Border Crossing : Australia to Timor Leste

9 September 2012

Just a quick note, to remind myself, or potential readers, about the crossing over to Timor Leste from Darwin.

– Make sure everything is packed in closed and locked compartments if you are not shipping with a container. The shipping crew WILL go through your car and take whatever they feel like. Of value, or not (such as “happy face” magnets in Sander’s case, or a tablet PC in mine).

– Insist with Toll there is a larger container than the one they offer, and your troopie WILL fit inside.
– Don’t bother with quarantine, there is no checking in Dili, so pack your muesli and other goodies cos you won’t find them until you’re in Malaysia.
– Dili is the last place you can find a gas bottle with the Australian standard (screw type), anywhere in Asia is the clip-on type. Forget about gas cooking or change your system (we use wood fire every night though).
– Be in Dili as soon as the ship docks, the custom process is very straightforward, and you will get out of the harbor in two hours max.
– There is no inspection on either side, by either the customs of Toll, so hide your “dangerous goods” well enough but don’t bother too much (sprays such as WD40, oil, deodorant, gas cannisters, etc).