Australia Post has released its official Christmas sending deadlines, urging shoppers to plan ahead as millions of parcels prepare to flood the network.
With major sales like Black Friday just around the corner, getting organised early is the key to avoiding that dreaded holiday stress.
For metro areas, standard Parcel Post items should be sent by December 21 for interstate and December 22 for same-state deliveries.
Express Post is available until December 23, while Christmas cards should be mailed by December 18 (interstate) or December 21 (same-state) before the 2.30pm over-the-counter cutoff.
Senders connecting with Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Tasmania, or remote regions should allow a few extra days.
International deadlines vary by destination, with Economy Air closing between November 24 and December 4, International Standard between December 1 and December 11, and International Express between December 4 and December 15.
Executive General Manager Gary Starr said Australia Post has spent months preparing for the festive rush.
“For more than 200 years, Australia Post has been a part of Christmas in Australia, helping families and friends stay connected,” he said.
“With major shopping events such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday just around the corner, we expect millions of Australians to take advantage of sales and start their Christmas shopping earlier than ever.
“Whether you’re sending a gift close to home, across the country or internationally, getting organised early can help take some of the stress out of the festive season.
“Our message is simple: check the dates, shop early, send early and get one more thing ticked off your Christmas to-do list”.
Full details and destination-specific dates are now available at auspost.com.au/christmas.
