Christmas gifts in Australia

Buy for summer, not snow

Most gift guides are written for a cold Christmas. In Australia the day usually means heat, a long lunch, the beach or the backyard, and a holiday break that runs into January. The most useful presents get used in that window: a towel, a picnic rug, a cooler bag, a surf mat, a bike light for the ride back to work.

That is why the list leads with the Dock & Bay towel and the Pik-Nik rug rather than slippers. Warm items still have a place for cool evenings, camping or someone heading south, which is where the Creswick blanket and the Yellow Earth scuffs fit. Summer heat also changes how you send food. Chocolate gifts like Koko Black, Haigh's and Patons can melt in a delivery van, so order them earlier or choose express delivery to a home where someone is in.

Delivery across a big country

Australia Post carries most parcels, with couriers such as StarTrack, Aramex and Sendle used by many shops. December is their busiest month, and regional and remote addresses, parts of Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Tasmania can take noticeably longer than a capital-to-capital delivery.

Our shipping deadlines page lists the last recommended order dates for regular and express post. Treat them as the latest you should leave it. Order heavy or bulky gifts first, like the Solidteknics pan, the picnic rug and the camping blanket. Advent calendars need to arrive before the first of December to make sense.

If it is too late to ship, the Readings card arrives by email within minutes, and the Zoos Victoria membership is emailed as a voucher you can print and put in a card.

Ordering from overseas

Plenty of good gifts only ship from the US, UK or Europe. Imported goods bought online generally have GST charged, often at checkout by the overseas shop, and higher-value parcels can attract duty and extra customs processing. Shipping from overseas is also slow in December, and returns cost more and take weeks.

Before ordering, check whether the shop prices in Australian dollars, says GST is included, or ships from a local warehouse. Food is another catch. Australia has strict biosecurity rules on what can come into the country, so imported food, seeds and some natural products can be held or destroyed. Buying edible gifts from Australian makers, like the Gewürzhaus spice pack or Market Lane coffee, avoids that.

Black Friday, Boxing Day and budgets

Black Friday sales are now well established in Australian shops and are the time to buy bigger items such as the Solidteknics pan. Boxing Day sales come after the presents are opened, so they suit spending gift cards and buying for yourself. Compare against the regular price before trusting a discount.

Socks, chocolate, hand balm, the bike light and the grow kit sit under $40 and suit teachers, coworkers and Kris Kringle. Coffee, tea, the cooler tote and the towel fill the middle. The pan, the kayak trip and the zoo membership are for one or two people. Pair the KeepCup with the Market Lane bundle, or the surf mat with the towel, for a fuller present.

Common mistakes

The first is buying for the wrong season. A heavy robe or a winter throw from an overseas gift guide will sit in a cupboard until June. The second is location. Experiences like the Sydney Harbour kayak trip and the Zoos Victoria membership only work for someone who lives nearby, so check before you buy.

The third is sizing and fit. The Yellow Earth scuffs run large and the Bamboozld socks come in one size, so keep receipts and check each shop's returns window. Finally, kids' beach gear is a toy, not safety equipment. The Sunnylife surf mat needs an adult watching, and a good towel and hat matter more than the mat itself.

Questions people ask

What do you buy for a summer Christmas in Australia?

Things that get used outside in the holiday weeks: a quick-dry beach towel, a padded picnic rug, an insulated cooler tote, a kids' surf mat or a sunrise kayak trip. Food gifts from Australian makers work well too, but chocolate needs care in the heat, so order early or choose express delivery to someone who is home.

Do I pay GST on gifts ordered from overseas shops?

Generally, yes. GST is usually charged on imported goods bought online, often collected by the overseas shop at checkout, and higher-value parcels can attract duty and customs processing. Food, seeds and natural products face strict biosecurity checks and may be held. Buying from Australian shops avoids most of this and makes returns simpler.

When should I order Christmas gifts in Australia?

Earlier than feels necessary, especially for regional, remote, Western Australian, Northern Territory or Tasmanian addresses. Our shipping deadlines page lists the last recommended dates for regular and express post. Order heavy items first, and anything that melts or that needs to arrive before December 1, like an advent calendar, as soon as you can.

What are good Christmas gifts from Australian makers?

A Solidteknics iron frypan made in Sydney, Patons chocolate macadamias, a Gewürzhaus pack of native spice blends, Haigh's chocolate from Adelaide and coffee from Melbourne roaster Market Lane. For a gift to send overseas, the macadamias travel well, though spices and food can be held up by customs in the destination country.