Stories
Inspiration on unique activities and gifts, mindfulness and more
Make Dad's Day Special with a Personalised Father's Day Gift
By Jana Lepojevic
Celebrate Dad with a personalised Father’s Day gift he’ll never forget. Make something by hand or enjoy a creative experience together in a local workshop.
Make Calligraphy Christmas Baubles with Vanessa Opazo
By Kellie Maloney
From full-time architect to calligraphy artist, Vanessa Opazo from Bondi Letters shares her inspiring journey into teaching and her mission to empower students through creativity.
Best Mother's Day Activities for Makers and Bakers in 2026
By ClassBento Team
Looking for unique Mother's Day gift ideas? Keep reading as we round up some of the best presents for Mum in Australia, perfect for makers and bakers.
Creative Activities Around the Vivid Festival
By Julia Carr-Catzel
When the sun sets in Sydney during the winter, the city transforms into a hub of creativity. From 25th May to 16th June 2018, the Vivid FestivalWhen the sun sets in Sydney during the winter, the city transforms into a hub of creativity. From 25th May to 16th June 2018, the Vivid Festival will attract audiences from all over Australia in an annual celebration of light, music and ideas. Last year, the city saw a whopping 2.3 million bright-eyed attendees roaming the colourful nighttime playground. For its 10th anniversary, attendees will be transported into an underwater world of shimmering corals, bioluminescent jellyfish at Sydney’s Darling Harbour. Wander the Royal Botanic Gardens forest, rippling and pulsing with more than 40,000 individually-controlled RGB pixels. Converse with a giant luminescent puppet, performing fire and rain rituals in celebration of Barangaroo’s Indigenous history. Contemplate the meaning of life in a 360-degree light projection of the observable universe in the North Shore. But the creative pulse of Australia’s largest city does not always reveal itself in the form of giant puppets or luminescent jellyfish under the magnetism of the night sky. In the larger Sydney arena, pockets of creative expression and learning can be found in rain or shine. Circular Quay/The Rocks Night Photography The parks, bays, cafes and museums observable to the travelers’ inquisitive eye, demand to be documented. Memories of a trip past, though poignant, fall back on their ephemeral qualities. Unless you possess master storytelling skills, wielding memory to recount a trip abroad to relatives, most often results in frustration on the traveler’s behalf, who cannot possibly do justice to the magical places seen. Fortunately enough, this can be resolved with the aid of a photograph – an immediate and tangible clarification of a sight seen with layers of emotion felt at the time. It is no surprise then, that most travelers wish to improve their photography skills – and what better place to harness the power of photography in an environment oozing creativity? If the thought of wandering through thousands of virtual toy balls or one thousand cranes excites you, then paying a visit to Vivid on The Rocks may just provide the ultimate creative space to exercise your camera skills. Director of Alfonso’s Photo Tours, Alfonso Calero, started his business back in 2008 with the aim of teaching locals and tourists travel photography. His Night Photography Short Course focuses on composition and shooting skills, with an emphasis on unconventional thinking as a key tool in the creative process. Equip yourself with a camera of choice and follow the professional photographer down Sydney’s historic laneways in the shadow of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. In an entirely customizable class, request tips from Alfonso on travel photography genres, styles and composition. Learn how to control ISO, shutter speed and aperture expertly to produce low-light shots. Become well acquainted with Sydney’s architecture and landscapes in its most creative and abstract time of year. Capture the multi-coloured canvas of the Opera House for the Lighting of the Sails exhibit. Compliment your tales with timeless photographs of a city at its prime. Collect images that will evoke wander and inspire upon reflection for years to come. Central Business District Whilst getting lost in electric forests or interacting with a six-metre high puppet promises all the creative stimulation in the world. There is no shortage of Sydney’s creative community during its day-lit hours. Start the creative journey early and head towards Sydney’s Central Business District for a range of workshops, including terrarium, pottery, flower arranging or cooking. Succulent Terrarium-Making Located in the inner-city suburb of Redfern, just three kilometres South of the CBD, the creative team from Merchant and Green host a range of classes from flower arranging to terrarium making. In a Terrarium Making class, work in an immersive and interactive environment under the expertise of senior florists and stylists. Construct a personalised wild landscape of fresh soil, river stones and petite succulents, embellish your vintage style glass jar with figurines, boulders and pebbles. Take home a low-maintenance, long-living plant to spruce up your home. Macaron Making In the neighboring suburb, Surry Hills, lies Sydney’s leading macaron makers: MakMak Macarons. Surpassing competitors such as Laduree and Zumbo, the company is known for their unique blending of texture and flavour. In a Macaron Making class, under