It’s 19 days until Christmas.
At this point in the festive prep process there are two types of people: those that had their shopping smugly wrapped up in November and those that are frantically looking up Australia Post shipping estimates and Googling Westfield opening hours.
If you are the latter, I have you covered. Not only can I enthusiastically vouch for the below suggestions, they are unique, cover most ages and interests and suit a fairly wide budget range.
Each of these must-haves also make for a great dinner party chat and are unlikely to have sold out. Plus, they should all be in your hands well before Christmas Eve.
Beautiful yet budget-friendly
$150 and under
It’s the candle that ‘never melts’. This genius little gift is not only a beautiful addition to the living home, it is also reusable, smoke-free and scent-free.
I use mine to create stunning ambience around the home without the worry of an overwhelming scent. I often pop on one of my favourite candles or oils for half an hour or so first to create a lovely base aroma.
Everlasting Candle Co. was born when husband and wife duo Jesse and Tamara Furgason were looking for a solution to the short lifespan and messiness of wax candles (including the smoke and soot they produced).
This inspired them to design a reusable oil-burning candle made of steel that never melts.
Available in a range of styles and colours, prices start at $80 and the set includes the Everlasting Candles, a vase and the Pristine Oil.
You can find Everlasting Candle Co. in more than 1,000 boutiques and retailers throughout Canada and the U.S, and now, most exciting of all, online in Australia.
The Everlasting Candle is the candle that ‘never melts’. This genius little gift is not only a beautiful addition to the living home, it is also reusable, smoke-free and scent-free
A Filtered Beauty shower filter, $89
Hard water – as found in many pipes across Australia – can have a drying effect on skin and hair and lead to all sorts of issues like breakage, lifeless locks and skin irritation like eczema, acne and blocked pores.
These nasties in hard water reduce lather in soap and therefore leave behind soap scum, leave a film on the hair and skin and can also appear on shower screens as white stains.
Kim Haberley, a hairdresser and owner of Boho Blonde, and marketing manager Tayla Cron, 26, launched Filtered Beauty to sell easy-to-fit shower purifiers that prevent ‘hard water’ from causing damage to hair and skin over time.
The small gadgets, which screw into all shower heads and take two minutes to install, filter out chlorine, minerals and metals such as calcium, magnesium, iron, copper and lead from shower water and add oxygen and Vitamin C.
As someone who is admittedly not too handy, I am delighted to say I set this filter up on my own in minutes by following the easy-to-follow instructions. The results were so fantastic I’ve been a loyal customer for over two years.
The best part is once you’ve made the initial investment, the refills are just $55 each and last for three to six months. That’s $0.15 a shower.
It’s safe to say your loved one will thank you for this, even if they didn’t knew they needed it.
Kim Haberley, a hairdresser and owner of Boho Blonde, and marketing manager Tayla Cron, 26, launched Filtered Beauty to sell easy-to-fit shower purifiers
A Dream Labs escape, $150 for 70 minutes
Most of us have heard of Tokyo Headpsa, but have you heard of Dream Labs?
While the former offers an immersive scalp treatment like no other, the Dream Labs treatment combines the art of traditional Japanese massage with a unique sensory experience designed to transport you to a realm of unparalleled serenity.
The Cosmic Space treatment is complemented by the expert touch of a specialised head, neck, shoulder, and chest massage in a seated (unbelievably cosy) reclining chair. It’s supported by beautiful immersive graphics projected on the walls around you
The experience begins as the curated sounds and visuals set the stage for your journey. The masseuse uses gentle to medium pressure that melts away tension, enhances circulation, and promotes deep relaxation.
Gradually, as the massage progresses, the sensory stimulation softens, encouraging guests to close their eyes, unwind, and often drift into a light sleep.
It’s so relaxing, the team claims it offers many of the benefits of six hours of sleep in just 15 minutes. These include reduced cortisol levels, enhanced blood circulation, melatonin release and muscle/pain relief.
While it is currently only available in Bondi Junction, they plan to expand to the other Tokyo Headspa centres in St Leonards and Surry Hills in Sydney as well as West End and Teneriffe in Brisbane.
The Cosmic Space treatment is complemented by the expert touch of a specialised head, neck, shoulder, and chest massage in a seated (unbelievably cosy) reclining chair. It’s supported by beautiful immersive graphics projected on the walls around you
The Glasshouse Festive Spinning Carousel, $29.95
How does one level up a candle? An accessory.
But this is not your every day accessory – and it’s one we recommend to friends and family over and over again.
