21 Special Souvenirs from Australia

Looking for souvenirs from Australia? I’ve got you covered.

I spent one year living, working and backpacking in Australia. From my travels from coast to coast, I found out about so many defining aspects of the country and unique gifts and souvenirs to bring home.

Australia’s a geographically unique country rich with certain resources.

Being so far away from other civilization means that they have a climate that produces things that can’t be found elsewhere.

Let’s jump into the best Australian souvenirs!

Unique Australian Souvenirs

1. UGG boots or slippers

UGGs were founded by an Australian in the 1970s, and official Australian UGGs are still 100% made in Australia.

I wasn’t a fan of Uggs before I came to Australia, but then from seeing so many stores, marketing, and people wearing them – they grew on me.

I bought a pair of Uggs from an Australian store, and they lasted me a good few years. They were super warm, even for Canadian winters.

Where to find Australian UGGs:

• You will see many UGG stores in Australia. Sometimes they’re called UGG Australia Official, or UGG Express. You’ll see them in most major cities in towns; in the city centre and in shopping malls.
• You can also shop online the Australia official UGG website, if you want to avoid having to buy the UGGs there and have to keep them in your suitcase. They ship internationally.

2. Eucalyptus products

Eucalyptus trees are very common in Australia, and are also called ‘gum trees.’ Australia is one of the biggest producers of eucalyptus in the world.

Fun fact – if you’ve heard of Kjiji or Craigslist; in Australia the most common online marketplace is called Gumtree, same name as the eucalyptus trees that grow there.

Where to find Australian eucalyptus products

• The Australian Eucalyptus Oil Company has 2 store locations ( one on the Sunshine Coast and one in Victoria ) but you can also check out their online store.

3. Opals

Opals can be found all around the world, but did you know that 95% of them come from Australia?

So technically, you can opals anywhere in the world, but an opal that’s mined and produced in Australia would make a special souvenir or gift.

Where to find real opals in Australia

• There are stores at the airports that sell them, and they can be found in some souvenir shops in tourist hotspots too
• You can get a much better deal buying opals from an independent retailer, such as Mineshaft.

4. Budaberg beer or merchandise

Bundaberg is an Australian-owned, non-alcoholic beer that is brewed right in Australia.

Bundaberg Ginger Beer is very popular in Australia – I worked in a bar, and saw it ordered quite often; sometimes on its own, and other times as a mixed drink.

While doing a road trip down the east coast of Australia, we stopped and did a tour at the Bundaberg Rum Distillery (located in Bundaberg, Queensland.)

We were able to sample lots of their drinks which are exclusively available there, and found some unique Bundaberg souvenirs there too.

Check out Bundaberg merchandise here, and book a tasting tour at the distillery.

FYI: The town of Bundaberg is located north of the Sunshine coast, about 4 hours north of Brisbane. According to their website (at the time of me writing this) they only ship within Australia.

5. Stuffed animals of Aussie wildlife

One of the most tempting things to buy in Australia is stuffed animals of the common Aussie wildlife.

You can find many different “plushies” as they call them in Australia, of animals like:

• kangaroos
• koalas
• wallabees
• penguins (penguins can be found on Philip Island, they have a whole tour with a souvenir store with lots of penguin stuffies and souvenirs)

You will find these everywhere – every souvenir store, animal-based attraction (such as the Australia Zoo or Crocasaurus Cove in Darwin) and at the airport too if you want to grab it last minute!

6. Mitani Chicken salt

Chicken salt is a seasoning invented in Australia in the 1970s by the Mitani family. It contains no actual chicken and is 100% suitable for vegetarians.

Chicken salt is very popular in Australia and can be used to season almost anything:

• meat
• veggies
• french fries
• scrambled eggs
• popcorn

I brought some home with me, and I use it to flavour my scrambled eggs. It has a salty, savoury taste. It’s good. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

You can also find recipes and ideas on the Mitani Chicken Salt website for ways to use the salt.

Where to find Mitani Chicken Salt

• Australian grocery stores – Coles, Woolworths and Foodland
• You can also find it on Amazon, if it’s currently in stock!

7. A boomerang (authentic or not)

Boomerangs are a symbol of Australia, where they were used primarily as a hunting tool by Aboriginal people across the continent.

Today, they’re mainly thought of as a toy, or a decoration.

You can buy toy boomerangs anywhere of course, but one uniquely Australian souvenir idea is a wooden boomerang painted with Aboriginal art.

Where to find Australian gift boomerangs:

• Souvenir stores at the airports, and in tourist towns and cities
• The Queen Victoria Market in Melbourne (where the above photo was taken
• Australia the Gift has a great selection of authentic Aboriginal boomerangs, credit is given to the artist and proceeds go directly to them

8. Vegemite spread and/or merchandise

In 2023, the popular spread Vegemite officially turned 100 years old.

It was invented in Melbourne in 1923, and it’s a staple in the Australian kitchen.

Vegemite is definitely very unique of its kind, and has a taste unlike any other. It’s made of brewers’ yeast and with spices.

