Forget the socks and the Christmas trinkets no one wants – this year, why not gift the beach lovers, thalassophiles and wannabe mermaids in your life a piece of the ocean? And no, we don’t mean getting a really nice jar, putting some salty water in it and placing it under the tree.
With Coral Gardeners you can actually adopt a baby piece of coral on behalf of your loved one, which they’ll plant in a reef that needs a little tlc, helping to preserve the world’s beautiful marine ecosystems.
Coral gardening might sound like something straight out of Moana, but it’s actually a fantastic and eco-friendly way to restore reef systems that have been damaged. By gifting a piece of coral, you’re not just wrapping up a little bit of nature (not literally), but you’re also giving our favourite reefs a real chance to survive.
And you can choose which coral species you want to adopt. There’s Pocillopora Meandrina, an iconic Fijian species that’s also known as cauliflower coral. Or Pocillopora Verrucosa, a raspy coral that’s native to Mo’orea Island. Or Montipora Grisea, an encrusting species of coral that’ll spread over the reef’s surface to help bind it together.
And it’s not gonna break the bank. Starting from AU$30, you can actually choose the location of your gifted coral (Fiji, Thailand or French Polynesia).
The CG team will also send you a certificate and exact GPS location of where your baby coral is planted once it grows and is put out on the reef, so your loved one can track their baby bit of coral and watch as it grows thanks to regular updates and plenty of images. This isn’t some ordinary stocking stuffer, it’s a gift that keeps on giving.
Has your best friend/partner/sibling/parent ever turned to you and said ‘Gee, I wonder what it feels like to defy gravity’? Yes, it’s a pretty niche statement but everyone’s thought about it for a split second, especially after watching Interstellar.
Well, if you’re looking for Christmas gift ideas and don’t fancy hunting around Metropolis for Superman’s cape or buying a jetpack, Zero’G’s zero-gravity flight experience might be the way to go.
You get strapped into a plane, and while you don’t have a boarding pass or 7kg of luggage to stuff into an overhead compartment, you are about to embark on a wild ride through the skies – sans destination.
Before you know it, you’ll be weightless: flipping, somersaulting and floating through the air like you’re Mathew McConaughey and you’ve just realised gravity is only a suggestion.
But how can this happen!? Zero-G’s specially designed plane mimics the sensation of being in space by performing parabolic arcs (don’t ask us to explain that because we can’t). Each arc creates a few seconds of pure free-fall, where you can tumble through the cabin while attempting your best Neil Armstrong impression.
The best part? You don’t need any prior astronaut experience. The worst part? It costs a bomb. One seat on this plane is gonna set you back around US$10,000 – you could literally gift your loved one 20 cheap flights to Southeast Asia with that kinda cash.
But, if you’re in the mood to splash it, this is a pretty sick option.
Hold onto your caps and cork hats, folks, because everyone’s favourite small-group tour operator Intrepid Travel, has joined forces with Lucinda Light (remember her from season 11 of MAFs?) to lead an ‘everyone’s welcome’ trip to tropical Far North Queensland.
If this seems like a weird collab, then it’s not. Lucinda was an Intrepid tour leader back in the day and is now reprising her role for this exclusive, 7-day trip so that people can experience a transformative journey through the Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation.
It’s essentially Intrepid’s Daintree & Cape Tribulation Adventure with a light-soaked twist. Leave your office chair behind to swim under waterfalls, dodge cassowaries (just kidding, they’re not that scary), and bask in the kind of natural beauty that’ll have you questioning whether you can’t just stay in Queensland indefinitely.
Not only will your body relish time spent in the sun, but this Aussie adventure will have your soul doing cartwheels – think guided earthing sessions and immersive discussions on emotional intelligence and wellness, all designed to invite calm reflection and inner exploration.
And Lucinda will be there every step of the way to share her expert knowledge of the iconic destinations and help cultivate a connection between you and your fellow travellers, all while cracking jokes and making you laugh so hard you’ll forget you’re covered in mosquito repellent.
We’ll swap our routine for self-rejuvenation any day. Sign us up.
Everyone’s favourite small group travel operators G Adventures has made it pretty much impossible to say no to a European summer vacay next year with five brand-new, purpose-built yachts set to sail the picture-perfect Greek islands. Leave the crowds (read: cruise-loads of retirees) of Santorini and Mykonos behind and opt for a week of hopping between turquoise bays, lounging on the sun deck with a cocktail in hand, soaking up all of that sweet, sweet Aegean sun.
This isn’t your average yacht trip—it’s your ticket to secluded beaches inaccessible from land, secret taverns only your skipper knows about and sunsets so epic no photo will ever do justice (not even with the new iPhone 16).
