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Forums > Windsurfing General

Have you "nailed" travelling by plane with gear within Australia? Tips needed!

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Created by MJP68 Sunday, 8 Mar 2026
MJP68
QLD, 131 posts
Sunday , 8 Mar 2026 12:26PM
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Just visited WA (from Brisbane) for the first time in a long time. Was as great as I remember, just with a lot less people out. I took two sails and hired a board (thanks Mark).

I'd like to do this more often, but I'd like to get a lot smoother on the travel side of things. I've been looking at "all in one" bags, but they seem to be a bit hard to come by in Australia, and then I watched an old video by Ben Proffitt where he packs his board and whole rig with three sails into an oversize board bag, coming to around 30kg. Clever.

I'd probably just want to take a (roughly) 90L wave board, 2 masts, 2 sails, boom, extension, harness.

If you're a regular visitor to WA from the other states, and you feel like you have it down to a fine art, I'd love to hear your tips (including hire cars and getting to/from airport, if you have any wisdom there)!

Matt

spanishwog
QLD, 127 posts
Sunday , 8 Mar 2026 1:18PM
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Went BNE to PER for a week - I took 2 board bags - one with board with clothes, other with 2 sails, boom, 2 masts, harness, wetty, extensions, fins.
Both were under 20 kg's.
Paid $35 for extra bag.
Hired an i30 for the week - folded the seats down - perfect.

MJP68
QLD, 131 posts
Sunday , 8 Mar 2026 1:51PM
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Both bags fit in the back of the i30?? Wow!

How long is your board?

Tardy
5306 posts
Sunday , 8 Mar 2026 2:03PM
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I fly a bit with gear (QANTAS) ,pay an extra $ 50 for 10 kgs .some times don't need it . and probably won't next trip
1 carry on with computer clothes ,2 other bags .one with board 240x80 ,boom and fins usually under 15 kgs .next bag 2 sails 1 and a half mast .ezzy .
harness helmet extension usually 15-16 kgs .fits in a Nissan x-trail .seats down .

philn
1093 posts
Monday , 9 Mar 2026 12:56AM
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No experience traveling in Australia, but last time I went to Maui I used a Severne wheeled bag for 1 board, 1 mast, 1 boom, 2 sails, harness plus padding and came in right at 23 kg. Extension and UJ in carry on.

JonesySail
QLD, 1121 posts
Monday , 9 Mar 2026 1:15PM
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Easiest is to take 2 bags (1 board 1 rig) and spread everything between those (inc clothes etc) just pay one extra bag , keeps weight per bag down , which keeps airline and handlers happy ..you can fit all in your gear in one bag but its always very close to 32kg and thats 'dry' so risky, and dragging 32kg isn't fun much. easier having 10-15kg on each arm :)

TBH the biggest PIA is getting gear from car park to terminal on the bus.

I got the ****s with it now, so now I have hired a 'box' in Gero and are building up my Gero kit each trip ...its costly but it will be well worth it ..just fly/drive and everything is there waiting ..and the gear i use in Gero is nothing like the gear I use here ... wave board and 4.7 just gathers dust in Qld :(

and other tip is 'make sure ' you get your departing terminal right ...they kind of all look the same late at night! .. Perth basically has 2 airports now ..and if you end up at the wrong one ..... lets say sleeping in your board bag in the terminal after missing the red eye isn't fun !

spanishwog
QLD, 127 posts
Monday , 9 Mar 2026 5:06PM
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Select to expand quote
MJP68 said..
Both bags fit in the back of the i30?? Wow!

How long is your board?


folded the seats down
board fits as the "Passenger"!!

Sandee
QLD, 274 posts
Wednesday , 11 Mar 2026 8:55AM
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Select to expand quote
philn said..
No experience traveling in Australia, but last time I went to Maui I used a Severne wheeled bag for 1 board, 1 mast, 1 boom, 2 sails, harness plus padding and came in right at 23 kg. Extension and UJ in carry on.


Carrying the extension in carry on could be extremely risky, as some airport security staff would very likely confiscate that as a potential 'weapon'. You're lucky to have got away with that!

Tardy
5306 posts
Wednesday , 11 Mar 2026 7:42AM
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yes ,,you where lucky it could be confused as a barrel ...I leave my extension on the last hole and tape it on with duct tape and ship it with the mast ,usually fits in the bag .

I also roll my two sail together and put them in 2 oversized bags and just cardboard the ends .and yes duct tape ?small parcels are best .



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"Have you "nailed" travelling by plane with gear within Australia? Tips needed!" started by MJP68