Australia is a huge country, and an Australian tour is bound to showcase a variety of landscapes and cities. Expect the same variety in your souvenirs as you'll experience on your trip. What souvenirs shoppers will find will depend on whether you're touring Australia's desert-like interior, its subtropical north, or the Great Barrier Reef (just for starts). Here are some unique Australian souvenirs that will remind you of your travels down under.
Souvenir Shopping for Australian Crafts and Cultural Artifacts
Jewelry: Pearls, opals and gold are Aussie specialties. Tourist jewelry made from opals cut into the shapes of koala bears and kangaroos are inexpensive, sometimes less than $10. Pearls, which come from Australian seas as well as from Tahiti and other South Seas islands known for multi-colored pearls, range from a few dollars on up to - well, if you have to ask, you're not buying it! And in Australia's historic gold mining towns, you can buy small gold nuggets in jewelry settings.
Aboriginal Canvas Art: Colorful pointillistically styled paintings by aboriginal artists in traditional styles feature geometric patterns and animals. They are available in aboriginal communities, in tourist markets, and in fine galleries. It's worth purchasing the painting from the artist who actually made it because each painting has a story. Tourist-class paintings are available for less than $30; paintings by recognized artists can be many times that at fine art galleries.
Didgeridoos: A didgeridoo is not the easiest souvenir to bring back. These long wooden or bamboo wind instruments can be several feet long, in which case you'd probably have to ship it, and that won't be cheap. Smaller instruments are available and more portable. The didgeridoo is the soul of traditional aboriginal music, with a sound like a sort of bass drone. Fancifully decorated, these make dramatic, if unwieldy souvenirs. Decorations focus on Australian themes, often animals such as barramundi, platypus, echidna, snake, and crocodile.
Boomerangs: Definitely on the touristy side of the souvenir spectrum, but at least they have an authentic history as hunting weapons and for sport. Traditional boomerangs were made of bone. Returning boomerangs were designed for sport; non-returning boomerangs were used for hunting. Today's models can be made of wood, bone, or (today) plastic and other high-tech materials, and are often decorated with traditional themes.
What to Buy in Australia: Outback and Designer Clothing
Coogi Sweaters. Coogi is a brand name for a unique sweaters made in Australia. (Note: they call sweaters "jumpers.") The patterns are computer generated in vibrant colors in asymmetrical woven patterns guaranteed to be unique for each sweater. Coogis are are available in the U.S.; whether they are a bargain in Australia depends to a large extent on the exchange rates between the respective dollars and where you shop. Airport prices are not usually a bargain, but in Melbourne, you can pick up factory seconds, and for a huge price differential ($50 to $100 Australian as opposed to the more typical U.S. prices of $200 - $400) you probably won't be able to spot the flaws. Watch out for knock-offs, though. One possible tip-off: Look at the tag. It should be squarish with the size on the bottom left, and the letters will be colored in the following order : C is yellow, O is green, O is blue, G is orange, I is red.
Woolen sweaters: Like New Zealand, Australia is a country filled with sheep stations, and wool products are found everywhere. In many cases. the wool is grown and processed in Australia, then shipped to Asia for knitting, and returned for sale as a finished product in Australia.
Beach stuff: Australians take swimming seriously. it's not so much a hobby as it is a sacred ritual. So if you're in the market for beach wear and beach accessories, from bathing suits to mats, you couldn't pick a better place to shop.
Outback hats and camping clothing: Don't overdo the Outback look! may not work all that well at home (especially if home is New York City; you probably don't want to look like Crocodile Dundee!). But a bush hat can be functional on your trip, and you might use it at home while hiking, fishing, or camping.
Finally, don't forget that Australia has some of the best wines in the world. As always with wine though, you'll have to pack it carefully in checked luggage or hip it. When your flight Australia is direct), no secondary passes through security) you can buy bottles airside at the airports and take those in hand luggage.For the rest: If you're a determined souvenir shopper, consider taking a extra bag to bring home your Australian mementos.
Karen Berger - Karen Berger is the author of 15 books. Please click on her name to read her full bio.
