The 13 Best Experiences To Gift The Memory Makers In Your Life
Kayla Wratten
Freelance Sub-Editor | Urban List Queensland
If gift-giving is your love language, you’ll know that finding the perfect present is an art form. It takes time, thought and a little detective work to land on something that feels just right for your loved one at this stage of their life. And while flowers and gift cards are always welcome, why not go the extra mile?
Enter experience gifting. From sunrise hot-air balloon rides to blissful bathhouse sessions, the best pressies are the ones that become lasting memories.
Together with RedBalloon, we’ve rounded up the best experience gifts for all types of celebrations, from birthdays to anniversaries and everything in between.
Get inspired with our curated edit of memory-making gifts:
- The Best Gift Experiences In NSW
- The Best Gift Experiences In WA
- The Best Gift Experiences In QLD
- The Best Gift Experiences In VIC
- The Best Gift Experiences In SA
The Best Gift Experiences In QLD
Bathhouse With Finnish Sauna
Just outside Surfers Paradise, Vikasati Bathhouse is a wellness destination that’ll put them on cloud nine in a single 90-minute session. The focus here is on hot and cold therapy, combining heat and cold exposure to stimulate circulation, aid recovery, and reduce inflammation. Cycle through magnesium pools, ice baths and a traditional wood-lined Finnish sauna heated to a balmy 80 degrees for total relaxation.
THE DETAILS
What: Bathhouse with Finnish sauna
Where: Vikasati Bathhouse, Gold Coast
Cost: From $49 per person
Great Barrier Reef Cruise, Snorkel and Dive
Tick off a bucket-list item and explore one of the wonders of the world on this full-day outing with RedBalloon. From Cairns, cruise aboard a luxury superyacht to diverse outer reef locations, rich with coral gardens and marine life. They’ll get the chance to snorkel or scuba dive for several hours before digging into a hearty BBQ lunch of prawns, fish, steak and vegetables, served with wine. This cruise is a foolproof gift experience for the ocean lover in your life.
THE DETAILS
What: Great Barrier Reef Cruise, Snorkel and Dive
Where: Cairns
Cost: From $365 per person
Bathhouse Experience With Lunch
Give the ultimate gift of R&R with a three-hour wellness escape at Mooloolaba’s Tank Bathhouse. Start with 90 minutes in the luxe bathhouse, soaking in magnesium-rich pools, warming up in a traditional Western Red Cedar sauna and unwinding in the Moroccan-inspired steam room. Then, swap the robes for a waterfront table and indulge in a four-course Mediterranean lunch on the terrace. Add cocktails to toast your day out.
THE DETAILS
What: Bathhouse experience with four-course lunch
Where: Mooloolaba
Cost: From $198 per person
BOOK HERE
The Best Gift Experiences In NSW
Sunrise Hot Air Balloon
Ditch the choccies, nothing says ‘I love you’ quite like a hot air balloon ride at sunrise. Embark on a scenic one-hour flight in the Hunter Valley with your loved one, floating above vineyards and farmland as the sky transforms at daybreak. Once you’ve landed, toast your flight with an à la carte breakfast and a glass of sparkling wine at a local winery. Bonus: you’ll also receive a digital photo pack to commemorate your magical morning.
THE DETAILS
What: Sunrise hot air balloon with breakfast
Where: Hunter Valley
Cost: From $598 for two
V8 Mustang Race Car Driving
If the F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is their sporting highlight of the year, get them in on the action with eight hot laps in a powerful V8 Mustang with RedBalloon. Put the pedal to the metal and race around the North Circuit at Sydney Motorsport Park in a full race kit and with the expert support of a professional race coach in the passenger seat.
THE DETAILS
What: V8 Mustang race car driving, 8 laps
Where: Sydney Motorsport Park
Cost: From $667 per person
BOOK HERE
Sunrise Or Sunset Horse Ride
Sure, the horse girls in your life would love a new trinket to add to their collection, but Byron Bay is blessed with an incredible horse-riding experience they’ll be jumping at the chance to enjoy. On this two-hour horse trail ride, they’ll get the chance to explore the region’s lush hinterland and pristine coastline at sunrise or sunset, when the sky lights up with golden and pastel hues. Suitable for intermediate or advanced riders, the trail starts on the sandy shores of Belongil Beach and moves into sub-tropical woodlands brimming with native wildlife, such as koalas, birds, possums and wallabies.
