In short
An interstate move has about forty separate tasks in it, and roughly six of them have real deadlines: give notice on your lease, book the truck two to three weeks out, transfer the utilities, redirect the mail, sort the licence and rego for your new state, and pack the box you'll need on the first night. The rest can happen whenever you get to them. Here's the whole thing in order, counting back from moving day.
8 wks
Decide and book
- Walk every room, plus the garage, shed and balcony, and mark what goes
- Work out your cubic metres — use the m³ guide — and get quotes
- Give written notice on your rental — usually 21–28 days depending on state and lease
- If you're buying or selling, confirm settlement dates before you book anything
- Book leave from work for moving day and the day after
That first task is the highest-value hour of the whole move: interstate freight is priced by volume, so every cubic metre you don't take is money you don't spend. Furniture that's cheap to replace and expensive to move — flat-pack shelving, an old sofa, the second fridge — is usually worth selling.
6 wks
Declutter and sell
- List furniture on Marketplace and Gumtree; allow two to three weeks for pickups
- Book charity collection for anything that won't sell
- Start using up the freezer and pantry — none of it is coming with you
- Order boxes, tape, bubble wrap and markers
- If you have pets, book their transport now — it fills up faster than trucks do
4 wks
Book the truck
- Book the removalist and pay the deposit to lock the slot
- Tick flexible dates (±1 week) if your timing allows — 10% off
- Declare anything high-value now, while insurance limits can still be raised
- Tell them the real final destination, including last-mile suburbs
- Book lifts and loading docks at both ends if you're in apartments
- Start packing the rooms you barely use — spare room, garage, books
This is the deadline that matters most
Two to three weeks ahead is the sweet spot on most lanes; lower-frequency corridors like Melbourne–Brisbane want 7–10 days minimum. Booking now also means you can take a flexible date window — worth 10% automatically — instead of paying a $200 urgency surcharge for a same-week pickup.
3 wks
The paperwork
- Australia Post mail redirection — set it to start the day after you leave
- Medicare, the ATO and your electoral enrolment
- Banks, super fund, insurers (and check whether contents insurance covers transit)
- Employer payroll and HR
- Schools — request transfer paperwork and forward records
- GP and specialists — ask for a copy of your records, and repeat scripts
- Diarise your new state's deadlines: licence transfer and vehicle re-registration are usually within three months of arriving
2 wks
Utilities and packing
- Electricity and gas — disconnect the old address for the day after you leave, connect the new one for the day before you arrive
- Internet — the long one. Book the new connection now; NBN appointments can be weeks out
- Water and council, if you're an owner
- Pack in earnest: label every box with the room it's going to at the new place, not the old one
- Photograph the back of your TV and any electronics before unplugging
- Service or drain anything with fuel in it — mowers, whipper snippers; the BBQ gas bottle stays behind
1 wk
The last details
- Confirm the pickup window and give the driver your mobile number
- Finish the fridge, freezer and pantry — fresh produce can't cross some state borders
- Rehome potted plants in soil; they can't travel interstate
- Book end-of-lease cleaning, or block out the time to do it yourself
- Withdraw a bit of cash and keep chargers, medication and documents out of the packing pile
- Disassemble bed frames the night before, and bag the bolts to the frame itself
Day 0
Moving day
- Do a final walk-through: cupboards, oven, under sinks, the roof cavity if there is one
- Photograph meter readings at both ends
- Keep passports, birth certificates, jewellery and cash with you — not on the truck
- Check the inventory as it loads, and be reachable for the driver's ETA call
- Have the balance ready for delivery day
- Leave keys where the agent expects them, and confirm in writing
Pack the first-night box last — and put it in your car
Bedding, towels, toiletries, phone chargers, medication, a kettle, mugs, tea, a change of clothes each, and anything the kids or pets won't sleep without. Your goods may arrive a day or two after you do, and this box is the difference between camping and coping.
After
First fortnight in the new state
- Transfer your driver's licence and re-register the car — check your new state's deadline
- Update your address with Medicare and the electoral roll if you haven't
- Register with a local GP before you need one
- Check contents insurance actually covers the new address
- Unpack the kitchen and one bedroom fully before starting anything else — living out of boxes is what makes a move feel endless