Save yourself the hassle of gift wrapping this Christmas and give the gift of experiences instead.
There’s never been a better time to explore the state, so why not encourage your loved ones to do so with a voucher for a South West experience this Christmas? Whether they’re right into their food and wine or prefer to get their kicks doing something a little more adventurous, you’ll find something for everyone in Australia’s South West.
Giniversity Gin Blending Class
Anyone who’s even slightly interested in juniper-based spirits will appreciate being gifted the opportunity to blend their own signature gin with Giniversity. For two hours, gin-thusiasts will get the chance to ask Giniversity’s experienced distillers any and all questions they have about gin before learning the fundamentals of blending gin botanicals. Then, it’s time to put the knowledge gained into practice by making their very own gin. It’s as personalised as a Christmas gift can get!
Classes take place in either Albany or Margaret River and include tastings, a distillery tour, and a 500ml bottle of personalised gin. Gift vouchers are available online; just click ‘booking’ to access them ($150.00).
Busselton Jetty Underwater Observatory
Kids will be jumping for joy come Christmas morning when they pull a voucher for the Busselton Jetty Underwater Observatory out of their stocking. What child wouldn’t be excited to see hundreds of colourful fish darting around the coral-covered pylons, eight metres below the sea? If they’re lucky, they might even spy camouflaging octopi or a sea star sticking to the window too.
Tour gift vouchers will set you back $99.00 for the family (two adults and two children) and include jetty passes, return train tickets, and an underwater observatory tour. Scroll down to the bottom of the ‘admissions’ page to find the ‘booking’ button to purchase.
Pemberton Discovery Tours
Purchasing for an adventure or outdoor enthusiast this Christmas? Get them off-road with Pemberton Discovery Tours to discover the largely unexplored national parks in the Southern Forests. Gift them a voucher, and they’ll get a seat in a comfortable 4WD as an experienced guide navigates the trails and dunes of Pemberton, through towering Karri forests and onto a remote beach. A few stops will be made along the way, including one for a light morning tea or lunch.
The half-day beach and forest eco-tour ($125.00/adult) is the most popular tour option, but if your voucher recipient has their own 4WD, there’s an option for a ‘tag along’ tour too. There’s also a Black Point eco-adventure or wine tour available should they be more your giftee’s speed.
Forage Safaris Tour
Arguably, the best gift you can buy someone who has it all is a gift voucher for an experience. With four distinct tour packages to choose from, giftees are spoilt for choice when it comes to spending their gift voucher with bespoke tour company Forage Safaris. There’s a half-day tour that connects guests with the farmers and producers around Busselton or Margaret River; a full-day foodie tour by foot; a sunset picnic tour in a winery’s sensory garden; and a combined ‘meet the farmer’ and wine tasting tour. Should there be something of particular interest, Forage Safaris are happy to customise a private tour to suit.
Package tours range in price from $95.00 - $220.00, and customised tour costs vary. Gift vouchers can be purchased online in any amount you choose.
Forest Adventures South West
Get your giftee’s adrenaline pumping with a voucher to a high-flying high ropes course at Forest Adventures South West. Set among the majestic trees of the Ludlow Tuart Forest – a 30-minute drive from Bunbury and a 45-minute drive from Margaret River – the eight-acre park has six giant rope and wire courses for endless amounts of fun. They can tackle the climbing wall, scale the climbing net, and either abseil or zipline their way down.
You can purchase vouchers to a particular dollar value which can then be spent on the course, GoPro hire, and merchandise, or opt for the climb gift card that entitles the voucher recipient to a chosen number of climbs (one climb is $44.00/adult and $36.00/child).
Glamping at Olio Bello
Whisk your partner away for a romantic glamping getaway post-Christmas on the Olio Bello organic olive estate. Spend the day sampling organic pressed olive oils and wandering the olive groves before retiring for the night in your lakefront or lake view bungalow with a bottle of wine. All glamping tents are fully decked out with a private en-suite, kitchenette, and spacious viewing deck, which promises beautiful sunset views out over the lake. It’s the perfect spot to sit in your plush robe and sip your vino.
You can either book a few nights accommodation as a gift or leave the decision making up to your partner with a voucher of your nominated value. Vouchers can be redeemed on accommodation, glamper hampers, beauty spa treatments, or lunch in the Olio Bello ‘farm to table’ cafe.
Dolphin Swim Tour
Precisely no one would be disappointed to open their presents on Christmas morning and find a voucher to swim with Bunbury’s friendly dolphins. The Dolphin Discovery Centre’s famed dolphin swim is a three-hour boating adventure in Koombana Bay, where guests have the opportunity to swim and interact with the local pod of bottle-nosed dolphins. If the dolphins are feeling particularly playful, you might even catch them launching themself out the waves by The Cut.
An experienced guide leads the tours, and all equipment - including a wetsuit - is provided. Gift vouchers for the swim can be purchased online, or you can or nominate a value of your choosing.
Mt Barker Grape Escape
Give the gift of travel (and food and wine) with a voucher for one of Busy Blue Bus’ skippered wine tours. There are umpteen tours to choose from with the provider, but the Mt Barker Grape Escape tour is a great way to introduce your giftee to the wonderful wineries of the sparsely populated farming region. The day starts at Gilbert Wines – known for their chardonnay, shiraz, riesling, and cabernet – before moving on to more tastings at Plantagenet, Galafrey Wines, and West Cape Howe. Lunch is provided along the way and, at the end of the tour, guests will be returned to Albany safe and sound.
Vouchers for the experience can be purchased online for $189.00.
A Luxury Getaway in Nature at Tree Chalets
Give your special someone the gift of a romantic getaway with these private adult-only cabins. Tree Chalets near Busselton provides a unique experience of being in amongst the trees in chalets that are powered by the sun and fed by rainwater, complete with a decadent outdoor bath and magnificent 360-degree views into the Rose gum plantation. There are six tailored vouchers available for purchase on their webpage so you can find the perfect gift this Christmas.
