Christmas gifts for Aussie expats missing home

Pavlova topped with cream and strawberries

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There’s a particular kind of homesickness that hits Aussies overseas in December. It’s dark at 4pm, everyone’s talking about mulled wine, and somewhere back home the family is arguing about who brings the pav.

You can’t post them a beach. You can post a box that tastes and smells like home, though, and that gets surprisingly close. Here’s what goes in it, and how to get it there before Christmas.

How we pick

  • Things expats actually ask for. Familiar brands and small comforts, not novelty souvenirs.
  • Origin from the maker. Where we say something is made in Australia, it’s the maker’s claim and we link to it. Some of the most-missed snacks are made by big companies, and where they’re made can change, so check the pack.
  • Posts well. Shelf-stable, not too fragile, and light enough that postage doesn’t cost more than the gift.
  • Customs flagged. Food parcels are the most likely to be held up, so we tell you what to check.
  • No prices. They change. Check the merchant.

The care-package classics

These are the ones that make people go quiet when they open the box.

Tim Tams

Arnott’s Tim Tams are the gift every expat asks for, and often can’t get, or only get at “imported goods” prices. Pack a few varieties. They’re fragile, so wrap them in a tea towel (which doubles as a second gift).

Search Tim Tams on Amazon.com.au

Vegemite

Overseas friends may not get it, but your expat will. Vegemite is made in Port Melbourne, according to its maker. A jar weighs little and keeps for ages, and it’s one of the most-requested items in any care package.

Search Vegemite on Amazon.com.au

Shapes, Twisties and the snack aisle

The savoury snacks that never quite exist overseas: Arnott’s Shapes, a bag of Twisties and the like. They’re light but bulky, so add them as space fillers around heavier items.

Search Shapes on Amazon.com.au

Lollies from home

Darrell Lea liquorice, Minties, Fantales, Allen’s Snakes Alive… the exact list depends on which bit of the lolly aisle they grew up on. Ask a sibling. They’ll know.

See Darrell Lea · Search Australian lollies on Amazon.com.au

Haigh’s Frogs and Christmas chocolates

For something that feels more like a present than a snack, Haigh’s in Adelaide makes chocolate frogs, Christmas ranges and gift boxes. It says its chocolates are made bean-to-bar in South Australia. Its online store delivers within Australia only, so plan to post it yourself.

See Haigh’s

The smells of home

Smell is the sneaky one. The right scent can put someone straight back on a verandah in summer.

A eucalyptus or native-botanical candle

Look for small Australian candle makers working with eucalyptus, lemon myrtle, wattle or Kakadu plum scents. Candles are light, but pack them well, and avoid posting into a heatwave.

Browse eucalyptus candles on Etsy

Koala Eco hand wash or room spray

Koala Eco is an Australian brand that uses essential oils, such as eucalyptus, lemon myrtle and peppermint, in hand washes, cleaners and room sprays. It says its Australian products are made locally using Australian essential oils. Liquids need careful packing, and some carriers restrict aerosols, so check before posting.

See Koala Eco

Lucas’ Papaw Ointment

Not a scent exactly, but that red tube is pure childhood for a lot of Aussies. It’s small, light and cheap to add, and its maker says it’s made in Queensland.

See Lucas’ Papaw

Something to keep

Food gets eaten. These hang around.

  • A print of their home town or a local landscape by an Australian artist. It posts flat, it’s personal, and it goes on the wall. Browse Australian landscape prints on Etsy
  • A 2027 calendar of Australian photography or native flora. Twelve months of home. Browse calendars on Etsy
  • A tea towel or apron with native botanicals from a small Australian maker. It’s light, useful, and good padding for the Tim Tams. Browse tea towels on Etsy
  • Christmas bonbons with Aussie-themed jokes. Check that the maker says they’re shipping-safe, because crackers contain a small snap strip that some carriers restrict.

How to get it there in time

  1. Post early. Earlier than you think. Australia Post publishes Christmas posting dates for each country every year. Find them on Australia Post’s Christmas page and work backwards. We’ve put the 2026 dates in one place: Australia Post Christmas cut-off dates 2026.
  2. Check the destination’s food rules. The UK, the US, Canada, New Zealand and EU countries each have their own rules on food in personal parcels. Commercially packaged, shelf-stable snacks are usually the safest bet, while meat, dairy, honey and fresh produce are usually not. Check the official customs site for the country.
  3. Fill in the customs form properly. List each item (“chocolate biscuits, commercially packaged, 3 packets”) instead of just writing “gift”.
  4. Mind the value. Some countries charge import duty or tax on gifts above a certain value. Check the destination’s threshold.
  5. Order from Australian sellers that ship internationally. It can be simpler than packing a box yourself. Check the seller’s shipping page for Christmas cut-off dates.
  6. Or go local at their end. Many big cities overseas have shops selling Australian groceries. A gift card or a click-and-collect order from one can beat international postage on cost and speed.

The one thing that matters most

A handwritten card. Put it on top. It’ll get read before the Tim Tams get opened, and that’s saying something.

More from Gumnutly

Written by our editors. Brand origin claims are the makers’ own, linked where stated. Last checked: 31 October 2026.

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