Australia Post has released its Christmas delivery dates, urging customers to send parcels, cards and gifts early to ensure they arrive in time for the festive season.
The recommended cut-off dates vary according to the destination and service used, with additional time advised for Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Tasmania and regional and remote areas.
Australia Post Christmas delivery dates
For parcels travelling between Australian states, Parcel Post items should be sent by December 21. The deadline for deliveries within the same state is December 22, while Express Post parcels should be lodged by December 23.
Christmas letters and cards should be posted by December 18 for interstate deliveries and by December 21 for deliveries within the same state.
Items lodged over the counter at a post office must be submitted by 2.30pm on the relevant date.
International deadlines begin earlier. Economy Air parcels should be sent between November 24 and December 4, depending on the destination. International Standard parcels should be posted between December 1 and December 11, while International Express items should be sent between December 4 and December 15.
Australia Post recorded its largest peak season on record in 2025, delivering almost 111 million parcels during November and December. That represented a 7.6 per cent increase on the previous year.
The organisation expects volumes to rise further during the 2026 peak season and has recruited about 3,800 seasonal workers across its network.
“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,” Australia Post executive general manager Gary Starr said.
“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,” he said.
