Newsflash: It’s 10 days before Christmas! Have you done your Christmas shopping yet? No matter how Christmas shopping is bemoaned, everybody loves getting presents, most especially when they are unique and well-thought of.
And come on, given the year we’ve had? We ALL deserve to get a present, whether it’s Christmas or not. And I don’t know about you but I love giving and receiving experience gifts. More and more people are appreciating memories and experiences more than material things, and if I’m to be honest, the most memorable presents I’ve received were experience gifts.
This year, why not deviate from your usual hamper or baked goods presents and give unique Christmas gifts to your loved ones?
RedBalloon is a company that I personally have turned to over the years for gift-giving and ahem, gift-hinting! They specialise in experiential gifts for everybody. And when I say everybody, I mean everyone from the daredevil to your relaxation-loving girl friend.
Here’s a list of experience gift ideas for yourself and just about anybody in your list:
For the Foodie
The way to most people’s hearts is through their stomachs, and there are plenty of ways to do that! Many heartfelt conversations and memories are shared over great food and great ambience. These gift ideas are perfect for your foodie loved one and it can also be a cheeky way suggest that they take you along. (What can we say, it’s the gift that keeps on giving!)
Experience gift ideas for foodies:
Winery Tour and Tasting with Italian Lunch for 2 (Mount Cotton, QLD)
3-Course Sunset Harbour Cruise with Dinner and Drinks for 2 (Sydney Harbour, NSW)
Indulgent Seafood Dining Experience by the Harbour for 2 (Darling Harbour, Sydney)
3-Course Steakhouse Dinner With Wine for 2 (Southbank, Melbourne, VIC)
For the Daredevil
There’s something about adventurous and death-defying activities that makes one feel more alive than ever. Give the gift of adventure to your adventurous and dare devil buddy and they’ll love you for it! They’ll appreciate it even more if you can join them, or if you’re not the type, perhaps just go with them and cheer them on (or take photos).
Experience gift ideas for daredevils:
Otway Treetop Ziplining Adventure (Weeaproinah, VIC)
Full Day Canyoning and Abseiling Adventure with Lunch (Blue Mountains, NSW)
Adelaide Oval Twilight Roof Climb (Adelaide, SA)
90-minute Abseiling Kangaroo Point Cliffs (Kangaroo Point, QLD)
For the Animal Lover
Animal lovers are a special breed of humans with big hearts. For all the love, care and compassion they’ve given to furry (or non-furry) friends, they deserve a special kind of treat this year with an experience gift!
These also make good presents for kids who are curious about animals. It can be a great way to teach them awareness about wildlife too.
Experience gift ideas for animal lovers:
3-Hour Swim with Dolphins and Seals (Mornington Peninsula, VIC)
Koala Encounter and Breakfast at WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo (Darling Harbour, Sydney)
Sydney Harbour Cruise with Taronga Zoo Entry (Sydney, NSW)
2-Hour Horse Riding Guided Trail (Peats Ridge, Central Coast, NSW)
For the Creative Kind
Perhaps you have a friend or a loved one who’s an entertainment buff and loves to try their hand at creative things. These experience gifts are perfect for them! Most of these experiences are centrally-located in cities so transport shouldn’t be a problem.
These gifts are also perfect for friends who are creators – writers, actors, singers, musicians, performers, etc. It’s a good break and can also serve as inspiration for their next creative content!
Experience gift ideas for the creative friend:
90-minute Comedy Show with Dinner and Drinks (Melbourne CBD, VIC)
3-Hour Paint and Sip Class (Darlinghurst, Sydney)
Night Theatre Performance at Werribee Park Mansion (Werribee, VIC)
Smartphone Photography Class in Brisbane (Brisbane, QLD)
For the Homebody
Not all experience gifts require you to go outdoors, and this is great news for homebodies! If you know someone who has to stay home for Christmas, why not gift them an experience they can enjoy from the comfort of their own home?
Sometimes, the best adventures can happen right inside our own homes and it’s amazing that there are gift experiences that can happen indoors. Whether your loved one prefers to stay at home, or for logistics or health reasons they cannot easily go outside, these are perfect presents that they will surely treasure.
Experience gift ideas for the homebody:
Homemade Pasta Making Kit (includes delivery Australia-wide)
Home Delivered Breakfast (Cairns, QLD)
45-Minute Online Spiritual Reading (Australia-wide)
At Home Online Asian Cooking Course (Australia-wide)
For the Indulgent and Wellness-Loving One
Wellness and self-care are must-haves this year but not all of us have mastered it yet. We all know someone who always looks amazingly refreshed, well-rested and got 10 hours of sleep no matter the circumstance. I love having friends like these because they can teach us a thing or two about taking things slow and spoiling ourselves more.
Conversely, you can also give this to your stressed-out friend who absolutely needs to slow down and take time out from the busyness of life.
Personally, these are the kinds of gifts I love receiving. (Ahem!) You could never go wrong with a little bit of self-care and relaxation!
Wellness and self-care experience gift ideas:
Full Body Scrub and 1-Hour Massage with Warm Stone Lounge (Camperdown, NSW)
90-Minute Customised Spa Package -2 Treatments (Perth, WA)
Hair Cut, Shampoo, Style and Blow Dry for Ladies (West Perth, WA)
Wellness Facial and Hot Stone Massage (Toowoomba, QLD)
For the Student of Life
It’s never too late to learn a skill, improve oneself and pretty much educate yourself overall.
We all know someone who has a day job and has a secret passion on the side. Perhaps they’ve always wanted to learn a skill or take up a hobby but never had the time? This is the perfect time to encourage them to pursue their passions!
Learning experience gift ideas:
Haloumi Cheese Making Course with Canapes and Sparkling Wine (Swan Valley, WA)
Aerobatics Flight Training Experience (Bankstown Airport, NSW)
3-Hour Hands On Barista Course (Sydney, NSW)
3 Golf Lessons with a PGA Professional (Gold Coast, QLD)
There’s a wide range of activities and experiences in RedBalloon. What I love about it is they keep adding new experiences regularly. If you can think of any activity be it mundane or death-defying, they’re sure to have one available!
Have you picked out your present for yourself or your loved one in the list above? What kinds of gifts do you love receiving?
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