

        Also I made the mistake of selling some of my partners belongings at our garage sale (she left SA a few days before me)
        Apparently a few items of hers were in the keep pile (im still hearing about it a year later so regret that too).

        No aldi for cheap impulse buys.
        Ebay is my friend for most things now.
        The local post office gave me weird looks when I picked up 20-30 parcels in one week but atleast they no longer ask me for id.

        • Thanks! I appreciate your comments.

          I can really empathise with you there on the garage sale side of it. Ouch. Good tip for me, I can easily get caught up in selling or donating pretty quickly once it begins!! (so perhaps your tip will save me some similar situation, THANKS).

  • Do you have roof racks / roof pod?

    If you can get one, and it fits your extra stuff, they are very handy.

    • Neither, unfortunately. Never considered this option - yes, would be handy in place of a towball. I will take a look, but expect a roof pod for example would be quite costly? though it would be handy long term…

      • If you do get one, remember the ferry to TAS has decks of varying heights. Make sure you declare your correct vehicle height !!!!

      • Invest in a tow bar, bike rack and trailer.
        It will be a much more flexible and expandable option in the long run.

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