Crossing the border: What not to pack Considering the importance of agriculture to Kununurra, it's no surprise they take a Quarantine seriously. A checkpoint on the WA/NT border, around 30km from town, gives all vehicles entering WA a scrutinising eye for disease infested fruit, vegetables, honey, plants, seeds, soil and some animals. Anything on the list, regardless of its freshness, must be declared and dropped into the bins. The Government run Quarantine Direct website has a full list of what you may bring. If you're coming from the NT, it's best to eat everything beforehand and save yourself some hassles. Generally, the inspector will have a quick poke around your boot, yet there are stiff fines imposed for intentionally hiding a stash of apples. Similar inspections are done on planes arriving from interstate, but you are unlikely to ever see the sniffer dog run over your bag. Also unwelcome at the border are cane toads, who are slowly hopping over the border on their own and sometimes hitch a ride in under trucks and caravans. They pose a serious threat to native fauna, and though their arrival is inevitable, it'd be a good idea to look over your vehicle for any illegal amphibians trying make an early appearance. |