The last time I traveled to Australia, in the mid-1980s, I remember being fumigated on the airplane – flight attendants running around the aisles and seats with bug balms, spraying hither and yon – before they let us out, wheezing onto the tarmac in Sydney.
After six weeks of a recent trip to Australia and neighboring New Zealand, I can tell you that the rampant spraying has stopped, but no one in this part of the world is any less afraid of the insects, germy mud or contaminated food that travelers might accidentally introduce to these island nations.
New Zealanders and Australians tell painful stories about plants, animals and diseases that have been dropped onto their islands, changing the environment in a negative way. What they fear most are predators to which the plants and animals have no immunity. Islanders explain: When you introduce a new species of plant or animal or insect or disease to an island, it is missing its natural enemies, allowing the new island resident to run amok. Through the centuries, amok they have run.
Clean the soles of your hiking boots
When I arrived in Auckland, in November, a New Zealand security guy opened my suitcase and checked the bottoms of my hiking boots to inspect whether I was carrying anything untoward. (I passed.)
Travelers should be prepared for inspections at airports (lying carries a heavy fine if they catch you) and at any other time you enter either Australia or New Zealand.
On my cruise on Celebrity Century from Sydney to Auckland, the ship carried inspection officers the entire voyage. They sorted through every bag and backpack as passengers went ashore at each New Zealand port.
We were not allowed to bring any food – not a banana, sandwich, cup of coffee, piece of fruit. Bottled water was ok, but if you filled your personal water bottle on the ship before leaving, that bottle was emptied before you were allowed into New Zealand.
Of course, some folks never listen, no matter how many times the ship makes announcements. At each port, where passengers left the ship, you could see a pile of confiscated food and coffee cups on a table where customs officials stood.
David Molyneaux is editor of TheTravelMavens.com
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