Down Under Box

What's in the box: A selection of well-known Australian snacks, chocolates and pantry items, packed with a printed personal note and photo.

Down Under Box is less a recurring subscription than an Australian gift box shop for expats and for anyone with friends overseas who miss home. You pick a ready-made box or build your own, add a printed message and photo, and the company ships it with free international delivery. It also handles customs clearance, which helps because sending food across borders yourself can be a hassle. The range has several themes. The Standard Aussie Care Package is $100, the Aussie Classics and Aussie Chocolate Lover's boxes are $110 each, the Aussie Pantry Box is $130 and the Large Aussie Care Package is $135. If you know exactly which snacks the recipient misses, you can build your own box with 8 items for $125 or 16 items for $175. There is also a digital gift card that comes with a photo and a written or video message. The recipient then picks their own treats and enters their own delivery address, which is handy if you are unsure of their tastes or where they live. These are not cheap prices for a box of snacks, but free international shipping makes up for part of the cost, since posting parcels from Australia is expensive. The popular boxes each show hundreds of reviews, which suggests the business is well established. The site does not offer a clear ongoing subscription plan, so think of it as a one-off gifting service.