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AUSTRALIAN GIFTS FOR OVERSEAS – YOUR ULTIMATE GUIDE
Australian gifts for overseas: So you’ve FINALLY renewed your passport and got it in time to take that trip overseas? Yes! You've checked all the wonderful new and latest requirements for entering each country you're visiting; you've got your itinerary and where you’re going to stay sorted...
... and you've worked out the weather, exchange rates, and what you're going to wear ... plus what you're going to take with you like chargers, toiletries, visas, foreign money and roaming mobile phone/data plans?
But what about gifts for those people you were going to be staying with? Or souvenir presents for colleagues that you may meet?
As you haven't seen them in so long, you might want to get them something really nice, and perhaps think about if it can go in your hand luggage and is lightweight.
You definitely can’t leave empty-handed.
They have, after all, waited all this time to see you and are likely to show you incredible hospitality now you CAN actually travel again (fingers crossed)... and what about those colleagues or overseas business partners you may meet - you can give them a gift from Australia too so they remember you with a smile on their face!
Here we share our top 25 most popular Aussie gifts and souvenirs to take overseas to give you a few helpful ideas on what you can take with your or send.
Our criteria for our list is that these gifts must be thoughtful, beautiful, unique, Australiana themed, and light-weight to carry in your luggage (or send more cheaply!) where possible.
So without further ado…
(drum roll please….) if you can’t wait to scroll the full details below, here’s a summary of our top Australian gifts for overseas – click on your favourite for more info! 
Shop all Australian Gifts here
10. Jigsaw Puzzles
11. Australian Made Gift Hampers
12. Soaps
14. Ties
15. Socks
16. Australian Tea
17. Suitcase Scent
18. Blue Wren Gifts
19. Hand towels
21. Aboriginal Gifts
22. Australian Souvenir Beach Towels
23. Drink Bottles
24. G'day Doormat
25. Koala Toys
Shop all Australian Gifts here
#1. AUSTRALIAN GIFTS FOR OVERSEAS – AUSTRALIAN MUGS IN A BOX
Yes, fine bone china mugs DO make great gifts for overseas VIPs.
“Won’t they break in my luggage though?” I hear you ask?
The answer is ‘it depends’ – we now only stock mugs that come in their own gift boxes. This is because the outer thick cardboard gift box not only looks great (like its own gift wrapping), but also protects the mugs from bumps and jolts en route. And let’s face it – these mugs are probably going to travel a long distance!
However, if you are travelling or posting a mug that doesn’t come in its own box, beware! For example a beautiful hand-made mug.
It may look beautiful, but trust us – even with heaps of bubble wrap, clothes-stuffing and careful consideration, it is 10 x more likely to get broken than a mug that comes in its own box.
So feel confident when choosing mugs from our collection that we’ve got you covered 😉.
Aboriginal Mugs
See all Mugs
#2. AUSTRALIAN GIFTS FOR OVERSEAS – HAND CREAMS
Hand creams are another lovely Australian gift to take overseas. We recommend something made in Australia like this kakadu plum design by indigenous artist Alma Granites. Not only does it come in a beautiful box featuring the artwork of Alma Granites from her 'Seven Sisters Dreaming' work, but it’s under $20 and under 100mL so you can take it on the plane in hand-luggage to gift on arrival.
Others we recommend are here: (click on image for more)
#3. AUSTRALIAN GIFTS TO TAKE OVERSEAS – CHOCOLATE TREATS YOU CAN ONLY GET IN AUSTRALIA
If you’re visiting Australian friends or family overseas it can be thoughtful to take them a few Australian childhood chocolates and treats that they will not be able to get elsewhere.
“Tim Tams are widely available in the USA, UK nowadays, and Vegemite can be bought in UK Supermarkets”
The classic is Tim Tams, however they are generally available in the USA and UK so you might want to try a few other things that are ONLY available in Australia.
However, having said that, it is widely acknowledge that in the USA, tim tams are made there to a recipe that is sweeter than the original, designed to appeal more to the American palette. (so they WILL appreciate the originals from Down Under! :-)).
And btw – If you are getting Tim Tams, don’t buy them at Australian airport duty free – as you can pay over $8.00 a packet.
