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This year, skip the socks and scented candles; the best gifts are all about experiences and making memories that outlast any tin of shortbread. Cosy up with a cup of cocoa and check out these experiences that have everyone on your gift-giving list covered, from thrill-seekers to nature lovers.
The best Christmas gifts for foodies
Dine above the clouds at Eureka 89 Altitude Restaurant
Take dining to new heights with a three-course dinner at Eureka 89, a contemporary Australian restaurant housed in the Southern Hemisphere’s highest viewing attraction. From Hervey Bay scallop crudo to beef fillet with chimichurri, each dish showcases Victorian produce that changes with the seasons. With Melbourne Skydeck and VR experience access included, it’s elevated dining with the city’s most impressive backdrop.
Shuck oysters in the water at a Hawkesbury River farm
Farm-to-table dining doesn’t get more immersive than a guided boat tour of an oyster farm in the Hawkesbury River, followed by lunch at an in-water dining table. Standing knee-deep in waders, BYO drink in hand and the river stretching around you, there’s no better way to enjoy the freshest oysters and prawns possible.
Discover fine wines in the Barossa Valley
Sample award-winning wines, enjoy a delicious lunch at Lambert Estate Winery and leave the logistics to the experts with convenient return transfers. It’s a perfect pairing of indulgence and adventure, guaranteed to warm the holiday spirit.
Create your own gin at the Gold Coast’s award-winning distillery
Learn the art of gin making in a two-hour masterclass at the Gold Coast’s Wild Flower Distillery, crowned ‘Best in Class’ at the 2024 Australian Gin Awards. This boutique, small-batch distillery uses honey from the founder’s backyard beehives. Choose from over 50 botanicals to create your own unique blend and take home a 500ml bottle of custom gin.
Say Oui to Umami in a degustation experience like no other
Savour the innovative pairing of French flair and Japanese finesse with an eight-course set menu at Luc-San in Potts Point, Sydney, led by renowned Australian restaurateur Luke Mangan. Expect dishes like steak tartare with crispy brioche and wasabi, half-a-duck with ume and burnt orange and a yuzu chilli margarita on arrival.
Eat your way through Melbourne on a walking tour
Wrap up a taste of Melbourne this Christmas with a three-hour walking tour. Discover why Melbourne is Australia’s foodie capital as you weave through laneways and arcades, sampling everything from authentic Chinese dumplings and French pastries to handmade gelato and artisan chocolate. Your guide will lead you to hidden gems and hotspots, finishing with a drink in a laneway bar.
Master paella perfection in a Spanish cooking fiesta
Transport yourself to Spain (without leaving Melbourne) in a three-hour class at Cooking With Lola. Under the guidance of chef Lola Migliore, you’ll master authentic Spanish paella and golden, crispy churros – all while sipping your own sangria. Then, enjoy your creations over a leisurely lunch set to Spanish music.
Sit down to the Yarra Valley’s finest at Immerse Winery
Start with a delightful tasting at the cellar door, then relax over a leisurely lunch with views of the estate’s chapels and gardens. Enjoy a shared entree, choose a main dish from the seasonal menu and end on a sweet note with mini desserts to share. Continue the tasting experience at home with a complimentary bottle of wine.
Float along the Swan River on a gourmet wine cruise
Raise a glass to sunshine and the Swan Valley on a full-day gourmet wine cruise. Sip local wines paired with cheese and enjoy a relaxed picnic lunch on board before kicking back with drinks and live entertainment on the way home from wine tastings at Mandoon Estate.
The best Christmas gift experiences for nature lovers
Paddle past iconic landmarks on a Sydney Harbour kayak tour
See Sydney from a whole new perspective on a two-hour guided kayak tour. Departing from Kirribilli, glide through waters as the sun rises or sets, casting golden light across the harbour. Paddle past secluded bays and waterfront homes, with the Opera House and Harbour Bridge providing a stunning backdrop to your aquatic adventure.
Soar over the Gold Coast’s hinterland at sunrise
Rise and shine with a hot air balloon flight over the Gold Coast’s hinterland as the sun greets the day. Glide over rainforests, waterfalls and hills while expert guides narrate the view below, then land to a well-earned glass of sparkling wine. With return transfers included, the hardest part is setting your alarm – but it’s well worth it.
Cast away to Fraser Island for the day on a catamaran cruise
Dive into the remote beauty of K’gari (Fraser Island) on a full-day catamaran adventure departing from Hervey Bay. While most visitors flock to the island’s eastern beaches, this tour takes you to the pristine western coastline for guided walks, snorkelling, tube riding and stand-up paddleboarding. With morning tea, a buffet lunch and afternoon tea included, leave your worries back on the mainland.
Cruise the Gold Coast’s Humpback Highway
With a 100% whale sighting guarantee, traffic on this highway is the kind you’ll want. Join a two-hour cruise from Main Beach and get close to migrating humpback whales as they move along their ancient underwater corridor. Just 20 minutes offshore, you’ll be in the path of up to 35,000 whales each season, breaching, tail-slapping and caring for their calves.
Go out on a limb with a treetop adventure on Tamborine Mountain
Send someone special soaring at Australia’s largest high ropes adventure park, perched in the stunning bushland of Tamborine Mountain. With over 140 challenges, 14 ziplines, and courses reaching up to 30 metres high, the TreeTop Challenge pushes adventurers to jump, climb and swing their way through the canopy.
The best Christmas gift experiences for spa lovers
Unwind with harbour views at Sofitel SPA Darling Harbour
There’s nothing like the gift of guilt-free relaxation, especially when it’s overlooking Sydney’s Darling Harbour. Gift a 60-minute spa treatment at Sofitel SPA – choose between a relaxation massage or waterlily facial – then extend the calm with an hour’s access to the heated rooftop pool, sauna and fitness centre.
Mix it up with a sensory wellness experience at EQ Melbourne
Bathhouse rituals, immersive therapy and deep meditation – EQ Melbourne’s evidence-based experience combines light and sound therapy in a specially designed dome, breathwork and hot and cold therapy to help reset the mind and body. It’s the perfect gift for spa lovers who want to take the plunge into something different.
Soak in Japanese serenity at Daylesford’s onsen spa
Treat someone special to a two-hour Japanese-inspired spa ritual in the heart of Victoria’s wellness region. It begins with a private onsen bath infused with mineral salts, followed by a 90-minute Shiatsu massage designed to harmonise body and mind.
Indulge in a Japanese head spa at one of Broadbeach’s best day spas
Give the gift of a seriously good hair day with a two-hour Japanese head spa experience at Summer Elisabeth Day Spa. Expect a fountain massage under flowing water, a sakura scrub, a K18 peptide treatment and pressure point facial therapy. It’s the ultimate refresh for anyone who deserves to feel pampered from the crown down.
The best Christmas gift experiences for… everyone
Treat them to a Luxury Escapes gift card
Give the gift of choice with Luxury Escapes gift card, to open a world of unforgettable getaways and bucket-list experiences. Let your loved one decide whether to embark on a weekend spa retreat, wine-tasting tour, once-in-a-lifetime escape or an adrenaline-pumping adventure. Memories are the gifts that keep on giving after all.
