Shipping policy
Shipping & Delivery Information
Last updated: 11th September 2026
At Collectors Online, our priority is delivering healthy plants safely and compliantly across Australia. As a live plant nursery operating under strict biosecurity requirements, dispatch timing depends on your destination, treatment and certification requirements, plant preparation, order volume and weather conditions.
Orders are processed in scheduled weekly runs. Different cut-off times apply depending on the delivery destination.
Where We Ship
We ship live plants to all Australian states and territories.
Biosecurity requirements vary by destination:
- Victoria and Queensland: No treatment or certification paperwork is currently required.
- New South Wales, South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory: Treatment and certification requirements apply.
- Western Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory: Additional treatment, certification and biosecurity requirements apply.
Processing Times at a Glance
Under our normal weekly schedule, the maximum expected processing time depends on the delivery destination and when the order is placed:
- VIC, QLD, NSW, SA and ACT: Allow up to 9 working days, or approximately 10 calendar days, for processing and dispatch.
- WA, TAS and NT: Allow up to 10 working days, or approximately 13 calendar days, for treatment, certification, processing and dispatch.
These timeframes cover processing by Collectors Online only. Delivery time with Australia Post begins after your order has been dispatched.
Working days do not include weekends or public holidays. Extreme weather, public holidays, biosecurity issues, order volumes and courier disruptions may extend the timeframes shown above.
Dispatch Schedules & Order Cut-Off Times
The cut-off time that applies to your order depends on its delivery destination.
VIC, QLD, NSW, SA & ACT Orders
The weekly cut-off for orders being sent to Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory is:
Sunday at 11:59 pm
Orders received by this cut-off are included in the following Monday’s picking and preparation run. In most cases, these orders will be dispatched by Thursday of that week.
Orders placed after Sunday’s 11:59 pm cut-off will move into the following week’s picking run.
For example, an order placed on Monday has missed the previous Sunday’s cut-off. It will generally be picked from the following Monday and dispatched by that Thursday. This may result in a processing time of up to 9 working days, or approximately 10 calendar days.
Dispatch by Thursday is an estimate and is not guaranteed. Some orders may take longer due to treatment and certification requirements, plant preparation, order size, order volumes, weather conditions, public holidays or courier disruptions.
WA, TAS & NT Orders
Orders being sent to Western Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory require additional biosecurity treatment and certification.
The weekly cut-off for these orders is:
Thursday at 11:59 pm
Orders received by this cut-off enter Friday’s treatment run. After treatment, they join the following Monday’s picking and preparation run alongside other orders. All completed orders are then included in the same scheduled Australia Post collections and, in most cases, dispatched by Thursday.
Orders received after Thursday’s 11:59 pm cut-off will move into the following week’s treatment run.
For example, an order placed on Friday has missed Thursday night’s cut-off. It will be treated the following Friday, enter the next Monday’s preparation run and, in most cases, be dispatched by Thursday. This may result in a processing time of up to 10 working days, or approximately 13 calendar days.
Dispatch by Thursday is an estimate and is not guaranteed. Treatment schedules, certification requirements, inspection processes, plant suitability, weather conditions and public holidays may extend processing times.
Important Information About Cut-Off Times
- A cut-off time determines which weekly processing run your order enters.
- It is not a guaranteed dispatch or delivery date.
- Orders placed immediately after a cut-off will experience the longest processing time.
- Working days do not include weekends or public holidays.
- The processing period ends when your order is lodged with Australia Post.
- Australia Post delivery time begins after dispatch and is additional to our processing time.
- Extreme weather, public holidays, biosecurity issues and courier disruptions may extend these timeframes.
Express Shipping
Express Shipping provides faster transit with Australia Post after your order has been dispatched.
Please note:
- Express Shipping does not move an order into an earlier picking or treatment run.
- Express Shipping does not speed up plant preparation, treatment, certification or dispatch.
- The same weekly cut-off times apply to both Standard and Express orders.
- Express Shipping reduces the expected time in transit only.
Weather & Seasonal Delays
Plant safety always comes first.
During periods of extreme heat, cold weather, severe weather or courier disruption, we may delay dispatch to reduce the risk of plant damage in transit. These delays apply to all shipping methods, including Express Shipping.
Where conditions make shipping live plants unsafe, an order may be held beyond its expected dispatch period. It will be dispatched as soon as conditions are considered suitable.
Delivery Timeframes
Our processing timeframe covers the time required to pick, prepare, treat, certify, pack and lodge your order.
Australia Post delivery time begins after your parcel has been dispatched. We cannot guarantee Australia Post delivery dates or control delays once a parcel has entered the postal network.
Tracking Your Order
Once your order has been dispatched, you’ll receive a shipping confirmation email containing your tracking number. Delivery progress can then be monitored directly through Australia Post.
Tracking information may take some time to update after your shipping confirmation is issued.
Order Confirmation & Email Address Checks
After placing an order, you should receive an order confirmation email shortly after checkout.
If you do not receive a confirmation email, please check:
- That you are checking the same email address used at checkout
- Your spam or junk folder
- The correct inbox if you use multiple email addresses
- That the email address entered at checkout was correct
Using one consistent email address for orders and enquiries helps us locate your order quickly and avoid delays.
If you still cannot locate your confirmation email, please contact us at sales@collectorsonline.com.au and include:
- Your full name
- The email address used at checkout
- Your order number, if available
Shipping Costs & Mandatory Biosecurity Fees
Shipping costs are calculated automatically at checkout based on volumetric weight and delivery location.
Biosecurity Fees for WA, TAS & NT
Australian biosecurity requirements mean that orders sent to Western Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory require additional treatment and certification.
- Western Australia and Tasmania: $20 per order
- Northern Territory: $10 per order
These fees are:
- Charged per order, not per plant
- Automatically included in the shipping quote once the delivery address is entered at checkout
- Used to help cover the additional treatment, certification and compliance processes required for these destinations
Biosecurity Restrictions
Some plants cannot legally be sent to particular states or territories. Product availability and destination restrictions may vary according to current biosecurity requirements.
If an ordered plant cannot be sent to your destination, we may contact you to arrange a suitable alternative or refund the affected item.
Customers are responsible for ensuring that the delivery information supplied at checkout is complete and accurate. Where required for biosecurity certification and traceability, we may request a physical street address even if the parcel is being delivered to a PO Box.
Contact Us
If you need assistance with an order, please contact us through:
📧 sales@collectorsonline.com.au
🔗 Help Centre – Collectors Online
💬 Live chat via the website widget
Please include your order number and use the same email address used at checkout whenever possible.