Sending a gift to Australia?

If I post a parcel the nice man in the Post Office always smiles and says 'it'll take about five days'

about three weeks more like, and that's airmail.

My daughter and grandchildren are in Perth. I usually reckon that it will cost the price of the gifts for the postage, but I think that the children still need to open a parcel from their grandma. The Aussie shops are missing a trick with this. I tried to get Margaret River Chocolate company interested in delivering an Easter egg but no use. I'll try David Jones though, thanks.

I wonder where your family lives petitpois? If anywhere near Sydney, you could buy an annual pass for Taronga Zoo via their website. I did this for my lot and they loved it. I have given up on posting anything from the UK as the postage is usually more than the cost of the contents

I've used David Jones: www.davidjones.com.au/Store-Locations-and-Trading-Hours who I tend to think of as an Australian John Lewis

Ooh, has Myer got a sale on?!!

Thanks

If you fly out to Australia then you might acquire frequent flyer points which can be exchanged for gifts - I have done this as 'extra surprises' a couple of times.

I know it is basic. I send a gift of money, via paypal. Got fed up with £20 gift, costing £15 to send. Plus the fcat paypal is instant, or on their ste within an hour. The Australian family are quite happy with this. I tried sending a gift voucher, but my son said it took away the freedom to spend the gift on their choice.

The Book Depository sends books all over the world for free and have a pretty good selection

Thanks for the suggestions - that is exactly what I was after. Myer has some sales on at the moment for kids gifts as well so am tempted to buy the little boy an early birthday present at the same time. Although the charity site is brilliant and I really love the idea of supporting that too. Thank so much all. Am bookmarking all of these for future. Knew gransnetters would come up with the goods!

That's quite a lot for p&p which could go towards a present. However, if ordering something from the UK you could offset that cost against the fall in value of the £ against the A$ now iyswim
Anything ordered from an Australian site is going to cost you more now.

I have used M&S, very reliable. They charge about £16 p&p.

A friend ordered a gift from M&S to be delivered to Australia wth no problems.

Can I suggest that you buy a gift from this online shop and support this truly fantastic charity. Started by dr Catherine Hamilin it has been repairing terrible birth injuries suffered by Ethiopian women, for many decades.
Nice gifts too.

store.hamlin.org.au/collections

I think the Book Depository deliver anywhere in the world post free.

I use an Australian company called A Little Luxury - they have a wide selection of gifts. Avoid a company called Gift Sensations. They completely let me down on a Christmas gift and when I rang to complain was told it was my fault for not ordering earlier (I ordered end of November!)

Excuse typos!

A firm
Etc

I have ordered jewellery from a form called Gilletts, they will gift wrap and delivery is very prompt, I can recommend them.
Otherwise, look on the websites of other Ausralian firms such as Myer.

Amazon is not operating there as far as i know, deliveries are from America I think.

Postage is now a shocking price, unless you find a bargain here or something extremely light, it is hardly worth it.
(But I still send parcels, every Christmas, daft me!)

I ordered some earrings for my sister who lives about 300 miles north of Sydney from an Australian website. No problem and she was delighted with them.

Someone suggested Amazon recently , worth a look