Shipping costs
- Orders over $50 — Free shipping NZ-wide on dry goods (equipment, food, supplies).
- Orders under $50 — Shipping calculated at checkout based on size, weight, and destination.
- Rural addresses — A rural delivery surcharge may apply, shown at checkout.
- Live fish & livestock — Shipped separately with special handling. Costs calculated after checkout. Free shipping thresholds do not apply to livestock.
Dispatch times
- Dry goods (equipment, food, supplies) — Typically dispatched within 1–2 business days of your order. You will receive tracking by email once dispatched.
- Live fish & livestock — Dispatched Tuesday to Thursday only, so your animals never sit in a depot over the weekend. We may hold your order for the next suitable dispatch day — this protects your fish.
- Weekends & public holidays — Orders placed on weekends or public holidays enter the queue on the next business day.
Dispatch times are estimates, not guarantees. Courier delays, weather events, and peak periods can affect delivery times.
If there is any delay with a livestock shipment we will contact you before dispatch.
Delivery Timeframes
Estimated from the date of dispatch, in business days:
| Region | Dry Goods | Live Fish |
|---|---|---|
| Auckland | 1–3 business days | Overnight |
| North Island | 2–4 business days | Overnight |
| South Island | 3–6 business days | Overnight — where available |
| Rural addresses | Add 1–3 extra days | Contact us before ordering |
Live Fish Shipping Policy
At Creature Culture, the health and wellbeing of our fish are top priorities. We take great care when preparing and packaging live fish orders to ensure they travel as safely and comfortably as possible.
Please read our live fish shipping policy before placing an order.
Shipping Days
All live fish orders are dispatched on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday only.
This schedule helps minimise the risk of fish being delayed in transit over weekends.
Orders will be scheduled for dispatch based on availability, weather conditions and suitable delivery arrangements.
Delivery Locations
We currently offer live fish shipping to North Island addresses within New Zealand only.
Unfortunately, we are not offering live fish shipping to the South Island at this stage.
Shipping Costs & Packaging
Our live fish shipping rates are based on the number of insulated shipping boxes required to safely transport your order.
- Base shipping cost: $30 per box.
- Each box can accommodate up to 4 bags, with up to 4 fish per bag (a maximum of 16 fish per box, where suitable).
- If your order requires additional packaging beyond the capacity of one box, an additional $30 will apply for each extra box required.
The number of fish that can safely travel together may vary depending on their species, size and compatibility. Some fish may require individual bags or additional space to ensure their wellbeing.
Our team will assess packaging requirements and confirm any additional shipping costs before your order is dispatched.
Pre-Shipping Confirmation
A Creature Culture staff member will contact you before any live fish order is shipped.
During this process, we will:
- Confirm your delivery address and contact details.
- Advise you of the planned shipping and expected delivery dates.
- Confirm that someone will be available to receive the fish.
- Discuss any relevant delivery instructions or considerations.
- Explain the packaging requirements and total shipping costs, including any additional boxes needed.
No live fish orders will be dispatched until shipping arrangements and any additional costs have been discussed and confirmed with the customer.
Fish Health and Safe Livestock Transport
All live fish are carefully inspected before dispatch and securely packed in suitable fish transport bags and insulated boxes.
We reserve the right to delay shipping if weather conditions, courier availability or other circumstances could compromise the safety of the fish.
Any changes to the agreed shipping arrangements will be communicated before dispatch.
Receiving Your Fish
Please ensure someone is available to receive your delivery on the agreed date.
Once your fish arrive, we recommend opening the package promptly, checking their condition and following appropriate acclimatisation procedures before introducing them to your aquarium.
If you have any concerns about your fish upon arrival, please contact Creature Culture as soon as possible, ideally with clear photographs of the fish and their packaging.
Questions?
If you have any questions about live fish shipping, packaging or delivery costs, our team is happy to help. Please get in touch with us.
Tracking & Missed Deliveries
- You will receive a tracking number by email once your order is dispatched. Allow up to 24 hours for it to activate.
- If you miss a dry goods delivery, follow the courier card or tracking instructions for redelivery or pickup.
- For live fish, we strongly recommend being home on the delivery day. Fish left in transit or at a depot are not covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee beyond the day of delivery.
- If tracking has not updated for more than 3 business days, contact us and we will chase it with the courier.
Click & Collect
Prefer to pick up? Choose Click & Collect at checkout and collect from our store, free of charge:
Opening Hours:
Tuesday: 10 am–5:30 pm
Wednesday: 10 am–5:30 pm
Thursday: 11 am–7 pm
Friday: 10am–5:30pm
Saturday: 10 am–5:30 pm
Sunday: 10 am–5:30 pm
Monday: Closed
*Hours may differ on public holidays.