With just days to go until Christmas, time-pressed shoppers across Australia have been thrown a lifeline by retail giant Amazon. The company has announced its final cut-off dates for pre-Christmas deliveries, with many Prime members able to place orders right up until Monday, 22 December.
Extended Deadlines for Major Cities
Prime members in Sydney, Wollongong, Newcastle, Gosford, Melbourne, Geelong, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Perth, Adelaide, and Canberra can browse hundreds of thousands of eligible items and have them delivered in time for Christmas Day. This service includes free delivery as a core benefit of their Prime membership.
Janet Menzies, Amazon Australia's Country Manager, acknowledged how easily the festive season can catch people off guard. 'The holidays are full of excitement, but they can also be incredibly busy,' she stated. 'Suddenly it's a week out from Christmas and you're still ticking off your wishlist. Our extended cut-off dates take some of that stress away.'
Menzies emphasised that fast, reliable delivery remains central to the company's promise. She highlighted ongoing investments to strengthen the Australian network, ensuring customers can rely on quick delivery throughout the festive period and into the new year.
Top Tips for Stress-Free Festive Shopping
To maximise the chance of gifts arriving on time, Amazon Australia has issued several key recommendations for shoppers. Prime members should take full advantage of their benefits, which include the latest delivery cut-offs and entertainment access. New members can start with a 30-day free trial.
Shoppers are strongly advised to always confirm the delivery window provided at checkout, as cut-off dates are guides and can be affected by external factors. While the extended deadlines offer more flexibility, shopping early helps secure the best delivery options and avoids last-minute panic.
For the fastest shipping, use filters to sort by 'Prime' and select 'Ships from Australia'. Orders from international or third-party sellers may face longer transit times. It is also crucial to check stock availability, as out-of-stock items can delay entire orders.
Network Expansion and Enhanced Services
This year's extended delivery capability is backed by significant operational growth. Since January 2024, Amazon has invested almost $1.6 billion in five new operational sites across Australia, creating around 1,500 additional permanent operations roles in 2025.
To handle peak holiday demand, the company has onboarded 1,800 seasonal workers to assist with picking, packing, and dispatching orders nationwide. These upgrades mean more customers than ever can access faster, more reliable delivery, including evening, weekend, and next-day delivery on over one million items for most Prime members.
For added customer peace of mind, returns have also been simplified. A label-free drop-off service is now available at Australia Post and ParcelPoint locations. Furthermore, an extended holiday returns window is in effect, with most items purchased between 1 November and 31 December 2025 eligible for return until 31 January 2026.
Amazon's dedicated Christmas Store remains a one-stop shop for festive essentials, categorised to help shoppers find the perfect gift for every family member.
