In this story:
Hunting for personal Mother's Day gifts? Don’t waste another minute! Take our quick quiz and we’ll pair you with the perfect present in minutes.
It goes without saying that no two Mums are the same, so it’s important to find Mother’s Day gift ideas that reflect her personality, preferences and passions. Thankfully, five quick questions is all it takes to say “no” to dust-gathering gifts and “yes” to joy-boosting experiences. Let’s go!
Mother's Day matchmaker quiz
1. If Mum could sit next to anyone on a plane, who would it be?
A: A famous chef like Nigella Lawson or Kylie Kwong
B: Her favourite artist or author (but no spoilers, please!)
C: An inspirational environmentalist like Jane Goodall
D: A celebrity makeup artist or wellness advocate
E: She’d want an empty seat
2. If a career change was on the horizon, she would dream of…
A: Retraining as a chef, cookbook author or baker
B: Becoming a celebrated painter or novelist
C: Starting afresh as a florist, gardener or horticulturalist
D: Opening her own day spa or wellness retreat (White Lotus, but without the bad bits)
E: A job you can’t quite pinpoint
3. Mum wins an all-expenses-paid holiday and decides to…
A: Eat her way through Europe’s foodie hotspots
B: Admire the work of The Greats in world-class art galleries
C: Hike, camp and unwind in the great outdoors
D: Enjoy endless massages, facials and cocktails by the pool
E: Jet off to an obscure country no one’s heard of
4. It’s Friday night. What’s she watching?
A: MasterChef, The Great British Bake Off or My Kitchen Rules
B: The latest book-to-film adaptation
C: David Attenborough or Better Homes and Gardens
D: Queer Eye For The Straight Guy, obviously
E: A foreign film on SBS
5. Among friends and family, she’s known for...
A: Her mouthwatering cooking
B: Her knowledge of history and world events
C: Her epic garden and plant-whispering powers
D: Looking like she stepped off the red carpet
D: Being a bit of an enigma
The results are in! Drum roll, please.
Mostly A's: The culinary enthusiast
Your mum finds joy in making delicious dishes, trying new recipes and connecting with people over a shared meal. She's always experimenting with unusual ingredients, collecting cookbooks, or watching cooking shows for inspiration. Food isn't just sustenance to her – it's a creative outlet and a way to bring people together.
The ideal gift for her:
A cooking, baking or dessert-making class that expands her culinary repertoire. From artisanal pasta workshops to traditional Japanese cooking classes, culinary experience gifts make fitting gifts for foodie mums.
In your words...
“We went as a Mother's Day present for my wife and to follow up on our trip to Japan in January. Yoshiko was great, so knowledgeable and so hilariously funny. We learned a lot of techniques we'd never tried before, and the food was delicious at the end. It was really helpful to hear recommendations about ingredients and where to find them. Excellent experience, well worth the price.” – Brian O'Grady, Japanese Cooking Class for Beginners
Mostly B's: The creative soul
Your mum has an artistic spirit and appreciates beauty in everything she sees. Whether she's an avid reader, a hobby painter or a member of the art gallery, one thing is certain: she values artistic expression and storytelling in all its forms.
Gift suggestions for Mother's Day:
An art class for adults is a thoughtful way to nurture her love of the arts. Consider a watercolour workshop, oil painting class or calming calligraphy session where she can create something beautiful – just because.
In your words...
Madeleine Marsh gifted her mum a Botanical Watercolour Painting Class for Beginners. Here’s what she had to say:
“I took my mum (who had no previous experience) and she had fun! The tutorials are nice and descriptive and there is constant support from the absolutely lovely teacher. It was a very welcoming environment to ask questions and chat about techniques or any issues. I went in with a little bit of watercolour/art experience and still found it very fun and informative. Plenty to do and you get to walk away with a stack of resources, ideas and a piece of art. It was great! I got so engrossed in my work that I totally forgot about my cup of tea! Very mindful indeed – a few hours of productive but quiet time to just do something fun with no expectations.”
Mostly C's: The nature lover
Your mum has a close connection with nature in all its forms. Whether she's admiring her garden, tending her indoor plants or planning a long bushwalk, she finds peace and joy when surrounded by greenery.
Mother’s Day gift ideas:
A flower arranging class, terrarium making workshop or beekeeping experience is sure to fill Mum’s cup. These hands-on classes combine practical knowledge, hands-on fun, and of course, an opportunity to soak up the wonders of the natural world.
In your words...
Natalie Bannister gifted her mum this Floristry Workshop: Tall Seasonal Blooms in a Vase and had this (very cute) thing to say:
“Making memories to last a lifetime with my mum. I booked us in for a Mother’s Day girls’ day out at Bloomin Marvellous. Mum has a love of flowers and learnt so many new tricks for doing her arrangements at home. The class was definitely good value and getting to take your arrangement home makes it even better. I loved getting to spend quality time with my mum. Making memories is the best gift you can give or receive.”
Mostly D's: The wellness devotee
Your mum prioritises self-care and always seems to be glowing. Her bathroom cabinet is full of serums, creams and mists, and she fills her free time with pampering rituals. Her wellness wisdom is extensive and she loves trying the latest health-boosting trends. (Ice bath, anyone?)
Gift suggestions for Mother's Day: Pamper Mum with a natural skincare making workshop, makeup class, or perfume blending experience. She’ll learn to formulate her own face oils or serums, create custom perfume blends or pick up glow-boosting tips from a professional makeup artist.
In your words...
Cheryl Tuckwell gifted her mum this Natural Skincare Making Workshop and said:
“Took my mum to this workshop and we both really enjoyed it. The instructor was very knowledgeable, explained everything clearly, was open to questions and gave practical help to make our products. The studio space was lovely too! All the ingredients were supplied and I’ve been able to use all the products we made – even on my very sensitive skin – so it was absolutely worth the money. I’d definitely go back with groups of friends for similar workshops.”
Mostly E's: The curious explorer
With such wide-ranging and ever-evolving hobbies, your mum is hard to categorise. (Is there anything she hasn’t researched or read about?) She embraces new experiences, never stops learning and loves developing new skills – even if she’ll never use them in her daily life. Open-minded and curious, she lives much of her life outside of her comfort zone.
Mother’s Day presents for her: For the time of her life, opt for a unique experience gift like rug tufting, wheel throwing, glass blowing or blacksmithing. These hands-on workshops include expert guidance, plenty of hands-on experimentation and a world of new knowledge for her to explore.
In your words...
Candy Tong treated her mum to a Ceramic Painting Workshop: Clay Soirée and shared:
"Brought Mum to the class on Mother's Day and she loved it! It was an open studio where we got to choose our own pottery and paint freely. Instructions were easy to follow. Excited to see the finished product!”
Ready to dive into your present planning? Check out our ultimate guide for Mother's Day gifts in 2025.
Experiences are the best gift suggestions for Mother's Day
The best Mother's Day gifts recognise and celebrate your mum's unique personality and interests. By choosing a creative workshop that aligns with what she loves, you're allowing her to explore her passions, learn new skills and create meaningful memories. (That’s more than we can say for a store-bought candle or box of chocolates.) For max impact, we highly recommend joining her for the workshop. By sharing the experience, you’ll strengthen your bond and create shared stories to treasure for years to come!
