Guidelines on the Australia Post website suggest sending within Australia all regular parcel post to be sent by December 12, and express post by December 19.

Staff and posties at Australia Post have experienced their busiest year and are preparing for Christmas. The company expected around three million parcels to be delivered from Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales.

"We're hiring 5000 extra people to help deliver for our customers across the country, have chartered 18 freighter flights, and will have 3000 extra vehicles on the road," executive general manager deliveries, Rod Barnes said.

"Temporary regulatory relief has enabled the upskilling of 2700 posties including 2000 now delivering in vans, so we are ready to get a record number of parcels to their destinations and spread Christmas cheer for Australians everywhere," he said.

The recommended final sending dates for standard post has passed for all major international destinations.

For more information visit: Australia Post.