Shoppers need to buy presents online by the end of next month if they want them delivered by Christmas as Australia Post struggles with pandemic boom

Online shoppers are being urged to start buying their Christmas gifts soon as Australia Post continues to struggle through the pandemic-driven boom.

Despite the festive season being three months away, the postal giant has already set the deadline of December 12 for those wishing to send gifts across the country. 

The deadline was brought forward as a result of the online shopping bonanza this year which caused widespread delays.  

Online shoppers are being urged to start buying their Christmas gifts soon as Australia Post continues to struggle through the pandemic-driven boom (pictured: People picking up parcels)

Despite the festive season still being three months away, the postal giant has already set the deadline of December 12 for those wishing to send gifts across the country

Australia Post Executive Manager of Business, Government and International Gary Starr told shoppers to start planning now if they want their parcels to arrive on time. 

'I urge people to plan and plan early. Who knows Christmas will bring. Last Christmas brought the bushfires and floods and we were just coming off our busiest period and then the pandemic hit,' he told 7News.

'We have planned as much as we can with our customers - and they are also struggling with bringing in inventory and merchandise to sell.

'Planning is the bottom line.' 

Australia Post is expecting the Christmas to be even more chaotic this year thanks to the pandemic-driven shopping boom (stock image)

Children wishing to pen a letter to North Pole will need to have it written and posted by November 26 (Pictured: A postie collecting packages during COVID-19 lockdowns over the Easter weekend)

WHEN TO SEND CHRISTMAS GIFTS?

Sending within Australia:

Send Parcel Post by Saturday 12 December 2020.

Send Express Post by Saturday 19 December 2020.

Children wishing to pen a letter to North Pole will need to have it written and posted by November 26. 

Anyone buying online will have to get their orders in well before the December 12 cut-off date if they want to get their gifts wrapped and re-posted in time. 

Parcel delivery has increased by 200 per cent in Australia thanks to the pandemic, which has resulted in massive delays.

Mr Starr said Victoria's lockdown had created major problems as its processing facilities were reduced to just a third.

He said the backlog had now been cleared but warned shoppers not to be complacent. 

'There will be lots going on in November with sales like Black Friday, and people will want to take advantage of the sales,' he told the Daily Telegraph.

'We are hiring 4,000 more people to help us through what we know will be our busiest Christmas ever we’ve ever seen in terms of online shopping.'

Children wishing to pen a letter to North Pole will need to have it written and posted by November 26. 

For those sending parcels abroad there is an even tighter deadline.

International Economy Sea Mail cut-off dates for Christmas delivery: 

Albania 7 September 2020

Algeria 7 September 2020

Austria 7 September 2020

Bahamas 28 August 2020

Bahrain 7 September 2020

Barbados 28 August 2020

Belgium 21 August 2020

Belize 21 August 2020

Bermuda 28 August 2020

Bolivia 20 August 2020

Bosnia & Herzegovina 28 August 2020

Botswana 28 August 2020

Brazil 20 August 2020

Bulgaria 7 September 2020

Burundi 7 September 2020

Canada 7 September 2020

Central Africa 7 September 2020

Colombia 20 August 2020

Congo 7 September 2020

Costa Rica 28 August 2020

Croatia 4 September 2020

Cuba 20 August 2020

Cyprus 28 August 2020

Czech Republic 7 September 2020

Denmark 7 September 2020

Djibouti 7 September 2020

France 7 September 2020 

Germany 7 September 2020 

Greece 28 August 2020

Iran 7 September 2020

Iraq 7 September 2020

Ireland 7 September 2020

Israel 28 August 2020

Italy 7 September 2020 

Latvia 7 September 2020

Lesotho 7 September 2020

Liberia 7 September 2020

Libya 7 September 2020

Liechtenstein 7 September 2020

Lithuania 7 September 2020

Luxembourg 7 September 2020

Macedonia 28 August 2020

Malawi 14 August 2020

Malta 28 August 2020

Mauritania 7 September 2020

Mauritius 7 September 2020

Mexico 20 August 2020

Morocco 7 September 2020

Netherlands 7 September 2020

Nicaragua 28 August 2020

Nigeria 7 September 2020

Norway 7 September 2020

Panama 20 August 2020

Paraguay 20 August 2020

Peru 20 August 2020

Poland 7 September 2020

Portugal 7 September 2020

Qatar 7 September 2020

Romania 7 September 2020

Russia 7 September 2020

Saudi Arabia 7 September 2020

Serbia & Montenegro 7 September 2020

Sierra Leone 20 August 2020

Slovakia 7 September 2020

Slovenia 7 September 2020

South Africa 7 September 2020

Spain 7 September 2020

Sweden 7 September 2020

Switzerland 7 September 2020

Trinidad & Tobago 20 August 2020

Turkey 7 September 2020

Uganda 20 August 2020

United Arab Emirates 7 September 2020

Ukraine 7 September 2020

United Kingdom 7 September 2020

Zambia 7 September 2020

Zimbabwe 7 September 2020