Present for a backpacker mid travels?

[Steben]

Dniece is going to be in Australia at Christmas part way through her round the works travels. She is spending Christmas with some family we have there who I always send gifts to so would like to include a token for her. However it obviously needs to be light/practical etc... Any ideas?

I'd get her some nice underwear. If she's been on the road for a few months, the stuff she started out with is probably faded, grey or shredded from too much washing/scrubbing.

Yes, underwear is a nice idea or some vest tops.

I remember when I was travelling for a year, my mum sent me a wildly inappropriate dress from Monsoon at Christmas! I sent it home, sharpish.

Money!
I really loved getting v English things while I was away, marmite, old copies of heat mag, not sure what else but tokens she wouldn't be able to get in Oz IYSWIM?

I agree with undies. Something I did for a friend was to transfer some cash into her account and did a handmade voucher saying it was her "treat" money for when she got to an airport or something late at night and wanted to get a taxi rather than wait for the bus, got to her youth hostel only to find it was fully booked so could upgrade to a nice level of accom or something similar. She really appreciated it and I got an email a few weeks later to say she'd come down with a bout of D&V and had used my "voucher" to get herself a single room with a en suite for a couple of nights rather than stay in a dorm.

Could you book a night for her in a hotel?

When I went travelling those rare nights with clean sheets and hot showers all to myself were bliss!

New vest and t shirts
Haviannas

Clothes are rubbish in oz
Yep to undies and light pjs

Phone credit

Don't do what my mum did and send a bar of dairy milk - it was very melted when it arrived .

I agree with undies or a night in a hotel.

Nah, she'll have stocked up on Bonds undies on Oz.
Go for money, or a night in a hotel, massage, something like that.

Or a Xmas pudding.

.. A UK rescue pack:-

Mini Sachets of Marmite
Proper Teabags
Milk Sachets
Boiled Sweets
Nutella Sachets
Marmalade
All stuff that will make her home-sick and want to come back home ...
etc etc etc

Christmas in the Sun isn't just not right....

A phone credit voucher is a good idea.

I was actually going to suggest also a solar powered phone recharger (in case she's caught in-country somewhere for a while) but they're about £20 for a decent one so would be more than a token gift. (It would also need to be bought by the relatives because sending it likely wouldn't get it to Oz in time for Christmas.)

When I was away I got sent some magazines, it was brilliant. Some vest tops or t shirts is a good idea too.

Thanks for replies all! Think I am going to send her a nice mascara - perfectly light and it can be a posh one as debenhams have 15% off at minute on beauty

..make sure that it is waterproof.... she will be in and out the sea ....

I would have liked a new lightweight towel, an experience (eg a Sydney harbour bridge climb), or a lipstick. And a nice card with a photo. Maybe a paperback novel.

Definitely agree with Howard . A night in a hotel when you have been backpacking is bliss. I always relate to the Celebs when they get evicted and stay at the Versace it really is fab to have some luxury after roughing it for a while.