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Not sure what to give this holiday season? Good news. There is something for everyone in the ultimate gift shop in the world – Australia.
Gifting a travel experience is the ultimate way to break anyone from the mundane. From the moment it’s received, the anticipation of an exciting new adventure will bring them happiness for months to come. It’s the ultimate feel-good present too, with each purchase supporting the hard-hit tourism industry.
The way we celebrate this festive season may need to change this year, but it’s time to look beyond the lockdowns and get excited to travel again. Find inspiration for an unforgettable gift below with Tourism Australia’s ultimate gift guide for the animal lovers on your list, or at Australia.com.
Find more gift guides, and accompanying imagery for download here.—
A close animal encounter
The National Zoo & Aquarium in Canberra is the ultimate wildlife lover’s destination, making their vouchers great gifts for the animal obsessed. Purchase them a general admission ticket, or go all out with a close encounter experience with their favourite animal. There are a range of experiences, including hand feedings, enclosure tours and the ultimate ‘zookeeper’ for the day experience. For an extra feel-good factor, know that your purchase will also go towards supporting a range of local and overseas conservation initiatives and charities.
Buy: Gift cards are available on their website, valid for three years from purchase.
Cost: General admission tickets are $47 each for adults. Encounters range from $55-$695 per experience, and can be booked for those over 12 years.
The ultimate night at the zoo
For the wanna-be zookeeper, give them the ultimate overnight experience at Taronga Zoo in Sydney. The Roar and Snore experience includes everything from animal experiences, keeper talks, delicious food and drink, and safari-style tent – all while overlooking Sydney Harbour. With the zoo closed to the public, Roar and Snore guests are woken by the sound of the animals before joining feeding time. They then can enjoy the day exploring the zoo in their own time with complimentary admission.
Buy: Gift cards to the value of your choice for the Roar and Snore experience can be purchased online, valid for three years.
Cost: From $473 per person, dependent on date.
A thrilling airboat tour with crocs
Give those who love adventure and adrenaline an hour-long Darwin Airboat Tour where they’ll be whisked around the Darwin Harbour and mangroves on a custom built V8 Airboat. Cruise along the mudflats looking in the waters below for sharks, crocs and stingrays, before being whirled around with fast laps that’s sure to make everyone smile ear to ear!
Buy: Gift cards are available on their website, valid for one year from the date of purchase.
Cost: $140 (Child) / $190 (Adult).
A conservation experience on the Great Barrier Reef
For the marine enthusiast with a passion for conservation, book them into the ultimate Reef Tour and Eco Experience with Passions of Paradise off the coast of Cairns in the Great Barrier Reef. Experienced certified divers can join conservationists and researchers in small groups to help assess the health of the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef and monitor marine life. Snorkel tours are also available, offering a full day excursion visiting two reef locations – perfect for those wanting to explore marine life closer to the surface.
Buy: Gift cards to a value of your choice are available on their website, and can be used toward any Passions of Paradise experience. All gift cards are valid for three years from the date of purchase.
Cost: Reef Tour and Eco Experience can be booked from $399 per certified diver. Full Day Snorkelling in Cairns Tours start from $120 (Child) / $185 (Adult).
A swim with sea lions
For those keen to get face to face with marine life – give them the unique chance to swim with the puppy-dogs of the sea during Calypso Star Charters’ five hour tour. Departing from South Australia’s Port Lincoln, guests will venture out to Hopkins, Grindal, Blyth or Langton Islands and jump in and swim with the friendly sea lions. For those who’d love the full experience, add on a shark cage dive, available to book as a package tour.
Buy: Gift cards are available on their website, redeemable for three years.
Cost: $155-$215 per person for a single encounter.–
An after dark feeding with a devil
For the nocturnal animal lovers, gift a ticket to The After Dark Feeding Tour at Devils@Cradle and watch the Tasmanian Devils in ‘action’ as they wake up to feed. Over the hour-long tour in Tassie’s Cradle Mountain, the experienced keeper will discuss biology, behaviour, threats and the important conservation work being undertaken for these species within the sanctuary. As Devils are primarily nocturnal, the tour uses sensitive lighting to show the social interactions and feeding habits, allowing visitors a rare and up-close opportunity.
Buy: Gift cards to any value are available on their website, which will be posted to the recipient.
Cost: Tickets for the After Dark Feeding Tour only, $20 (Child) / $37.50 (Adult) / $105 (Family pass).
Front row tickets to a penguin parade
Gift the opportunity to watch Happy Feet in real life on Phillip Island in Victoria, home to the largest Little Penguin colony in the world. Watch the stream of penguins waddle up the beach to their burrows from one of the many viewing platforms and boardwalks.
Buy: Vouchers are available on their website, and valid for three years from the date of purchase.
Cost: General admission tickets are $13.50 (Child) / $27.50 (Adult). Additional viewing areas are bought with separate tickets, prices range from $30-$37.50 (Child) / $60-$75 (Adult).
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A hands-on conservation tour
Gift the brand new conservation tour with Echidna Walkabout launching in March 2022 to any adventurer keen to get hands-on. The tour along the Exmouth Gulf in Western Australia is a eight-day Island Birds and Whale Sharks tour, where they’ll assist with wildlife surveys throughout a rarely visited island chain in Ningaloo Reef, swim with whale sharks, count endangered rock-wallabies and cruise Exmouth Gulf searching for dugong. With Whale Shark numbers declining globally, this work being conducted at Ningaloo Reef is helping this endangered species to thrive. If this tour isn’t quite the right fit, but the adventure is, there is also a range of other tours available on the website.
Buy: Bookings can be made on their website.
Cost: $1,525 – $4,965 for the eight day tour.