Some say it tastes like soya sauce (I personally don’t like it.) You can watch YouTube videos of trying Vegemite.

However, you don’t have to commit to buying Vegemite if you don’t think you’ll like it -unless you like it, there isn’t much point bringing some home. There are special Vegemite merchandise souvenirs that you can see on their website.

Where to Buy Vegemite

• Australian grocery stores (Woolworths, Coles, etc)
• You can buy Vegemite and souvenirs online from the Vegemite store, but they only ship within Australia and New Zealand. The Australian Food Shop ships to more countries internationally

9. Ice Magic Chocolate Sauce

Cottee’s Ice Magic Chocolate sauce is a favourite for Australian desserts – primarily ice cream.

You pour it over ice cream cone or sundaes, and it hardens (hence the ice name.) It’s a favourite among Australian children. It’s a liquid however, so you’d need to pack it in checked luggage.

You can find the same product in the US created under the name Smuckers, and in the UK it was called Bird’s Ice Magic – but apparently isn’t available in the UK anymore. In Australia, or online it can still be found under the Ice Magic name.

10. Australian brand clothing

Australia has its unique fashion is known for its practical and casual style. Perfect if you like simply, flowy clothes that are ideal for warm weather.

It does get surprisingly chilly in Australia in winter too, so you can still find sweaters and warm wear.

Some Aussie clothing brands you may have heard of are Billibong and Quicksilver, but there are literally thousands of other fashion retailers.

The best places to find Australian fashion retailers are downtown in big cities, or in shopping centres. See a list of current popular Australian clothing brands here.

11. A book by an Australian author

There are so many great Australian authors who (in my opinion) don’t get enough international attention.

While many of the books can be bought online, you can find tons of Aussie-authored books in Australian bookstores that you may not have otherwise known about.

A lot of their books are set in Australia and reading them can give you an understanding of Australian history, and current daily life in modern day.

Some of my personal favourite books I’ve read that take place in Australia (and written by Australian authors are:)

• The Thorn Birds – Colleen McCollough (a classic – your mom has heard of it, guaranteed.) Takes place in New South Wales and Queensland in the mid-1900s
• Homecoming -Kate Morton (a fast paced, but very detailed murder mystery)

If you’re a book lover, read my list on books that take place in Australia to get some ideas. But I also encourage you to check out some Australian bookshops – Dymocks is the largest bookstore chain, but there are lots of independent-owned bookstores too.

12. Australian Aboriginal art

Aboriginal Australian art is known for its dotted patterns – similar to pointalism.

They tend to use a lot of reds, oranges and yellows (which kind of remind you of the deserts of the outback) and it tends to be very bright and colourful.

Traditionally, aboriginal art in Australia was painted on stone, but you can buy art of all kids.

Similar to the boomerangs I shared above, you can buy lots of trinkets and products with Aboriginal-style art on them. But if you’re more serious about art, I recommend trying to support an Aboriginal Australian artist!

Where to buy Indigenous Art of Australia

• Mbantua Gallery sells art by Aboriginal Australians. They partner with them to sell their work, so by buying from them, you’re supporting an indigenous Australian artist. Mbantua is based in Alice Springs, but they ship.

Interesting Fact: It’s believed that the dots used in their works were originally used to hide secrets from the white settlers, so that they wouldn’t know their secrets. You can read interesting history behind indigenous art of Australia here.

13. Bushwalk candles

Bushwalk Candles are artisan-made beeswax candles that are scented with plants and herbs from the Australian bush.

Bushwalk candles are a very unique, and specific Australian souvenir. I can’t even remember how I heard about them, but I’m glad that I can share them with you, because they’re pretty cool.

They have flavours like kakadu plum, lemon myrtle, and bush honey. This is the probably the best gift from Australia if you’re looking for something uniquely Australian. Check out Bushwalk Candles here.

14. Manuka honey products

Manuka honey is made of a plant that grows in Australia and New Zealand.

It has a more ‘caramel and toffee-like flavour’ than mainstream honey, and has special healing properties that can be used topically and by consuming it. Read about the health benefits here.

Manuka honey contains a special ingredient called MGO (stands for methylglyoxal.) When buying manuka honey, look for its MGO certification.

There’s a great article on choosing the best 100% Australian manuka honey here.

Where to find Manuka honey

• Simple Honey (that I linked to above) is amazing, but keep in mind they only ship within Australia
• Australia’s Manuka – buy online, they ship internationally
• There are international outlets that sell manuka honey, such as Manuka Canada. Just be sure to follow the advice in Simple Honey’s article to get something that is authentically Australian

15. Tim Tams

Tim Tams are an Australian cookie. They were originally made from a bakery that opened in 1865. Now, they’re practically a staple in the Australian pantry, and come in many different flavours.

I’m not a huge cookie person, but Tim Tams are pretty yummy. A friend of mine moved to Australia to attend law school, and mailed me some as a gift. I also bought them a few times while living in Australia.

