Packing for your move to Australia: plugs, voltage and what to bring
Australian plugs and voltage (230 V, 50 Hz), how to choose a safe travel adaptor, and household items worth packing.
In short
Australian power points supply 230 volts at 50 hertz and use their own plug shape. An appliance from home is only safe to use if its rating label covers 230 V and 50 Hz.
What to do
Plan what to bring and what to buy here. Check the electrical safety points first.
Plugs, adaptors and appliances
Safe travel adaptors and USB chargers (Energy Safe Victoria, PDF) ↗
A travel adaptor lets your plug fit an Australian power point. Energy Safe Victoria says adaptors are for temporary use only and do not convert voltage or frequency. If an appliance's label does not cover 230 V and 50 Hz, do not use it here, even with an adaptor.
Kitchen and household items
A recent arrival's tip, not an official source: everyday items such as storage jars and containers, and plug adaptors, can be cheaper and easier to find in some countries than in Australia, so they may be worth packing if you have space.
Before you pay: safety checks
- Only buy adaptors and USB chargers marked with the RCM symbol (a tick inside a triangle) and with plastic insulation on the plug pins. Energy Safe Victoria says ones without these are unsafe
- Wooden items, food and spices must be declared when you arrive: see the next step
What you need to know
- Check the rating label on each appliance for 230 V and 50 Hz before you pack it
- Phone and laptop chargers usually list the voltages they accept on the label. Check yours
Electrical safety points are from Energy Safe Victoria, the Victorian electrical safety regulator.
Safe travel adaptors and USB chargers (Energy Safe Victoria, PDF) ↗