christmas shopping in Australia?

[SeymoreButts]

So where are you all doing your christmas shopping? We've been in Sydney for a fortnight and I'm still in the habit of converting everything into pounds and then having a small fit. I've had a look on Amazon and it looks as though they won't ship toys and computer games here? Is it worth getting family at home to post things over here?

Hi there from Brisbane, yes I just ordered dvds (watch the region thing on those) and books on Amazon as they qualify for free super saver delivery but not toys which is annoying! I've got a few things with John Lewis recently- a few toys for the kids (nb int delivery range is a bit limited so you won't get everything they do), but we were getting some new bedding etc and it works out cheaper to get 'manchester'/duvets etc from there and pay £15 for delivery!

I do think it is sometimes worth getting stuff sent out from the UK e.g. playmobil and lego I'm finding are much pricier here and a bit limited in range so my family are sending some sets out - it doesn't weigh too much for postage! nor does baby annabel clothing...again, about 3 times the price here. There is toysrus here of course - and they do deliver for free over a certain amount but the normal charges don't look too bad actually.

If its toys then Target and Big W are usually cheapest and also Kmart..
Hint for next year is that they all do toy sales in July which is great because they do Layby which means you can pay in installments up to Christmas. The absolute best thing about this is that they store it until Christmas eve!

For presents for home I just order from Amazon

I just bought an ice cream maker from amazon. It was £20 delivery but still cheaper than buying it here. $119 altogether rather than $150. I also got a lundby dolls houses and furniture from amazon and it worked out half the price, even with delivery.

we did the sales in july from kmart and everything is on layby! great way to do things! depends on what you want really. I don't send presents to my brother for his kids and he doesn't send for mine. we both say we'll spend around $30 per child. saves, postage, package, exchange rates etc and also then we get what our kids want or we put towards something bigger

Wow layby sounds brilliant! I will do that next year. I keep meaning to have a look in Target, there is one near us. Right, I'm going to have a look on Amazon and see what they'll ship over here!

JBHiFi is usually cheapest here for games, DVDs etc. EB games generally the most expensive (and they only do games/consoles). There are some lovely independent toy shops here depending on where you live - not the cheapest but lovely, old fashioned toy shops! If you want girl presents the toy shop on the top floor of QVB has beautiful dolls and things. The Australian Geographic shop (various places but also in the QVB) has interesting things and great stocking fillers. Books are extortionate here but kids books less so - again there are some great independents I tend to use as otherwise they won't last. Whereabouts are you and I can give you more specific info.

hello from central queensland ....

I have been finding it hard to christmas shop as we are in the middle of nowhere - but agree about independent toyshops.

if you need baby / young children stuff I had great service from Classic baby but shocking from tryingh Big W online (four weeks for a cot depsite extortionate delivery costs, and it is still not here, humph)

let us know how you get on.

sorry for typos, am hot, sticky and grumpy and it appears to be affecting my ability to type

petersofkensington.com.au - brilliant website

another for target/kmart and bigw, mr toys toyworld, markets,