I am currently searching for flight options from Australia to Tasmania with heavy luggage and equipment for the riders for Red Bull storm surf. There will be lots of surf bags longer than 2,50m.
Sorry - Red Bull Storm Chase - Windsurfing - ...... sh1t I think I just announced this before Reb Bull!!!???? Opps!! :)
www.redbull.com/int-en/events/red-bull-storm-chase
You could try writing to one or all of the airlines that fly that route and explain what you are doing and ask for assistance... though you might need to throw a qantas/virgin logo on somethings. Cant hurt to ask.
Air Freight?
The problem with having bags heavier than 32 kgs is that due to OH&S regulations the airlines won't touch it as checked luggage. Seeing recent developments I wouldn't be surprised if that dropped to 23 kg sometime in the near future.
Air Freight is slightly different in that most of the time they load containers that go onto the plane. Only issue with Air Freight is that they will charge based on cubic volume weight or actual weight, which ever is higher.
Another option is using a freight company that specialises in events freight. They will make sure it gets there on-time and intact. On company I have worked with in the past is Show Freight (www.showgroup.com.au/freight/).
Otherwise call Virgin / Qantas. They will be able to provide you with a quote for freight. Another option is Australian Air Express.
try these guys. www.tasfreight.com.au/privacy.html
I have used them to send servers and hardware to different locations in TAS quickly from Melbourne. Other freight company's dont have the adaptable setup. They should have major towns on the west coast covered.
I have travelled a bit with boards. Jetstar are completely useless and will not carry anything more than a small surfboard as baggage. Virgin Australia are much less restrictive but you do have to pre book luggage otherwise they sting you at the counter.. They have a 32kg limit per item.
If you want to use a freight company between the mainland and Tasmania, Australian Air Express have depots at most capital and some regional airports. I sent a board from Melb to a guy down there recently and it cost <$75 and took about two days as they don't always send it immediately. there are also some road freight companies that will use truck + ferry. These include Toll, TNT and Startrack.
Finally you should consider renting a vehicle in Melbourne which you can load your gear in and take the passenger/vehicle ferry from Melbourne to Devonport which is an overnight trip. Then drive down to the Tasman Peninsula, I guess about 3 or 4 hours. Check out www.spiritoftasmania.com.au
Hope this helps.
