If like me, you prefer experiences over things, we may have just solved your Christmas shopping dilemmas with our list of awesome Sydney experiences. Perfect for locals or anyone planning a trip to Sydney in 2024.

Below are some suggestions for great Sydney Experiences for everyone on your Christmas shopping list.

Oh and if Santa is listening… I would love a night at Taronga’s wildlife retreat!

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A Sydney experience for your mum or nana

Book High Tea for Two

Mums and nanas will love the gift of your company as much as anything you can wrap and tie a bow on. There are so many great high tea venues in Sydney, we love Gunners Barracks in Mosman or the Tea Room in the QVB but you could also choose high tea on the harbour.

Get crafty with mum

Another fun option is those sip and paint classes, even those who are artistically challenged can surprise themselves with their ability after a glass of wine! For those who truly think they have no creative talent this class making textured artworks is less threatening and lots of fun.

If you want something a bit different you can do a perfume making class and create your own scents.

If you are not sure which class they might like Class Bento have gift vouchers that allow her to choose.

Gifts for Dad

Private Golf Lessons

Surprise dad with a private golf lesson so that the next time he hits the greens, he can surprise everyone with his new skills. This one hour lesson at St Michaels Golf Club course in Little Bay with a PGA Professional for two means you might get lucky and be invited along!

If fishing is more his thing you could send him off on a deep-sea fishing adventure out of Sydney harbour

For the thrill seeker

Whether it’s your dad, your brother or even your kid sister if you have a thrill-seeker in your family, Sydney has some great experiences to choose from. Take a few laps in a rally car in Sydney

Skydiving over Sydney’s coastline is something lots of backpackers visiting Sydney do but not so many Sydneysiders. It’s also a great way to battle a fear of heights! Take it down a notch with a helicopter ride over Sydney Harbour.

If you think they’d prefer to start with something a little more sedate, gift an indoor skydive or a hot air balloon ride in the Hunter Valley.

If they are a major outdoor lover, you could try an introduction to rock climbing, abseiling or canyoning. A great option is abseiling or canyoning in the Blue Mountains or in a south coast rainforest.

For the one who loves to be pampered

Maybe you have a friend who is always taking themselves off for a massage – well why not get them a new body pampering experience like a Vichy Shower where jets of water spray over your body relaxing the muscles and stimulating the lymphatic system. You could also book them an alternative style of massage like a Kahuna Hawaiian Massage.

Oh and you can almost never go wrong with a facial – and remember body treatments are not just for women!

For the foodie

Try a cooking class that will teach the foodie in your life a new skill; a seafood cooking class is great fun and something most cooks have skills gaps with. I did one last year and now have at least 3 new recipes on rotation! This paella class is lots of fun too.

For the cook who loves a challenge, learning to cook the French classics might be a great way choice. Or if you are addicted to Ramen perhaps learning to perfect that perfect Japanese soup might be a gift that you will enjoy the fruits of.

Perhaps you can sign them up to learn a new cuisine, giving them a small taste of travel from the comfort of their kitchen. Dumplings are fun, and almost anyone can master them!

If they like to eat more than they like to cook, you could treat them to a special meal or even a fun farm to table experience.

For the workaholic

I have a couple of friends who swear that float tanks are the most relaxing thing you can do for a stressed out or overworked body. There are a couple of float centres in Sydney that offer everything from basic floats to deluxe experiences with massages and saunas. 

You can also get packages that include a detox sauna, float and salt therapy which will have even the most overworked among us feeling like new!

For the Kids on your list

The parents on your gift list will love the idea of some extra activities to keep the kids busy over the school holidays. If you are anything like us, it’s almost impossible to keep track of what our nieces and nephews are into right now.

There is a whole range of kids activities from skateboarding lessons to Circus workshops and indoor trampolining and virtual reality experiences.

Have questions about things to see and do in Sydney?
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