What Aussie Gifts to Bring for People Overseas?

Georgevic on 26/05/2018 - 20:26
Last edited 26/05/2018 - 20:27

Heading to the USA and Argentina for about 6-7 months total. I'm meeting some friends in the US and for each of them I've gone for the boring combo of tim tams+vegemite. Tim tams for the actual gift, vegemite so that I can laugh at them trying to eat it.

Now since I'm spending so much time away, I'm probably going to be making some new friends and I want some Aussie novelties to give them. I'm only bringing 1 checked bag, so can't be too big or heavy. Vegemite is a no brainer, of course, but I probably can't bring that many more whole packets of timtams. I'm thinking smallish stuff, like chocolate bars, keychains, or whatever.

What would YOU bring? I don't even care if everyone just posts joke suggestions, I'll seriously consider them. Kangaroo scrotum keychains?

Travel

Comments

  • theHMASfriendship on 26/05/2018 - 20:29
    +5

    Kangaroo scrotum bottle openers are great.

  • smuggler on 26/05/2018 - 20:34

    A boomerang

    Just buy them guedo gifts

  • kyle on 26/05/2018 - 20:36
    +4

    Tasmanian honey

    • LFO on 27/05/2018 - 19:38
      +2

      Australian honey is not allowed in Argentina as Australian honey contains a virus/bacteria/germ/whatever_is_called that do not exist in Argentinean honey.

      Just double check.

  • IceCreamBandit on 26/05/2018 - 20:38

    Bulk buty Minties?

  • outlander on 26/05/2018 - 20:41
    +1

    A bottle jellyfish, and a vial of bottle jelly antivenom
    They'll be lukewarm about the first gift, but really excited about the second

  • Slippery Fish on 26/05/2018 - 20:43

    Buy what you want, ship it the day you leave, be there to collect next week and then keep going.

  • Sofie519 on 26/05/2018 - 20:44
    +6

    Depends on what you want to spend. I did some similar travelling, I ordered a handful of uncirculated $1 coins (you can choose some special editions) and minted the same year I was travelling. I also got coin cases which I had a label to write a message. Then I got 10 x 1 ounce silver kookaburras coins, these were about $30ea (again minted same year I was travelling)

    I gave the $1 coins with a message to nice people I met along the way, and the silver coins to special people I deliberately travelled to meet.

    I felt that was unique and the fact that the coin marked the year of my visit was also extra thoughtful. I told them next time I'll give them another coin, but of the year I returned… They loved it.

    • Detective Pikachu on 27/05/2018 - 05:10

      This is definitely a nice gift, you can purchase them here. Also, I heard Paw Paw ointment is popular.

      • cockneylondoner on 27/05/2018 - 10:36
        +2

        Nice idea. Shame the Australian government has to charge way above the face value for them.

  • Slippery Fish on 26/05/2018 - 20:44

    Seriously though take em some roo shoos. Lol super useless over there.

  • Lennox on 26/05/2018 - 21:19

    A good old fashioned pair of mocs or uggs or thongs gets my vote.

  • GourmetFoodie on 26/05/2018 - 21:26
    +1

    If you're from Melbourne in the Royal Arcade (CBD) The Melbourne Shop does some great stuff. The website is crap so really recommend going in store. http://www.lumbi.com.au

    Otherwise in the past I've got sought out tea towels with Australian designs on - you can get cheap ones from souvenir stores but otherwise sometimes Myer or DJs actually have more classy ones with things like Wattle flowers on etc. Then I usually wrap some small items up in the towel eg. souvenir pen, bush tucker spice madacdemias (think from David Jones food hall), Beechworth honey (Block Arcade shop is lovely).

  • plmko on 26/05/2018 - 21:51

    Kangaroo punching pens

    https://www.australiathegift.com.au/shop/boxing-kangaroo-nov…

    Always a positive experience when I gift these.

  • smuggler on 26/05/2018 - 21:55

    budgysmugglers

    great aussie swimwear brand!

  • altomic on 26/05/2018 - 21:56
    +1

    I went to the states 6 weeks ago. looked for a present for my friend I was staying with- I considered timtams (because they are aus-some) . didn't get them because there was some travelling to do first. glad I didn't get them as Timtams are readily available in the states.

    I took some aussie red wine instead.

    fpr my friends teenage kids I took some fresh $5 & $10 notes

    • djones145 on 27/05/2018 - 06:47

      While they sell Tim tams overseas. The ones from Australia taste better, we buy them for relo overseas all the time and that’s what they say

      • altomic on 27/05/2018 - 08:46

        the ones sold in the US were Aus made. but I get what you mean. - free/gifted tim tams always taste better.

  • Quantumcat on 26/05/2018 - 22:05
    +3

    If it were me receiving something, I'd like a book on native birds or animals, or small models/sculptures, or endemic insects or butterflies in resin. If you're from Tassie, something I treasure is a ruler made of all the different native timbers which all smell really nice. Something you can make if you don't want to spend much is laminate some gum leaves for bookmarks.

  • hur91 on 26/05/2018 - 22:12
    +1

    I got something nice from Sydney airport once; it was a machined Banksia cone in which you put eucalyptus oil for fragrance.

