Presents for Australian children

[LoonyLunaLoo]

We’re going to visit friends in Australia for Christmas and I’d like to take some things that they can’t get in Australia for their children. The parents are English but have been in Australia for a long time and the children were born in Australia. Can anyone recommend some treats we could bring them? I’ve bought them and our DS matching elf pjs from Asda so a tube of sweets that they haven’t had before to go with them would make a nice Christmas even present. I guess chocolate wouldn’t survive the journey?

I don’t miss anything food wise from the uk . My parents will bring a bar of chocolate with them but that’s just because they want to bring something.
I don’t find books that expensive.
I would rather the money spent on a day out when they arrive . My boys think this is great as they often get an ice cream and hot chips 😂😂😂😂

I'm Australian with kids and I think something touristy for the kids is nice and the chocolates/tea/ teatowels/ coasters/ alcoholic beverages for adults.

Just be wary of where you are going in Australia, I'm in Brisbane and it's 37deg + 80% humidity around Christmas so chocolate WILL melt.

Also, no one I know does crackers but they could be a nice novelty? (although BN I personally think the trinkets inside can be rubbish/hazardous for little children).

chantico

I've taken sweets / chocolate in, I had to fill in a form and declare it.

OP

You can buy 'English Lollies' but they are more expensive, I was asked to bring Caramac bars.

You will have to declare anything made of wood too.

Thorntons chocolate went down well, they used to do (maybe still do) a thing that looked like a cake but made of nougat and filled with chocolates.

Put the chocolate in the hold, it will be fine.

My English SIL brought some packets of these little pig lollies for my kids. They loved them.

A board game is a lovely idea - something to enjoy as a group. Australia has Cadbury's etc but it's not edible, it's just not a patch on British chocolate! I have to make special trips to stock up on UK imports at the supermarket and it's $$$. Don't agree AT ALL with the poster saying that Aussie food is better than British food - there are so many things I miss - I dream about M&S food haha

M&S are doing Christmas tins of Percy Pigs. They are shaped like a Percy head and wearing Santa hat.

Our children are Australian, but my husband is English. They receive gifts from UK, but the things they love the most are the English sweets.

I've taken sweets / chocolate in, I had to fill in a form and declare it

Yes, and the current official info about which are permitted, and which not, and in what quantities, are in the link I posted.

I've taken Pear Drops in the past (you can probably get them there these days, though)

Mugs, tea towels, coasters, Xmas tree decorations, British edition board games and souvenir-type books?

I don't get the love for Percy Pigs. They seem like perfectly standard jelly sweets to me.

Chocolate. I disliked Australian chocolate.

Aussie chocolates are horrid!! It’s made differently so it doesn’t melt as easily etc Also Aussie sausages are DISGUSTING!! Any of the ones I tried anyway. But everything else was lush!!

Also Aussie sausages are DISGUSTING!!

There isn't just one Aussie sausage btw, there are literally thousands of types. Countless brands at the supermarkets and other shops plus each butcher and deli etc has their own.

@1300cakes yes that’s why I followed that statement up with “any of the ones I tried anyway”

wow! That's astonishing. Here in England there is only one kind of sausage. It would be fantastic if different supermarkets and butchers had their own.

@Figure0f8 you being sarcastic?

Definitely.

Hmmm, I agree that Australian sausages (the cheap long thin variety that was standard fare when I was growing up) can be pretty average, but when put with bread and tomato sauce on a cold day at a sausage sizzle, well that is a thing of beauty!

That's great Flipper, bring The English Sausage (tm) over and we can all try it.

Some suggestions;

Although the kids are Australian born, are they football fans? Their favourite team's stationery or bit and bobs from Sports Direct. It is very difficult to get anything here unless you support Man Utd or Liverpool.

I agree with Revels. Minstrels, Buttons etc, very expensive here when we can get them!

Crisps are a great idea, especially the more niche/limited edition flavours

Nice gin for Mum and Dad? I heard Whitley's Quince gin is lovely, can't get that here :)

Also Big Ben/Black Cab/Red postbox key ring and/or tree decoration would be nice..kids here like key rings for their school bags and the tree decoration would be a lovely memento