Are you looking for thoughtful gifts for someone moving to Australia? Let’s face it, almost all of us know someone who is thinking about, or in the process of moving to Australia. I mean that’s how you found my blog right?
When a loved one, whether friend or family member, moves to Australia it can be heartbreaking, and you might want to get them the perfect gift when you say your goodbyes.
Here’s my ultimate gift guide on thoughtful gifts for someone moving to Australia. I’ve broken it down into several categories:
- Travel gifts
- Practical gifts
- Electronic gifts
- Sentimental gifts
- Fun gifts
Travel Gifts for Someone Moving to Australia
The first things most people think of when it comes to gifts for someone moving to Australia are travel related gifts.
Guide Book
A guide book for Australia is always a great gift idea for a loved one moving Down Under. Lonely Planet have a huge range of travel books on Australia such as this one covering all of Australia. They also do individual ones for cities and states too such as the Lonely Planet guide for Sydney.
Neck Pillow
Neck pillows are something that most people would love but never get around to buying until they’re at the airport, and who wants to pay airport prices for neck pillows?
There are so many different styles and brands to choose from but one with memory foam is usually the best option. Umerci have this memory foam neck pillow with 360 degree head support. It’s made from sweat resistant fabric and features super soft magnetic therapy cloth, millions of tiny premium microbeads inside, making it breathable and comfortable for long flights.
Luggage
Anyone travelling long haul will appreciate a great set of quality luggage. When it comes to luggage, I just love Samsonite and have been using my Samsonite suitcases for years. They’ve been with me from South Africa to Europe and now Australia (and would have some with me to America until 2020’s pandemic put a hold on those plans!). You can find amazing Samsonite luggage online and they come in all shapes, sizes and styles.
Luggage Tags
Luggage tags are a practical travel gift too, and for someone moving to Australia, what better than Australian-themed luggage tags. I just love these cute Aussie luggage tags with kangaroos and koalas, but there are so many to choose from online too.
Travel Document Organiser
Being organised is key to moving overseas so a handy travel document organiser is the ideal gift for someone who is moving overseas.
As an added extra you could get this cute Australian passport holder too so even if they aren’t Australian yet, they can feel like they are!
Practical Gifts for Someone Moving to Australia
Fiction Books Set In Australia
Gosh I could write a whole blog just on this one gift idea – in fact, I probably will! As an avid reader, I’m always surprised at how many of my favourite books are actually set in Australia. There are heaps you could buy, which will help your loved one discover more about the culture in Australia as well as the history and its people.
Some fiction books you could gift that are set in Australia include:
The Light Between Oceans by ML Steadman (set in WA and my absolute favourite)
I Am The Messenger by Markus Zusak
Cloudstreet by Tim Winton
Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey
The Dry by Jane Harper
The Dressmaker by Rosalie Ham
Follow The Rabbit-Proof Fence by Doris Pilkington
Suitcase of Dreams by Tania Blanchard
Non-Fiction Books About Australia
There’s nothing that helps you get to grips with a new subject than a good old non-fiction book. And there are heaps all about Australia and life here.
Check out the following titles as good gifts for the non-fiction fan in your life making the move to Australia:
Lonely Planet Australian Language & Culture
Down Under by Bill Bryson
The Dogs That Made Australia by Guy Hull
The Fatal Shore by Robert Hughes
Deep Time Dreaming: Uncovering Ancient Australia by Billy Griffiths
Aussie Dollars
Giving the gift of cash is always a winner. With many people just using online banking these days, cash is a bit of a novelty especially when its foreign currency. So why not give them some Australian dollars in all denominations, so they can get used to Australian money and have some useful cash on hand when they arrive?
Vouchers For Local Businesses
If you know where they are heading in Australia, you could get them some vouchers for local businesses in their new surroundings. Online vouchers are easy to find for the major chain stores and vouchers can be delivered digitally via email.
If you want to take it one step further, you could get them a voucher for a meal out when they arrive at a local restaurant. Chances are they may not have time to cook, or money to splash on meals out if they are moving on a budget, so this would be a real spoil for many new arrivals in Australia.
Electronic Gifts for Someone Moving to Australia
Portable Hard Drive
A portable hard drive is one of the most practical electronic gifts you can give. It will be super handy for saving important documents, files and photos and can be used to move everything without bringing a computer or as a back up in case things get lost – literally or digitally.
Power Bank
No matter where you are in the world, whether at home or abroad, a power bank is a very useful thing to have. You just never know when your devices are going to run out of power and being able to charge things quickly and easily without having to find a plug socket makes life a lot less stressful. They are also really useful on long haul travel like flights to Australia.
