DS will be travelling in Australia this Christmas - help!

[jocktamsonsbairn]

So he'll be away Oct - Oct and although I am so proud and happy for him, part of me is struggling! My baby boy won't be home for Christmas! I am planning to put a stocking in his bag but can't get into the Christmas zone just yet. Any ideas for things he'll love/find useful/can carry abroad?? Apart from Percy Pigs which are essential apparently! He's 22 so not really an actual baby boy 😂

I’d make it as traditional and nostalgic as possible. What things did you put in when he was younger? Long standing favourites?
keep it small, light and useful.

Aloe lotion for sunburn.

Chewing gum
Socks
See if you can get a voucher for an Australian store - try myer or target

I’d go with practical things, a little luxury, a bit of nostalgia. I’ve not checked if he can carry these abroad I remember Australia was quite strict with food items allowed in not sure if it’s changed now.

Branded Mens spf lip balm
Novelty magic expanding face cloth
1 pair of favourite designer cotton underpants unboxed (the gift of an extra day not doing laundry)
Funky patterned spare shoelaces for trainers or hiking boots (if they are doing hiking and not in flip flops all the time)
Novelty plasters
A slim wallet multi tool if it’s got a bottle opener
Giant carabiner clip
A worlds smallest game or small card game
A cotton square bandana, useful as sun hat, handkerchief, sunglasses cleaner, spill mopper upper, brow wiper
A tube of coloured sunblock (only if I knew he’d be up for using if gets a sunburnt nose)
A small photo in plastic lanyard thingy without strap of family pet or family at Christmas
Paper soap
Some extra dollars at the toe

If he's going to Australia for a year, is he really going to want part of his precious luggage allowance filled with tat?

When I was backpacking and it was Xmas, my boyfriend at the time sent a box filled with goodies to my accommodation. It was my fave treats from home. I don't think you can send food to Oz though. I never knew where I would be staying but the Xmas accommodation had to be booked in advance due to it being so busy.

I don't know what you could send beyond a few decorations and a santa hat?? Pic from home? Or is there somewhere within Oz that could deliver British treats?

You can send sealed food in its packaging.

This ^

He's a man now, travelling and having a great time as an adult. I wouldn't recommend packing a stocking full of "stuff". One really nice present would be fine - preferably a substantial gift card for one of the big shops like Myer or David Jones. Christmas is a whole different vibe in Australia - he is likely to spend it on the beach or at someone's house for a barbecue. I hope he has a great time !

Keep in mind that most Oz supermarkets have " foods from the UK " sections in their international food departments. If he is homesick for UK goodies he can buy them when he likes.

As PP he will be having to ack very lightly. I doubt very much you will be able to put a stocking in. A care package nearer the time will be better.

Can’t you ship him a gift? He is going to have limited luggage space.

I wouldn't bring attention to the being away for Christmas thing, he might be feeling a bit apprehensive about some aspects of the trip. I wouldn't want him to feel obliged to things with him he doesn't want/need. Lovely idea but it's for you not him. If you know where he is for Christmas just make sure you send something in good time for the day.

Agreed. I went travelling in 20s and would been mortified if my mum did this. See nearer the time if you can send him some goodies to wherever he’s staying

Also at security he'll be asked if he packed his bag himself. So he's either going to have to lie or tell them his mummy out a Christmas stocking in there for him!

Emailing him a gift card for an Aussie store is a much better idea.

I was travelling at Christmas at his age. I did not have room in my bag for anything extra and certainly not for any tat or gifts! When you travel every single item has to be carefully considered. I wouldn’t have wanted them either - I had met up with others by then and had a great, but very different, Christmas. When you are in a different country Christmas feels different anyway so you don’t miss things like stockings. A nice face time chat and transferring some money into his bank account would be the most appreciated thing imo!

Please don't sneak or hide something in his bag! Most bags are Xrayed on arrival and if your son hasn't declared that he has food, wood or other organic things in his bag-there can be very large fines!

Send a gift closer to Christmas in the post, or as someone else said- send a voucher for a local shop. Lots of UK biscuits/sweets/jams etc can be bought there anyways!

If you really want to give him something Christmassy, what about a soft type of Christmas bauble (not glass!) like a little Christmas angel or similar which takes up no space and he can hang up if he wants.

It sounds like this is more about your feelings about Xmas than your son's.

As PPs have said, a cash transfer will be appreciated more than some Christmas tat - they have plenty of that in Oz.

(NB, Wise is a very cheap and quick way of making foreign transfers.)

I have a 22 year old and he would not thank me for this. This is your upset/worry he will be fine having the time of his life. Send him something nice if he knows where he’ll be at Christmas but you’ve had 22 Christmases with him it’s time to let him enjoy things himself call him and send cash or vouchers or whatever but he’s clearly old enough to go to Australia so he’s old enough to manage himself. Which is not to say you won’t miss him etc but I’d just be happy my son was doing what he wanted and enjoying himself.

Please don't sneak or hide something in his bag! Most bags are Xrayed on arrival and if your son hasn't declared that he has food, wood or other organic things in his bag-there can be very large fines!

Not to mention a guest appearance on Nothing To Declare 😆. Oz immigration is VERY strict about what can be taken in by way of food and organic material.

He'd probably prefer money tbh!

My DS3 was in Australia for his birthday this year
I just transferred cash, and WhatsApp him a gif as he was travelling around
He won't want to carry extras in precious luggage space and he can buy whatever he needs
I missed him of course but it's more important he was having the time of his life... and he's planning to go back for 3 years next year!

I wouldn’t put anything in his backpack. I’d arrange to have it sent to him closer to the time. Get ideas from him after he arrives. When I was backpacking my family sent things to post restante, it’s a service travellers can use to collect parcels. Australian post offer the service but can’t remember its name now.

Its far easier to buy bits of home these days but when I was travelling ( over 20 years ago) I missed little things I couldn’t buy in NZ & OZ like drifters, pickled onion monster munch, cherry coke, lucazade... There are a lot more Brit shops to buy these things now and more uk stuff is stocked in every day shops.

Also think about where he will be over Christmas, if he’s in a Sydney he will have so much at his disposal, if he’s in the outback he won’t.

I know you don’t want to hear this, but if he’s only going in Oct he’s not going to be home sick by Christmas. Australia is bustling, he’s coming into summer, lots of public holidays and events everywhere. He’s going to be having the time of his life.

I’d definitely subtly find out if there is anything he can’t get, his favourite crisps etc.. I couldn’t stand crisps in nz & oz. One thing English people loved getting was things like English marmite, there is a huge competition of which is better English or Australian/NZ my English friends didn’t like it over there and kiwi/ozzy friends don’t like the English version. There is a whole chocolate thing too, Cadburys choc tastes different over there.

For my DH the thing he missed at Christmas was terrys dark chocolate oranges.

Please don't expect him to take Christmas presents with him! That's just crazy. You'll be able to order something for him in December.

This. Just put some money in his account on the day. That’s what he’ll want.

I find the whole tone of this slightly bizarre, that you are even giving something like this head space. In August! My sister and I were both away for two Christmasses in a row when we were that sort of age (a bit younger actually and there are just the two of us) and my mother, bless her, didn't whinge or pine once. She sent us money I think and we did the same in turn - a lot of money because we were earning well - and everyone got on with their lives as adults. I have a 16 year old now and even now, I could picture him being away and I'd be OK with that.

I agree with this.