How to Spend Your Christmas Gift Voucher

So, you’ve unwrapped a ClassBento gift card for Christmas. Now comes the fun part: deciding what to spend it on! With thousands of creative classes, hands-on workshops and memorable activities across Australia, you can use your present to try something completely new, revisit a hobby you love or simply enjoy a fun day out.

Not sure where to start? Here’s how to redeem your Christmas present, check how much you have to spend and find an experience that feels worth getting excited about.

How to redeem your Christmas present

Using your gift experience is nice and simple. Start by browsing the ClassBento website and exploring the experiences available in your area. You can search by location, category, date or the type of activity you’re interested in.

Once you’ve found something that catches your eye, select your preferred date and time and head to checkout. In the Payments section, select the ‘Voucher’ option and enter the unique code that came with your Christmas present. Your available credit will then be applied to your booking.

If the experience costs more than the amount you were given, you can simply pay the remaining balance by card. And if you don’t use the entire amount on your first booking, you can put the leftover credit towards another ClassBento experience later.

You also have plenty of time to decide. Our gift experiences are valid for three years from the date of purchase, so there’s no need to squeeze a workshop into the first few weeks after Christmas.

First, check how much you have to spend

Before you fall down the rabbit hole of browsing, check your balance. You can view your remaining credit and expiry date at classbento.com.au/gb. 

Knowing your budget makes it easier to narrow things down. You might discover that your balance covers an entire beginner workshop, or you may find an activity you love and choose to add a little extra yourself.

Either way, don’t feel like you have to spend it all in one go. If you find a smaller experience you really fancy, you can use the remaining amount towards another booking later.

Try a creative class and make something

One of the easiest ways to spend your Christmas present is by choosing a workshop where you get to make something yourself.

Fancy getting your hands dirty? Try a pottery wheel or clay hand building class and create your own ceramic piece. Prefer something a little more colourful? A paint and sip session gives you a relaxed way to experiment with art while enjoying a social night out.

You could also try jewellery making, candle making, tufting, printmaking or calligraphy. These classes are particularly fun if you like the idea of finishing the day with something you can actually take home.

And you don’t need to be a seasoned crafter. Many of these workshops are designed for beginners, with a teacher guiding you through the process step by step.

Turn it into a foodie adventure

If you’d rather eat your way through your Christmas present, there are plenty of cooking experiences to choose from.

Roll up your sleeves for a pasta making workshop, learn how to fold dumplings or discover the secrets of Japanese cuisine. There are also experiences for people who love drinks, from cocktail making sessions to wine tasting.

Cooking classes are a great option when you want your activity to feel like more than just a lesson. You get to learn a new skill, enjoy plenty of conversation and, of course, eat what you make.

They’re also a fun choice for a catch-up with a friend or a date when you want something a little more memorable than meeting for coffee.

Pick something completely outside your comfort zone

Christmas is also a good excuse to finally try that thing you’ve always wondered about.

Ever wanted to make your own perfume? Try a fragrance workshop and create a scent that’s completely your own. Curious about glassblowing? A beginner experience lets you get hands-on with a fascinating traditional craft under expert guidance.

You could try blacksmithing, learn the basics of woodworking or discover the Japanese art of Kintsugi. The best part? You don’t need to know exactly what you’re doing before you arrive. That’s what the workshop is for.

Make a day of it with someone else

You don’t necessarily have to spend your Christmas voucher solo. Many experiences are ideal for sharing with a partner, friend or family member.

Book a pottery session and compare your creations. Try a cooking class together and turn dinner into the activity itself. Head to a paint and sip workshop for a relaxed creative night out, or choose a hands-on craft that gives you something to chat about while you work.

It can be especially nice to use your present as an excuse to make plans with someone you haven’t seen in a while. Instead of another catch-up over the same coffee order, you’ll have a new experience to share.

Choose an experience that helps you slow down

After the Christmas rush, you might not want anything too energetic. If your ideal January involves slowing down, choose an activity that lets you switch off for a while.

Painting, collage art, floral arranging and other hands-on crafts are a great way to put your phone away and focus on something creative. You can learn a new skill, get stuck into the process and enjoy making something with your hands without worrying about getting the perfect result.

Don’t forget about online experiences

Your Christmas present doesn’t have to be used at a nearby studio, either. ClassBento credits can be redeemed on experiences across Australia, including online workshops.

That makes them particularly handy if you’re travelling, live outside a major city or simply want to enjoy an activity from home.

An online cooking class could turn a quiet evening into something special, while a virtual creative workshop can give you a reason to make time for a hobby you’ve been putting off.

Your Christmas present is an excuse to try something new

The easiest way to spend your Christmas gift is to stop waiting for the “perfect” experience and choose something that makes you curious.

Maybe that means finally trying pottery. Maybe it’s learning to make fresh pasta, creating your own silver ring or spending an afternoon surrounded by flowers. You could pick something familiar, invite someone along or go completely off track and choose a class you would never normally book for yourself.

Whatever you choose, the whole point is to get out there and enjoy the experience. Your ClassBento voucher gives you three years to redeem it, so take a look around, find something that sparks your interest and turn that Christmas present into a day you’ll actually remember.

If you're shopping for a gift card instead, see these last-minute ideas.