If you’re running a Shopify store in Australia, getting your shipping setup right is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. Customers expect accurate costs at checkout, fast fulfilment, and real-time visibility over their orders. For most Australian merchants, that means connecting their store to Australia Post, the country’s most extensive and trusted delivery network. This guide walks you through everything you need to know about Australia Post shipping on Shopify: which account type suits your business, how rates work, how to generate labels, and how tracking operates end-to-end.
In This Article:
- Understanding Your Australia Post Account Options for Shopify
- Australia Post Shipping Rates on Shopify: What You Need to Know
- Australia Post Shipping Labels on Shopify: Generation, Printing & Returns
- Australia Post Shipping Tracking in Shopify: Keeping Your Customers Informed
- How the PluginHive Australia Post Ship App Simplifies Everything on Shopify
- Conclusion
- FAQ’s
Understanding Your Australia Post Account Options for Shopify
Before setting up Australia Post shipping in Shopify, you’ll need an active Australia Post business account. The right option depends on how many parcels you send and the services you need.
MyPost Business — Best for Small to Medium Businesses
MyPost Business is Australia Post’s free shipping platform for businesses of any size.
Key features:
- No contracts or minimum sending requirements.
- Savings begin after spending $50 on parcel sending over four weeks.
- Discounts of up to 40% on domestic shipping and up to 35% on international shipping.
- Supports both domestic services (Parcel Post and Express Post) and international shipping to 220+ destinations.
eParcel — Best for High-Volume Merchants
The eParcel Contract is designed for businesses sending 2,000 or more domestic parcels per year.
Key benefits:
- Annual contract with negotiated shipping rates.
- More delivery, pickup, and integration options.
- Access to branded returns portals.
- Delivery to 5,200+ collection points, including Parcel Lockers and Post Offices.
StarTrack — Best for Heavy, Urgent, or Premium Deliveries
StarTrack is Australia Post’s premium courier and freight service.
Key features:
- Real-time tracking.
- Electronic proof of delivery with the recipient’s name and signature.
- Suitable for bulky, high-value, or time-sensitive shipments.
- Pickup booking and contract-based courier services.
Which Australia Post Account Should You Choose?
| Business Size | Recommended Account |
|---|---|
| Just starting or low volume | MyPost Business |
| 2,000+ parcels per year | eParcel Contract |
| Heavy or urgent freight | StarTrack |
Australia Post Shipping Rates on Shopify: What You Need to Know
Understanding how Australia Post calculates shipping rates helps you set accurate shipping charges at checkout and avoid unexpected costs.
How Australia Post Rates Are Calculated
Australia Post shipping rates are typically based on:
- Weight or cubic weight (whichever is greater)
- Package dimensions
- Destination
- Service type (standard or express)
- Packaging type (your own packaging, prepaid satchels, or flat-rate boxes)
Business accounts may also receive discounted rates based on shipping volume.
Discounts for Business Customers
Australia Post offers automatic discounts as your shipping spend grows.
- Savings increase as you move into higher pricing tiers.
- Larger businesses may qualify for custom contract rates.
- Discounted rates apply to both domestic and international shipments.
Additional Charges
Some shipments may include extra fees, such as:
- Signature on delivery
- Extra cover (insurance)
- Pickup fees
- Peak period surcharges
These are some ways in which Australia Post rates are charged in Shopify.
Australia Post Shipping Labels on Shopify: Generation, Printing & Returns
After a customer places an order, the next step is to generate and print a shipping label so the parcel can be lodged with Australia Post.
Generating Shipping Labels
Australia Post business accounts let you create shipping labels manually through the online portal or automatically through Shopify integrations.
- Labels include the delivery address, tracking barcode, and service details.
- International shipments may also require customs documentation such as CN22 or CN23 forms.
Printing and Dispatching Labels
After generating the label:
- Print and attach it securely to the parcel.
- For contract accounts, you may also need to create a dispatch manifest when lodging multiple shipments.
- Customers receive tracking updates once the shipment is scanned by Australia Post.
Creating Return Labels
It also supports prepaid return labels.
