Airmail is the best way to send mail home from Australia. Aerogrammes, printed sheets that fold into envelopes and travel via airmail, are available at post offices. Write “airmail” or “par avion” on the front. Most post offices will charge huge fees or refuse to send aerogrammes with enclosures. Surface mail is by far the cheapest, slowest way to send mail. It takes from one to two months to cross the Atlantic and from one to three to cross the Pacific—good for heavy items you won’t need for a while, such as souvenirs acquired in your travels. The Australia Post website (www.auspost.com) has a postage calculator for international deliveries. These are standard rates for mail from Australia to:
To ensure timely delivery of your correspondence, mark envelopes “airmail” or “par avion.” In addition to the standard postage system, Federal Express (☎13 26 10, Canada and the US +1-800-463-3339, Ireland +353 800 535 800, New Zealand +64 800 733 339, the UK +44 8456 070 809; www.fedex.com) handles express mail services from the above countries to Australia. Sending small letters and postcards within Australia costs $0.50.
There are several ways to pick up letters sent to you while you are abroad. Mail can be sent via Poste Restante (known as General Delivery in the US) to almost any town in Australia with a post office, but should only be used if a street delivery address is unavailable. Address Poste Restante letters like so:
The mail will go to a special desk in the central post office unless you specify a post office by street address or postal code. It’s best to use the largest post office, as mail may be sent there regardless. It is usually safer and quicker, though more expensive, to send mail express or registered. Bring your passport (or other photo ID) for pickup; there may be a small fee. If the clerks insist there is nothing for you, ask them to check under your first name. Let’s Go lists post offices in the Practical Information section for each city and most towns.
American Express’s travel offices offer a free Client Letter Service (mail held up to 30 days and forwarded upon request) for cardholders who contact them in advance. Some offices provide these services to non-cardholders (especially AmEx Travelers Cheque holders), but call ahead to make sure. Let’s Go lists AmEx locations for most large cities in Practical Information sections; for a complete list, call ☎+1-800-528-4800 or visit www.americanexpress.com/travel.
 |
 |
 |
 |
For 52 years, we have published the world’s favorite budget travel guides, written entirely by students and updated every year. With pen and notebook in hand and a few changes of underwear stuffed in our backpacks, we spend months roaming the globe in search of travel bargains.
Facebook
Twitter
You Tube
Foursquare
Newsletter
RSS Feed
Overview