What gifts do I take to Australia from UK?

[ButterflyTulips]

So we're travelling over to see in laws in a few weeks and I'm completely stumped what to take as little gifts.

Obviously they have most things there and I'm not needing to take "marmite" or "tea" as they're Australian not British ex pats... So needs to be more presenty than that.

They have easter eggs (this would have been an easy win if it had been america!) and lindt and Cadbury etc.

Any ideas what might be a nice gift? We don't go over often at all.

Marmite isn’t the thing here, it’s Vegemite all the way! 😆

We have pottery but it starts at around £50 and I would be worried would break.

There is a craft outlet somewhere I could look at but I don't know them well enough to choose earrings/necklace.

Yes I know about vegemite! We've had it for the kids. It's a less gloopy/sticky consistency so better to spread. Marmite is kind of saltier but there is a product called marmite in Australia I believe but it isn't the same as our marmite!

Jo Malone soaps and Ulster Weavers teatowels were a hit with my Aussie MIL

So.

Maybe make a small photo book of my kids (their grandchildren) or a nice framed photo.

Also national trust!! I love a national trust shop... Maybe they'd have a nice framed print or some arty bits?

Im not sure brought shortbread would be as nice as homemade and I'm sure they can make it. We have a lovely farm shop here but not sure off hand what we could take
Some lovely chilli jam but I'm sure they have that there too! Lavender... Again not sure anything special.

Blimey, saltier than Vegemite doesn’t bear thinking about! 😄

I definitely think doing something nice when you’re here is the best way to go. Maybe a nice meal out - that way they can choose where.

Just take them out for a celebratory meal.

Think framed photos and a meal out is fine, I wouldn’t bother with national trust stuff or any food things.

Catsmere yes it's very much an acquired taste and v salty. Very binary love it/hate it response.

We definitely will take out for a meal but we will also definitely bring a gift. Just not sure what yet! There's a National trust gift shop nearby though so will have a nosy.

Would Australians really turn up to visit/stay with someone without a token gift? Especially across countries.

Maybe it's more culturally more British then? I definitely wouldn't turn up without "something".

I took an slightly unusual English gin back for my Australian brother’s token gift

I think the photo book of grandchildren that they don't see very often is a lovely thought

Not as a token gift but perhaps for Christmas or something people on here have mentioned a "photo display thing" that you can download with photos /send photos to ? - that could be good to send lots more photos to in future of grandchildren

A print of a scene near where you live ?

Kew Garden soaps

@Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain 😂😂😂 that was exactly what I was going to say.

I wouldn’t take gifts, except something I made (knitting) but that’s just me, I can’t speak for anyone else. I’m from a no-gifts-please family.

I’m from across the ditch so can’t speak for Australians, but would never dream of turning up to stay with people, without a gift.

I would suggest don’t bother taking Cadbury’s - if they’re anything like us, they’ll have their own local brands that are far superior to Cadbury’s.

A framed photo/photo book of the kids / local/artisanal gin and a meal out are all good suggestions.

My friends always crave Percy Pigs and Monster Munch crisps!

Thanks could be more of a "some posters" thing than an Aussie thing, just was surprised to see a couple of posts suggesting take nothing!

And yes Cadburys is cheap lunch box chocolate here not exactly "good" chocolate! It often seems to come up though - maybe it's more what English people in America "miss" of home (like marmite!)

We're not really gin drinkers/we're not from London so won't do Kew garden bits (love Kew though!) but I think our national trust shop has some local craft makers in it so will look at at the weekend. I won't be doing our pottery as that's 30/50£ and don't know them well enough to know what they'd like!

Thinking of Marmite, I've only seen it in teeny tiny jars at the Coles international section. If your PILS like Marmite, take a big jar. Or two. I will take custody of any excess Marmite. Ah, I see they are Aussie so probably won't like Marmite. Leave it with me.

Spirits are very expensive here so hit the Duty Free on your way out if your PILs are so inclined.

Agree about chocolate - Australian Cadbury's is better than the UK kind.

I'd second Percy Pigs. Also, typically, British tea towels (NT or native animal scenes, I would avoid Royal themed).

I 'm really confused at this , as they're your husbands parents wouldn't he be best placed to know what they would like ?

My Little sister ( Brit in Oz) always loves a good bra. Being well endowed she finds its hard to by non padded, encase the lot bras lol. But obviously we are sisters and those sort of pressies are ok :)

Shes coming this way this year and has asked, what do I want, and tbh there is nowt I want. 20 years+ ago yes I asked for UGGS, still sat in the wardrobe. Now its bring yourselves and save your money for things that you/we would all enjoy

The things they buy when here are crisps and chocolate. Proper Cadburys as we know it is expensive there and they dont do crisps like we do

The other gifts, football shirts :( Costs them a fortune if they are fans of the premier league

When she comes its a meal out and a Tesco voucher to go towards costs ( I buy her bras with the voucher and post onwards :) )

Crafty type things if you can find something at an appropriate price point sound good to me - it's reasonable to stick to things that are smaller and lighter given the distance and luggage restrictions! Just make sure you do take the "no wood" advice seriously, no seeds, no wheat bags, no straw etc - no plant material at all basically. Coming from the UK you may be treated more severely if you make a mistake than people from some other areas, depending.

Oh, and if you are taking shoes or boots that you would use to walk in rural or farmland areas, please clean them thoroughly. We generally clean then wipe over the soles of shoes with disinfectant before we go (our local walks are over fields and our route to town includes a path over meadows where cattle are turned out).

Have a great trip.

Oh I've just had one other thought - ask if fridge magnets would be liked. You should see the collection my late mother-in-law had!

Is there anywhere over here they have visited and enjoyed? If so, look for a nice print or memento of that.

A picture of the grandkids in a nice frame sounds good. Do your kids do the t-towels with everyone’s face drawn on at school? If you had one of those they might like that too. The best present an English friend brought me was a wooden seagull you could hang outside but that was funny because we used to live in Brighton. I had to take it down too as it scared the kookaburras away 😂 Australian Border Security are actually usually lovely and friendly, if you are not sure about anything just declare it on the form you will be given before you get off the plane and they will tell you if it’s allowed or not. Just don’t take any food except stuff like packaged biscuits and chocolate.