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Australia's holiday couriers split into two groups, and each has its own cut-off dates. For parcels staying inside Australia, Australia Post's Parcel Post, Express Post and StarTrack cut-offs run an estimated 11–23 December 2026, and Aramex's domestic network runs an estimated 20 November–18 December 2026.
For parcels leaving Australia, Australia Post's international lanes (Courier, Express, Standard, Economy Air) close an estimated 20 November–16 December 2026, and Aramex International closes an estimated 19 November–1 December 2026, with DHL and FedEx as extra choices for last-minute international sends.
Shipping during the holiday season needs planning and information about the dates and delivery deadlines. In Australia festivals are a little different from what you might see in the United States and United Kingdom, which call for different delivery deadlines.
We'll discuss more about the holiday shipping schedule in Australia and the last posting dates in the following sections.
Australia Post recommends shipping around 18 Dec (interstate) / 22 Dec (same-state) and Express Post by around 23 Dec 2026 for Christmas delivery.
Posting deadlines can vary depending on the courier you choose, so it's essential to highlight the specific dates applicable for Australia this Christmas. Additionally, any changes to your shipping process, whether related to timing or costs, should be clearly outlined in your shipping policy to maintain transparency and avoid confusion.
Related: What’s The Cheapest Way to Ship to Australia
While most couriers are likely to be closed during major holidays like Christmas, Anzac and Easter, there are a few alternatives to AusPost that you may consider for those urgent shipping. Some of them are:
Australia Day is a national public holiday, and all postal operations, including regular mail and parcel deliveries, will be paused.
Valentine's Day is a special occasion, and Australia Post will operate as usual to ensure smooth delivery of gifts, cards, and parcels. Because the 14th falls on a Saturday this year, aim to ship by Wednesday, February 11 (or earlier) to guarantee arrival in time.
Good Friday is a significant public holiday when all postal services are paused to observe the day.
Easter Monday is observed as a national holiday, during which all postal and parcel delivery services are suspended. To ensure your shipments reach their destination without delays, it's crucial to ship your packages by Tuesday, March 31 for timely deliveries.
Anzac Day, a significant national holiday in Australia, will result in the suspension of all postal services, including mail and parcel deliveries. As a day of remembrance and observance, there will be no postal operations or courier activities on this date. Because Anzac Day falls on a Saturday in 2026, it's recommended to ship items by Friday, April 17. Note: NSW, ACT and WA also observe a substitute public holiday on Monday, April 27, 2026.
Unlike the holidays above, Labour Day isn't a single national date — each state sets its own: Western Australia (Monday, March 2), Victoria (Monday, March 9), Queensland (Monday, May 4), and New South Wales, the ACT and South Australia (Monday, October 5). Australia Post continues normal operations everywhere except in the state observing its own Labour Day that day, so only build in a short delay if you're shipping to or from that state around its date.
Thanksgiving Day will see normal business operations for postal services, ensuring that mail and parcel deliveries proceed as scheduled. However, with the holiday season in full swing and increased shipping volumes, it's essential to plan ahead and ensure shipping your parcels by November 26.
Black Friday, one of the busiest shopping days of the year, will operate with normal postal services — though it falls on a Saturday in 2026. The surge in shipping demand requires careful planning to ensure timely deliveries.
Dispatch Deadlines: Aim to send parcels by Thursday, November 26 or Friday, November 27 to avoid delays caused by high shipping volumes.
Cyber Monday operates as a regular business day, but the surge in online orders makes timely dispatch crucial. To meet delivery expectations and avoid delays, ensure packages are sent by December 1. Early shipping not only aligns with increased shipping activity but also helps maintain customer satisfaction during this peak shopping period.
Christmas Day is a public holiday in Australia; all Australia Post locations will be closed with no deliveries on this day. To manage the high volume of shipments leading up to Christmas:
To ensure your packages arrive before December 25, 2026, note these cut-off dates, to avoid delays and ensure your international parcels reach their destinations in time for the festive celebrations.
Now let’s check out Aramex.
Christmas trading hours for Aramex is as follows:
Boxing Day is a significant public holiday in Australia, celebrated the day after Christmas. On this day, all Australia Post locations will be closed, and there will be no mail or parcel deliveries. Because Boxing Day falls on a Saturday in 2026, NSW, ACT, WA and QLD observe a substitute public holiday on Monday, December 28, 2026.
On New Year's Eve, Australia Post is expected to operate with partial services from 7 PM to midnight, consistent with recent years — this is an estimate and should be confirmed closer to the date. This limited operational window allows for some last-minute shipping needs as the year comes to a close. To ensure that your items are delivered on or before January 1, 2027, it is advisable to ship them by December 30.
Avoid the hassle of last-minute shipping by encouraging your customers to place their orders early—maybe even sweeten the deal with some festive discounts! Remember, even domestic deliveries may face delays during the holiday rush. Planning ahead ensures your shoppers won't be left waiting for their packages to arrive in time for Christmas.
Easyship simplifies your holiday shipping, ensuring you can deliver a seamless, highly reliable experience to your customers. Take advantage of our powerful features and exclusive discounts:
1. What is the cut-off date for Christmas shipping?
Cut-off dates vary by courier and service, but most domestic services in Australia are estimated to fall between 11–23 December 2026, while international deliveries often close late November to mid-December. These are estimates until couriers publish their official 2026 dates (typically October/November).
2. What is the cut-off date for shipping?
Each carrier sets its own deadline depending on destination and service speed—always check the specific domestic, express, and international cut-off dates published by your courier for the season.
3. Does shipping take longer during the holiday season?
Yes—higher parcel volumes, limited public-holiday operations, and weekend backlogs often cause longer transit times.
4. How early should I ship for the holidays?
In general, ship at least 1–2 weeks earlier than normal; for peak events like Black Friday/Cyber Monday 2026, aim to send by 26–27 November and 1 December to avoid delays.
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