the expertise of professional chefs, wield chocolate, slice fresh fruit and combine native Australian ingredients replicate the premium, handmade macarons delighting customers since 2010. Experiment with Maldon Sea Salt, Bombay Sapphire gin, lemon myrtle and strawberry gum. Walk away with a complimentary gift bag with ingredients to whip up your own batch at home. Ikebana Flower Arrangement Nestled in the eccentric suburb of Glebe, rest the tranquil confines of Sydney’s most renowned floristry boutique. Familiarise yourself with seasonal flowers in an Ikebana Flower Arranging workshop. Create stunning arrangements with Setsuko Yanagisawa, boasting no less than thirteen years of experience in floristry, specializing in the Ikebana technique. Fasten and secure stems whilst learning about the history of Ikebana. Combine textures, patterns and elements to create sophisticated and elegant arrangements to take home. Visit the Yuga café next door to regain your energy for a night out. North-Shore There is certainly no shortage of artistic talent, light projections and lasers in Sydney’s quieter suburbs during the Vivid Festival. Across the Harbour Bridge, the understated landscapes of the North Shore will embody futuristic artworks. By night, admire the mysteries of existence in a 360 degree light display projecting the stars and planets of the observable universe. Shodo Japanese Calligraphy In the heart of Chatswood, rejuvenate and improve your focus in a Shodo Japanese Calligraphy workshop. Learn how to make different types of sumi ink under the guidance of Ren, an artist recognised internationally. Learn Japanese characters and wield your calligraphy brush or 'fude' against a special type of Japanese paper called ‘hanshi’. Express emotion through brush stroke pressure, rhythm and tone. Following the creative class, meander the streets of Chatswood in a pop-up street market filled with recycled materials, lasers and scaffolding. Contemplate the meaning of the universe under the star-studded light display at the Concourse. … The Vivid Festival encourages visitors to engage in a hub of artistic expression and conversation of big ideas. By nightfall, the romantic harbour is specked with cruise ships and vessels contoured by a spectrum of saturated colour, and the magic of the city simply continues in different forms, with the rising of the sun. ...
5 Feel-Good Reasons to Gift Experiences This Christmas
By Laine Fullerton
And give yourself a pat on the back.
Make Christmas Cocktails with Pineapple Jam
By Kellie Maloney
Pineapple Jam creator and lead cocktail shaker Clinton Weir shares how he got his start in mixology and the motivation behind his creative cocktail making workshops.
Top Eco-friendly Experience Gifts This Christmas
By Annie Symmonds
Delight the eco-conscious soul in your life with one of our top eco-friendly gift experiences this Christmas, from gardening workshops to pottery classes!
Make Healthy Christmas Cocktails with the Cocktail Camp
By Jane Gauger
The founder of San Francisco’s Cocktail Camp is a health-conscious mixologist helping everyday Americans feel lighter and brighter with just one drink.
Make a Watercolour Christmas Card with Blair Zhang
By Courtenay Turner
From picking up a kid’s watercolour kit to becoming a full-time illustrator, Sydney-based artist Blair Zhang shares her creative journey.
What I'm Gifting for My Boyfriend This Valentine's Day
By Jana Lepojevic
Wondering what to get your boyfriend for Valentine’s Day? Here’s what ClassBento’s content lead is gifting her boyfriend—Valentine’s gifts for him to impress!
Fun and Festive Gift Experiences for Women
By Jana Lepojevic
Looking for a present for a special lady? Explore a variety of festive gift experiences for her that will inspire her creative spark.
Want to Know Which Workshops Are on Our Christmas Wishlist
By Tiffany Fung
Hint: There’s something in here for everyone.
Why We'll Be Shopping Local This Christmas
By Laine Fullerton
Hint: there’s something in it for you too.
Make Christmas Flower Arrangements with Peony Story
By Charlotte McKewen
Fall in love with the art of floristry at Nikki Zeng's fun flower arranging classes with The Peony Story in Sydney.
Mother's Day Gift Ideas for a Mum Who Doesn't do Gifts
By Annie Symmonds
Find some amazing Mother’s Day gift experiences for Mum in Melbourne you can do together this year, from glassblowing classes to DIY terrarium workshops.
9 Reasons Why Workshops Make the Best Mother's Day Gift Ideas
By Courtenay Turner
Discover our unique Mother's Day gift ideas in Perth and spoil Mum with a unique experience on her special day.
Bring Back Dad-Time This Father's Day
By Tiffany Fung
No matter where he’s at in fatherhood, our five-minute quiz will help you bring back Dad-time. Read on to find out what experience gift is best for him!
7 Trending Crafts to Sink Your Hands Into in 2022
By Katie Milton
From glass and flame to looping, arranging and painting with thread, our Head of Editorial shares the mesmerising crafts you won’t be able to step away from in 2022.
I Tried the 7 Biggest Craft Trends of 2023. You Can Too
By Laine Fullerton
Dust off your yarn balls. The hottest crafts of 2023 are here and we promise anyone can give them a go.
If You Try One Craft in 2022 This Should Be It
By Laine Fullerton
Can you guess what hot new craft accessory comes in baby pink and looks like it’s straight from a 1980s action movie?
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