Archived: Best vouchers and experience gifts this Christmas

What better time than now to get prepped for Christmas? The festive season is fast approaching and finding gifts during lockdown might seem like a daunting task, so we’ve put together a few ideas for you to take away a little bit of that pre-Christmas stress. Below, we’ve chosen some great businesses that are offering vouchers – sometimes the best Christmas presents are the ones they can choose themselves, or experiences they can enjoy. Plus, it's a great opportunity to support city centre businesses before we can get back out and shop in-store. Here are some of our top ideas from the city centre.

Pamper

Massage Treatment from East Day Spa

The festive season is a busy time, gift someone a pamper session and treat them to a relaxing massage from East Day Spa. They have a range of treatments on offer, from their signature packages to specialised massages like the Hot Stone, using heated volcanic stones. We have no doubt your loved one will appreciate this gift. Check out their massages, here.

Facial Treatment from The Facialist

Give the gift of skin confidence to someone special with The Facialist gift voucher. They can choose a bespoke treatment in their studio, or to shop the curated offering of beautiful natural skincare. See, here.

Food & Drink

Wine subscription pack from Cahn's Wines & Spirits

Cahn's Wines & Spirits is the perfect spot to purchase all your liquid needs this Christmas, and also offers some great subscription services for people who love to try new and different tipples. From their 'Juniper Journey' gin and tonic pack to their 'Whisky Me Away' whisky pack and 'Global Legend' wine pack each pack is curated by the team and sent out on the first Wednesday of every month. There are currently 6 different packs available.  Check them out, here.

Cooking classes at Homeland

Nothing beats food for bringing people together and Peter Gordon's newest venture, Homeland, does just this. A dining room, film studio, food innovation hub and community space, it also has a cooking school. Focusing on tummy-hugging food you could eat everyday, recipes feature hero producers from Aotearoa and the Pacific and methods from Peter’s lifetime of cooking. From a Best Baking class to a Salad Masterclass, and even a Modern Roast class - see, here, for all the details on their cooking school.

Click, here to purchase a voucher and make it a gift that you can experience with your loved one this Christmas.  

Roaring 20's High Tea at Hotel DeBrett

Spend an afternoon at this 20's themed high tea sipping on delicious tea (and a glass of bubbles) and devouring delectable treats inside the gorgeous Hotel DeBrett here in the heart of the city. Spending quality time with a loved one is often the best gift you can give, and this experience definitely delivers just that. You can purchase your voucher online, here. 

Gift vouchers from Dinefind

The Restaurant Association Gift Voucher is simply perfect for gift giving for your friends, family, employees and more. They can be used at over 1000 Restaurant Association member establishments throughout New Zealand including the like of kingi, Federal Delicatessen, Alma, Good George, The Brit and more. The gift vouchers are available in $20, $50 and $100 denominations and can be purchased online, here.

KOHA Card

Take the guesswork out of gift-giving with KOHA, the digital gift card by Hospitality New Zealand. Whether it is a gift for friends or whānau the KOHA card is a great way to say thank you. You choose the amount, they choose which great Kiwi hospitality experience to spend it on, and all of it supports our local businesses. The KOHA card can be use for dining at a restaurant such as Saint Alice, Soul Bar & Bistro, The Occidental and Botswana Butchery Auckland just to name a few. The KOHA card can also be used for a staycation at QT Auckland and The Shakespeare Hotel & Brewery or for a fun experience like AJ Hackett SkyJump & SkyWalk or AJ Hackett Auckland Bridge Climb & Bungy. You can purchase your KOHA card online, here.

Experiences

Ted Ashby Sailing experience 

Gift your loved one an experience on the New Zealand Maritime Museum's heritage scow, Ted Ashby. Their hour-long cruise experiences in Auckland's Harbour lets you see the city skyline, Sky Tower and Auckland Harbour Bridge from the sea - a perfect summertime activity. 

Sky Jump experience 

Here's a good one for the adrenaline junkies in your life and a gift they'll remember forever! Sky Jump is one of New Zealand's most popular activities and an unmissable experience for thrill seekers. The pleasure of gifting will never be sweeter as you witness them leap from 53 stories and race down the side of the iconic building at 85kph. Get your voucher online, here.

Holey Moley Golf Club gift card

Provide an experience this Christmas that you can enjoy together with your loved ones while creating great memories. Holey Moley is more than just a mini golf course, it's a multi-sensory labyrinth of unique holes (27 of them to be exact) sprawling two levels and complete with a DJ who plays throughout the night and two bars that serve up the best craft beers, cocktails, and food. The gift cards are redeemable on all activities, food and drink in the venue. Buy online, here.

A pass to Weta Workshop Unleashed

Give the gift of a weird and wonderful experience! Weta Workshop Unleashed is a fantastical film effects workshop that explores the worlds of horror, sci-fi and fantasy in-the-making. It’s a journey through Weta Workshop’s creative process that needs to be seen to be believed. Get your gift voucher for Weta Workshop, here.

A tour of the All Blacks Experience 

For the rugby fanatic, a tour of the All Blacks Experience will be a hit! The experience is a 45-minute guided tour taking you through the history, culture and people who have made the All Blacks such an important part of New Zealand's story. After the guided tour, visitors can spend time in the hands-on interactive zone giving you the chance to try your kicking, catching, line out and accuracy skills. Purchase vouchers, here.

Membership to Auckland Art Gallery

A gift membership means someone you care about can enjoy exclusive access to Auckland Art Gallery. There is so much to discover with benefits that include free and unlimited entry to paid exhibitions, exclusive previews of exhibitions, invitations to regular talks or behind-the-scenes tours, regular updates on members-only events, use of the members lounge and a wide range of discounts. This is the perfect gift for that art-loving person in your life. Purchase online, here.

Shopping

Commercial Bay gift card 

Let your loved one take to the laneways of Commercial Bay and shop 'til they drop with a gift card. With a range of both international and New Zealand brands to shop, as well as a host of delicious bars and eateries, a Commercial Bay gift card will go down a treat. To purchase one, email concierge@commercialbay.co.nz and they'll get you sorted. See here for all the participating retailers.

Britomart Black Card 

If you are stuck for what to get a notoriously tricky-to-buy for friend or the person who seemingly needs nothing, then the Britomart Black Card is your solution. It can be used at over 65 participating retailers, eateries, bars and beauty businesses in the Britomart precinct and can be purchased online, here.