- Return labels can be emailed directly to customers.
- Customers can print the label themselves or present a QR code at a Post Office for printing.
- This makes returns easier for customers who do not have access to a printer.
Australia Post Shipping Tracking in Shopify: Keeping Your Customers Informed
Australia Post tracking gives customers real-time visibility into their orders and access to delivery management tools, helping reduce support enquiries and improve the overall post-purchase experience.
How Australia Post Tracking Works
Each shipment is assigned a unique tracking number that is scanned throughout the delivery journey. Customers can track their parcels and manage delivery preferences through the Australia Post website.
Tracking updates are typically sent at four key milestones:
- When the shipping label is created and the parcel is manifested in the system.
- When the parcel is first scanned by Australia Post and is officially in transit.
- On the day of delivery, often with a delivery estimate or a two-hour delivery window where available.
- Once the parcel has been successfully delivered to the recipient.
Features Available to Customers
The AusPost app gives customers several self-service delivery options:
- Automatic notifications as soon as Australia Post detects an incoming parcel.
- The ability to request Safe Drop if the address is eligible.
- Parcel redirection to another address, Parcel Locker, or Post Office while the shipment is in transit.
- Access to delivery attempt photos and proof of delivery.
- A QR code for collecting missed deliveries without needing a physical card.
Benefits for Shopify Merchants
Integrating Australia Post tracking with Shopify helps you:
- Automatically send tracking numbers and delivery notifications to customers after fulfillment.
- Reduce “Where is my order?” support tickets by keeping customers informed at every stage.
- Improve the post-purchase experience and build greater trust in your store.
- Encourage repeat purchases by offering a more transparent and convenient delivery experience.
How the PluginHive Australia Post Ship App Simplifies Everything on Shopify
While Australia Post provides the carrier infrastructure, connecting it seamlessly to Shopify’s order management system is where things get technical. This is exactly the gap that the PluginHive Australia Post Ship app is designed to fill.
Here is how the app helps:
Live Rates at Checkout: The app fetches real-time Australia Post shipping rates from your connected carrier account and displays them to customers at checkout.
Label Generation: From your Shopify dashboard, you can generate individual or bulk Australia Post shipping labels in a single click. All customer and address details are pre-filled from the Shopify order, eliminating manual re-entry and the errors that come with it.
Return Labels: For eParcel and StarTrack accounts, the app supports return label generation directly from the Shipping section. You can generate return labels for fulfilled orders, select the service type, and download the label immediately.
Tracking Automation: Once a label is generated, the app automatically updates the Shopify order with the Australia Post tracking number and marks it as fulfilled.
Pickup Scheduling: Merchants can schedule Australia Post pickups directly within the app rather than booking through a separate portal, streamlining daily operations further.
Conclusion
Australia Post is a reliable shipping solution for Shopify merchants, offering flexible account options, competitive rates, end-to-end tracking, and convenient return services.
Whether you’re using MyPost Business, eParcel, or StarTrack, connecting Australia Post to Shopify allows you to display live rates at checkout, generate labels, and automatically share tracking updates with customers.
To simplify the entire workflow, the PluginHive Australia Post Ship app lets you manage rates, labels, tracking, returns, and pickup scheduling directly from your Shopify dashboard.
If you ship with Australia Post regularly, automating these tasks can save time, reduce manual effort, and deliver a smoother experience for both you and your customers.
FAQ’s
1. Can I connect Australia Post directly to Shopify?
Yes. Australia Post supports integration with Shopify, allowing you to display live shipping rates, generate labels, and provide tracking updates. You’ll need an active Australia Post business account to connect your store.
2. Which Australia Post account is best for Shopify merchants?
It depends on your shipping volume:
- MyPost Business is ideal for small to medium businesses.
- eParcel is suited for merchants sending 2,000+ parcels per year.
- StarTrack is best for heavy, urgent, or premium deliveries.
3. How are Australia Post shipping rates calculated in Shopify?
Rates are based on package weight or cubic weight, dimensions, destination, service type, and packaging. Business customers may also receive discounted rates based on shipping spend or annual volume.
