hetismij

Yvonne funny your koala is called Liquorice - the Australians seem to love this as much as the Dutch. I have sent liquorice to an Australian contact a couple of times because he likes the real Dutch "drop" better than the liquorice sold as Dutch in Oz. The packages are always opened by customs of course, but get through OK - though the last one was two packs short!

Ozziez

What wonderful ideas you all have! This gift purchasing is going to be a breeze now. Thank you all so much.

I'm definitely going to get everyone some Tim Tams seeing as so many people have suggested them (thanks Maudie and Kavey for reinforcing this). I'll just check that customs in the countries we'll be visiting will allow me to bring them in with me.
Cimbrone, your point about the consumables is very apt. I agree with you. I really think this is what I am going to get for the person who travels regularly and has everything! The others can have some too.
Maudie, your ideas about the fun size chocolates and the items from craft markets are great.
As usual PRLCH, you are so smart. What would I do without your advice my friend? I am going to order some wine through the link you've given me and will send it to the base we'll have in Salisbury. I can then distribute it from there.
Suelynne and LoveItaly, many thanks for suggesting scarves. LoveItaly, the Aboriginal art print scarves sound wonderful. I am taking my children to the state museum, library and art gallery tomorrow and there are bound to be some Aboriginal print scarves there. I am sure my female friends and family will love them.
Geordie, fantastic idea about the rugby union shirt. All the men and boys in my family play rugby union and the friend in his 60's will love a Wallabies or Queensland Reds shirt. Thank you!
Caroline_Edinburgh, one of the grandparents adores chocolate covered macadamias and always gets some when she's here, so I will get her some. Thanks for suggesting them.
And last but not least, YvonneT, what a gorgeous licorice you have. Thank you for giving me the link to your report - I really enjoyed reading it, and the photo of licorice is exactly what I need to be able to track down some of his kin. I am sure the 2 girls will love one each. Thanks also for the heads-up about the DVD formats.

Cholmondley_Warner

Geordie, fantastic idea about the rugby union shirt. All the men and boys in my family play rugby union and the friend in his 60's will love a Wallabies or Queensland Reds shirt. Thank you!>>>

Wallabies will be Ok (that's rugby league which is unknown in the south of England). Ditto Queensland.

But an Australian rugby shirt wouldn't be something that an Englishman who follows rugger would want. It would be like giving a scot an England shirt.

Pete_R

The Wallabies are the Aussie union team, the League team are the Kangaroos.

darryl870

be careful if you are taking wine bought offairport as it will be taken off you at security! I presume the security people will have a very nice drinking it.

RM67

I would like Eric Bana as a present from Oz......

PRLCH

Hi Ozziez, if you have any difficulties finding the silk scarves with aboriginal art, let me know off line. I have a friend in Melbourne who sold them when they operated an art gallery- I sent one to France for host mother for Christmas and she loved it! I believe she may still have some in stock.

aussiefive

Ozziez,

My sister in law runs a gallery/gift shop that sells aboriginal art and trinkets at the airport. They are in Brisbane as well as Sydney. Most presents I get from her are from this shop. They are all aboriginal designs and include everything from practical: umbrellas, teatowels, washers, coasters etc to jewelry and art. You can buy didgeridoos there as well. But I ma gussing oyu won't have room to carry those.

L

Suelynne

Well I don't like Cherry Ripes or Tim Tams [and I'm not that keen on Vegemite]. Chocolate macadamias are another matter, and the nuts are native to Australia. There's also macadamia shortbread.

caroline_edinburgh

Until I read this thread I'd know idea that Australia (or indeed Holland) was known for its liquorice - then last night in the Lakeland shop here, I saw a whole display unit of Australian liquorice !

Darryl, wine isn't taken off you at airports if it's in your checked-in luggage !

travel_buzzing

didnt read the whole thread but did someone mention boomerangs? i remember relatives bringing some from oz (as a kid) and being fascinated.

Ozziez

I managed to get some silk scarves with Aboriginal art prints on them today. Thanks everyone who suggested this idea.

Although I have decided to order wine and have it sent to England, would somebody be able to tell me when customs actually does take alcohol away from travellers please?

caroline_edinburgh

It's not Customs it's security, it's any liquids rather than just alcohol and it depends on the country's security regulations.

In the UK and (the last I heard) in the rest of the EU at present, you are only allowed through security with a sealable plastic bag of up to 1 litre capacity containing individual containers of up to 100ml capacity each. I've no idea about Oz but those will be the rules on leaving the UK and I think Germany. You can pack what you like (well, within reason - e.g. no bombs !) in your checked-in baggage and you can buy liquids airside, after passing through security.

I keep a permanent plastic bag with trial size bottles of toiletries & use it for weekends, and also put it in my carry-on bag (along with a hairbrush, change of underwear, top, etc) for longer trips in order to get me through the first day or 2 in case my checked-in bag doesn't arrive with me.

Ozziez

Thanks Caroline - that was what I thought. What happens when you have to go through security a few times on one trip though? Let's say I had my sealable plastic bag with bottles of no more than 100mls each, totalling not more than 1 litre in my hand luggage. I then bought a bottle of wine at duty free in Australia after going through security, but had to go through security again in Singapore on my way to Europe. Would the wine - which would be in my hand luggage - then be taken away by security in Singapore?

sheila

If the wine is sealed in Duty Free you can carry it through further security checks. If not, it's tatties.

KayF

Since the liquid restrictions in carry-on has been in force, we have successfully carried wine and spirits in our checked bag. We wrap it very carefully - VERY carefully - and so far, haven't had any breakages.

Just a thought.
Kay

rogeruktm

For the ladies, scarfs.
For the men, goofy neckties.
For the kids, local candy.

Ozziez

Thanks for explaining Sheila.

KayF, good to hear that you've been successful packing wine and spirits and your checked luggage. I might very well be resorting to taking some Scotch on a 4 week trip around Europe on its way to the UK, so great to hear it has a chance of arriving intact!

Rogeruktm, your words are wise. Got the scarves for the ladies, the lollies (what we call candy) for the kids, and will give some thought to neckties decorated with kangaroos and koalas for the men!

huddoshols

Without being rude I seriously hope you arent getting neckties with kangaroos and koalas on them for your male friends. How many Australians have you seen wearing them? Apart from giving them some great Australian wine,why not just take them out for a nice dinner there. We always buy a selection of Australian small winery wines,in the UK,before we go to see our friends in Scotland. The price is cheaper than I can get them here!And they can put a few bottles down for themselves to enjoy later.The chocolate macadamias I do take and you can get them at every airport duty free before you leave Aus.Or even a "coffee table"book of a region in Australia.

caroline_edinburgh

I have also carried 2 or 3 bottles home from holiday in our checked-in suitcases. I've started buying a roll of clingfilm wherever I am to wrap bottles in first - then at least if they break, the bits of glass are contained. Then I roll each clingfilmed bottle up in a couple of t shirts, a beach towel or simalar & stuff the resulting rolls into our bags of laundry. On your way out you could do this with clean clothes of course - assuming not all of your clothes will be beautifully ironed

I've started finding clingfilm surprisingly handy on holiday actually - it's also got a rolled Felix Gonzales Torres print home intact from Berlin (as hand luggage) - so I may just take a roll with me in future