THE DETAILS
What: Sunrise or sunset horse ride
Where: Byron Bay
Cost: From $329 per person
The Best Gift Experiences In WA
Yallingup Getaway
If their love language is quality time, take them on a road trip and surprise them with a weekend away. Tucked on a family-owned winery and cattle property, this luxury tiny cabin makes for a dreamy off-grid escape. Expect a plush queen bed, kitchenette and an outdoor bath made for long, wine-in-hand soaks beneath the stars. Surrounded by bushland and close to Yallingup’s beaches, wineries and wildlife, it’s a secluded retreat for two just three hours from Perth.
THE DETAILS
What: Two-night Yallingup getaway in an off-grid premium cabin
Where: Yallingup
Cost: From $890 for two
Rottnest Island Superior Glamping Stay
Imagine waking up to birdsong, ocean breezes and the sound of waves rolling onto Pinky Beach. Nestled behind the dunes, this luxe glamping resort is home to 83 stylish eco-tents, each decked out with a king bed, kitchenette and private deck overlooking the island. The one-night experience includes time to explore the sandy surrounds, lounge by the pool, dine at the on-site restaurant and bar and sleep beneath the stars. Better yet, return ferry transfers from Fremantle and breakfast at Discovery Parks are included.
THE DETAILS
What: One-night Rottnest Island superior glamping stay
Where: Rottnest Island
Cost: From $597 for two
The Best Gift Experiences In SA
Aboriginal Weaving Workshop
Some of the best gifts come with a story and a meaningful keepsake to take home. On Kaurna Country, learn the ancient art of traditional weaving in a 90-minute hands-on workshop led by local Aboriginal knowledge holders. You’ll create your own woven basket while learning about the techniques, materials and cultural significance behind the practice. With space for up to six people, it makes a thoughtful group gift or family Christmas pressie.
THE DETAILS
What: Aboriginal weaving workshop
Where: Living Kaurna Cultural Centre, Adelaide
Cost: From $330 for six
Swim With Dolphins Catamaran Cruise
Bring their H20: Just Add Water dreams to life on a half-day catamaran cruise along Adelaide’s coastline with RedBalloon. Setting sail from Glenelg, you’ll head out in search of wild dolphin pods and watch as they leap and play around the boat. Once you’re out on the water, there’s also the chance to swim and snorkel alongside these curious creatures. Prefer to stay dry? There are plenty of prime viewing spots on board, including the front of the catamaran and the trampoline net at the back.
THE DETAILS
What: Half-day swim with dolphins catamaran cruise
Where: Glenelg
Cost: From $154 per person
Private Picnic With Alpacas
If food is the way to their heart, make it a picnic… with alpacas. Set in a dreamy lavender paddock, this private two-hour experience comes with a flower-filled setup, cosy cushions and a generous grazing table. Spend the afternoon patting and feeding the resident alpacas before tucking into a gourmet spread of cheeses, cured meats, fresh fruit, chocolates and drinks. This romantic day out is guaranteed to woo your SO.
THE DETAILS
What: Private picnic with alpacas, grazing platter and drinks
Where: Peterborough
Cost: From $160 for two
The Best Gift Experiences In VIC
The Q Train Private Dining Experience
Take dinner up a notch, jump all aboard for dining with a twist. Step into a private first-class carriage on The Q Train, Australia’s premier moving restaurant, for a three-hour return journey from Drysdale to Queenscliff. Along the way, tuck into a five-course seasonal degustation paired with beers, wines or mocktails, with unlimited tea and barista-made coffee. Add in first-class butler service, stops to soak up the scenery, and bushland, farmland and Swan Bay views for a delightful evening they won’t forget in a hurry.
THE DETAILS
What: The Q Train private dining experience
Where: Drysdale
Cost: From $420 for two
Head, Facial And Body Massage
You can’t go wrong with a pampering session, especially when it’s a 105-minute head-to-toe reset. Tucked inside a tranquil boutique clinic, this holistic wellness package combines a soothing head spa, rejuvenating facial and full-body massage designed to melt away tension and leave them feeling completely refreshed. Know someone who’s been working overtime? Show how much you appreciate them with some well-deserved self-care.
THE DETAILS
What: Head, facial and body massage
Where: Melbourne
Cost: From $349 per person
Ditch the trinkets and choccies, RedBalloon turns gift-giving into unforgettable experiences that last a lifetime. Get inspired here.
Editor’s note: This article is sponsored by RedBalloon and proudly endorsed by The Urban List. To find out more about who we work with and why read our editorial policy here.
Images: Supplied.