With the festive season fast approaching, Australia Post is urging Australians to plan early and send their gifts ahead of time to ensure they reach their loved ones before Christmas.
The national postal service has officially released its cut-off dates for both domestic and international deliveries, as it prepares for its busiest period of the year. Executive General Manager Gary Starr said Australia Post is ramping up operations with thousands of additional staff to meet the surge in demand.
“Christmas is the busiest time of year for our network, and we know how important it is for parcels and cards to arrive on time,” Starr said. “We’re sharing these key dates early so people can plan ahead, while also scaling up our operations with thousands of extra team members.”
For domestic mail, parcels sent within the same state should be posted by Monday, December 22, while interstate deliveries should be lodged by Friday, December 19. For Express Post, the final posting date from metro areas is Tuesday, December 23. Christmas cards and letters from metro areas should be sent by Thursday, December 18 for same-state deliveries and Tuesday, December 16 for interstate. Residents in Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Tasmania, and regional or remote areas are advised to allow extra time.
For international deliveries, the deadlines vary by destination. Economy Air parcels should be sent between November 21 and December 5, Standard parcels between November 28 and December 12, and Express parcels between December 5 and December 18.
While Australia Post says it will continue to deliver items posted after these dates “as quickly as possible,” it cannot guarantee pre-Christmas delivery. “Planning ahead is the best way to make sure your gifts reach loved ones,” Starr emphasized.
As the country’s delivery network gears up for a record-breaking volume of Christmas mail, Australians are encouraged to check the recommended deadlines, label parcels clearly, and avoid last-minute posting to ensure their festive surprises arrive on time.