    It looked like this: (https://i.pinimg.com/originals/06/5f/c3/065fc33a0b2a91fe39bd…) (but wasn't a candle)

    • Cletus vandamme on 27/05/2018 - 01:12
      +1

      holy crap that thing is hideous!

  • try2bhelpful on 26/05/2018 - 22:50
    +1

    If they are around, and you like the chocolate theme, then look for some Pink Lady Bilbies, or something similar. The chocolate is good and they are Australian themed. The other option is something from a craft market, online, etc made out of Australian wood, we have some wonderful woods and a trinket box etc would be a practical gift whilst still being quite beautiful.

  • ShannonN on 26/05/2018 - 23:52

    Does US customs allow native wood products (Banksia cone) etc
    I like the idea of coins someone mentioned Many stamps have an unique theme , some are historic figures some are cars maybe take a book on the history of Holden?

  • ShannonN on 27/05/2018 - 00:05
    +1

    Get some tea tree and eucalyptus oils and get a wooden trinket box, get foam cut and shape to fit the bottled oil, insert oils - there you have an unique Aussie gift?

  • Twodogs on 27/05/2018 - 01:30

    Ripcurl shirts bathers wet suits and ugg boots is what my relo's from england wanted.

  • GaryQ on 27/05/2018 - 07:26
    +1

    I handed out the clip-on koalas to kids in Vietnam and Cambodia. Of course, they were made in China

  • pantsparty on 27/05/2018 - 08:13
    +1

    Another vote for some good quality Tasmanian honey

    • LFO on 27/05/2018 - 19:41

      Just copy and paste of what I wrote above:

      Australian honey is not allowed in Argentina as Australian honey contains a virus/bacteria/germ/whatever_is_called that do not exist in Argentinean honey.

      Just double check.

  • giftcardinspector on 27/05/2018 - 08:34
    +3

    A DVD copy of the castle

  • Ocker on 27/05/2018 - 08:43

    Do not take Vegemite. Apart from the fact the Yanks don't like the stuff US Customs will seize the product, but not tell you why. Reason is that it is used to smuggle drugs, seems the smell of the Vegemite neutralises the smell of the drugs.

    • buckster on 28/05/2018 - 23:37

      Experiences might vary, I got Vegemite through easy a couple years ago, they knew what it was

  • sam-1966 on 27/05/2018 - 10:30
    +2

    With vegemite, catering supply shops sell the sachets - much lighter and kind of ensures they don't spread it like peanut paste.

    A few years ago, I gave an American author a Violet Crumble and she was intrigued - kept asking what it was. We couldn't understand her reaction when we kept saying it was honeycomb. They don't that type of honeycomb over there - so I would also suggest some of the mini violet crumble or crunchie bars - she did prefer the violet crumbles.

  • JimmyF on 27/05/2018 - 10:47

    Dropbear jerky

  • munecito on 27/05/2018 - 10:56
    -1

    DON'T TAKE TIM TAMS.

    Well actually, take them if you want to be hated and considered a cheapskate that gives horrible confectionery

  • ozzpete on 27/05/2018 - 12:07

    If you are short on luggage space .. You can buy vegemite and timtams in USA. My brother still ate vegemite for breakfast while living in USA.
    I just did a quick google search, and you can buy vegemite via amazon US. But also, there are physical stores that sell it there, it just isn't common. World Market is 1 US store which apparently is all over the US, and sells vegemite (and probably timtams).
    Also, to reduce space taken up in baggage, use the tubes of vegemite, of you arw going to take vegemite with you.
    As for what else to take, maybe a didgeridoo (but not sure what it will cost to take on the plane) . I think authentic didgeridoo are hard to find in US.
    Maybe boomerangs. Could pick up a heap of boomerangs cheap, not sure if an Aussie made ones are particularly cheap though, would have to look around. Unfortunately, you will find much of the very very cheap, Australian merchanise is ACTUALLY MADE IN CHINA

  • MisplacedGaijin on 27/05/2018 - 16:37

    Tim Tams - but not the ordinary milk chocolate, take the dark (on special this week at Coles !).

  • robbo135 on 27/05/2018 - 18:39

    VB singlet

  • LFO on 27/05/2018 - 19:49

    Vegemite in Argentina will NOT be anything special. They have the locally called "Extracto de Carne" that tastes and looks very berry similar to Vegemite.
    On top of that they can buy Bovril in local supermarkets.

    And the Yanks sell Vegemite virtually anywhere in California.

    A bush hat with corks hanging out of its brim is quite a novelty in Argentina.

    Whilst in Argentina please try and devour a few boxes of Alfajores Havana… You'll be hooked for life…

    • Georgevic on 28/05/2018 - 09:21

      Extracto de Carne…? Is the name not reflective of the actual product? The idea of a.. "meat spread" kind of makes me vomit.

  • myusername on 28/05/2018 - 14:49

    i always take chocolate milk as a gift when travelling through asia

  • bchliu on 28/05/2018 - 22:41

    Dried or canned Abalone and Seafood, Shark bone pellets, Milk Powder and Ugg Boots.. No wait.. that's for Asians.. LOL..

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