Shocking delivery move leaves parcels stranded minutes from home

We’ve all been there: you’re eagerly awaiting a parcel, tracking it obsessively online, and you see that glorious update—your package is just around the corner, practically within arm’s reach.

You start planning your day around its arrival, maybe even peeking out the window every time you hear a van.

But for one Aussie, Jay Morgan, that anticipation turned into utter bewilderment when their delivery took a detour that defies all logic.


Jay’s story is one that will have many of us nodding in sympathy (or shaking our heads in disbelief).

After ordering a package from Melbourne, Jay watched as it made its way to a distribution centre in southeast Queensland, just five minutes from home.

So far, so good, right? But then, in a move that can only be described as 'inexplicable', the parcel was rerouted… all the way to South Australia.


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Aussie parcel sent from QLD to SA despite being minutes from delivery. Credit: @jay_mrogan16x / TikTok


Yes, you read that correctly. Instead of making the short hop to Jay’s front door, the package embarked on a cross-country adventure.

Jay took to social media to vent their frustration, saying: ‘I am about to crash out over Australia Post. I had a parcel that was supposed to arrive either yesterday or today. It got to the final stop on Wednesday—the last depot before it gets delivered. Why is it now in South Australia? I am in southeast Queensland. This parcel was sent from Melbourne. It got through southeast Queensland, like five kilometres down the road from where I live. In what world does this make any sense? Australia Post, what are we doing?’


And honestly, who among us hasn’t asked the same question at some point? Jay even pointed out that they could have easily driven to the depot and picked up the parcel themselves, saving everyone a lot of time and confusion.

The online community was quick to rally around Jay, with dozens of commenters sharing their own tales of postal woe.

Some tried to find the humour in the situation: ‘This is the most efficient way. Obviously,’ one joked.

Another quipped, ‘It’s called Australia Post, it needs to see more of Australia first.’ And of course, there was the classic: ‘The parcel decided it wanted an extended holiday.’

But for many, Jay’s experience was all too familiar. One commenter shared, ‘Australia Post once shipped my wheelchair to Canada.

It was being sent from Sydney to Newcastle.’ Another said, ‘It was coming from the Gold Coast to Logan and it went to Adelaide.’


And yet another: ‘Started in Queensland, bounced between NSW and Queensland for three weeks.’

So, what’s going on here? Why do parcels sometimes take the scenic route across the country—or even the globe—before reaching their intended destination?

Australia is a big country, and our postal system is a complex web of depots, sorting centres, and delivery routes.

Sometimes, a simple scanning error or a mislabelled barcode can send a package on a wild goose chase.

Other times, logistical hiccups, like staff shortages, weather events, or overloaded depots, can cause parcels to be rerouted unexpectedly.

Australia Post, for its part, encourages customers to contact it if something goes wrong.


A spokesperson said, ‘We are keen to look into this matter further and encourage the customer to get in touch with us directly via our website or by calling 13 POST (13 7678).’

While it’s frustrating to have your parcel go on an unexpected holiday, sometimes all you can do is laugh.

After all, who hasn’t received a Christmas card in March, or a birthday present that arrived just in time for next year’s celebration?

And let’s not forget the stories that make us grateful for the times when things do go right. For every parcel that ends up in the wrong state, there are thousands that arrive on time, safe and sound.


Credit: TikTok

Key Takeaways
  • An Australia Post customer from southeast Queensland was left frustrated after their parcel, which was just minutes away from delivery, was inexplicably sent all the way to South Australia.
  • The customer, Jay Morgan, shared their ordeal online, showing that the package made a massive detour across the country instead of being delivered locally.
  • Many Australians commented with similar stories about Australia Post sending their parcels on bizarre cross-country journeys, with some making jokes about the inefficiency.
  • Australia Post responded by encouraging the customer to get in contact directly for further investigation into the unusual delivery route.
Have you ever had a parcel take a detour worthy of a travel brochure? What’s the strangest place your delivery has ended up? Or maybe you’ve got a tip for dealing with postal mishaps? Share your stories, advice, and laughs in the comments below.

Read more:
Did your parcel end up here too? The bizarre delivery spot leaving Aussies confused
 

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Some years back, posted a birthday card through AusPost to my SIL that lived 1 suburb away.
It took 4 months.
SIL was somewhat grumpy after not receiving anything from us.
Fortunately the date stamp on the envelope indicated when we sent it, so all was forgiven.
But 4 months? Really?
 
Australia post does that sometimes. I had a parcel coming from Melbourne got to QLD and on the day it was supposed to arrive it went to Perth. I also sent a parcel to France (this was when the government cancelled the submarines from France) and USA and kept checking as it was for Christmas. The USA parcel got there within 2 weeks but the France one got to Paris PO then to the suburb PO it was supposed go to, then to a different PO then back to Paris PO then back to suburb PO then onto another PO somewhere in France then back to Paris PO then returned to sender. I got it back in February and I sent it November the previous year. My brother in law said it could have been the way I wrote the address. The same address I had be writing for 10 years where everything I sent used to get there. :ROFLMAO:
 
I had a parcel once supposed to come from England to here in NSW, I got a message that it was ready to be delivered to me, I checked it out and it was in Louisville USA, it travelled further than I have
 
Caveat, I use to work for Australia Post over 18 years ago. This problem was starting to boil back then.

