Five Christmas gift ideas that won’t end up as clutter
- Replies 4
Christmas truly is the perfect season for gift-giving.
For many of us, the holiday is synonymous with getting to give - and receive - a whole lot of stuff.
And if your loved ones are among those who are trying to live a decluttered and more environmentally-friendly lifestyle, the best Christmas present may just be the gift of time and memories.
Instead of tangible presents, you may opt to take them out to a fancy dinner. Or, you can organise a group donation to a charity of your choice. The family can also arrange a Kris Kringle event so that everyone gets (and has to give) just one gift.
If you still really want to give them a present, more options are available. You can give them Gold Class movie tickets (now that movie theatres have reopened!). There are also vouchers for them to enjoy, such as a dinner voucher or a massage voucher. Indeed, the possibilities are endless!
That is why we have gathered a few more gift ideas for your loved ones. Read on to know more:
Photo from Christmas in Australia.
Indoor plant masterclass and other workshops
Gardening, indoor plants, composting, and growing your own fruits and veggies have all become popular pastimes since the pandemic came around the corner.
There are fun workshops led by experts that could be enjoyed if your loved one is a green thumb. Aspirants are welcome too!
Class Bento is offering masterclasses on indoor plants, vegetable growing, kokedama making, terrarium making, and even dried flower arranging.
There are also online workshops available like this worm farming course or this one for sustainable gardening.
Gardening is just the tip of the iceberg. With a bit of searching, you can find a whole lot of fun workshops you can enjoy with loved ones, everything from candle making to pottery, painting, and many more.
With every booking, ClassBento donates to Dementia Australia. Photos from ClassBento.
This one is for the grandkids and the kids at heart!
Overnight stays at the zoo give you a glimpse of what goes on behind the scenes when the gates of the zoo close.
The packages include guided tours with a zookeeper, dinner, a night in safari-style glamping accommodation, and breakfast the following day. For the bonus, you get to see the nocturnal animals come out in action.
Werribee Open Range Zoo is offering their overnight stays for $690, Melbourne Zoo’s Roar and Snore offers theirs at $496, and Sydney’s Taronga Zoo is at $848. The zoos’ packages accommodate two people.
There are less pricey options for other fun adventures such as paddle boarding, surfing lessons, mini-golf, or rock climbing.
A trip to the zoo is an excellent alternative to give to kids rather than plastic toys. Photo from WanderLuxe.
Self-care package and a trip to the hot springs
Nothing shows love more than a well-deserved pamper package.
Aside from material gifts, your loved ones also deserve the gift of relaxation and self-care. It can be as simple as a voucher for a mani/pedi treatment at the salon, or a coupon for a massage and facial care at the spa.
If you want to take your gift up a notch, you could arrange a day trip to the hot springs and allow them to immerse in the soothing, thermal baths.
Located about an hour and a half out of Melbourne, the Peninsula Hot Springs on the Mornington Peninsula is a unique location with dozens of natural baths filled with geothermal mineral water.
TripAdvisor is offering a package that picks you up from Melbourne CBD, takes you for a day trip to the hot springs, and returns you back after a coastal walk. Their prices start at $217 per person.
For our members in Sydney, there’s a smaller Japanese-style bathhouse in the Blue Mountains. The location is about a two-hour drive from the CBD, and their packages start at $85 per person.
There are natural hot springs in every state and territory except the ACT, though travelling may be difficult as they’re all in rural locations.
No place is more perfect than dipping in hot springs with friends and family. Photo from Peninsula Hot Springs.
Wine tasting tour
Wine drinking was another popular pastime that emerged during the lockdown. And if you are among those who casually enjoy sipping and tasting wine, perhaps a real-life wine tasting tour is perfect for you.
Stock up the wine cellar as Adrenaline is offering vouchers for wine tours throughout Australia. Packages range from $100 to $200.
For some a little more out there, Yarra Valley Mountain Hut is offering a wine tasting tour combined with horse riding, while Margaret River has a wine tasting and canoeing package. Exciting!
If you prefer not to have a day trip out to a wine region, Urban Winery Sydney also offers wine tasting tours for $86 per person.
Enjoy wine in the comfort of your own city. Photo from Viator.
Italian cooking classes
Let your loved ones embrace their inner Italian by enrolling them in traditional pasta or pizza-making class.
Roll up your sleeves and get ready to smash some dough as Red Balloon is offering pasta-making workshops, available in most Aussie states for about $150.
For our members who want to spend time together with their family and friends, you could try a parent-and-kids pasta class. If you want the children to learn on their own, there is also a kids-only session. Who knows, they might just grow up to become the next Masterchefs.
Class Bento also has classes throughout Sydney for all things Italian! These include lessons on how to make pizza, pasta, gnocchi, tiramisu, and cannoli.
Nothing like making your own pasta from scratch. Photos from ClassBento.
These are only a few suggestions for the perfect Christmas gift. Do you have more activities in mind? Share with us in the comments down below!
.png){kind=icon}