This golden gadget twirls with delight as it heats up on top of your favourite 380g design by the brand.
As it spins, it projects stunning sparkling images onto the walls around the room creating a beautiful, cosy space.
Some of the candles come with the carousel included as a bundle, like the popular Kyoto in Bloom set. That would be my top pick by a mile – it’s impossible not to fall in love with it.
This golden gadget twirls with delight as it heats up on top of your favourite 380g design by the brand
Crocs Classic Cozzzy Towel Sandals, $65.99
Hear me out.
I know Crocs are a controversial buy but there’s a reason they have a mega fanbase forming around the world. They are impossibly comfy.
And these slide-esque sandals are just that – plus they’re not too ‘Croc-like’ for the newbies and are lined with the most cosy terry cloth footbed.
Plus, they have two upper straps for enhanced foot security and seven holes on each sandal which allow for maximum personalisation with Jibbitz charms.
Perfect for any age, this is a fantastic entry-level Croc and they come in three on-trend colours: Plaster (mint green), Quartz (wine pink) and Shiitake (white).
The fact they’re on sale for $65.99 from $94.99 only sweetens the deal… it’d be rude not to.
I know Crocs are a controversial buy but there’s a reason they have a mega fanbase forming around the world. They are impossibly comfy
Luxurious yet thoughtful
$225 and over
The Coravin Forest Green Timeless Six+, $419.97
If you love wine, this is a game-changer.
Rightly dubbed the ‘gadget of the season’ by foodies, the eye-catching Forest Green Timeless Six+ perfectly preserves wine for weeks, months or even years after the first pour, making it the ultimate gift for wine enthusiasts.
This gadget joins Coravin’s renowned Timeless collection – a range of devices that use precision-engineered needle technology to access the wine without oxidisation, one of the main causes of wine spoilage.
It’s great for enjoying the ‘special’ drops without committing to a whole bottle; you’ve probably seen it in passing at fine dining restaurants and wine bars.
Rightly dubbed the ‘gadget of the season’ by foodies, the eye-catching Forest Green Timeless Six+ perfectly preserves wine for weeks, months or even years after the first pour, making it the ultimate gift for wine enthusiasts
This device is compatible with wines sealed by both cork and screw caps, thanks to the inclusion of six screw caps that form part of the system. You can also attach the aerator, which creates the same effect in 15 seconds as 90 minutes of decanting.
I know it looks intimidating, but, as mentioned earlier, I am not the handiest woman and had this on and spritzing in a matter of minutes.
‘The inspiration behind Coravin was to allow wine enthusiasts to enjoy and savour their favourite wines without the fear of spoilage. Eleven years later, I’m thrilled to see that a glass of wine preserved with Coravin is now poured every second of every day,’ Greg Lambrecht, the founder and inventor, says.
Plus, in partnership with One Tree Planted, Coravin pledges to plant a tree for every Forest Green Timeless Six+ sold, meaning wine lovers can sip wines for a sustainable cause.
And it’s on sale for $419.97 from $700.
Everybody wins!
It’s great for enjoying the ‘special’ drops without committing to a whole bottle; you’ve probably seen it in passing at fine dining restaurants and wine bars
The KitchenAid Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine, $999
When most think of KitchenAid they do not typically think of coffee machines.
But they should.
Every one I know who has tried this machine agrees this is the very best homemade coffee they’ve had – so much so it easily rivals café creations.
Is it expensive? Yes. Is it the perfect ‘us’ present for families and couples? Yes.
This design, which comes with the Burr Grinder, is actually the cheapest and certainly the most stylish of the new collection.
Compared to cheaper alternatives, the appliance is deathly quiet and won’t scream the house down with every brew which ideal if you have small children. The chic design is also sure to fit seamlessly into your life, impress guests and last years to come.
It’ll make you and your loved ones feel like a barista, with espresso, lattes, cappuccinos and more available to craft like a pro in seconds. Ideal for lazy ‘blah’ Sunday mornings.
If you girl math it, it’s actually saving – and perhaps making – you money long term. Iykyk.
Every one I know who has tried this machine agrees this is the very best homemade coffee they’ve had – so much so it easily rivals café creations
23rd Street Distillery Year of the Snake Whisky, $225
If your loved one is a whisky fan, this exclusive drop is sure to be an instant crowd-pleaser.
The 23rd Street Distillery Year of the Snake Whisky has been, as the name suggests, crafted to celebrate… the 2025 Year of the Snake.
The distillery, in South Australia, has stood its ground through the trials and seasons of more than a century.