Examples of other treats include many Arnott’s, Cadbury or Allen’s classics that just aren’t available anywhere else except Australia (or Australian themed shops overseas).
These include Picnics, Cherry Ripes, Mint Slice, Iced Vovos, Caramello Koalas, Freddo Frogs, Cadbury Furry Friends, or Wagon Wheels.
We recommend buying share packets of chocolates as it’s usually more fun for people to share with family and friends.
You should pack them separately in your check-in luggage. We have never experienced any problem through customs with these in any country.
#4. AUSTRALIAN GIFTS FOR OVERSEAS – 50 MUST READ AUSTRALIAN NOVELS
Okay they are not always THE lightest thing to carry in your luggage…
…but they are not as heavy as a bottle of wine and take up much less room.
If you are visiting a book-lover overseas, introducing a book they’ll love by an Australian Author they might not have heard of before is a great idea.
If you need some inspiration, why not check out the Australia’s Number one online bookstore – Booktopia. They’ve pulled together a great list of 50 must read Australian novels. There’s something for everyone in there ranging from Penguin Classics such as ‘Picnic at Hanging Rock’ to children’s classics such as ‘The Magic Pudding’; as well as modern favourites like Richard Flanagan’s ‘Narrow Road to the Deep North’, winner of the 2014 Man Booker Prize.
#5. AUSTRALIAN GIFTS FOR OVERSEAS – TEA TOWELS
While Tea Towels to some might not sound like the most exotic or exciting gift -they are perfect and very popular Australian gifts to take overseas.
This is because they are light weight and can be very fun or extremely beautiful, reflecting the stunning Aussie landscape we’ve come to know and love.
For example, one of Kirsten Haworth’s Aussie Slang Tea Towel.
It has lots of Aussie Slang terms with their translation underneath in small text including:
“G’Day Mate” : A universal greeting used any time of the day or night
“Ridgie Didge”: Original, Genuine, Reliable, Honest
“Strewth”: An exclamation used when surprised or in disbelief
“Fair Crack of the Whip”: Give me a fair go!
“Crikey” : Good grif! Fancy that I’ll be blowed! Holy smoke!
“Goodonya” : Good for you – well done
“Up Woop Woop” : The middle of nowhere. Very remote town or place
“Fair Dinkum” : True, Real, Genuine, The real thing
See all Tea Towels
See all Tea Towels
#6. AUSTRALIAN GIFTS FOR OVERSEAS – KOALA CLIP ONS
While these fall into more of the 'traditional souvenir' category, they are a useful little gift to have up your sleeve when going overseas.
These fun koala clip ons make terrific gifts for friends you will make but haven't met yet ! ;-)
Everyone loves koalas
#7. AUSTRALIAN GIFTS FOR OVERSEAS – SCARVES BY AUSTRALIAN ARTISTS
A scarf makes a great gift to take overseas or give to an overseas VIP – especially when, like the one above by Western Australian Artist Shelley Barton of Silken Twine, it reflects the Australian landscape in some way.
Shop all Australian Scarves here
Aboriginal Silk Scarves
The Australian Silk Scarves below make beautiful and lightweight gifts from Australia. These aboriginal ones in particular are also packaged with information about the artist, thier artwork and their community.
More Australian Scarves
See other scarves below that reflect the our native Australian flowers like waratah, wattle and gum blossoms; or your favourite Australian bird like the kookaburra or superb blue fairy wren.
Because these birds and flowers are unique to Australia, combined with the fact these are very lightweight gifts, they make terrific souvenirs.
Shop all Australian Scarves here
#8. AUSTRALIAN GIFTS FOR OVERSEAS – SOUVENIR MAGNETS
Magnets make terrific gifts for overseas VIPs because they’re very light-weight and will be used everyday on the recipient’s fridge (hopefully!) to remind them of you. Aw.
The quality of images on these magnets is extremely high, and they look bright and colourful on any fridge.
Perfect for curing a homesick heart, or for overseas VIPs to remember their trip Down Under!
Check out our full range of magnets here or click the link below.
