If your grandchild has never used a phone box before, you could introduce the concept as a device that helps them directly contact Father Christmas.
From now until Christmas Eve, children can speak to Santa by dialling # HO HO HO (#464646) for free from any of Telstra's 14,500 payphones around Australia.
Telstra's Free Calls to Santa hotline is an interactive activity that allows children to enjoy the magical experience of speaking directly with Santa about anything they want, from asking about the weather in the North Pole, to what the reindeer like to snack on before their big Christmas Eve adventure, and even share this year's wish list.
For those looking to avoid shopping centre crowds with their grandchildren, dialling Santa from any payphone across the country offers an easy and cost-free alternative. Plus, taking kids to a payphone to call Santa is a great way to teach them how to use and locate their nearest payphone in case of an emergency.
Last year, more than 11,000 calls were made from Telstra payphones to the North Pole on Christmas Eve alone. So, whether you're based in Subiaco or Sapphire Beach, you'll have plenty of time to get your call in.
How to call Santa
- Head to any Telstra payphone around the country from November 15 - December 24.
- To find your nearest payphone, hit search on Google Maps - Payphones Sydney CBD and Surrounds - Google My Maps
- Dial #HO HO HO (#464646)
- Make sure you're ready with a few questions for Santa, and to tell him what's at the top of your wish list!
The hotline is part of Telstra's Hello Christmas campaign, which celebrates the unique magic of the Aussie festive season.
"Hello Christmas" tells the story of Dasher the reindeer, who journeys through regional Australia after getting lost and separated from Santa.
Dasher meets some local friends along the way, including festive neighbourhood dogs and a few local kangaroos.
Eventually, Dasher is discovered by a little girl who uses one of our payphones to call Santa and reunite her new four-legged friend with Santa for Christmas.
It's a distinctly Australian story, created by The Monkeys (part of Accenture Song) and directed by the award-winning Glendyn Ivin at Exit.
It also uses great Australian music from the Queensland band Zefereli.
Find out more about Telstra's Free Calls to Santa hotline here.