This new fleet might be small in size, but they’re might where it counts; holding up to 16 passengers each for the ultimate chill vibe. No doubt you’ll be swapping stories with the backpacking couple from the UK and sharing sunset toasts with the trio of girls chasing adventures across the Mediterranean.
Each yacht is nearly 57 feet in length with five cabins featuring bedside reading lights and USB ports. There’s also a fully-equipped galley, a comfortable communal area and an outdoor shower for hosing off the salty sea spray after a dip in the sparkling waters.
The best part? These sailing trips are the perfect balance of guided tour and free time to explore. Dive into hidden beach caves one day, climb hillsides to ancient ruins the next, and spend every evening getting full on tzatziki, but still finding room to feast on moussaka under the stars. Next year can’t come quick enough.
Alert everyone you know, Dark Mofo is set to come back on full throttle in 2025 (did you miss it?) That’s right, next June in Hobart is looking more wild than wintery.
If you don’t know what Dark Mofo is, first of all, where have you been, and second of all, it’s Tasmania’s dark, weird and downright rebellious festival. It opens its eccentric arms to all the misfits, art lovers, and thrill-seekers looking to dive headfirst into the Dark (Mofo).
It may have taken a small hiatus, but its back with a bigger vengeance than you’ve ever seen – think firelit ceremonies, spine-tingling art installations, boundary-pushing performances and a Winter Feast that’s part pagan bonanza, part foodie heaven.
Don’t get it twisted, this isn’t some backyard shindig. Artists from around the globe descend on Australia’s southernmost city to create an experience that’s both unsettling and unforgettable, and no, we’re not just talking about the infamous Nude Solstice Swim. Night Mass will also make its return alongside the Ogoh-Ogoh.
While the full festival program hasn’t been released just yet, the anticipation of the boldest thing Tassie’s produced since the Mona’s vulva wall is enough to whet your appetite. So, grab your mates (and a little bit of bravery) and get ready to embrace the bizarre. Because when the lights go off and the thermals come on, Dark Mofo will be waiting to welcome you into its beautifully twisted heart. Where you’ll probably stay. Until June 2026.
Unfortunately, Majestic Whale Encounters isn’t a marine-inspired alternative band that performs songs about the world’s most magnificent mammal. It’s actually Australia’s largest whale swimming company (surprise) and it’s just dropped its range of unforgettable wildlife encounters for next year.
Our first thought is, ‘Sign us up for everything,’ but our second thought comes from the more logical side of our brain: ‘Where are the tours, and what are they’? This part is obviously smarter.
Kicking things off in March is the Antarctica Expedition, an invitation to dive deep into the icy waters of the Pacific Ocean alongside majestic whales. You’ll be aboard the luxurious Sylvia Earle and have plenty of time to hone your photography skills with an animal subject that’s not your house cat. Meow.
Next up there’s the Sandy Beach Tour in July, offering a chance to swim with whales and relax on a remote island in Tonga. We’re already picturing ourselves sipping coconut water and reading the newest Stephen King thriller while watching whales frolic nearby (say that three times fast).
Fast forward to September (we’re still in Tonga), and you’re blessed with the option of joining an Off the Grid Tour featuring everyone’s favourite holiday morning activity (yoga) and a bit of kayaking. We’re not 100% sure, but we reckon you might be able to hear the whales singing to each other as you paddle across the ocean’s glassy surface.
There’s a few other tours to choose from, including the Orcas & Lights Expedition in November (our flights to Norway are booked already). But whether you’re a thrill-seeker or a zen-loving beach bum, witnessing these gentle giants in their natural habitat just got a whole lot easier.
There’s street parties, and then there’s Lan Kwai Fong’s epic Halloween-themed street party in central Hong Kong. It’s the craziest spook-filled gathering of ghosts, ghouls and costumed revellers you’ve likely ever come across.
Yes, usually Lan Kwai Fong is a tame yet bustling maze of bars and eateries, but when October rolls around (and especially when Halloween hits), it transforms into an explosion of cobwebbed alleys where gory face painters dance to the sickest DJ beats echoing through the neon-lit streets (apparently we’re dressing up as poets this Halloween).
Wander through the cobbled lanes and you’ll be met with a bizarre lineup of activities: try to make it through the haunted houses without spilling your drink (talk about almost impossible), or watch the massive costume contest pick a winner between a nightmarish marionette doll and an instantly recognisable plague doctor. You can even catch a classic Hong Kong-style horror flick.
And when you get thirsty, there’s plenty of bars to choose from with each one rolling out a range of special options – think ‘Blood Punch’ and ‘Zombie Brain Shots’. To soak up all that mummifying alcohol, food stalls are on hand to satisfy your creepy cravings with everything from grilled skewers to sizzling dumplings on the menu.
