The lazy shopper's airport guide to buying last-minute Christmas presents.

You’ve left it too late again, haven’t you?

Despite the fact your local shopping centre weas selling Christmas themed gifts from July and had a Christmas tree erect from about August, Christmas still managed to creep up on you, didn’t it?

The ads on TV weren’t a sure enough hint, nor were your requests to take leave off cause enough for you to realise that summer’s upon us and Christmas shopping needed to be, well, completed.

Lucky for you, we’ve compiled a lazy shopper’s airport guide to buying last-minute Christmas presents if you find yourself flying home for the festivities with a remarkably empty suitcase carrying very little Christmas cheer.

Domestic

Naturally, if you’re flying domestic, your ability to pick up some quality Christmas presents becomes increasingly more difficult simply due to your lack of choice. Regardless, it can be done.

Books

It may not be a life-changing gift, but you can certainly pick up some killer best sellers at the airport. And 2016 has certainly provided some solid reads that you can pick up for both family and friends on your way to your Christmas celebrations.

The Natural Way of Things by Charlotte Wood, Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty and You'll Grow Out Of It by Jessi Klein are some of the highlights of the year. You can find a few more suggestions just here, so when you hit the airport book shop up, you know exactly what you're looking for.

Beach towels

It's summer, and a good beach towel seems to be the one thing people aren't overwhelmingly keen on investing in. A lot of domestic terminals have your quintessential Australian surf shops for you to pick up a quick beach towel for someone you need to buy for.

At a quick glance, there's a Surf Dive n Ski at one of Sydney's domestic terminals and one in one of Melbourne's domestic terminals, too.

Makeup

Obviously ensuring you pick up some products within the liquid restrictions of your flight, makeup might be a great go-to as a gift for whomever you're buying for.

In Sydney, you have access to brands like MAC and Napoleon Perdis to grab a gift. At the Gold Coast, for example, there's an entire MAC store for you to binge on. Worst case scenario? You can always find a good, solid pharmacy purchase. If that's more your budget, you can find some helpful tips here.

Accessories

If you spend time looking around when you're at the airport and not running madly to the gate trying to make your flight, you may have noticed that there are some sound options when it comes to picking up some worthy accessories as Christmas presents.

Looking for gifts that don't break the bank? Post continues after video.

Naturally, you could buy clothes too, but for most, that's a dangerous zone full of uncertain purchases that your gift-ee probably won't even like.

Pick up a handbag from Seed, or some jewellery from Sportsgirl or Witchery or even Mimco. Think hats, scarves, necklaces or earrings. There will be something there. And worst case scenario if not? Grab a neck pillow. Someone will always make use out of that.

International

Perfume

If you're flying international, duty-free can come quickly to your rescue. Cheap, good, designer perfume is at your disposal and one of the most universally acceptable gifts to buy. Get spraying.

Alcohol

Even more so, cheap alcohol at duty-free might just be your last resort.

According to the Department of Immigration and Border Protection, if you are aged 18 years or over, you can bring 2.25 litres of alcoholic beverages duty-free into Australia with you.

So you can essentially buy a few alcoholic beverages as presents if you really please.