Sending gifts to Australia

[garibaldi88]

My 22 year old dd is on a working holiday in Australia, and will be there at Christmas. I'm sure she'll mainly like a cash gift so she can buy things she wants and needs, but I'd also like to send her some small thoughtful gifts she can open. She'll be moving round a bit in the new year, so I don't want to send things like books and clothes which will just take up room. I'm thinking maybe jewellery, and some consumable treats. However I notice that sending jewellery in the post to Australia is not allowed, and I've no idea where to start looking to buy things from Australian websites. Do you have any tips for sending gifts to Aus, or buying things online for local delivery? And any other good ideas to let dd know we're thinking about her over the festive period, since I can't send an chocolate advent calendar and treats as I would if she was in UK?

Marks and Spencer offer free Christmas delivery to Australia.

We sent a selection of Christmas food gifts from M&S, they thought they had died and gone to heaven!

The major Australian department stores are David Jones and Myer.

They will do delivery. They both sell Christmas chocolates etc. although she would probably love food that is a taste from home too!

Thanks AldiAisleOfCrap, coconutwater1 and Rainbowqueeen for the M&S treats suggestion, I'll definitely look there. She is a foodie! I'll also check out the department stores you mention Rainbow - they could be a good source for jewellery.

I was in Oz in my 20's for several years. My mum did send me out a chocolate advent calendar and it got there fine. Just write on the label "shop packaged UK chocolate", it is fresh ingredients that they use to have issue with. They do change the rules often so it may have changed.

We have used M&S to send to friends before. Sometimes the offer doesn't come online till Nov. It can come and go.

Other things she would use are t-shirts, bikini, flip flops, hat/cap, sunglasses and a new beach towel. All things she will use very regularly over there.

Michael Hill jeweller is online and would have a range of everything like H. Samuel here. If you wanted to order online and deliver there.

Jewellery is not allowed???

I've been sending jewellery to my aunt and cousins in Oz for years. Admittedly not expensive stuff though. I've always marked it as jewellery on the customs declaration and they've received it OK.

On the jewellery thing, I read the royal mail info here www.royalmail.com/Australia which lists all jewellery as prohibited to send to Aus. I was surprised as I thought it would be ok under a certain value. But I imagine that, in reality, they are exercising some discretion. My OH got me worried when I wanted to sneak a necklace in the post to her earlier in the year, and he said "what if they have metal detectors?" I shouldnt have listened!

I love the list of prohibited items though - just under jewellery is "nuclear reactors" which I'll have to leave out of the stocking this year.

hardtofind is a website like not on the high street with some nice things :)

David Jones is like your John Lewis there. Don't put any liquids or foods in parcel if sending. I made that mistake and the parecel arrived back to me 5 months later....,

Some great ideas for me to check out here, thank you! I think, if I send some food, I'll do it direct from the store so I don't have that worry user - hope whatever you sent didn't go off!

Oh I love hardtofind timeisnotaline, thanks! Thats got loads of nice gift things.

Why not buy from an Australian website? That's what I always do (have family there). David jones/myer are the Australian equivalents of JL. T2 is another one I use often.

Haighs is good for chocolate and offers delivery

John Lewis, m&s and the White Company deliver for free over £100. Look Fantadtic also delivers for free. I've used them all and it is fine.

It won't let you add certain products into your basket that cannot be sent

Using these are MUCH cheaper than sending via Royal Mail.

I send packages to my family a couple of times a year. You can send commercially packaged sweets. Leave them packaged. Always write on the box whats in there. "Commercially packaged sweets", "make up" "clothes". Like that. You dont have to mention quantities.

They get nervous about anything with meat or fruits or plants or home made food. Things in plastic that keep are fine.

It was a tiny vile of toner that stopped the box (which was full of gifts for the whole family). The food I knew to never try as come from New Zealand myself and know nothing would ever get through if food (similar postal rules).

But using David Jones has always worked well. Less stress wondering if box will arrive or not

I think I would prefer to send from an Australian store or maker - saves the airmiles.

Francesca is a local jewellery store - similar to Pandora. You could also try Thomas sabo.

Haighs, David Jones, T2 as mentioned before. I adore Bonds and miss their stuff hugely but it's perhaps not that celebratory (undies and basics). Not sure if Hoyts or Village cinemas do egift cards but cinema tickets, particularly gold class, would have been very much appreciated by me. Peter Alexander do absolutely gorgeous pyjamas, pricey though. You could look at Moonlight Cinema too, in Melbourne, will be similar in other cities. It's an outdoor cinema in the summer.

If she is only on a working holiday, rather than living there permanently, she's probably going to be OK with the stuff she can get there from home (you can get loads!) so I'm not sure how worth it a package of treats from home would be - it costs so much to post these days! Depends on her and any traditions though, terry's chocolate oranges are mega expensive so could send one of them! Advent calendars are not a big deal, so if you're going to post something that might be nice, if you can get one and get it posted in time.

I know you said not clothes - I mentioned Bonds and Peter Alexander because to me there aren't really equivalents here and so for me personally they would count as a momento of the trip too.

The postage restrictions have definitely got worse over the last few years. We have family in North Queensland. Last year I sent a hamper for the adults and some books/notepads for the children which I posted.

Can anyone suggest a good website in Oz for 13 year old girls? What about somewhere that sells art supplies?!

koolamandesigns.com.au does beautiful (mainly silver) jewellery that can be personalised and you can order online. I have bought a few pieces and can't fault them, delivery has always been totally reliable as well. You can buy Terry's chocolate oranges in the supermarket here (Sydney) so I wouldn't pay the postage tbh. If you want nice Aussie chocolates you want Haigh or Koko Black and David Jones is the posh department store here. Book depository is best for buying books for delivery to Australia. You will buy much nicer swimwear here than you will find in the U.K. so it's much better to let her buy that here, Seafolly and Tigerlilly are gorgeous swimwear brands (but mega $$$). If she likes eating out and you know where she is going to be you can get some great restaurant deals on sites like living social and Groupon - you could give her vouchers.

I have sent many foods over the years, mainly tunnocks logs and tablet and mini eggs and it has always arrived fine.just mark on the green form at the post office.