Australia Post urges people to get in early as 'record-breaking' festive season kicks-off
Posties and couriers are set to be run off their feet in the coming weeks with a record number of deliveries to be made in the lead up to Christmas.
Black Friday this week will be the first to kick things into gear, with courier company Toll expecting nine million parcels to move through its networks.
Australia Post is also bracing for a record festive period, today urging people to get in early to ensure parcels arrive on time.
A record number of deliveries are expected to be made in the lead up to Christmas. The Age
The cut-off date for domestic parcels is 12 December for Parcel Post and 19 December for Express Post.
"With more households shopping online than ever before, we expect this Christmas season to be record-breaking," Australia Post General Manager Post Office Network David McNamara said.
"Items sent after these dates will still be delivered as quickly as possible, but it will be difficult to get them to their destinations by Christmas."
Australia Post is urging Aussies to get their Christmas letters and parcels in early. Louise Kennerley
Mr McNamara said the company has seen sustained growth over the last seven months compared to last year's pre-Christmas peak period.
More than 500 post offices around the country, 190 of them in NSW, will extend their operating hours to cope with the expected deluge.
Most will alter hours from this Saturday 28 November and will continue until Wednesday 23 December.
Customers are advised to check their local post office as trading hours may vary.
Australia Post is hiring 5000 extra people to help deliver across the country. Supplied
Australia Post is also utilising additional parcel processing facilities, chartering extra freighter flights and hiring 5000 extra people to help deliver across the country.
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