🎁 Dry Goods Christmas Cut-Off: Place your orders by 18 December for pre-Christmas delivery.

🌿 Order Plants Early for Christmas: Live plant shipments should be placed by 12 December to arrive safely before the holiday rush. Anything after is shipped at your own risk!

🐠 Live Fish: Cut-off 12 Dec. Anything after is shipped at your own risk.

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Christmas Shipping Cut-Off Dates 2025

Christmas Shipping Cut-Off Dates 2025

🎄 Summer Holiday Shipping Cut-Off Dates 2025

Everything You Need to Know Before the Christmas Rush

Summer is here in New Zealand and Australia — longer days, warmer weather, and the busiest courier season of the year. To help ensure your aquarium goodies arrive in time for Christmas, we’ve put together our recommended holiday shipping cut-off dates.

Both heat and courier congestion can affect how safely and quickly your orders arrive (especially live plants and live fish), so ordering early is the best way to avoid delays.

Below is a simple breakdown of when to order for the best chance of pre-Christmas delivery.

 

🇳🇿 NEW ZEALAND CHRISTMAS SHIPPING CUT-OFF DATES

 

🌿 Live Plants – Order Before 12 December

Live plants can be easily stressed in summer heat and courier delays. To give them the best chance of arriving healthy and on time, we recommend ordering before 12 December.

We will continue shipping plants after this date, but please note:

  • Orders placed after 12 December are shipped entirely at your own risk
  • Arrival before Christmas is unlikely due to peak courier loads
  • We reserve the right to delay or hold shipments if temperatures or courier conditions make shipping unsafe

Ordering early is the best option for summer.

 

🐠 Live Fish – Cut-Off 12 December (Strict)

Due to summer heat and Christmas courier congestion, we will not ship any live fish ordered after 12 December until it is safe to do so in 2026.

If you choose to proceed after that date:

  • Shipping is strictly at your own risk
  • Pre-Christmas arrival is not possible
  • We may delay or decline shipment if conditions are unsafe

Fish safety always comes first.

 

📦 Dry Goods – Order Before 18 December

For NZ customers, dry-goods orders placed before 18 December have the best chance of arriving before Christmas.

This includes:

  • Hardscape & tools
  • Lighting & filters
  • Substrates, sands & décor
  • General aquascaping accessories

Orders placed after 18 December will still be shipped, but may arrive after Christmas.

🇦🇺 AUSTRALIA CHRISTMAS SHIPPING CUT-OFF DATES

 

📦 Dry Goods Only – Order Before 10 December

We only ship dry goods to Australia. Due to international processing times and peak-season volumes, we recommend placing your order before 10 December for the best chance of pre-Christmas delivery.

We will continue shipping as normal after this date, but your parcel may not arrive before Christmas.

 

🚀 Urgent Christmas Delivery? DHL Express Available (2–3 Days)

If you need faster delivery to Australia, we can arrange DHL Express. Delivery typically takes 2–3 days, depending on location.

Contact us for a quote if you require urgent Christmas delivery.

 

🎁 Tips for Smooth Summer Holiday Shipping

  • Order early — especially live plants or live fish
  • Double-check your delivery details before checkout
  • Expect delays due to Christmas courier congestion
  • Heat-sensitive items may require extra caution
  • Use DHL Express (AU only) for urgent orders
  • If unsure, reach out — we’re happy to help

💛 Thank You for Supporting Us This Summer

This is our busiest time of the year, and we truly appreciate your patience and support. We're a small team doing our best to pack and ship your orders quickly and safely through the summer heat and Christmas rush. We look forward to 2026 and the many new exciting aquarium goodies that will be arriving on our planned roadmap. 

Wishing you a warm, sunny, and stress-free Christmas season — and happy aquascaping! 🌞🎄✨

- Your Friendly Local Aquascaping Store!

CHRISTMAS & SUMMER HOLIDAY FAQ — 2025

GENERAL NZ SHIPPING & OPERATIONS

Are you open and shipping over Christmas and New Year?

We ship right up until 23 December — our final dispatch day.

After that, we are closed until the New Year, and no orders are shipped or picked up during this time.

Orders placed during the closure will be processed when we reopen in January.

LIVE FISH & LIVE PLANTS (NZ ONLY)

What happens if I order live fish or live plants after 12 December?

Orders placed after 12 December require manual review.

We will call you to discuss:

  • heat risks
  • courier delays
  • whether it is safe to ship
  • whether you prefer to delay or cancel

No live goods ship without speaking to you first.

Do live plants or live fish ship during the holiday closure (after 23 December)?

No.

We do not ship any live plants or live fish during our Christmas → New Year shutdown.

Are live plants shipped at my own risk after 12 December?

Yes — if you choose to proceed after we call you, live plants shipped after 12 December are sent at your own risk.

Do you reserve the right to delay or refuse live shipments?

Yes.

We may delay or decline any live shipment if temperatures or courier conditions are unsafe.

DRY GOODS (NZ)

What happens if I order dry goods after the cut-off date?

Dry goods will be shipped up to 23 December.

Orders placed after 23 December will ship when we reopen.

Dry goods do not require a phone call.

Are dry goods shipped during the Christmas → New Year shutdown?

No.

Dry goods ordered after 23 December are shipped once operations resume.

PICKUPS (NZ ONLY)

Can I pick up my order?

Yes — pickups are available until 23 December.

There are no pickups during our shutdown unless otherwise arranged with us prior!

Are pickups affected by cut-off dates?

Courier cut-off dates do not affect pickups.

You can pick up dry goods, plants, and fish while we are open.

Is same-day pickup available?

Possibly, but not guaranteed.

Because many staff are on annual leave, same-day pickup may not always be possible during December.

We will contact you when your order is ready.

Can someone else pick up my order?

Yes — just forward them your pickup confirmation.

GENERAL AU SHIPPING

What can be shipped to Australia?

We ship dry goods only to Australia.

Live plants and live fish are not shipped to AU.

What is the Christmas cut-off date for Australia?

To increase the chance of Christmas delivery, order dry goods before 10 December.

We will continue shipping after this date until 23 December, but Christmas arrival is unlikely.

Do you ship dry goods during the holiday closure?

No.

Dry goods ordered after 23 December will be shipped once we reopen in January.

Can I get urgent delivery to Australia?

Yes — DHL Express is available for AU dry-goods orders only.

Delivery usually takes 2–3 days.

Contact us for a quote.

AU PICKUP?

Do you offer pickups in Australia?

No — pickups are only available in New Zealand.

ORDERING DURING THE HOLIDAY BREAK (APPLIES TO BOTH NZ & AU)

Can I place orders while you're closed?

Yes — the website remains open.

Orders will be fulfilled once we reopen in January.

What happens if couriers delay my shipment?

Courier delays are common in December.

Our cut-off dates represent the best chance, not a guaranteed arrival before Christmas.

How will I know if my order is delayed?
  • NZ live fish/plants: We will call you
  • NZ dry goods: Shipped when operations resume
  • AU dry goods: Shipped when operations resume; courier delays are visible through tracking
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