Key Points
- Australia Post has issued cut-off dates for sending mail ahead of the holiday season.
- For most locations within Australia, the Christmas mail should be sent by 20 December 2024.
- For major European destinations, the cut-off date is 9 December 2024.
With the holiday season approaching, Australians are encouraged to plan ahead and post their Christmas mail on time.
Australia Post has announced a schedule for cut-off dates for international and local mail to make sure it arrives in time for Christmas.
While those posting to metropolitan areas locally have almost two months to prepare and wrap their gifts, those shipping internationally are advised to mail the gifts before late November.
For most metropolitan areas in Australia, interstate parcels should be sent by Friday 20 December, and Christmas cards should be mailed by Friday 13 December. Credit: SBS
Cut-off dates for sending parcels and cards within Australia
For most metropolitan areas in Australia, interstate parcels should be sent before Friday 20 December, and Christmas cards before Friday 13 December.
Express post is more expensive and is quicker, and parcels sent via express post should be sent by Monday 23 December.
For those sending to or from Western Australia and the Northern Territory should allow a few extra days.
The mail heading to Norfolk, Christmas and Cocos Islands should be sent before mid-November.
Gary Starr is the executive general manager of Parcel, Post and eCommerce Services at Australia Post. He emphasised the importance of the cut-off dates to make sure the gifts arrive in time for Christmas.
"We've been preparing for the Christmas rush all year and are bringing on thousands of new team members across our network, plus enhancing delivery updates through the Australia Post app," he said.
"While we’ll do our best to deliver items sent after these dates as quickly as possible, they may not arrive until after Christmas."
Source: SBS News Credit: SBS
Cut-off dates for sending parcels overseas
Those shipping their Christmas gifts internationally should head to the post office a bit earlier.
Depending on the destination, the cut-off dates for international standard shipping start in late November.
For most East and Southeast Asian countries, major European destinations, and New Zealand, parcels sent by regular post should be mailed before 5 December.
For Canada and the United States, it’s a bit later — 9 December and 11, respectively.
Last week, Australia Post urged drivers to remain vigilant on the roads, as its new data revealed a 30 per cent increase in posties being injured while delivering mail.
Data also revealed that last financial year, 86 postal workers were injured on the roads, sustaining injuries, including limbs and concussions.
