Shopping enthusiasts doubly enjoy shopping in a foreign country. After all, in addition to practical things, you can buy something quite exotic. Australia is located on the other hemisphere of the Earth. When it's day in Moscow, it's night there; when it's winter in Russia, it's summer there. In addition, the mainland for a long time remained isolated from the rest of the world. Therefore, in Australia there are endemics, which in other places of the planet can only be seen in zoos - kangaroo, koala, platypus, emu.
Of course, you will not be allowed to take a live animal out of the country. But you can buy the symbol of Australia in the form of a soft toy or fluffy keychain. In addition to the amazing nature, the original culture of the natives has been preserved on this continent. Many things are made for the tourism industry, and these souvenirs will be an excellent and original gift. In this article we will talk about what to bring from Australia from:
- souvenirs;
- clothes;
- shoes;
- jewellery;
- decor items;
- food;
- cosmetics.
Country Symbols
If you have a hobby of decorating the refrigerator door with magnets brought from your next trip, this is your right. But be aware that most of these products, even if they depict views of Sydney or Melbourne, are made in China. If you want to bring not banal, but original souvenirs from Australia, you will have to fork out.
The locals have a strange sense of humor. For them, it is in the order of things to uncork a bottle of beer with an opener in which the handle is … a paw or a kangaroo scrotum. But many believe that it is simply disgusting and immoral. If you are sick of a souvenir from a corpse, you can find something more ordinary. For example, a copy of a road sign.
What's original, Australian about it? At least a warning to the driver that there is a risk of collision with a kangaroo or a wombat in the next 42 kilometers. An inverted map will also be an original souvenir, where Australia is depicted not in the lower right corner, as we are used to, but in the center of the world. Notebooks decorated in the style of Aboriginal culture will also be a good gift.
Toys for baby
Souvenir shops on the Green Continent are bursting with plush koalas, kangaroos and other exotic animals. So you will not have any difficulties with what to bring from Australia to your child. It should be said that these toys are made offirst class wool. Knowing about the love of children to put everything in their mouths, manufacturers do not use toxic dyes and harmful materials.
Older boys will be happy to receive an Australian Aboriginal weapon, a boomerang, as a gift. Actually, these hook-shaped things have a lot of killing power. But souvenir shops sell quite harmless boomerangs made of plastic or light wood. Children of all genders and ages will appreciate jam and preserves made from the exotic lillipilli berry. Honey from Australia also tastes very unusual. Probably because the bees collect nectar for him from exotic plants.
Australian clothes
As in New Zealand, huge flocks of sheep are bred on the Green Continent. Therefore, the textile industry of the country produces mainly clothes from wool. And this despite the fact that in Australia it is hot all year round. But well-dressed sheep's wool is not only thick sweaters, hats and warm socks, although they are also on sale.
Fleece fabrics can be very thin and serve as material for tailoring summer clothes. And, according to many reviews, very good quality. There is no shortage of representations of world famous clothing brands. But if you want to look like a real Australian dandy, then you need to buy:
- Drizabon style cape;
- Digger Hat rabbit hat;
- mole skin pants;
- sheep wool shirt.
As for women's clothing, the kuji style is popular in Australia, not for nothing named afternamed after one of Sydney's beaches. Colorful bright sundresses, skirts, shorts and more will decorate your summer wardrobe.
Fashionistas should pay attention to the clothes of the Australian brand COOGI. He produces knitwear in ethnic style. In a state that is surrounded on all sides by the warm sea, they are simply obliged to make beautiful and high-quality bathing suits. If you are into water sports, you can buy surf and diving clothes in Australia.
Fashion Accessories
In Australia, cashmere sheep are also bred. Products made from their wool, mainly scarves, are also of high quality. Farmers brought from South America to Australia and distant relatives of the camel - alpacas. The animals of the Andes quickly got used to the new climate. Mostly alpaca clothing is outerwear, because their delicate, flowing coat looks like fur. Australia is famous for its haberdashery.
Find sheep skin too boring? Well, the people of Australia agree with you. Their irrepressible imagination invented handbags not only from crocodile or snake skin, but also from poisonous cane toad. As a souvenir, you can bring a kitchen apron with a funny print or a funny and witty slogan.
Ugg Australia
An overabundance of sheep wool production was bound to give rise, sooner or later, to shoes like felt boots, seemingly useless in hot Australia. But do not think that uggs are made here exclusively for export to cold countries. Sheep wool is unique. It warms in cold weather, but your feet will be in it.feel great even in 40-degree heat. You can even meet people in ugg boots on the beaches! It is noteworthy that at first these shoes were produced for use at home. The first uggs had soft soles, like slippers. But with the popularity of Ugg Australia, these shoes have become streetwear. Real uggs cost at least a hundred dollars (6,650 rubles) even in Australia.
