Fodor's Travel Talk Forums

Fodor's Travel Talk Forums (https://www.fodors.com/community/)
-   Australia & the Pacific (https://www.fodors.com/community/australia-and-the-pacific/)
-   -   Taking foods into Australia? (https://www.fodors.com/community/australia-and-the-pacific/taking-foods-into-australia-868164/)

nelsonian Nov 29th, 2010 11:28 PM

Hmm I think the only person that has a problem with Mel is you ivenorbeeneverywhere.

Bokhara2 Nov 30th, 2010 12:12 AM

You can get very good beef jerky and biltong here, scrb11.

I bought a packet of beef jerky at a service (petrol/fuel) station yesterday & it was delicious.
Not sure about the nuts, but generally speaking, as others have noted, provided it's not fruit, fresh or containing eggs, you should be ok provided you declare everything.

Unless you have a specific dietary requirement, or are bringing something special as a gift, I'm not sure I'd bother bringing things likely to get broken like crackers, and/or readily available here - simply for the space they take. Our supermarkets have a good supply of all the things you mentioned, as do lots of small convenience stores.


Off topic a bit ... but does anyone have a good recipe for Beef Jerkey? A Texan friend living in Qld used to make a fantastic chilli one and yesterday's nibble prompted me to want to have a go at making it. Can't ask him unfortunately -he's riding the fences in God's Big Paddock.

stormbird Nov 30th, 2010 12:17 AM

Honestly Bokhara I have never tried beef jerky & can not imagine what it must taste like mmmm maybe I should give it a go but I have an aversion to anything dried. I love love fresh fruit but do not like dried fruit. I pick the sultanas out of my cereal each morning. I'm weird I know but I am totally lovable!

Bokhara2 Nov 30th, 2010 12:32 AM

You are totally lovable, Stormbird!

It's salty, piquant, chewy. Lots of recipes, thicknesses of slices etc. If dried isn't your thing, it may not be your cup of tea. Give it a go - cost you $2 to find out and ... "If you never, never ....."

I like it as an occasional snack, especially when I'm driving. Lasts a while (gawd - sounds like chewing tobacco doesn't it?!) and is better for my sugar levels than a roll of Mentos.

How's Buddy?

scrb11 Nov 30th, 2010 01:30 AM

I take this stuff all the time when traveling overseas.

Yeah I could shop for stuff at the destination but more convenient to have it on hand.

Anyways, the replies here help me on what I should not bother packing.

Sort of.

scrb11 Nov 30th, 2010 01:31 AM

I take this stuff all the time when traveling overseas.

Yeah I could shop for stuff at the destination but more convenient to have it on hand.

Anyways, the replies here help me on what I should not bother packing.

Sort of.

The web page that I linked is ambiguous. It lists what to declare. Would be more helpful if it simply said "don't bother trying to bring this stuff in."

scrb11 Nov 30th, 2010 01:35 AM

BTW, if you're interested in "chili" jerky, well in the US, you can get "hot and spicy" jerky for a good price at Costco.

Making your own, probably a lot of work, leaving meat exposed to the sun to dry out you have to deal with flies and such.

Bokhara2 Nov 30th, 2010 01:54 AM

I can get it here too,scrb11 - just want to have a go at making my own.

Declaring something does not mean it will be denied entry. The majority of commercial items are acceptable.

AlanJG Nov 30th, 2010 12:59 PM

If you have specific questions use the link on the website to ask.

As it said, 'Do not rely on the advice of [anonymous fodors posters].'

northie Nov 30th, 2010 01:29 PM

as a frequent traveller between US and Australia I always declare all food items as required by both countries and the only item I have had taken is wild rice-although some species are permitted.Obviously I don't take fresh fruit, nuts but often cooked food eg fruit cake

Karen246 Dec 23rd, 2010 09:10 PM

melnq - you are extremely incorrect about not being able to take honey from the eastern states to WA. It just needs to be heated at a high temperature eg pasteurised prior to the honey being shipped and have the accompanying paperwork to prove to AQIS.

Please just check your facts first as I can assure you that truckloads of retail honey go from the Eastern States to WA.

Mucky Dec 24th, 2010 01:30 AM

It's actually really funny.
We have been through Australian customs knowing that we cannot take anything into the country.
We have stood with customs staff and laughed at the pathetic attempts of visitors to bring everything from raw fish to living plants into the country.

You would not believe what Japanese try to bring in, there is a huge skip outside the customs hall that fills up very quickly and no doubt stinks. The incinerator man is quite a busy chappie.

Don't take anything in, Australia is able to provide you with pretty much everything you need.

Muck

Melnq8 Dec 24th, 2010 02:07 AM

I stand corrected Karen.

Heat treated honey accompanied by a certificate from a relevant quarantine authority is allowed into WA, but somehow I doubt the average visitor will go to that effort.

When visiting SA last year, there were notices in shops selling honey advising it wouldn't be allowed into WA, which is why I was under the impression all honey was taboo.

WA is very protective of its bees, and rightly so.

http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/objtwr/im...ey_dlsheet.pdf

scrb11 Dec 29th, 2010 12:59 AM

FYI, the process for getting through customs was very smooth.

While I waited for my checked bag at the carousel, an agent came up to me to ask about what I had and I explained that I had only processed foods, like snacks, energy bars.

She asked about beef jerky or any trail mix with banana chips and I said no.

She stamped my card and once I retrieved my bag, I went out to the Express exit and they looked at the stamp on the card and waved me through.

Karen246 Jan 1st, 2011 02:16 AM

Heat treated honey accompanied by a certificate from a relevant quarantine authority is allowed into WA, but somehow I doubt the average visitor will go to that effort.

yes would agree that shopkeepers probably find it easier to advise consumers of this message that it can't go onto WA due to pasterisation etc.

Most beekeepers/packing companys are only small and don't want to go to the bother of having to heat treat their product to satisfy the WA conditions unless they have a ongoing contract to supply WA outlets.

The other thing is that honey heated at high temperatures eg over 45 degrees for long periods of time affect the wonderful properties that honey contains.

eliztravels2 Jan 29th, 2014 04:01 AM

Is this yet another very old thread pulled up by someone who wants to advertise a business? I'm getting mighty sick of this.


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 10:02 PM.