What Time Does Australia Post Stop Delivering?

As an online seller or regular shopper in Australia, you probably rely on Australia Post for reliable and timely delivery of parcels, especially around busy periods like Christmas. But have you ever wondered exactly what time Australia Post typically stops making deliveries each day?

The last scheduled daily delivery from Australia Post is usually around 5PM on normal business days. However, cutoff times can vary depending on the specific delivery route, location, mail type, and other factors.

In this detailed guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about Australia Post parcel delivery times and cutoffs, including:

• Standard daytime and extended twilight delivery hours
• Impacts of peak ecommerce periods like Christmas
• Weekend delivery options and Saturday/Sunday differences
• International parcel and courier handoffs
• Deadlines for priority mail and Express Post
• How to find more precise estimates based on destinations

Knowing the ins and outs of exactly when to expect your time-sensitive parcels can help your business or customers avoid missed deliveries and meet tight deadlines.

Overview of Standard Australia Post Delivery Hours

Australia Post has an extensive mail and parcel delivery network across Australia. Their posties and couriers handle over 2.8 million items daily.

The standard delivery schedule for Australia Post is:

• Monday to Friday: 7 AM to 5 PM
• Saturdays: Delivery until 1 PM for additional fee
• Sundays: No deliveries

So if you’re waiting on an Australia Post parcel delivery during the regular work week, you can typically expect it to arrive before the general cutoff time of 5PM, depending on your exact location and route.

Weekday deliveries made after this time are rare unless you paid for priority mail or overnight Express Post. Weekend business delivering on Saturdays also ends early afternoon.

Twilight Deliveries Trialed During Peak Periods

Parcel volumes have been growing substantially with the rise of ecommerce in Australia. But around major holidays and sales events Black Friday and Cyber Monday, order volumes spike even higher.

To keep up with intense demand from online shoppers, Australia Post has been trialing extended delivery hours in major metro areas like Melbourne and Perth.

• These twilight deliveries typically run from 7AM to 8PM weekdays
• Focus is on dense residential and business areas
• Goal is handling heightened parcel influx more smoothly

So if you’re a seller gearing up for the craze of Christmas shopping, or you’ve placed some online orders set for delivery in late November or December, you may receive your parcels a bit later in the evenings during this high-volume period.

Delivery Cutoff Times on Business Days

As we’ve covered, the end of standard Australia Post delivery hours is typically 5PM on normal business days, Monday through Friday. This applies for most regular parcel post deliveries.

However, the actual last parcel handed off likely occurs around 5PM for most postal routes. Exceptions apply as noted for peak seasons, overnight services, etc.

And for priority and overnight mail via Express Post, delivery deadlines are often much later in the evenings, even as late as 10PM in some cases.

These extended cutoffs allow Australia Post to meet its guaranteed next-business day delivery promises for customers who paid extra for expedited services.

So in summary:

• Standard parcels: Last delivery around 5PM
• Priority mail: Later cutoffs, varies by item
• Overnight Express Post: Can deliver up until 10PM

Does Australia Post Offer Weekend Deliveries?

Many customers wonder whether Australia Post offers any weekend parcel deliveries, or if you’re out of luck sending or receiving packages on Saturdays and Sundays.

The post does provide some special weekend services:

Saturday Deliveries

• Australia Post delivers parcels on Saturdays for an additional fee
• Cutoff is early afternoon, around 1PM
• Priority and Express Post mail may be delivered on Saturdays

So you can receive your non-expedited postal items on the weekend. But the last scheduled delivery happens at 1PM on Saturdays.

No Sunday Delivery

Sunday delivery is not offered for regular postal parcels from Australia Post. Priority services like Express Post can sometimes be delivered on Sundays, but there are no guarantees.

If your regular parcel arrives at a delivery facility on a Sunday, it will not go out for home delivery that day. But it should be first in line for delivery on Monday morning.

International Deliveries Handed to Local Couriers

Tracking down precise delivery estimates can be more complicated for international Australia Post parcels handed off to overseas postal carriers.

For global destinations, Australia Post transfers parcels to local courier companies once the items clear customs. From there, local delivery times and rules apply.

So if you’re shipping items internationally or receiving parcels from global sellers, be sure to check:

• Delivery rules and guarantees for your specific country
• Operating hours of your local postal courier
• Any impacts from holidays, weather, customs holds, etc.

Reaching out to the local delivery company directly will give you the most accurate delivery expectations.

Because handoffs add more variability, it’s best not to make firm plans or commitments based on international Australia Post parcel tracking alone. Confirm timelines with your courier.

Added Variables That Can Impact Delivery Times

While we’ve covered the standard and most common Australia Post parcel delivery schedules and cutoffs, there are a few additional variables that can shift these timelines:

• Specific postal routes – Last mile delivery times can fluctuate by neighborhood based on densities, volumes, road layouts, and other factors. Check recent deliveries to your home for your area’s normal receiving window.
• Extreme weather events – During heat waves, major storms, or other severe weather, deliveries may be briefly halted for safety or delayed if backlogs build.
• Holidays – Public holidays and long weekends can temporarily reduce operating hours. Delivery volume spikes after holidays can also lead to brief delays.
• Unforeseen dispatch delays – Though rare, technical glitches, vehicle breakdowns, insufficient staff, and other issues could push back some routes and deliveries.

If your time-sensitive parcel is running late, check for Australia Post delivery updates on potential service impacts in your state or territory.

For questions on a specific late parcel, you can call Australia Post customer support for more insights on expected delivery progress.

Key Takeaways – When Does Australia Post Stop Delivering?

In summary, pinpointing the last daily delivery from Australia Post depends on these key factors:

• Standard parcels usually complete weekday delivery by 5PM.
• Priority and Express Post mail often deliver later, even past 6PM.
• Saturdays bring deliveries until around 1PM.
• No Sunday delivery offered without paying Sunday surcharges.
• International parcels get handed to local couriers to finish the journey.

So if you have an overnight Express Post item coming or you’re waiting on an international shipment making its way through customs, your package could arrive later than normal post cutoff times.

But otherwise, you can expect Australia Post parcel delivery service to wrap up around 5PM on weekdays and 1PM on Saturdays. No regular Sunday delivery is provided.

Check your tracking status for current progress during the last mile. And reach out to Australia Post customer support if your expected delivery is late with no updates.