Thanks Sandy for your advice.
I was planning to bring a starter amount of tea (and rooibos for me) but I guess I can give that a miss and buy it in the US rather than create an ordeal in customs.
Re: humourless officialdom - New Zealand customs are great. On a trip there a year or two ago, we stopped at a motel in Melbourne the night before we flew to NZ. We had a couple of items left over in the morning including some cheese. As I hate throwing out good food, I decided to bring it and declare it on entry to NZ. If they say no, I throw it out. No downside.
When I declared the few food items I had, the customs officer in NZ said "gee, it must be pretty special cheese. We do have cheese in NZ you know." I explained my tight-fisted reason for bringing it, and said "I know you have good cheese in NZ, you sell Mainland cheeses in Australia, and for about half the price you Kiwis have to pay." We had a nice chat about how a New Zealand company could sell cheese in Australia for about $7 for 500g when the same block sells in NZ for about $11. I was able to bring in my little block of cheese - NZ accepts Aussie cheese as safe to import.
but New Zealanders are always lovely to deal with.
I had to phone US Consulate in Melbourne this week about filling out my entry paperwork. The official I spoke to could not have been less helpful or caring if he tried. A complete lack of interest. A good display for his country...
We are bringing a dual voltage travel kettle - one of these...
Chris.
http://www.kenwoodworld.com/en-int/products/breakfast/kettles/jkp250-kettle
I was planning to bring a starter amount of tea (and rooibos for me) but I guess I can give that a miss and buy it in the US rather than create an ordeal in customs.
Re: humourless officialdom - New Zealand customs are great. On a trip there a year or two ago, we stopped at a motel in Melbourne the night before we flew to NZ. We had a couple of items left over in the morning including some cheese. As I hate throwing out good food, I decided to bring it and declare it on entry to NZ. If they say no, I throw it out. No downside.
When I declared the few food items I had, the customs officer in NZ said "gee, it must be pretty special cheese. We do have cheese in NZ you know." I explained my tight-fisted reason for bringing it, and said "I know you have good cheese in NZ, you sell Mainland cheeses in Australia, and for about half the price you Kiwis have to pay." We had a nice chat about how a New Zealand company could sell cheese in Australia for about $7 for 500g when the same block sells in NZ for about $11. I was able to bring in my little block of cheese - NZ accepts Aussie cheese as safe to import.
but New Zealanders are always lovely to deal with.
I had to phone US Consulate in Melbourne this week about filling out my entry paperwork. The official I spoke to could not have been less helpful or caring if he tried. A complete lack of interest. A good display for his country...
We are bringing a dual voltage travel kettle - one of these...
Chris.
http://www.kenwoodworld.com/en-int/products/breakfast/kettles/jkp250-kettle
