With a heap of nations being closer to Australia than Britain, even the most optimistic of online retailers may be surprised to see orders start trickling in from down under. With the huge markets of China, Japan and the USA all being significantly closer, there's every reason its shoppers or importers would choose there instead.
What this is forgetting, however, is that British goods still possess an enviable status in the global marketplace. They have long been associated with quality design and manufacture; a reputation that most other economies would try anything to emulate.
Then there's the addition of Australia's huge population of British migrants who will be receiving parcels from their friends and family still shivering back in Blighty.
As such, there may well be a market for British goods in Australia, which means retailers and relatives alike should bear in mind all the relevant considerations when sending packages halfway across the world.
How much?
As with all deliveries, even those going to just the next town, size and weight will have a huge bearing. As an entry level, for smaller parcels that weigh no more than 1kg, you'd be lucky to get change out of £20. As the size and weight increases, the cost will rise too, often nearing £100 for the largest, weightiest deliveries.
The latter may seem like quite a hefty sum, but this is for the largest size and weight that many companies would take (plus it's covering the 10,000+ miles between the two countries!).
How long?
Going by the aforementioned distance, it should also be no surprise that a next-day service is well out of the question. Instead, leaving three or four days at the very least should be a much better estimate. With everything considered (not just the distance to get there but also internal journeys across Australia's three million-square mile area), this is quite the turnaround.
What's inside the box?
As with most other countries, there will be restrictions on the likes of drugs, firearms, infectious items and so on. In Australia, however, there is a great impact put on the country's agriculture, with officials keen to keep the balance exactly unchanged. Therefore, any items which could upset the status quo are strictly forbidden. This includes meat, dairy items and soil, as these can all be harbouring harmful bacteria not found down under. Plants are also banned, as these could become invasive and destroy large swathes of cultivated Australian flora.
So whilst Australia may not be the closest country to Britain - in fact, it's one of the furthest away - this needn't mean that Brits should write off sending parcels there altogether. In fact, with the relative speed and low cost of doing so, it should instead be seen as a viable way of reaching a new and potentially lucrative new marketplace.
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