Noise Cancelling Headphones
Anyone who’s been on a plane with screaming children will appreciate the benefits of having a decent pair of noise cancelling headphones. While not cheap, they are a great gift for anyone who’s about to fly to Australia!
Go Pro Camera
When most people move to Australia, it’s for the outdoor lifestyle – sun, sea and sand! Giving the gift of a Go Pro camera will allow them to safely capture these outdoor memories without worrying about damaging phones or dropping them in the water. If they already have a Go Pro, there are heaps of accessories you can get to add to their collection.
Sentimental Gifts for Someone Moving to Australia
Recipe Book
Is there anything invokes more sentimentality when you emigrate than food? A cookbook makes the perfect sentimental gift for someone moving to Australia. Filled with recipes from your home country, it can help them stay connected to their roots while spreading their wings and moving overseas.
I found this amazing recipe book call Growing Up South African, written by a South African expat now living in the USA. Wherever your loved one is moving from, I’m sure you can find a great recipe book to remind them of their heritage.
Art from Home
Unframed artworks are another great idea as an emigration gift. Posters or photos of their home town or country will always be admired and appreciated, and like the recipe book idea, remind them of their roots every time they look at it.
Make sure it is unframed though to make it easy for them to pack and ship. I love this Cape Town Street map and this Kruger National Park poster.
Australian Scented Candle
Want to get someone in the mood for moving to Australia? Then you need this Australian scented candle. Yep you read that right – it’s a candle that smells like Australia!
Made from natural and sustainable materials it has fragrant notes of eucalyptus, chocolate, rose, saltwater, jasmine, lily, sandalwood, sunscreen, amber, and a hint of musk.
Care Package of Goodies from Home
This is a great idea for a gift you can send once your loved one has made the move – you can arrange for a care package to be sent to them in their new home once they are starting to settling into Australian life.
There are lots of South African shops in Perth and across Australia that would be able to put together a package for them to collect and some offer delivery too.
Travel Journal
For the person who loves keeping mementos and records of their travels, a travel journal is an ideal gift for someone moving to Australia.
There are some really beautiful travel journals in shops and online. I love this travel journal for adults and this is a really cute travel journal for kids.
Scratch Off Map Of Australia
Scratch off maps have become all the rage over the last few years, and for someone who is planning on exploring Australia after moving here, a scratch off map of Australia could be the perfect farewell present.
Fun Gifts for Someone Moving to Australia
Australian Cork Hat
There’s nothing more Aussie than a cork hat so it’s the perfect joke present for someone moving to Australia. It has definite Crocodile Dundee vibes and guaranteed to get a laugh from the recipient!
The Aussie Button
Make your friend laugh by gifting them The Aussie Button. Pre-recorded with 10 classic Aussie phrases like ‘crikey!’ and ‘no worries!’ they’ll learn the lingo Down Under in no time!
Monopoly Australia
For the person who loves playing board games, you can’t go wrong gifting them Monopoly Australia. This fast-dealing property game is set in Australia and gives the classic game an Aussie twist.
Explore Australian icons around the board, with customised Chance and Community Chest cards offering players the chance to sell their State-of-Origin tickets or sell their lamingtons at the school fete. Players can choose Aussie-related tokens including the classic meat pie or an all-Aussie barbeque.
Aussie Slang Book
Help them get to grips with Aussie lingo with a dictionary of Australian slang. They’ll never be lost for words when they’ve got this hilarious but helpful guide to how to speak like a true-blue Aussie.
Snake Bite Kit
For the person who’s worried about spiders and snakes, why not get them a snake and spider bite kit? Designed in collaboration with SSSAFE Pty Ltd it’s compact and lightweight and can be taken anywhere – camping, hiking, or just kept at home.
Stubby Holders
Stubby holders are a staple in every home in Australia. Designed to keep your drinks cold, they come in so many different brands and designs, but these Aussie themed stubby holders make a great parting gift for someone moving to Australia.
Budgie Smugglers
A funny present for the man in your life who’s moving to Australia – a pair of budgie smugglers!
You can get them in every colour and print under the sun, but I love these banana hammock budgie smugglers from Speedo!
Vegemite
Moving to Australia for many means no more Marmite and hello Vegemite! Get them ready for this new taste sensation (you either love it or hate it) by stocking them up on some of their own Vegemite.
And there you have my ultimate guide to thoughtful gifts for someone moving to Australia. I hope you’ve found this useful and now have a heap of ideas to look at when it comes to buying the perfect gift for your loved one who is about to move to Australia.
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