House exchange to Australia - gift for hosts?

[alison222]

We have arranged a non simultaneous house exchange to Australia going there for Christmas and they are here for the Olympics. They are going to be away at their daughters but we are spending X-mas day with them and their family. We will be taking small presents for all the grandchildren but want to take something for our hosts and for the couple whose house we are staying in. They are being so helpful before we go and I want to get something that maybe they don't have in Australia or is difficult to come by - so those of you who have emigrated or live in Oz but visited the UK, is there anything that springs to mind that we could take as a gift.

Also for those Australian Mnetters - what is traditional to take as a gift when invited to someone's house?

anyone?

My mother in law and relatives are al Australian and when they were over here visiting their new grandaughter they were amazed by trumpette socks as well as a few of her toys - guess it depends on how old the kids are? Plus everyone in Australia is pretty obsessed with Percy Pigs from M&S which are a nightmare to find there! Maybe a bottle of champagne too as french champagne is ridiculously expensive in Australia - something that's £25 in tesco here is $100 there!

I'm a NZer so hardly qualified to comment, but as they're coming next year, what about a guide book, or tickets to a show, a meal out when here, afternoon tea at the Ritz or Savoy, bus tour, tickets to the Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower of London, etc, etc.

You can pretty much get there what you get here, and I don't think they're Brits so they won't be missing anything, but will be very excited about coming here.

For the hosts on Christmas Day I'd take a bottle of port and some Christmas Lilies.

Something small, non breakable and non perishable like vouchers or tickets to the theatre would be a good idea.

Foodstuffs and bottles of alcohol could well be confiscated at any overland stopover point by Customs (the staff at Changi for instance are very strict indeed) even before arrival into Australia. Australian authorities are also very strict on what items can and cannot br brought in; all food items brought in must be declared to customs officials.