the download

The game was released 6 days ago, so its the retail download alright

i mean with the shipping to australia/other countries is the game shipped in the box?

Yes the is shipped in a box if you select the download plus CE box

cool so the download is the beta you dont have to download it do you?

Fear, i think you're a little confused. Both the current download and the version on the disc are the retail game. They're exactly the same. The disc is just there to provide you with a physical medium for the game. If you download the game you'll have the retail game on your computer and once the CE disc arrives you'll have it on a physical medium aswell. And ofcourse, the box contains all the neat CE extras in a physical format rather than digital files.
So get downloading (if you want ofcourse), its the real deal. Unless you want to wait for the disc to arrive so you can install it from that, but i assure you, its the same product.

So when you download a game from Stardock, does it need to be "activated", or is it essentially a copy just like you get in stores except you download it? How does that work, exactly?

Essentially by downloading you're activating the product too. (since you have to enter the registration key you receive by e-mail to even begin downloading)

Most Stardock products are downloaded and activated through Stardock Central, their download and content management software. It pretty much does all the work for you. You buy a product, receive its activation codes via e-mail, find the product in SDC, enter that code, download and use it.
Any physical copies of the product are sent after, but you can start using it the minute your payment comes through since you get a registration code that allows you to download it aswell.
SDC also has a backup function that allows you to save the program you downloaded as an single file, burn it on a disc along with a copy of the SDC installer and you have a viable CD/DVD that you can install from without having to re-download.

screw it i will wait till april to buy the disc becuase my dad wont let me download stuff off the internet