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When it's time to celebrate the amazing men in your life, you need experience gifts for him. More exciting than socks but less risky than the latest gadget, experience gifts always go down a treat! Why? Because they're fun and memorable! Especially if you put effort into the planning. For example, if you know he likes his whisky, rather than getting him an expensive bottle that he's probably already tried, get him a whisky distilling class and let him make his own! He'll not only have a bottle to take home and enjoy but also a fond memory and a deeper understanding of the world of whisky. Whether it’s a birthday, a Secret Santa, a Father’s Day gift or just a simple desire to spoil a special guy in your life, delight him in 2026 with a Sydney experience gift.
Gifts for the stressed partner who needs a creative outlet
Cost: $110 for a one-hour class
Location: Petrie, QLD
Did you know that doing art has been proven to reduce cortisol levels (the hormone linked to stress)---and the best part is, you don’t even have to be good at it! Especially when the medium you're working with is alcohol ink and the end result is an abstract assemblage of colours and shapes. Your stressed partner will love this experience gift for him that offers an escape from daily life and invites him to unwind with fluid art. Join him to deepen connections and enjoy a creative date night.
Cost: $150 for a 2.5-hour class
Location: Brunswick, Melbourne
Cooking is linked to wellness for many reasons. Firstly, the act of cooking itself can be quite therapeutic and mindful for some. Secondly, feeding yourself with home-cooked, nourishing meals is an act of self-care. Treat him to an Italian pasta class so he can pick up the skills to make pasta from scratch! And if you happen to benefit from his newfound cooking skills, well, that's just the way it is! This is the perfect experience gift for men who love to don an apron and cook for loved ones.
For the retired Dad, Grandad or Uncle looking for a new hobby
Cost: $85
Location: Brunswick, Melbourne
For the men who have plenty of time on their hands but perhaps not enough nature, this plant parenthood class is the perfect gift idea for him. He’ll learn how to care for a range of indoor plants, from soil composition to fertiliser and pest management. Not only will he leave with his own plant to take home, but he’ll also gain a hobby that’s calming and rewarding, and a lovely way to bring a little life into his home. This is a relaxed class with light refreshments provided as well as a little take home booklet to keep their indoor plants thriving.
Japanese cooking class for beginners
Cost: $169
Location: Mosman, Sydney
Help him turn a chore into a hobby by sparking a passion for cooking with this fun and informative hands-on Japanese cooking class. Led by chef and cookbook author Yoshiko Takeuchi, this class will teach him how to make easy and healthy Japanese dishes. As well as learning how to make dishes like tempura and teriyaki, he will learn how to balance a meal and use a knife like a Japanese pro. The best part is, if he really gets into it, you’ll be guaranteed a fresh Japanese feast every time you visit. It's the present that keeps on giving!
Presents for sons who love their screens too much
Kids Skateboard Class (5-15 Years)
Cost: $50
Location: Manly, Sydney
Is your screen-bound teen seriously lacking some Vitamin D? Get him outdoors and active with this beginner's skateboarding class on Manly’s iconic beachfront. The class will build his confidence by showing him the basic skills needed to cruise around on a board, plus he’ll even walk (or skate) away with the know-how needed to perform a few simple tricks. The sunlight, fresh sea air and the thrill of landing the perfect ollie might just be enough to entice him out of his bedroom and into the skatepark in the future. He'll be surprised at how well you nailed gift-giving this year!
Cost: $68
Location: Wangara, Perth
If your teen loves fantasy worlds and epic creatures, a dragon drawing workshop is a gift idea for him that fuels creativity while keeping him off screens. In this hands-on class, he’ll learn to sketch, shade and bring his own dragons to life under the guidance of a skilled illustrator. It’s perfect for sparking a new hobby, building confidence in his artistic skills and giving him a tangible piece of art to be proud of. Bonus: it’s an experience that can be shared with friends, or he can enjoy some independent creative time, all while exploring a mythical world through art.
Secret Santa gifts for colleagues
Shake Cocktails with Australian Native Plants
Cost: $97
Location: Alexandria, Sydney
OK, so you don’t really know who this guy is or what he’s into, but who doesn’t like cocktails? This cocktail class will have him crafting seasonal, sophisticated cocktails using native Australian ingredients. This gift combines the fun of cocktails with local Australian produce. And our guess is, these will be cocktails he's never tried before! Just make sure he enjoys a drink first, and then get ready to delight him with this experience gift.
Cost: $100
Location: Unley, Adelaide
Looking for a Secret Santa gift that’s a little out of the ordinary? A pickling workshop is a clever and memorable gift idea for him. He’ll learn how to turn everyday veggies into tangy, crunchy, flavour-packed pickles—and take home jars of his very own creations. It’s hands-on and surprisingly addictive, making it perfect for a foodie colleague. Bonus points if he shares his pickles at the next team lunch!
