Choose Your Next Side Quest: A Guide to Trending Hobbies

Adulting is overrated. 2026 is all about straying off the straight and narrow path and getting your side quest on. Fun just for the sake of it, craft classes where you’re allowed to be messy and a hobby that you don’t have to monetise. Basically, it’s bringing back all the things you enjoyed as a kid!

Wait, what does ‘side quest’ mean? 

The term ‘side quest’ came from the gaming world, where a player takes part in a separate mission with its own goal even though it’s not necessary to finish the game. A real-life side quest is basically the same thing! 

Side quests are a casual or playful detour from our regular routine and goals. It can look like pausing to pat a friendly puppy on your walk, or like learning a creative skill on a whim. Most importantly, they’re not attached to any outcome. There are no productivity goals or even a real reason to do it other than ‘just because’. Honestly, when we're so used to being constructive all the time, taking a random side quest reminds us that life is about more than what we can tick off the to-do list. 

What’s the point of a side quest?

To take life less seriously! But there are a couple more reasons to give side questing a try. Here’s a list to explain: 

1. Arguably, the point of life is to be present and enjoy yourself—side quests help us do this. 
2. Side quests add whimsy to everyday life and make the mundane more exciting. 
3. Side quests are great self-care, often getting us off our phones and focused on the now.
4. We can learn new things in a casual environment without the pressure of being perfect.
5. A side quest gives us a small win to keep us motivated and upbeat.
6. We can learn about ourselves through new activities.
7. A side quest is a great opportunity to find new hobbies and bring back some spark. 

Trending hobbies that’ll bring whimsy to your life

Need some whimsy and fun in your everyday life? Let’s dive into some trending hobbies to turn into side quests!

Side quest 1: Crochet your own bag

Embrace your inner nonna with knitting and crocheting! Age-old hobbies that keep returning to the spotlight because it’s super fun to make yourself all kinds of cool accessories that show off your fab personality—like scarves and vests and a quirky bag to hold all your daily necessities. 

How to get started: Grab your friends and head to this chunky knit bag workshop in Sydney. Choose yarn in your favourite colour, then use your hands (not a crochet hook) to make a unique chunky bag. You and your friends will have an expert to guide you so there’s less stress than learning on your own. Expect a creative time filled with laughter and a unique crochet style!

How long will this side quest go for? This session is 1 hour and 30 minutes of fun.

What you’ll get out of this side quest: A handmade bag that’ll bring whimsy to every outfit, plus a playful day out with friends that brings you closer together and further from doomscrolling!

Side quest vibe: Cute, creative and colourful!

Stop letting screens distract you from your IRL side quests with our digital detox guide!

Side quest 2: Bring life some watercolour

Painting itself is immortal, but watercolour? That’s dreamy magic on paper—and a little magic is exactly what we’re looking for. 

How to get started: This watercolour workshop in Sydney is all about low stakes and big creativity. Forget about making a masterpiece or colouring inside the lines. You’ll be chilling in a cosy studio with an ultra-patient instructor who will show you the ropes and make sure you walk away with a healthy dose of inspiration. 

How long will this fun side quest go for? 3 hours of uninterrupted playtime—a great excuse to swap your screen time for paint-splattered fingers!

What you’ll get out of this side quest: Every quest comes with loot. Expect a gentle brain reset, a new obsession to fuel your artsy era, and your own set of mini creative weapons so you can keep up your new watercolour hobby at home. 

“What an absolute joy! Andrina had a lovely energy that made me feel safe right away. I had never done anything like that, and it was a joy to get out of my comfort zone with her as a guide. I had a lot of fun and learned a lot! You also get to go home with the watercolour materials (brushes, paper, paint), which is a proper treat to continue on your own!” - Emma L.

Side quest vibe: Calming, inspiring and artsy.

Side quest 3: Learn lampworking to make glass flowers

Ready to harness your inner fire bender? Lampworking is the ultimate alchemy trick where you take a blazing torch, melt solid glass, and twist it into pretty shapes just because you can. 

How to get started: This lampworking class in Melbourne will help you create one-of-a-kind, everlasting flowers. Book in a class with friends or family and be ready to make something pretty just for the sake of making something pretty. Taming hot glass may sound like a wild side quest, but you’ll quickly find yourself in an addictive flow state, wholly satisfied with this detour from reality as your flowers come to life. 

How long will this fun side quest go for? 2 hours of playing with fire! (In a totally safe and cool environment). 

What you’ll get out of this side quest: You’ll leave with 2 or 3 glass flowers made by you, a permanent badge of honour that you stepped out of your comfort zone, tamed the flame, and lived entirely in the moment. 

Side quest vibe: Cool, daring and magical.

Side quest 4: Tuft a fluffy rug

Pick up a real tufting gun to join a side quest that’ll have you creating something cosy and bright to add colour to your day-to-day. 

How to get started: Send over a picture of what you want to create to Dreamie Craft Studio in Sydney and join their tufting class for beginners. Here, you’ll be armed with a tufting gun and all the yarn you need to complete your chosen design. You’ll get a bunch of help from a seasoned teacher who’ll make sure your design comes to life as you’ve imagined. Bring strong arms and your curiosity; this day's quest will be one you might like to explore more!

How long will this fun side quest go for? Depending on how epic your rug design is, expect to be firing away for anywhere between 3 to 6 glorious hours. 

What you’ll get out of this side quest: Pure, unadulterated whimsy! Drag your crew along for a full day of laughing, gossiping, and machine-gunning yarn into a cute fluffy rug that you get to take home and show off. 

Side quest vibe: Quirky, mighty and fun!

