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Short on time? Jump straight to our list of Mother’s Day gifts in Brisbane.
If anyone deserves an entire day dedicated to them, it’s Mum. From chubby baby to tantrum-prone teen, she loved you through all of life’s triumphs and challenges. (And sacrificed more than a little sleep along the way).
This Sunday May 11th, take a moment to *officially* celebrate the leading lady in your life with a gift she’s sure to appreciate: quality time with you.
Beyond the usual brunch-and-bunch-of-flowers combo, Brisbane is brimming with fun activities that make thoughtful Mother’s Day ideas. Here’s to new memories with the one and only woman who bought you into the world. Thanks Mum!
Swap Mother's Day Lunch for a cooking class
Best for: Mums and mother figures with an epic cookbook collection
This Mother’s Day in Brissie, swap overcrowded restaurants and expensive set menus for a hands-on cooking class. From fancy French cuisine to tasty Asian eats, our beginner-friendly culinary workshops are a fun alternative to the usual family lunch. Meet other friendly foodies, learn cool new skills and tuck into a mouthwatering feast at the end of the class. If food is the way to Mum’s heart, these top-rating Brisbane cooking classes are sure to deliver…
Rustic Italian Cooking Class: Part One, Teneriffe
What to expect: A heart-warming welcome, followed by an introduction to the class and an opportunity to chat with other budding chefs – all while making hand-stretched olive and rosemary focaccia. Next up, one of Vanilla Zulu’s friendly chefs will teach you how to knead bread, roll pasta and whip up delicious sauces from scratch. And because no Mother’s Day lunch in Brisbane is complete without dessert, you’ll also learn to make a lush panna cotta. Sweet!
Moroccan Cooking Class: A Flavourful Journey, South Brisbane
Discover Morocco's rich culinary traditions with Moroccan-born Brisbanite, Hajar Oubelkhi. On arrival, you and Mum will enjoy aromatic mint tea and traditional cookies – called “ghriyba” – while you learn about Moroccan culture. Then, it’s time to cook! With Hajar as your guide, you’ll learn to prep classic dishes like chicken tagine with preserved lemons and lamb tagine with prunes. You’ll also knead your own traditional batbout bread, experiment with spices like saffron and whip up fluffy couscous to tie it all together. Could this be the most satisfying Mother’s Day lunch ever? We’ll let you be the judge.
Japanese Cooking Masterclass, Teneriffe
If a surprise trip to Tokyo isn’t on the cards, treat Mum to the next best thing: a Japanese cooking class. Run by Chef Tong, this beginner-friendly workshop will see you whipping up three to five authentic dishes, straight from the streets of Japan. (Think udon noodles, dashi stock and handmade gyoza.) Mother’s Day lunch shouldn’t feel like work, so you won’t be prepping ingredients or peeling vegetables. Instead, you’ll concentrate on the fun parts: tasting new flavours and learning new skills, like blow-torching aburi salmon. At the end of the class, sit down with Mum and your new foodie friends to feast on the fruit of your labour.
Swap Mother's Day flowers for a floristry workshop
Best for: Mums and mother figures with a home full of flowers or plants
Buying flowers is sweet, but treating Mum to a floristry workshop is even sweeter (not to mention more memorable). From beginner-friendly ikebana classes to dried flower arrangement workshops, Brissie has more than 95 classes to explore – perfect for a celebratory crafternoon with your leading lady. Enjoy some quality time together, learn the basics of floral design and head home with a beautiful bouquet to put on display. From traditional arrangements to terrariums, here are our picks of the bunch.
Pressed Flower Art in Glass Workshop, various locations
This pressed flower workshop is a thoughtful alternative to traditional Mother’s Day flowers. Instead of giving a bunch of blooms that will eventually wilt, you and Mum will create a lasting keepsake filled with dainty petals. Materials, guidance, light refreshments and treats are included in the price of your ticket – so all you need to do is sit back and bring your pressed flower masterpiece to life. Expect a relaxing atmosphere that’s sure to put even the busiest minds at ease. (Psst! For more gifting inspo, take a peek at these unique alternatives to Mother’s Day Flowers in Brisbane.)
Open Terrarium Making Workshop, Alderley
If she’s more Fiddle Leaf Fig than Freesia, opt for this Open Terrarium Making Workshop with the team at I Wet My Plants Garden & Gifts. Ideal for the green-thumbed mum, terrarium making is a unique way to put her gardening skills into action. Together, you’ll layer soil, stones and moss to create a tiny, self-sustaining plant kingdom full of flora. Not sure what to expect?Here’s what past student Jamie had to say: “My mum and I attended this workshop for her birthday – we both loved it! Renae created a lovely atmosphere with her warm and welcoming personality, and the small class size (6 people) felt just right. The venue for the workshop was also wonderful. Being surrounded by other peoples' creativity was quite inspiring – and a reminder that creativity looks different for everyone. All materials were supplied and any questions we had were answered as best as possible. (Now all I have to do is keep the plants alive). When you look at the cost of terrarium materials, it's pretty good value – especially because you get the added advice. I would highly recommend this workshop! It's perfect for a gift, or for taking yourself out on a date.”
Swap Mother's Day High Tea for a dessert-making class
Best for: Mums and mother figures with a sweet tooth
Tiny cucumber sandwiches, be gone! If high tea is your go-to Mother’s Day gift, we’ve got the ultimate hands-on alternative. From cupcake decorating to macaron making, Brisbane's workshop scene offers all the indulgence of a traditional high tea with an interactive twist. For the Mum who'd rather wield a piping bag than balance a teacup, these hands-on classes are the perfect recipe for Mother's Day magic...
Cupcake Decorating Class for Beginners, Capalaba
In this relaxing, hands-on workshop, you'll learn intricate piping techniques and create pro-level cupcakes. Upon arrival, you'll be introduced to the art of cupcake decoration, from filling a piping bag to using different piping tips for various effects. Your instructor will demonstrate how to get the perfect pressure for consistent results and teach you to colour buttercream using professional-grade colours. Throughout the class, you'll decorate six cupcakes with beautiful buttercream designs to take home in your own special box. The intimate class size ensures plenty of personal attention, making this a sweet alternative to the usual Mother's Day celebrations.
Macaron Making Class, Birkdale
Fancy. French. Delicious. What’s not to love about macarons? Associated with high-end patisseries, these domed desserts scream sophistication, making them the perfect Mother’s Day gift idea. Run by passionate home baker, Sandra Crawford, this intimate macaron making class is a thoughtful way to spend time with Mum in May. Expect helpful demonstrations and plenty of hands-on practice – everything you need to master this notoriously tricky sweet treat. At the end of the four-hour session, you'll leave with 20 beautiful macarons to enjoy at home and the skills you need to recreate them. (Now that’s the kind of gift that keeps on giving.)
The best Mother’s Day ideas in Brisbane, according to science
Forget chocolates, pyjamas and perfume – the most meaningful way to celebrate Mother’s Day in Brisbane has nothing to do with material gifts.
In 2025, it’s all about connection, creativity and joy! According to a 2017 paper published in the Journal of Consumer Research, gifting someone an experience (rather than an object) improves relationship strength between the giver and the receiver.
So whether you treat Mum to a ring making class, paint and sip soirée or messy wheelthrowing workshop, you’re simultaneously strengthening your bond. (Cool, huh?) This year, don’t settle for the same old bunch of flowers – pencil in some quality time with your marvellous matriarch and make new memories together.
Runs regularly
Fortitude Valley
1 to 10 guests
$55 - $59
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