Shop all Australian Magnets here
#9. AUSTRALIAN GIFTS FOR OVERSEAS – MAKE YOUR OWN HAMPER
Want to give an Australian gift that really has the ‘wow’ factor?
Why not get one of our signature keepsake gift boxes designed to make an Australian impression in a tasteful way, and fill it with the food and gifts you know they love?
Our signature gift boxes feature Australian natives like Banksias, cicadas, butterflies and more on premium card with gold foil highlights. They won’t help but be blown away at the quality of this gift box. And even better, the box can be kept for later to store all sorts of goodies (and hopefully memories of you?!).
These also make great Welcome to Australia gifts, as we’ve sent them to many luxury hotels like the Sydney Shangri-la (for example). We liaise with any concierge to have the gift hamper in their room on arrival. Visitors love it! (who wouldn’t?! :-))
#10. AUSTRALIAN GIFTS FOR OVERSEAS – JIGSAW PUZZLES
Australian jigsaw puzzles and games make great gifts especially if you are giving to an overseas host family who can all participate or play together.
They suit all ages and are also the perfect isolation gift to bring smiles and cure anxiety.
For this reason they're harder to get your hands on than hand sanitiser or face masks right now!
But never fear - we've managed to get our hands on this range of La La Land 1000 piece, and Ashdene 500 piece puzzles they'll love.
And even better if they can learn a little about Australia as they play with our round map of Australia puzzle!
See all Australian Puzzles and Games
#11. AUSTRALIAN GIFTS FOR OVERSEAS – AUSTRALIAN MADE GIFT HAMPER
If you have a full suitcase and couldn’t possibly fit another thing in, why not pre-send your overseas host an Australian Gift hamper?
The one shown here is very popular ‘thank-you’ gift that can be sent overseas from Australia with DHL express – usually arriving anywhere between 3 and 7 days from the date of sending it.
Especially if you are buying for a family or group of friends – a pack like this is perfect to share and enjoy the tastes of Australia.
And you don’t have to worry about customs or getting it squished between your toiletry bag and your hiking boots.
#12. AUSTRALIAN GIFTS FOR OVERSEAS – AUSTRALIAN SOAPS
Similar to hand creams, soaps are also a lovely gift for overseas because they are lightweight, have great Australian packaging, and smell divine! Many smell of the Australian bush which can evoke memories for home-sick Aussies overseas, or excite potential new visitors to the land down under.
We love these ones from Cloverfield. Not only do they smell divine – they are enriched with essential oils and extracts from Australian natives like lemon myrtle, quandong, kangaroo paw, lilli pilli and kakadu plum.
Also, we love their packaging. On the inside of the box featuring Australian plants is this lovely message…
Inside the soap gift box’s lid reads:
” Come, let us journey together through the Australian country, a land of exquisite natural beauty, wild and pure. We will run as far as the eye can see, over dusty plains shimmering with hidden gems, past Ghose Gums, Myrtles and crooked Banksia to the place where Kangaroo Paw grows glowing red against the seting sun.
Let us eat sweet Lilli Pilli and Quandong under the brilliant azure skies while listening to an orchestra of Cockatoos and Kookaburras chatter. Then, as the sun sinks low we will heed the call of the billabong letting the water cleanse us as we immerse ourselves deeper and deeper into this magical land we call home, Australia.”
Aboriginal Soaps
Other soaps include these beautiful Goats milk & Shea butter soaps wrapped in luxury paper featuring artworks by indigenous Warlukurlangu Artists of Yuendumu and Sheryl J Burchill from North Queensland, Australia.
See all Australian Soaps
#13. AUSTRALIAN GIFTS FOR OVERSEAS – CHOCOLATE GIFT WRAPPED LIKE THIS KOALA CHOCOLATE GIFT TIN
This is one of our most popular products and makes a great gift for overseas that will fit in your luggage and be great to share when you arrive at your destination.
What’s so great about it is not only the yummy individually wrapped koala chocolates, but the tin they come in can be re-used as a keepsake to store tea, coffee, or kid’s pencils and rubbers.
So cute!
Here’s some other native choc covered macadamias and chocolate gift packs that also make a great Australian souvenir gift.
