A New Zealand man has been charged with allegedly trying to smuggle child pornography into Australia via Perth.

The man, 66, was arrested at Perth International Airport after arriving on a flight from Thailand, Customs said today.

Customs officials allegedly discovered hundreds of images on a laptop computer during a search of his luggage on March 30.

The man is due to appear in Perth Magistrates Court on April 3.

The maximum penalty is a fine of $275,000 and/or 10 years in prison.