The problem, as I see it and there is numerous problems that keep adding up.

It all comes down to the dollar, not service. Post are contracting out labour on parcel delivery services. One of the the issues is, some subcontractors are being paid very little and may not be trained correctly. Thus, they maybe overwhelmed or have a care factor of little to zero. It still comes down to management or the lack of it and "Duty of Care".

There are a lot of good people that are in Australia Post, that are extremely frustrated too.
 
I have had the exact experience. Parcel from Melbourne, arrived in Toowoomba Queensland ( 40 kilometres from my home) , but ended up in South Australia before my phone call alerted Australia post to bring it back. ???????
 
As a subcontracting courier having worked for a delivery service out of Dandenong, I have seen pallets laid out of the floor with boxes put on them so the fully laden pallets can be delivered to a correct location, then sorted and delivered to homes or businesses.
Every once in a while I witnessed a carton going on to a wrong pallet (fortunately I caught it in time) and that carton could or would go to a wrong destination.
I tend to believe it's not so much of an "I don't care attitude" when sorting but one of human error, misreading the labels.
Pobody Is Nerfect
 
Mail posted in Maryborough goes to the Sunshine Coast and then comes back to be delivered ,make sense of that .
 
  • Haha
Reactions: Iggydi
how does someone of this age get to post on SDC.
 
I am glad there was a caveat that Australia Post is mostly good...I would even say great. Tracking has not been with us forever so just imagine how it was before then. Things still go awry sometimes but not often ...at all
 
Mail posted in Maryborough goes to the Sunshine Coast and then comes back to be delivered ,make sense of that .
Easy, no mail sorted or processed in you area. It gets trucked often hours away. Been happening in most areas for years. The regional "bandaid". All down to costs.
 
pflogistics is just as bad last week I waited six days for a parcel from Brisbane that they had to come to the gold coast I could walk there quicker
 
  • Haha
  • Wow
Reactions: Iggydi and Dynomite
Mail posted in Maryborough goes to the Sunshine Coast and then comes back to be delivered ,make sense of that .
This is true... It goes to the Nambout mail exchange and back to Maryborough who, I believe, has a machine that read the Postcode that we put in litttle squares for easier recognition.
That was closed down and the mail now goes in trucks daily sorted by extra staff at Nambour then sent back for the workers in Maryborough who sort it again.
(This was to save on staff wages...WHAT? .. 2-3 staff put off and replaced by 2-3 trucks and 2- 3 staff in Nambour pluS 2- 3 given a new job to get it off the trucks .. and put in bags or mailboxs for pickup)
and THEY SAY WE ARE IDIOTS? )
 
I very rarely order something or should say my daughter rarely orders anything on my behalf but I have been very lucky touch wood with very prompt deliveries.
 
I had a regularly delivered parcel come from a warehouse on Southside of Brisbane to Sunshine Coast. Usually takes overnight. Now, the same regular delivery parcel has been taking at least 5 days. When I made an enquiry the suppliers staff said they might have had to split the delivery. Haha what a joke, it is a small box of 60x 85g tins of cat food. Go figure……😡
 
  • Wow
  • Like
Reactions: Iggydi and PattiB
This is true... It goes to the Nambout mail exchange and back to Maryborough who, I believe, has a machine that read the Postcode that we put in litttle squares for easier recognition.
That was closed down and the mail now goes in trucks daily sorted by extra staff at Nambour then sent back for the workers in Maryborough who sort it again.
(This was to save on staff wages...WHAT? .. 2-3 staff put off and replaced by 2-3 trucks and 2- 3 staff in Nambour pluS 2- 3 given a new job to get it off the trucks .. and put in bags or mailboxs for pickup)
and THEY SAY WE ARE IDIOTS? )
Obviously they are the idiots !
 
  • Wow
Reactions: Iggydi
pflogistics is just as bad last week I waited six days for a parcel from Brisbane that they had to come to the gold coast I could walk there quicker
Aus Post is just a joke
 
  • Wow
Reactions: Iggydi
Easy, no mail sorted or processed in you area. It gets trucked often hours away. Been happening in most areas for years. The regional "bandaid". All down to costs.
😡
 
My pay slip used to be delivered within 2 days of my pay date by Aust post. When it hadn’t arrived 10 days later I wondered why. Turns out it had gone to Bayswater in WA rather than Bayswater in Vic. even though the post code was clearly marked. Something that should have travelled a couple of k’s eventually travelled thousand of k’s to get back to me. Almost ready for the next payslip before I got the previous one. !!
 
  • Wow
Reactions: Iggydi and Dynomite
Mail posted in Maryborough goes to the Sunshine Coast and then comes back to be delivered ,make sense of that .
This happens in Tasmania, it’s sent to Hobart & then comes back to be delivered. This system was introduced years ago so assume it’s still happening, but maybe it reverted back, must check.
 
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Reactions: Iggydi

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