Chocolate Macadamia Nuts
Great Australian Bites
See all Australian Chocolate for overseas
#14. AUSTRALIAN GIFTS FOR OVERSEAS LUGGAGE – TIES
These stunning high quality silk or cotton ties feature authentic designs from Australia. There's quality Aboriginal designs, featuring artwork depicting Dreaming Stories; and also floral ties featuring wattle, eucalyptus gum, banksias and more.
They make a great gift that’s personal, without being too personal... plus they're small and lightweight to either send or pop in your luggage.
Aboriginal Silk Ties
These beautiful Aboriginal silk ties feature authentic designs from Aboriginal Art Communities in Australia including the Warlukurlangu Artists, Munupi Artists and more. Profits from the sale of these products go to the artists and their communities.
Australian Floral Ties
See all Ties
#15. AUSTRALIAN GIFTS FOR OVERSEAS – AUSSIE SOCKS!
Australian Socks!
They’re much loved gifts for overseas because they’re fun and light-weight, and defintely a good gift for the ‘hard to buy for’.
Whether you’re after kangaroo socks, koala socks, Native floral, or even indigenous designed socks, there’s a range here to suit you.
We love the bright, colourful Australian socks that are a bit tongue-in-cheek and will make them think of you with a smile every time they wear them, probably in their cold winter climate!
Australian Socks
Shop all Australian Socks here
#16. AUSTRALIAN GIFTS FOR OVERSEAS – AUSSIE TEAS!
T2 has fast become one of Australia’s iconic tea brands. And with their innovation in beautiful teas, it’s no wonder!
Tea makes a fantastic gift for overseas VIPs because; unlike the obsessed coffee nation that Australia can be; many countries in the world have tea as their preferred tipple. For instance, England and the UK in general for starters! And let’s not forget our Asian neighbours who are all obsessed with it -hot or cold.
We love (and are now stocking) the T2 range of Australian teas that include a Brisbane Breakfast Tea, Sydney Breakfast Tea, Melbourne Breakfast Tea, Lemon Myrtle Tea, and Wattle Tea. DIVINE! Who wouldn’t love these great iconcially Aussie flavours.
T2 Tea
Australian Native Tea
There's also these beautiful Native Australian Teas, beautifully packaged, quality native Australian tea that make a terrific present for overseas VIPS!
Shop all Tea
#17. AUSTRALIAN GIFTS FOR OVERSEAS – SUITCASE SCENT
This makes one of our most popular gifts because it is very small; great for the budget conscious; extremely light; and emanates such an incredibly beautiful Australian scent!
It’s a small suitcase scent that is naturally scented with Australian native oils including Lemon Myrtle, Eucalyptus and Lemon Scented Gum.
It’s suitable for sleeping bags, camping gear, sports gear, handbags, shoes, quilts, blankets, linens, and luggage. Anything you can think of!
Not only does it smell amazing and make a sweet little gift, but it will make your luggage smell amazing too on the way over!
We are proudly certified by the Australian Made Campaign as Australian made Retail Supporters.
#18. AUSTRALIAN GIFTS TO TAKE OVERSEAS – BLUE WREN GIFTS
Trying to find an Australian gift for a bird lover? Why not browse our available selection of Blue Wren Gifts – one of Australia’s tiniest, and yet most celebrated birds?!
While there are many species of wren, this one native to Australia is called the Superb Fairy Wren.
It lives in backyards and any area mostly on the lower eastern side of the Australian coastline where there are plenty of scrubs and bushes to hide in.
Shop all Blue Wren Gifts
#19. AUSTRALIAN GIFTS FOR OVERSEAS – HAND TOWELS
A hand towel is the perfect personal gift without being tooooo personal (i.e. knowing their shoe size and taste in fashion!).
It’s going to take up hardly any room in your luggage and it weighs less than 100g.
Perfect!
If you’re gifting to a friend or acquaintance, they can pop it straight in their bathroom to bring a bit of Australia to their home (also perfect for homesick Aussie children!)….
OR..
If you have a business client – sometimes it’s nice to have a bit of personalisation in the work kitchen or bathroom.
This hand towel features Australia’s native Blue Wren – a beautiful coloured bird (male!) - one of the reasons foreigners think of Australia as such a vibrant, tropical place.