It sits on the corner of 23rd Street in Renmark, and began its life making wine using the bounty of the local fruit-growing region where Australia’s first co-operatively owned winery, Renmano, was formed.
Crafted from Kangaroo Island barley, the whisky has been aged in 15-year-old Galway Pipe Tawny casks, and finished in charred oak barrels. It’s also gorgeously packaged in a seriously eye-catching bottle and box.
The tasting notes are layered with toffee, dried fruits, warming spices, and oak and the stunning caramel hue complements the earthy graphics perfectly.
For a special touch, there are just 3,600 bottles of this globally. Cheers!
The 23rd Street Distillery Year of the Snake Whisky has been, as the name suggests, crafted to celebrate… the 2025 Year of the Snake
A weekend at Jamala Wildlife Lodge, from $1,995
This is special.
Unlike your typical ‘zoo’ experience, this uber-luxurious five-star experience in Canberra is centered solely around animal education and conservation.
Started by Richard and Maureen Tindale in 1998 as a non-for-profit, Canberra National Zoo is now funded mostly from Jamala guests. Funds also go towards the conservation of animals in the wild and national and international breeding programs.
Jamala Wildlife Lodge offers guests the opportunity of experiencing the thrill of close encounters with some of the world’s most dangerous and endangered animals, as well as relaxing in its individually designed accommodation precinct.
These include the Giraffe Treehouses, UShaka Lodge rooms with windows overlooking lemurs and sharks, and the Jungle Bungalows. The uShaka rooms sleep as many as six so you can split the cost between friends/family.
Unlike your typical ‘zoo’ experience, this uber-luxurious five-star experience in Canberra is centered solely around animal education and conservation
The stay also includes tours, a beautiful afternoon tea, a gourmet breakfast and a magnificent four-course dinner in the Rainforest Cave, which you share with one of the white lions and a clan of hyenas
I recommend the Jungle Bungalows where you share your room with either a pride of lions, cheetah brothers, tigers or a pair of Malayan sun bears. While the rooms themselves are nothing short of outstanding, it’s hard to soak in your surroundings as you watch your new roommates play outside.
The stay also includes tours, a beautiful afternoon tea, a gourmet breakfast and a magnificent four-course dinner in the Rainforest Cave, which you share with one of the white lions and a clan of hyenas.
There you will join other guests at large tables for a delectable and fun ‘African gourmet dinner party’ – all inclusive.
The up close one-one-one time you spend with the animals here is truly incredible, with meerkat, cheetah, bear, rhino and giraffe encounters on offer for guests.
As the team says, the entire Jamala experience has been designed to maximise the opportunity to ‘subtly impress’ on its guests that everything possible should be done to ensure that these magnificent animals survive in the wild.
This is done whilst providing its guests with a combination of luxury and adventure.
It’s thoughtful, calm, beautifully considered and hands down one of the most exceptional hidden gems in the country.
And if you stay, request the bungalow with sun bears. You won’t regret it.
The up close one-one-one time you spend with the animals here is truly incredible, with meerkat, cheetah, bear, rhino and giraffe encounters on offer for guests
And if you stay, request the bungalow with sun bears. You won’t regret it
The Osaka to Sydney Massage at Venustus, $444
You’d walk by and not even know it’s there – but it is the ticket to a whole new level of relaxation and stress relief.
This Japanese haven has an air to it that sets it apart from most other day spas. This could be due to a sacred grid of crystals buried into the Earth as the venue sits atop an architectural crystal grid.
Staffed with highly trained artisans with many years of experience, Venestus keeps things super simple. The moment a client arrives they want them to be transported.
There is minimal administration – if any – and no sign-in. They prepare for a client’s experience hours and sometimes days before they arrive and offer a simple digital roadmap to ensure the most incredible, heightening, ‘in real life’ experience.
This Japanese haven has an air to it that sets it apart from most other day spas. This could be due to a sacred grid of crystals buried into the Earth as the venue sits atop an architectural crystal grid
That’s where the magic happens. In this case, the Osaka to Sydney Massage.
This 75-minute slice of heaven had me floating out the door on a cloud. Weaving together a fusion of Japanese techniques to melt pain and release tension, the treatment uses the Shiatsu body technique, Tanaka facial massage technique, Reiki, rocking and hot rock massage.
Somehow in this case the time does not go too fast and you feel yourself sink into the deepest level of relaxation. It’s hard to describe and something worth experiencing at least once in your life.
Or gift it to someone else.
Perhaps both?
Happy shopping!
