Gifts for travellers in Australia

Long flights change the list

Almost every overseas trip from Australia starts with a long flight and often a connection, which is where bags go missing. That is why a tracker is our top pick. The AirTag suits an iPhone user. The Orbitkey tracker works with Android and iPhone and is the one to buy for a mixed household.

For the flight itself, Bose headphones are the splurge for a frequent long-haul flyer. Switch off the immersive audio mode to stretch the battery on a 14-hour leg.

Check their phone and their watch

The AirTag, the AirTag key ring and the Peak Design tripod assume an iPhone, and the tripod needs MagSafe or a magnetic case. The Cygnett watch charger only suits an Apple Watch. If you cannot check, buy something with no device link: the passport wallet, a luggage tag, the towel or the titanium mug.

Plugs matter less for domestic trips but a lot overseas. A small Australian-plug charger is useful at home and in hotels here; for overseas trips add an adapter for where they are going.

Budgets

At the low end, a Cygnett fast charger, an Annabel Trends tag or an AirTag key ring are cheap and get used. In the middle, the Status Anxiety passport wallet, the Orbitkey organiser, the Dock and Bay towel and the T2 tea bundle all make good gifts for someone with a trip booked. The Monos carry-on is the big one. Frame cases do not expand, so it suits a light packer.

Summer travel and timing

A Christmas gift in Australia lands at the start of the summer holidays, which is when many people travel domestically. A quick-dry towel that packs into its own pouch, or a titanium mug for a camping trip, gets used in January. The T2 bundle suits someone who has moved away from a city they love; you pick the city when ordering. For a last-minute gift, the RedBalloon e-gift card goes out on the day. Add a suggestion of something near them so it does not sit unused.

Questions people ask

What is a good last-minute travel gift in Australia?

The RedBalloon e-gift card arrives by email the same day and lets them pick an experience. It works best with a suggestion attached, since open choice can leave a card unused. A fast charger or a luggage tag from a local shop is the next easiest, as both are cheap and get used on the next trip.