Longer moves, mapped out early

A long-distance move sits between a local job and an interstate one. You are leaving the metropolitan area, often for a regional city or a rural property, and the day is shaped by the drive as much as by the furniture. As long distance removalists in Brisbane, we plan the route, the timing and the delivery end before we quote.

That includes moves to the Sunshine Coast, about 100 kilometres north of Brisbane; to Toowoomba, 132 kilometres west on the crest of the Great Dividing Range; to the Darling Downs and the South West; and up the coast to Central and North Queensland. It also includes outer-area jobs beyond our core service area of Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Logan, Ipswich, Redlands and Moreton Bay.

There are no strict geographical exclusions. Jobs outside the core area are considered on distance, availability and job requirements, and the travel basis is confirmed before you book. Moving to another state? See interstate removals.

Three major highways lead from Brisbane and Ipswich into regional Queensland, and each brings its own planning considerations.

North: the Bruce Highway

The Bruce Highway runs about 1,679 kilometres from Brisbane to Cairns and is the biggest traffic carrier in Queensland. It passes through or near Gympie, Maryborough, Rockhampton, Mackay and Townsville, and is dual carriageway from Brisbane to Curra, north of Gympie. Beyond that, the distances grow quickly, and so does the value of a clear plan.

West: the Warrego Highway

The Warrego Highway runs about 715 kilometres from Ipswich to Charleville, by way of Toowoomba, Dalby, Chinchilla, Miles and Roma. At Toowoomba it follows the Toowoomba Bypass, a 41.3-kilometre toll road opened in September 2019. It crosses the range at a maximum gradient of 6.5 per cent and redirects up to 80 per cent of heavy vehicles away from Toowoomba's city centre.

South-west: the Cunningham Highway

The Cunningham Highway runs 327 kilometres from Ipswich to Goondiwindi. It crosses the Great Dividing Range at Cunninghams Gap, 787 metres above sea level in Main Range National Park.

Range crossings, long highway stretches and regional delivery addresses are why truck choice, loading and timing matter more on a long-distance move than on a run across town.

Every long-distance quote is built from the same components, and every one of them is confirmed before you book.

• The moving rate. Our hourly rates are $125 to $169 per hour + GST, depending on the type of move and truck size, for a moving truck, two professional movers and all standard equipment. Additional movers and larger trucks are available where the job needs them.
• Travel. Travel is charged depot-to-depot or as a call-out fee, depending on the job and location, and additional travel charges may apply for outer or remote areas. On a long-distance move, travel is the biggest variable, which is why it is settled at quoting.
• Extras, where they apply. $48 including GST each for appliances, items over 90kg, apartment stairs per flight, each additional pick-up or drop-off, each extra trip between loading and unloading, a driveway the truck cannot access and hoisting per item. Piano relocation is $149 including GST, subject to an access assessment.
• Site costs. Parking or permit costs are passed on where they apply, and waiting time is chargeable if delivery cannot be completed in a timely manner.

Protective equipment is included at no extra charge: quilted blankets and furniture pads, stretch wrap, dollies, trolleys, ratchet straps, and bubble wrap and dish paper on request. A deposit secures your date and the balance is payable on completion. See our pricing page for every line.

Queensland's weather belongs in every long-distance plan. Severe thunderstorm activity typically peaks between October and December, and the cyclone season usually runs from November to April. The Bruce Highway is prone to frequent flooding in parts of North Queensland, and its Goorganga Plains section can be closed for days.

A few practical steps reduce the risk:

• Build in a buffer. In the wet season, try not to schedule delivery for the same day as a fixed settlement or lease handover.
• Watch the roads. The Queensland Government's QLDTraffic service publishes road closures, conditions and flooding information. Check it in the days before your move.
• Have a fallback. If a road is closed, the plan may need to change. Short-term storage can bridge the gap, and our storage transfers service handles the pick-ups and deliveries.
• Protect the load. Furniture is wrapped in quilted blankets and stretch wrap and strapped in place. Pack cartons firmly and tape them well, so they stay sound in humid conditions.

Rescheduling needs at least 48 hours' notice, and later cancellations incur a cancellation fee, so keep an eye on the forecast early rather than on the morning of the move.

The destination often decides the day. A large rural property can still mean a long carry, a gravel driveway or a gate the truck cannot pass. When you request a quote, tell us about:

• The driveway's length and surface, and whether it stays passable after rain
• Gates, cattle grids, low branches and overhead wires on the way in
• Where the truck can stand, and how far that is from the door
• Stairs, especially on high-set homes, and the number of levels
• A shed, granny flat or second building that also needs a delivery

Photos or a short video of the approach and the entrances help us choose the right truck and crew. If the truck cannot use the driveway, an inaccessible-driveway charge applies, and the carry from the truck becomes part of the plan. Delivering to a second address as well, such as a storage unit in town? Each additional drop-off location is $48 including GST.

Moving into a rental in a regional town? Ask the property manager about access and parking before the day, just as you would in Brisbane. You arrange any permits, keys and building access at the destination.

On a local move, a forgotten carton is a short drive away. On a long-distance move it may be a very long way behind you, so everything should be packed and ready when the truck arrives.

• Pack everything, including the garage and shed. Tools, outdoor furniture and garden equipment tend to be packed last and forgotten first.
• Check the garden rules. Fire ant biosecurity zones in South East Queensland restrict moving soil, mulch, turf and potted plants, within Queensland as well as interstate. Pot plants kept indoors or on a solid surface can be moved freely; outdoor plants in contact with the ground need extra steps. Check fireants.org.au before you pack them.
• No hazardous goods. Gas bottles, fuel, chemicals and flammables cannot be transported. Drain fuel from mowers and dispose of anything you cannot take.
• Keep the essentials with you. Documents, medication, valuables, chargers and first-night bedding should travel in your car.

Our packing service covers full and partial packing, fragile and high-care items and furniture wrapping, so the house is ready before the truck is.

Not every long-distance job is a full house.

• Single items and small loads. A dining setting for a holiday house, or a bedroom for a student heading to a regional university, can travel as a furniture removal.
• Heavy and specialist items. Safes, gym equipment and stone-topped tables are assessed individually through our heavy items service. Pianos are moved as a piano removal, at $149 including GST, subject to an access assessment.
• Storage. Leaving Brisbane before the new home is ready? Belongings can go into storage first and be delivered later, with each stage quoted separately.
• Clearing out first. Our junk removal service takes what you are not keeping, charged for the time involved plus a disposal fee by weight and type, so you only pay to move what you need.

When you request a quote, our sales team aims to call you back within five minutes during business hours (8am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday). The most accurate long-distance quotes start with:

• Full addresses for every pick-up and delivery, including any storage unit
• Your preferred date, and any fixed deadline such as a settlement or lease end
• A room-by-room inventory, with heavy, fragile or awkward items flagged
• Access details and photos for the destination
• Any packing, storage or junk removal you would like included

Staying closer to home? Our area pages for Brisbane, Gold Coast, Ipswich and Moreton Bay cover moves within South East Queensland.

A deposit secures your date, the balance is payable on completion and full terms are provided at booking. One more task for after the move: if you hold a Queensland driver licence, you must tell the Department of Transport and Main Roads within 14 days of changing your address, which you can do online.