In this story:
On the hunt for Christmas gifts for him? Whether it’s your husband, your dad or that guy you’ve been dating, you’ve come to the right place for dude-approved presents. You won’t find any socks, tech gadgets or novelty bottle openers here – just thoughtful gift experiences he’ll actually appreciate. From new Dads to golden oldies, this quiz takes the guesswork out of gift-giving for the guys. Ready to make his year? Impressive Xmas presents for men await…
1. His dream day looks like…
A - A long run, followed by a gym sesh
B - Fishing, bushwalking or gardening
C - Working on his recent DIY project
D - Beer, feet up, footy
E - A coffee (or two) at his favourite cafe
2. His go-to meal is…
A - Prepped and full of protein
B - An energy bar and some trail mix
C - Whatever’s in the fridge
D - A meat pie and choccy milk
E - Avo toast, obviously
3. As a kid, he dreamed of being…
A - A professional athlete
B - An adventure guide
C - An architect
D - A referee or coach
E - A graphic designer
4. You’d describe him as…
A - The guy who never sits still
B - The one who’d survive the zombie apocalypse
C - The expert IKEA assembler
D - The backseat driver
E - The one who’s ahead of the trends
5. You appreciate his…
A - Sense of discipline and motivation
B - Down-to-earth nature
C - Willingness to lend a helping hand
D - Sense of humour
E - Eye for art and design
Mostly As: Christmas gifts for the active guy
So he’s a member of his local run club and *actually* uses his gym membership? This active guy will appreciate a present that aligns with his energetic lifestyle. Show him there’s more to meal prep than chicken, broccoli and rice with the gift of a healthy cooking class. He’ll learn new skills and add tasty recipes to his repertoire, all while keeping his nutrition on track. Boys who like bouldering will appreciate this Sydney-based pottery workshop for climbers, while a bike tuning or maintenance workshop is the obvious choice for lads who cycle. And for blokes who love the beach, a learn-to-surf gift voucher tops the list. For men who like to move, there’s no shortage of Christmas gifts for him in Australia.
Ulrike Martin gifted her husband a Lebanese Vegetarian Cooking Class and said:
“My husband and I wanted to learn more about Lebanese cooking and in particular vegan. What a fantastic opportunity to learn about Lebanese food and preparation techniques. The food was outstanding – four hours flew by and we stayed another hour to have a chat. My husband said she raised the bar very high. Any further cooking classes will now be measured by this one.”
Mostly Bs: Male gift ideas for the outdoor adventurer
Whether it’s hiking, kayaking or road-tripping, this easy-going guy lives for outdoor adventure. If he’s always looking at life through a lens, a DSLR photography class is a thoughtful gift idea. He’ll learn to capture candid moments and stunning landscapes like a pro, immortalising every adventure. If he’s more of a minimalist, a smartphone photography workshop is a simple swap. For the nature-lover or camping enthusiast, a knife-making experience or leatherwork class will boost his sense of self-sufficiency. (And give him something to show off to the boys.)
Ben Abraham received this Blacksmith Blade Class for Beginners and said:
“My wife gifted me this class as an early Xmas present, and it was fantastic! The forge was cool, the instructor was very knowledgeable and friendly. I got to make an awesome knife and get my blacksmith on! I would highly recommend this course as an experience for yourself or as a gift for someone else.”
Mostly Cs: Christmas presents for the handyman
Bunnings is the weekend destination of choice for this jack of all trades. Whether he’s rebuilding an old car or tinkering with a table, his list of DIY projects is never-ending. If his metalwork skills are a little rusty, treat him to a welding or blacksmithing workshop where he’ll forge a knife, hatchet or bottle opener. Maybe timber is your man’s material of choice? A woodworking class is the ideal Christmas gift for him. From hand-carved bowls to pine stools, he’ll love seeing his handiwork come to life.
Cassandra Farivar gifted her husband this Wood Burning Workshop for Beginners and said:
“Purchased as a gift for my husband who was a bit apprehensive about going. He loves woodwork but wasn't sure about wood burning. Turns out, he absolutely loves it. Bas was a great teacher and really thorough on the technicalities of wood burning. Really appreciate her knowledge on wood types, oils and nibs! Highly recommend for a relaxing day!”
Mostly Ds: Gift suggestions for the sports spectator
This sport-loving bloke rocks his footy jersey most days of the year. A loud-and-proud spectator, there’s nothing he loves more than a live match with a cold one. While the latest team kit or a case of beer is an obvious gift option, there’s no harm in thinking outside the box. A whisky tasting or gin tasting will give him a newfound appreciation for some of the swankier spirits in the alcohol cupboard, while a BBQ class will turn him into the king of the grill. Learning to smoke meat while sipping on craft beer? It doesn’t get better than that.
Brianna Cook gifted her dad this Rum Spicing Masterclass and said:
“This was a Christmas present for my dad and we absolutely loved it. We learnt so much about the history of rum and how rum is made at Brix. There were fun tastings of the process too! We were given a spritz to walk around with during the tour which was lovely. We got some good tips when it came to spicing, and had a lot of fun mixing the flavours. A fantastic day. We both thought of people we’d love to bring back to do it again!”
Mostly Es: Gift ideas for the hipster
If he frequents specialty coffee shops in Surry Hills or brunches in Brunswick, he’s a hipster through and through. Aesthetics are all-important for this trend-setter, so resist the urge to buy him material gifts that might miss the mark. (No graphic tees, please.) Instead, treat your man to an artful experience like pottery, kintsugi or screen printing. He’ll appreciate the chance to make something that reflects his personal style – be it a reusable cup or canvas tote. If caffeine is this lad’s life force, you can’t go wrong with a barista workshop or latte art class – a gift experience that really brings the buzz.
Jamie Coleman gifted their boyfriend a Beginner's Kintsugi Workshop and said:
“This class was just perfect! I bought the private class for my boyfriend as a Christmas gift, and we were blown away by how incredible it was. Jun was an excellent teacher who had so much knowledge about kintsugi and is truly a master of his craft. It was a joy to learn from someone so passionate and to walk away with our own kintsugi plates was so rewarding.”
