# What is worth buying at an Australian supermarket, and how do the seasons and Christmas work in the southern hemisphere?

> Australian supermarkets sell Vegemite, Tim Tams and excellent produce. What to buy, why Christmas is a barbecue, and the bag rules since 2018.

- Source: https://clevertourists.com/resources/what-to-buy-at-a-grocery-store-in-australia
- Authors: Evan & Clara, Clever Tourists (first-hand, from years of travel across 20 countries)
- Published: 2026-01-20

Australia has four main chains and a clear hierarchy: **Coles** and **Woolworths** are the duopoly, **ALDI** is cheaper for basics, and **IGA** and **Foodland** fill in the smaller towns. The surprise for northern-hemisphere visitors is the calendar: summer is December, so the produce and the holidays are inverted.

## The icons, and which are actually good

**Vegemite** is the yeast extract spread, and the correct way to eat it is thinly on buttered toast. A thick spread is why most visitors hate it.

**Tim Tams** are chocolate biscuits designed to be bitten at both ends and used as a straw for tea or coffee. There are many flavours and the original is the reference point.

**Weet-Bix** is the breakfast biscuit eaten with milk and sugar, and **Milo** is the malted drink, both genuinely part of daily life rather than novelty.

**Anzac biscuits** and **lamingtons** are the bakery items, and **macadamia nuts** and good honey are the things that travel best.

## Christmas is hot, and the food follows

**Prawns** are the Christmas food, bought fresh in large quantities in the days before, and eaten cold.

**Mangoes and cherries** are also Christmas food, because December is their season.

The meal is often a barbecue rather than an oven roast, for obvious reasons.

This inverts what a northern-hemisphere visitor expects, and it also means the seasonal produce advice is the opposite of home.

## Seasons, briefly

**Summer** (December to February) is stone fruit, mango, cherries and berries.

**Autumn** (March to May) is apples, pears and figs.

**Winter** (June to August) is citrus and root vegetables.

**Spring** (September to November) is asparagus and the start of the stone fruit.

## Practical notes

**Bring your own bags.** Single-use plastic bags are banned in most states, and shops charge for reusable ones.

**Alcohol is sold separately** in many states. Supermarkets in Victoria and New South Wales can sell it, but in others you need a bottle shop or a licensed section.

**Sunday trading** exists but some smaller shops close early, and public holidays can shut things entirely.

**Card and contactless** are universal, and some places are effectively cashless.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the correct way to eat Vegemite?

Thinly spread on buttered toast. A thick layer is why most visitors dislike it.

### What do Australians eat at Christmas?

Prawns, mangoes, cherries and a barbecue, because December is midsummer.

### Do Australian supermarkets charge for bags?

Yes. Single-use plastic bags are banned in most states, so bring a reusable bag or buy one at the till.

### When is the best fruit season in Australia?

Summer (December to February) for stone fruit, mango and cherries; winter (June to August) for citrus.