You can find them at all supermarkets and convenient stores in Australia, but they’re not so easy to find abroad.

FYI – Besides Tim Tims, you can find other uniquely Australian sweets.

16. Skincarte products made with Kakadu Plum

Kakadu Plum is a special type of plum that grows in three different Australian states: Northern Territory, Western Australia, and Queensland.

It’s green in colour, has one of highest levels of vitamin C of all the earth’s fruits, and has great skincare benefits.

You don’t necessarily have to buy Austrtalian skincare brands to get ones made with kakadu plum (one Canadian skincare line that I used to use has some of its products contain Kakudu Plum – Niko Organics in case you’re curious.)

But there are a few Aussie skincare lines to look into if you’re interested in that as a useful souvenir (not all their products contain kakudu plum):

• Natio – 100% family-owned Australian, no tests on animals, inspired by nature. They make a kakadu plum-based lotion
• Jurlique – their purely white range contains kakadu plum, and you can read about it here

Where to find Australian skincare brands

Depending on the Australian skincare brand, some can be found in drugstores and pharmacies and supermarkets, while others you may need to buy from their website, designated store or order online.

17. A bottle of Australian wine

Similar to places like California, France and Chile, Australia is also known for their wine.

There are wine regions all over Australia, but most of them are in South Australia.

Funnily enough, Australia was where I came to first start appreciating wine. I worked in a bar, and got a chance to sample a glass or two.

My favourite Australian wine is Dolcetto and Syrah a shiraz made by the Brown Brother’s (in a wine region north of Alpine National Park, east of Melbourne.) Shirazes tend to be very popular in Australia.

18. Australian coffee

Yes, in addition to wine, Australia grows their own coffee too!

Speciality coffee culture is very popular in Australia and the cappuccino is the most ordered drink in coffee shops.

However, to try or buy Australian coffee, you have to be pretty intentional about it. Apparently, less than 1% of coffee consumed in Australia was brewed there, and there only about 50 coffee-growers in the whole country.

Byron Bay, from what I know, seems to be the area where most Australian coffee is grown:

• Kahawa Coffee – lava is their medium roast, and magma is their stronger coffee
• Zentfelds – their packages have unique, cartooinish designs. It would make a fun gift, and you can do tours too

19. Australia-style beach and swim gear

Australia is known for it’s beach and surf culture, and you can find many souvenirs related to this.

You can get towels, flip-flops (called thongs in Australia), swimwear, beach balls and other items that remind you of the Australian beach culture, but can be used at home too!

You can find these kinds of souvenirs in shops, and beach stores. Especially if you’re in places like Byron Bay, the Sunshine Coast, Cairns – you’ll see so much of them.

20. A didgeridoo

A didgeridoo is a traditional Aboriginal Australian instrument.

It’s a wind instrument that dates back to over 1,500 years ago and is believed to be the oldest wind instrument in the world.

The sound that didgeroos make is so unique – when I first heard it, I thought it was a computerized sound rather than a real woodwind instrument. See a YouTube video example here.

Pro Tip: Didgeridoos tend to be quite large in size, but the larger they are, the more ‘advanced’ of an instrument they are. As a beginner didgeroo player, you’d go after the smallest size possible, which is somewhere between 100 – 145 cm (40 inches- 47 inches) in length.

Where to find a didgeridoo

• Didgeridoo Breath sells didgeridoos made from wood of Australian eucalyptus trees. See their selection here.

21. A souvenir of an adventure you took

Australia is a place where people typically go for having some sort of epic adventure. I would find it hard to believe that anyone leaves Australia without doing at least one of the following:

My most beloved souvenir from Australia is the videos, photos and certificate that I got when I went skydiving in Jurien Bay (Western Australia.)

Consider what things you want to do in Australia, and what kind of memento (even if its just photos) you might get from that.

Where to Find The Best Australian Souvenirs

• I Still Call Australia Home. This website is a great place to shop for Australian souvenirs, especially small items like candies, chocolates, mugs, and skin products
• Queen Victoria Market in Melbourne is the largest open-air market in the southern hemisphere and it sells LOTS of great souvenirs, some on this list and others which are less expected. I bought a beautiful knitted hat at the Melbourne market
• The Australian Food Shop ships internationally and has iconic Australian food products and snacks like Tim Tams, Vegemite, Chicken salt, etc.

Australian Souvenir FAQ

Here are the most commonly asked questions about Australian gifts and souvenirs

What products is Australia famous for?

Australia is probably most famously known for its wine and UGG boots. In addition, it’s unique for its products made with 100% Australian manuka honey, eucalyptus or kakadu plum.

What are Australian snacks for souvenirs?

Australian chip brands are Cheezels, Smith’s, Arnottes (which also produces Tim Tam cookies.) You can find these kinds of snacks in convenience and grocery stores.

Final Thoughts on Australian Souvenirs

I hope that this article gave you lots of unique ideas for Australian souvenirs and gifts. Whether its for you, or a gift for someone else, there are a lot of unique things you can find in Australia.