When it comes to gift giving, there’s nothing I love more than choosing meaningful, personal gifts for the ones I love. I feel that gifts — whether for birthdays, holidays, or impromptu — are the perfect opportunity to show our favorite people just how much we value them.

Whether you delight in planning the perfect gift for each person on your list, or you consider yourself somewhat of a gift procrastinator, the ideas I have for you today are sure to ignite your imagination. They’re fun-loving and practical, easy to coordinate in a pinch, and sure to inspire anyone with an adventurous spirit.

Keep reading for 9 incredible experiences, gorgeous books, and whimsical objets d’art. The best part? These gift ideas fit any and every season of the year. (Tip: Bookmark this article for later!)

Gift Ideas: Inspiring Experiences Near Sydney

For the Animal Lover

For animal lovers, conservationists, luxury retreat goers, and the adventurous, an overnight stay at the Wildlife Retreat at Taronga would be a remarkable gift experience. Their Ultimate Retreat Package is one of my favourites, promising an unforgettable overnight experience.

This package includes a stay at the beautifully designed eco-luxe resort, incredible up-close animal encounters, and behind-the-scenes tours of the expansive zoo, including a cable car “sky safari”. Your gift recipient (and maybe you, too!) will also enjoy a delicious locally-sourced dinner and breakfast at the on-site Me-Gal restaurant. They have thought of everything to make this experience special.

For the Cocktail Enthusiast

Relaxing over an evening drink with friends is always special, but when you made the gin for your G&T yourself? Well, that elevates the entire night. Give the cocktail aficionado in your life the unique, memorable experience of a gin making class at Manly Spirits. What’s it like?

Your recipient will attend the class in “The Stillhouse”, a distilling laboratory, where they will choose their own botanicals, distill the gin in their own mini-copper stills, and decant it into the stunningly designed Manly Spirits bottles. There is simply no better experience for mixologists, gin lovers, recipe makers, and science nerds.

For the Culture Vulture

Do you live with a culture vulture? Is your bestie an entertainment junkie? Lock in date night with them by gifting a season ticket package to Sydney Theatre Company. STC offers a variety of performances in several theatres with some of the best actors performing both new and classic shows. Your recipient will enjoy an entire season of entertainment from one of Sydney’s major artistic and cultural groups. Sure to please any lover of dramatic arts.

Gift Ideas: Books to Tempt the Next Adventure

For the World Traveler

Capri is one of my personal favourite travel destinations — it embodies everything that I love about Italy in one wonderful island. Capri Dolce Vita, by Assouline, is a substantial book, perfect for the coffee table. It brings the island’s charm to life with pages chock full of beautiful photographs.

In case Capri isn’t your recipient’s ideal destination, browse Assouline’s series of travel books to find a good fit. Each promises a visual feast. For those with a bit of wanderlust, you can’t go wrong with gifting one of these stunning books.

For the Fashion-Lover

For the fashion-enthusiasts, photographers, and creatives in your life, any of the intriguing books in The Unseen Series of Fashion Designers, by Robert Fairer, would make an excellent gift. Robert Fairer takes us into the lives of some of the world’s most talented fashion designers, from Galliano to Alexander McQueen, Karl Lagerfeld, and more.

His career as a backstage photographer for Vogue guarantees beguiling and evocative images. Just be warned: this book may inspire a shopping excursion of epic proportions.

For the Film Aficionado

If you know someone who loves Wes Anderson films — my favourites are The Life Aquatic and The Grand Budapest Hotel — Accidentally Wes Anderson is the perfect gift.

You just can’t help but smile and crave a movie night when browsing photography that celebrates the unique aesthetic of his films: distinctly coloured, vibrantly patterned, and quirkily designed. While the book showcases visual connections to his movies, it also stands alone as a stunning, whimsical, and colourful work of art.

Gift Ideas: Surprisingly Cheerful Objets D’Art

For the Design Enthusiast

For the design enthusiast or nature lover on your list, these menagerie of extinct animals scatter cushions will be the perfect addition to a sofa, bed, or chair.

These stunning, luxury velvet cushions feature endangered and extinct animals amongst a lush garden of flora and fauna. Uniquely imaginative and playful, they are sure to add an adventurous spirit to the room.

For the Colour Lover

When it comes to creative whimsy, nothing tops this collection of Vitra Wooden Dolls designed by Alexander Girard in 1952. Girard originally created these colourful dolls for his own home, but today, they brighten and add refreshing character to any space.

The dolls are hand-painted, ensuring each one is unique. Whether you give a single or multiples, these Vitra dolls are the perfect talisman for young and old alike.

For the Quirky

Just try not to smile when you see Jamie Hayon’s collection of Happy Susto Vases. Susto means “fright” in Spanish, and this collection of quirky, distinctive characters — designed to evoke emotion — certainly delivers.

Melding the practical with the playful, these guys will brighten any desk or table, and that goes double when flowers or foliage are added!

There you have it! With a range of experiences and items to delight an array of lively personalities, you’re well on your way to giving unique, personal, and memorable gifts this year.

Eager to keep the creative juices flowing? If you’re considering a home project, I’d love to help. Reach out to us here, and let’s discuss how we can bring imaginative practicality to each space in your home.

Live, beyond ordinary.

Donna