#20. AUSTRALIAN GIFTS FOR OVERSEAS – COASTERS
Coasters and Placemats are one of our most popular categories of Australian souvenir gifts – who doesn’t love a good coaster from overseas to pull out for an afternoon coffee or after dinner drink?
The coasters shown above features a flowering eucalyptus design by Meryl Bell, an internationally recognised Botanical Artist from Western Australia. Inspired by the beautiful native Australian plants and insects that surrounded her, she would take up to 2 years to complete a work. One of her paintbrushes even had just one hair on it.
Needless to say, her works translate very well to Australian souvenirs. To see all of her available works on souvenirs see here.
While Meryl’s designs are very popular, many coasters and placemats are a great gift because they are small and light-weight to take in your luggage or post overseas.
#21. AUSTRALIAN GIFTS FOR OVERSEAS – FIRST NATIONS GIFTS
There has been a lot of controversy surrounding the authenticity of Aboriginal Gifts.
To make sure the gift you are giving is from an authentic indigenous source, and not exploiting the style of art most commonly produced by Australia’s indigenous artists; you need to make sure the product is clearly labeled, usually mentioning both the artist and the community that proceeds go back to.
The best packaging also includes information about the artist, the artwork, and its significance to country.
Contrary to popular thought, we also don’t recommend you buy traditional aboriginal gifts like a boomerang or didgeridoo.
Besides being very difficult to carry, what do you actually expect the recipient is going to do with that gift? Unless they have huge amounts of space in a work or home environment for art, it’s a little awkward!
Instead, if you want to be a thoughtful gift giver, we recommend you lean on the side of beauty plus practicality.
We find that hand creams; porcelain items like mugs & coasters; scarves; and tea-sets are all fantastic and well received gifts.
Because they also come with information about the artist and the meaning behind their work; they also share interesting information about the Australian landscape and those who are indigenous to it.
#22. AUSTRALIAN GIFTS TO TAKE OVERSEAS – BEACH TOWELS
Wrap them in the memory of the warm Australian sun with these souvenir beach towels.
Designed with international gifting in mind, they’re lightweight and come beautifully packaged in their own backpack.
They also dry twice as fast as your regular beach towel; and absorb twice as much water.
PLUS they even come with the Australian co-ordinates of the location on the beach towel printed on the bottom of each souvenir towel. The perfect gift!
All you have to do now, is choose which one :-).
Shop all Beach Towels
#23. AUSTRALIAN GIFTS TO SEND OVERSEAS – DRINK BOTTLES
This cute koala surfer flask makes a great gift for overseas VIPs because it’s environmentally friendly and a fun reminder of Australia. Click on the image to see the detail of the product and check out the cute design on the back that renders it an irresistable gift ;-).They’re going to love keeping their liquids hot or cold for at least 12 hours wherever they roam.
Perfect!
Shop all Australian Drink Bottles
#24. AUSTRALIAN GIFTS TO SEND OVERSEAS – G’DAY DOORMAT
G’day! Is the thought of gifting this G’day doormat to a homesick Aussie or lover of Australia overseas making you smile?
Imagine how much joy it’s going to bring them every day when they come home and wipe their troubles away with this bit of Australian humour and warmth crossing the threshold of their front door…
…and when they have guests over, they’ll feel that true-blue, fair dinkum Down Under hospitality they’ll experience inside with their first step.
These cute designs from our friends at Adoremat come in different fonts and if you get in touch with us, you can even customise your own! (You’re terrible Muriel / Made in Bondi / That’s not a knife – THIS is a knife!)
Click on the image to see the detail of the product for this quirky and fun true-blue-Aussie gift.
#25. AUSTRALIAN GIFTS FOR OVERSEAS – plush TOYS
Aw. Who could resist a cute little souvenir Koala toy? There’s lots to choose from with different styles and sizes. They make the perfect souvenir gift for any age as they’re just so iconically Australian and sooooo cute!
We also stock a range of unique Australian animal toys like the kookaburra, emu, crocodile, flying fox, echidna, quokka, brushtail possum, platypus, bilby and more! To see our full range of Aussie souvenir toys, click here!
Check out all Australian Toys here
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