Side quest 5: Get messy with clay

Ready to get down, dirty, and ridiculously muddy? A wheel-throwing side quest is the ultimate excuse to unleash your inner chaos-goblin and make a glorious mess in the name of art! 

How to get started: In this wheel-throwing class in Brisbane, you’ll be taught how to get into the flow of throwing clay on the wheel. If it’s your first time at the wheel, prepare for some joyfully floppy, wobbly clay monstrosities—it's the best cure for perfectionism, serving as a reminder to just play for the joy of it. Then again, you might turn out to be a secret pottery prodigy destined to cover every surface of your home in hand-thrown ceramic masterpieces.

How long will this fun side quest go for? A snappy 1.5 hours of muddy madness. 

What you’ll get out of this side quest: You can choose to have your weird and wonderful creations fired and glazed to take home, but the real reward is pushing past the ‘I have no idea what I’m doing’ phase, learning a cool new skill, and embracing the beauty of mess. 

“Thank you very much! It was one of the most fun weekends our friend group has had. Our teacher, Niamh, was very lovely and patient. Made the whole process positive and memorable for all of us.” - Aloha M. 

Side quest vibe: Messy and carefree with child-like joy.

Side quest 6: Mix your own perfume potion

This creative side quest will linger sweetly, or florally, or like whatever notes you choose to create your perfume from!

How to get started: Book in at Red Rose in Adelaide and join this perfume mixology class where you and your crew will make custom scents tailored to your personalities and preferences. This fun detour to the everyday will have you exploring over 100 perfumery materials, making you feel like a real-life potions master. This class also provides a glass of bubbles on arrival to add some fanciness to your fun. 

How long will this fun side quest go for? Expect 2.5 hours of nose-tingling creative play.  

What you’ll get out of this side quest: You’ll strut out with a shiny 30ml bottle of your own signature elixir, a sense of peace, and a new secret weapon to level up your daily self-care ritual.

Side quest vibe: Mystical, luxurious and nurturing.

Side quest 7: Collage in a colourful sanctuary

Do you remember having endless posters on your walls as a kid? Or scrapbooking every minor event that made you happy? Then you’ll love creating collage art and rekindling that carefree feeling in this cut and paste collage workshop in Melbourne. 

How to get started: That Paper Joint is the place to go for all your junk journaling and collage needs. BYO beverages to this absolute vibe of a shop and settle in with a vegan-friendly cheeseboard as you peruse a huge array of vintage books, contemporary magazines, and paper memorabilia to cut and glue your unique artwork together. The teachers will help you get started, and soon enough you’ll be expressing your creativity in a social and vibrant atmosphere (seriously, this place is bursting with colour!). 

How long will this fun side quest go for? Sink into 3 full hours of stress-free snipping and sticking artistry. 

What you’ll get out of this side quest: Walk out with your very own collage art piece (or a whole stack of them!), plus high-res digital scans delivered straight to your inbox. Print them, frame them, or stick them on the fridge to remind yourself that a simple side quest can be just as rewarding as the main goal. Fair warning, though, this adventure may be addictive, and you could find yourself itching to hand in your two-week notice to cut and glue on repeat. 

“I organised this for me and a friend. We’re both in our late 30s and look at screens all day. I probably could have expected that I would have loved this, but I had so much fun I think I want to come back and do free form ... or quit my job and make art?” - Milly S. 

Side quest vibe: Dreamy, joyful and sentimental.

Side quest 8: Decorate ceramics with whales

No, unfortunately we don’t mean that you’ll be sitting side by side with a whale, making ceramics. But you can transfer a majestic print of a whale onto a plate that’ll be yours to keep. 

How to get started: Dive into this quirky but popular ceramic decorating session in Canberra where you’ll hand-shape a plate, bowl, or serving platter from scratch before decorating it with ocean-inspired, whale-themed glazes. It’s the ultimate playground for nature lovers, sea-creature stans, and anyone looking to make something a little unusual.

How long will this fun side quest go for? Have a whale of a time playing with clay for 2 hours. 

What you’ll get out of this side quest: Around four weeks after your session, you’ll pick up your fired and glazed whale adorned piece—ready for daily duty. More than that, you’ll get a nice little brain vacation from the daily grind, a chance to get messy, and the probability that pottery will become your whole personality. 

Side quest vibe: Peaceful, charming and weirdly wonderful.

Side quest 9: Become a silversmith (for a few hours)

Some games have you visiting the blacksmith to upgrade your gear, but what if you could mould silver with your own hands? You may not be forging a sword just yet, but making your own ring is pretty special, too. 

How to get started: If you’re looking for a satisfying side quest that hits like unlocked achievements and victory music, join Blonde for a ring making class in Sydney. You’ll design, size, and craft your own shiny treasures alongside two pros who keep the vibes high and the intimidation factor low. No experience melting down metal? No worries. You’ll walk out feeling like a certified smith with a superpower you never knew you had. 

How long will this fun side quest go for? This forging expedition will take 2 hours of hands on magic making. 

What you’ll get out of this side quest: Apart from two wearable treasures made with your own hands, you’ll also get the satisfaction of creating something eternal and taking time for yourself to level up your character arc!

“What a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon. The team were friendly, supportive and informative. The instructions were clear, and the pace didn’t feel too rushed. Most of all, we got to walk away with a little treasure all of our own!” - Elena M.

Side quest vibe: Rewarding and epic. 

At the end of the day, main quests will always be waiting for you—the emails, the chores, and the daily to-do lists. But life gets a whole lot brighter when you take time for the detours. Whether you end up with an imperfect handmade piece of pottery, a custom perfume, or simply an afternoon spent laughing and trying something new, your next side quest is waiting.

Gather your friends or set off solo; it’s time to venture off the beaten path and see where your creativity takes you!