Duty Free Shopping - best place to buy?

[thommo9]

I'm travelling to NZ in a few weeks and of course, looking forward to topping up on some top shelf gin from duty free on my return!

Dilemma - The routing for the return trip home is Queenstown - Christchurch, Christchurch - Auckland, Auckland - Melbourne. Should we A) Buy duty free in Queenstown and take through as baggage on other remaining domestic flights or B) Buy before international flight to MEL?

I don't have a preference but would be interested to know if NZ security would let me take said duty free on domestic flights and if anyone has preference where to buy the cheapest Duty Free possible?

Thanks in advance!

 

[straitman]

I'm travelling to NZ in a few weeks and of course, looking forward to topping up on some top shelf gin from duty free on my return!

Dilemma - The routing for the return trip home is Queenstown - Christchurch, Christchurch - Auckland, Auckland - Melbourne. Should we A) Buy duty free in Queenstown and take through as baggage on other remaining domestic flights or B) Buy before international flight to MEL?

I don't have a preference but would be interested to know if NZ security would let me take said duty free on domestic flights and if anyone has preference where to buy the cheapest Duty Free possible?

Thanks in advance!

The best place to buy is Duty Free Stores New Zealand

You have the option of ordering for arrival into NZ and also for departure. You order online ahead of time and simply pick it up from the designated location on arrival or departure.

 

[tuapekastar]

I second straitmans's recommendation. I have used these people many times before (you join their 'frequent buyers club', and get a 20% discount off the standard DF prices for most items). Just as a sanity check I compare it with MEL DF prices every time, and the NZ prices have always been cheaper, in many cases by quite a margin. It is IMHO worth the 'hassle' of carrying the DF across the ditch.

I don't think you'll have the option to collect at ZQN or CHC as collection points are usually after immigration and those presumably are domestic flights for you. I would have recommended collection at AKL anyway.

 

[thommo9]

Thanks guys, you have endorsed what I was thinking anyway (pick up in AKL as cheaper) but getting confirmation is always a good things. Thanks again AFF, always so helpful!

 

[serfty]

+3 - I have used Duty Free Stores New Zealand - Free delivery to all Airports dozens of times over the years and find them best from NZ.

The AKL collection point is over to the right in the corner after you pass emigration/security.

Just make sure you join their 'frequent buyers club', and get a 20% discount off the standard DF liquor prices for most items.

You are after Gin? Gin

 

[NM]

You are after Gin?

By way of comparison, Sapphire in Aus is usually $39.99/L. In HKG it's HK$170 (~A$22). JW Double Black is A$59.99 in Aus and HK$310 (<A$40). But you cannot buy DF ex HKG when departing to Australia. NZ using Serfty's methods works out good value.

 

[thommo9]

I'll be sure to join the Frequent Buyers Club, 20% is not a bad discount at all!

 

[Awesom Andy]

Depending on the nature of your trip, you might want to pick up some on arrival as well. You can take in something like 4 bottles of spirits, if I remember correctly - as long as you can finish them all before your return trip.

I never buy duty free in AU these days. on ex-Asia trips inbound to AU, I always buy mine in SIN or HKG if I happen to go through either one of these ports. And, for ex-AU, I only buy at my destination. AU prices are simply not competitive for the things I want (mostly alcohol).

 

[Timtammi]

on ex-Asia trips inbound to AU, I always buy mine in SIN or HKG if I happen to go through either one of these ports.

You can't buy duty free booze ex HKG if travelling to AUS anymore, it will get confiscated at the secondary check before boarding. I think SIN is still ok but no 100% sure.

Cheers

 

[medhead]

You can't buy duty free booze ex HKG if travelling to AUS anymore, it will get confiscated at the secondary check before boarding. I think SIN is still ok but no 100% sure.

Cheers

SIN we're still delivering to the gate post screening in April this year.

 

[Awesom Andy]

You can't buy duty free booze ex HKG if travelling to AUS anymore, it will get confiscated at the secondary check before boarding. I think SIN is still ok but no 100% sure.

Cheers

Thanks... I was just about to do that ex-HKG next month.

SIN we're still delivering to the gate post screening in April this year.

That still applies, although on my last SIN-HKG flight, I was given the bottle at the shop, sealed in a tamper-evident bag.

 

[NM]

Thanks... I was just about to do that ex-HKG next month.

That still applies, although on my last SIN-HKG flight, I was given the bottle at the shop, sealed in a tamper-evident bag.

Yes, it's only flights to Australia (and USA?) that get the confiscation treatment ... Grr. But you can buy inbound and then pack in checked luggage for the return trip. Just limited to 1L into HK.