But this place gets busy, like busy busy. Imagine shoulder-to-shoulder crowds of zombies, witches, and characters you can’t quite identify (is that a costume or your usual get up?) squished into streets definitely not meant for 25,000 people.
Local authorities are putting extra safety measures in place but keep your wits about you, prepare for the chaos, look out for others and hit up the Unholy Halloween Party (just a suggestion) for a hauntingly good time.
We could say Miasma is just a haunted house, except it isn’t. It’s a series of nightmare-fuelled attractions that only the brave (or slightly insane) dare to enter. Those who’ve survived call it life-altering; others don’t talk about it at all.
That’s because the attraction uses heavy story elements, combined with immersive contact to provoke you into feeling like you’re experiencing one of the worst nights of your life. To be fair, you probably are. But this place doesn’t just scare you—it sees into your mind, digs up the intense fears you’ve buried deep, and gives them a terrifying, sensory-overloading playground to muck around in.
You think we’re kidding? Miasma is so extreme, the website literally gives you a warning for the things you’ll come across during your experience. We’re talking aggressive physical contact, graphic adult content, emotional distress and psychological challenges. Do you have your psychiatrist on speed dial?
If you’re a sci-fi nut, ‘Death King’ is the experience for you. There’s nothing like religious themes, body horror and the threat of physical violence to have you dealing with the full spectrum of raw human emotions. Or maybe you want to try your luck with the ‘Desecration of the Seven Witches’? Perhaps fall into ‘The Great Silence’?
It doesn’t matter which one you pick, each room escalates into a terror you’ve never felt before, and you’re not just an observer—you’re the goddamn star of the show.
But don’t even think about just rocking up because you’re bored on a Friday night. Miasma is wildly exclusive, with a waiting list as long as your rolodex of re-occurring nightmares. It’s partly due to the attraction’s preference for small groups—so no scream goes unheard—but also because apparently Chicago is full of twisted individuals itching for a good scare. Are you one of them?
You might be familiar with Derry because of the popular TV sitcom Derry Girls. Yep, it’s the hometown of Erin and Co, but it’s also the Halloween capital of Ireland. Bet ya didn’t know that. And neither did we until we stumbled upon Derry Halloween.
Every October, this city transforms into a playground for the ghoulishly inclined, offering a (strong) cocktail of thrills, chills, and more spooks than your childhood self had nightmares after watching The Grudge for the first time. No? Just us?
There’s plenty to scare yourself with here: a front-row seat to the infamous Derry Halloween Carnival with its creepy clowns, haunting witches, and other not-meant-to-be-seen creatures is enough to have you passing on the pumpkin-spiced punch.
And that’s not all. Your eerie escapade continues with a selection of fiery performances, weird walking trails, and intricate lantern displays that’ll have you channelling Josh Lambert navigating The Further*.
Catch the Witchy Wonderland, dance with the Wailing Nuns, listen to Uncle Doom and his Organ of Gloom (no, we didn’t make that up) and improve your skills under the Zombie Circus’ big top.
But you won’t just have your friends to keep you company. The spirits of this city’s historical figures have been waiting all year for a good yap. They’ve escaped from their workhouses and slipped between the bars of their prison cells, ready to join in the horrifying Halloween festivities with a prime spot right by your side.
They’re terrifying enough, but the real spine-tingler is the atmosphere. As the sun sets, the walls of Derry whisper tales of centuries gone by, and the air thickens with anticipatory spooks and scares. Dare to join?
Airbnb just got a major aesthetic upgrade, darlings. Say goodbye to boring old Airbnb bookings and activities, and say hello to Delia Deetz’s latest masterpiece: a Beetlejuice-inspired art class just in time for Halloween.
That’s right, she’s stepping away from her Beetlejuice icon fame to host an experience that’s as avant-garde as her own sculptures – all in the name of honouring her legacy. Think of it like therapy with a side of acrylic paints – and possibly a seance or two.
Okay, so Delia won’t technically be standing over your shoulder, critiquing your creative technique (unless she’s doing it from beyond the grave). It’s her assistant that’ll help you unleash your own artistic side (in the creepiest way possible) with the help of a paintbrush and a black-coloured canvas.
Not much of an artist? There’s still plenty to explore. The house itself might be more New York City art exhibit than a comforting place to rest your head, but the spooky paintings, sculptures and a tastefully curated decor all combine to stoke your creative flame.
You can even go exploring; you’ll find the Handbook for the Recently Deceased in the attic, disorientating hallways to walk down and subsequent keyholes to peek through, and if you happen to say HIS name three times, don’t be surprised if you find yourself in The Afterlife.
While you can’t actually stay in the house, this three hour experience will have you putting your skills (and inner turmoil) to good use. Just remember to toss out the artistic rule book – Delia’s never read it.
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