The market is oversaturated with felt boots from China, the quality of which leaves much to be desired. So carefully check the company and place of production of these stylish sheepskin boots. When purchasing uggs, at the same time buy them a spray against getting wet shoes. People on the streets of Australia rarely wear shoes and sandals. If every second is shod in ugg boots, then the other half are in flip flops. Here they are called "thongs". Flip flops can also serve as a practical souvenir, especially if they are emblazoned with the Australian flag.
Aboriginal culture items
The country's government now strongly supports the indigenous people. In communities, boomerangs are made, pebbles and shells are painted, pictures are painted, which later go to the tourist market. How to navigate in a huge range of souvenirs, so as not to bring Chinese consumer goods from Australia? Real hunting boomerangs cost an average of $10 (665 rubles). Not only are they decorated with authentic paintings, they also have a sign indicating production in the Aboriginal community.
You can also support the culture of the indigenous people with money by buying a didgeridoo. This is a very specific wind instrument thatAustralian shamans use to enter a trance. It is problematic to transport a 3-5-meter bamboo pipe on an airplane. Didgeridoo and hunting boomerang are best sent by parcel from Australia home. But a picture painted on fabric or canvas will practically fit into a suitcase. Aborigines paint in several styles. The most popular is Dot painting. But there are also paintings in geometric patterns, stylistic images of crocodiles, snakes, kangaroos. This painting is inexpensive - from $ 10.
National fruits
There are many exotic fruits in Australia. So you can go to the nearest market the day before departure and buy papaya, passion fruit, dragon fruit, lychee and other unseen fruits. But what to bring from Australia that you will not find in the markets of Southeast Asia? Macadamia is the most expensive nut in the world. Here it bears several names - boomer, kindal-kindal and mullimbimbi. When unpeeled, macadamia is similar to our walnut, only there is no hard shell under the green skin. This product is extremely useful and nutritious. But beware: Macadamia is a deadly poison for dogs!
Australia is the birthplace of the eucalyptus. These trees are the "calling card" of the vegetation of the Green Continent. Therefore, you can bring real eucalyptus oil. It is used not only in cosmetology, but also in medicine, as it removes phlegm from the respiratory tract and kills harmful bacteria.
National products
The gastronomic symbol of Australia is Vegemite pasta. Almost all Europeans do not like its bitter-s alty taste with a touch of brewer's yeast. Nevertheless, Australians consume this viscous brown mass in huge quantities, spreading it like butter on sandwiches. They say it has a lot of B vitamins.
No less exotic products from Australia are dried kangaroo, emu and crocodile. Their taste is an amateur. But what is good in Australia (according to Europeans) is wine. The climate in the south of the continent turned out to be ideal for the growth of vines. They also brew excellent beer here. The most popular brands are Coopers, Fosters, XXXX, VB and Tooheys.
Opals
These gems are no less famous than ugg boots. From Australia they bring black opals with white and red tints, translucent, purple, emerald, silver-blue, dark blue, green. 97 percent of the deposits of this stone in the world are concentrated on the mainland. Opals are sold both simply cut and as part of jewelry.
But you need to buy them in specialized stores (there are many in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra), where you will also be given a certificate of authenticity. Such a pleasure is not cheap, more than hundreds of dollars. Prices depend both on the size of the opal and on the depth of its iridescence, the skill of cutting, and the accompanying metals.
Cosmetics
Thinking what to bring from Australia to your wife, sister or girlfriend? Usually women are given perfume or cosmetics. Australia is not the perfume capital of the world. Let's see what you can buy native Australian fromcosmetics. Locals believe that emu fat not only heals cuts and fights dermatitis, but also tightens skin turgor.
This oil is found in many creams and other skin care products. But the smell of fat is very unpleasant. If your girlfriend does not have obvious dermatitis, it is better to opt for cosmetics with macadamia, tea tree or papaya oils.
Where to shop
On the outskirts of any more or less large city there is Westfield - a huge hypermarket, overgrown with boutiques, cafes and entertainment venues. And in the center of settlements there are markets - both food and clothing. How much money do you need in Australia for decent shopping? This is a rather expensive country, and it is unlikely that you will be limited by the amount of $500 (33,250 rubles), especially if you buy beautiful and high-quality locally produced items.
Tourists believe that shopping in Australia is good, especially when you consider that you get things that are unlikely to be in your acquaintances. The clothes and shoes are very high quality. The Australians may not have a sense of humor, but you are not forced to buy animal parts as souvenirs. And by buying a boomerang or painting in an authentic style, you will support the Aboriginal community. In addition, real ugg boots perfectly warm in winter. But since there is no ice in Australia, the soles of these boots are very slippery.
