Track your gifts with the AusPost app
No need to check this list twice. The AusPost app sends an update when your gifts are on the way.
Christmas cut-off dates and postage costs
Last year we delivered almost 103 million parcels to customers during November and December. We recommend sending your Christmas parcels as early as possible, and by the cut-off dates below, to help us get them there in time for Christmas Day. We’ll deliver items sent after these dates as quickly as we can, but they may not arrive until after Christmas.
If you’re sending a Christmas card within Australia, the postage cost is 65c3. View the postage cost to send Christmas cards here and overseas.
Post Offices with extended hours ahead of Christmas
We’ve extended the opening hours of 300+ Post Offices across Australia, to help you collect and send parcels for Christmas.
Sending within Australia
Parcel Post
The dates provided below are for Parcel Post items being sent to/from metro locations and collected by one of our trucks or vans and taken directly to our processing facility. Allow additional time for items sent outside metro areas.
For Parcel Post items lodged over the counter, there is a 2.30pm cut-off time.
| Sending from | To NSW* | To ACT | To VIC* | To QLD* | To SA | To WA | To TAS | To NT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSW* | Mon 22/12 | Fri 19/12 | Fri 19/12 | Fri 19/12 | Fri 19/12 | Thu 18/12 | Fri 19/12 | Tue 16/12 |
| ACT | Fri 19/12 | Mon 22/12 | Fri 19/12 | Fri 19/12 | Fri 19/12 | Thu 18/12 | Fri 19/12 | Tue 16/12 |
| VIC* | Fri 19/12 | Fri 19/12 | Mon 22/12 | Fri 19/12 | Fri 19/12 | Thu 18/12 | Fri 19/12 | Tue 16/12 |
| QLD* | Fri 19/12 | Fri 19/12 | Fri 19/12 | Mon 22/12 | Fri 19/12 | Wed 17/12 | Thu 18/12 | Fri 12/12 |
| SA | Fri 19/12 | Fri 19/12 | Fri 19/12 | Fri 19/12 | Mon 22/12 | Thu 18/12 | Fri 19/12 | Wed 17/12 |
| WA | Thu 18/12 | Thu 18/12 | Thu 18/12 | Wed 17/12 | Thu 18/12 | Mon 22/12 | Tue 16/12 | Fri 12/12 |
| TAS | Fri 19/12 | Fri 19/12 | Fri 19/12 | Thu 18/12 | Fri 19/12 | Tue 16/12 | Mon 22/12 | Fri 12/12 |
| NT | Tue 16/12 | Tue 16/12 | Tue 16/12 | Wed 17/12 | Wed 17/12 | Wed 17/12 | Fri 12/12 | Mon 22/12 |
* Parcels sent to/from Geelong, Gold Coast and Newcastle follow the above metro location last sending dates.
Express Post
The dates provided below are for Express Post items being sent to/from metro locations. For Express Post items being sent outside a metro area, please allow additional time.
| Sending to/from metro only | Cut-off date |
|---|---|
| NSW, ACT, VIC, QLD, SA and within same state* | 23 December 2025 |
| NT, TAS and WA | 22 December 2025 |
* Parcels sent to/from Geelong, Gold Coast and Newcastle follow the above metro location last sending dates.
Other destinations
Depending on where you’re sending items from, when sending to the destinations below, items need to be sent between the following dates for the best chance of arrival in time for Christmas.
Due to changes in third-party carrier (sea freight) shipping schedules, Parcel Post services to Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Christmas Island will require the use of Express Post in order for items to arrive by Christmas. Please note, some items such as large freight and dangerous goods may not be suitable for transport via air. Please review the classifications for dangerous goods or requirements for Express Post.
Parcel Post is still available for sending items to Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Christmas Island, however items will not arrive before Christmas.
Any articles that were sent as Parcel Post to Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Christmas Island up to close of business 27 October 2025 will be sent by air freight, if necessary, to arrive by Christmas Day.
The dates provided below are for Parcel Post items being sent to/from metro locations and collected by one of our trucks or vans, and taken directly to our processing facility. Please allow additional time items sent outside metro areas. For Parcel Post items lodged over the counter, there is a 2.30pm cut-off time.
| Destination | Parcel Post | Express Post |
|---|---|---|
| Norfolk Island | 7-14 November 2025 | 15-18 December 2025 |
| Lord Howe Island | 1-8 December 2025 | 14-17 December 2025 |
| Christmas/Cocos Islands | NSW/NT/QLD/SA/VIC: Not available for delivery before Christmas. WA: 27 October 2025 | NT: 9 December 2025 NSW/QLD/SA/TAS/VIC: 10 December 2025 WA: 12 December 2025 |
Cards and letters
| Destination | Regular Post (to/from metro locations) |
|---|---|
| Same state | 18 December 2025 |
| Interstate | 16 December 2025 |
-
-
Use a free 24/7 Parcel Locker this Christmas
Keep gifts a surprise this Christmas - get them delivered to a free Parcel Locker.
1 International Courier is only available at select retail outlets (PDF 848kB) and to select destinations.
2 Signature on Delivery is not available for Economy parcels, due to government restrictions.
3 Envelope must be endorsed with ‘Card only’ and must be no larger than 130mm x 240mm, no thicker than 5mm and no heavier than 250g
4 Envelope must be endorsed with ‘Card only’ and must be no larger than 260mm x 360mm, no thicker than 5mm and no heavier than 50g.