Written by

Lewis Grant

Lewis writes the Same Skies guides to posting and sending between the UK and Australia: what it costs, what gets held at customs, and when to order for Christmas.

  1. Practical gifting

    Do You Pay Customs on a Gift Sent to Australia? What the Recipient Owes

    Usually no duty on a gift worth AUD 1,000 or less. Who pays, what the customs form needs, and a sourced table of what can't be posted to Australia.

  2. Practical gifting

    Cheapest Way to Send a Parcel to Australia From the UK

    Royal Mail, a courier, or a gift ordered inside Australia? One 2kg parcel compared on cost, delivery time, customs paperwork and risk, with prices checked on 25 October 2026.

  3. Christmas

    Christmas Cards to Australia: Last Posting Date, Cost and What to Write

    Royal Mail hasn't published 2026 dates for Australia. When to post your Christmas cards, what it costs, what to write, and the options if you miss it.

  4. Christmas

    Christmas in Australia: Traditions, Food and What the Day Is Really Like

    Christmas in Australia is a summer day: prawns, pav, carols and cricket. The traditions, what's on the table, the music and decorations, and the UK time difference.

  5. Practical gifting

    UK to Australia Time Difference: When to Call Family (Without Waking Anyone)

    Sydney is 9 to 11 hours ahead of the UK. Every capital, the clock change dates for 2026-27, and the best times to ring without waking anyone.

  6. Practical gifting

    Postage to Australia From the UK: Costs by Weight, Letters and Customs

    What postage to Australia from the UK costs by weight up to 20kg, how much a letter or card is, how long it takes and what customs and biosecurity ask. Checked 25 October 2026.

  7. Christmas

    Last Christmas Post to Australia 2026: Last Posting Dates From the UK

    Royal Mail still hasn't published 2026 dates for Australia. Our tracker shows what it has said since 2023, plus what to post by, customs, packing and a later option packed in Sydney.

  8. Practical gifting

    Can You Send Chocolate and Food to Australia from the UK?

    Sealed chocolate, biscuits, shortbread and tea can go; meat and chilled food can't. What's allowed, how to declare it and how to stop chocolate melting in the Australian summer.