10 unique gifts for hard-to-please grown-ups

There’s no disputing we all love gifts. We love to buy them, we love to give them and we love to get them! But the conundrum always is finding something different. Unusual. Unique. Especially for those who are hard to please. They either have everything or are ridiculously picky.

With this in mind we at Australian Writers' Centre have come up with 10 unique gifts ideas with a literary bent which we guarantee won’t be re-gifted!

1.The great escape

Do you have a friend who is always up for a challenge? Likes solving puzzles within a tight time frame? Is good at piecing together clues and thinking outside the box, or room as it were? Then here’s a fantastic gift idea for a group of friends – Escape Rooms.

It’s like living in a giant puzzle, where you are given a set of clues and a ticking clock and all you have to do is unravel the hidden mysteries, solve the puzzles and escape the room. You can find Escape rooms all over Australia.

Alternately you could always go for the more sedate gift in the same vein and give the book, The Escape Room by Megan Goldin. Guaranteed escapism!

2. Unusual suspects

For seriously unusual gifts the Prezzybox promises a ‘veritable cornucopia of weird and wonderful gift ideas and gadgets.’ And they are right! We love the Mug Cakes Cookbook (yes you actually cook your cakes in a mug) and we are also intrigued with, but not game to try – Pain 100% Chilli Sauce.

Ever considered what Paddington Bear’s marmalade tastes like? Or have a hankering to bake tarts the Queen of Hearts would drool over? The answer lies in this charming book The Little Library Cookbook.

3. Mugshots

There’s nothing like sitting down with a good book and a steaming mug of coffee or tea. And let’s face it, you can never have too many mugs. With this in mind, we have included some of our favourite mugs…

• Itch Mug
• Scrabble Mugs
• Crossword Puzzle Mug
• Bookish Mugs for Readers
• Pottery For The Planet keep mugs

Complete the package by adding a personalised tea caddy with a delicious mix of tea from Deitea.

4. Literary gems

Now if you’re wondering what to give the bookworms in your life – other than books, of course, try a Literary Book Gift such as a tote bag or T-shirt featuring classics such as Pride & Prejudice, Don Quixote, Dracula and War of the Worlds.

And if you want something bookish for the home, how about an On the Road pillow or a Peter Pan blanket from Litographs. Gifts include texts from classic and contemporary books printed on t-shirts, posters, scarves, blankets and pillows – so you can read anywhere, any time! 

5. A hunger for games

We think that board games are the best way to get the family off their screens over the holiday break. The Best Family Board Games of 2018 include Sushi Go Party (which really should be played served with a sushi platter from your local sushi place) and Code Names, a challenging spy game where you have to guess the names of the secret agents.

Board games are the next best thing to a good book.

6. Whodunnit?

Partial to a little murder, mayhem and mystery during your recreation time? Then How To Host A Murder is available either as a boxed set or downloadable and promises to be a murderous night begging the question: ‘Whodunnit?’. There are parties suitable for all ages including teens and kids (minus the murder). We are rather taken with the Wild West murder, The Good, The Bad and The Guilty and the Hollywood murder scandal, The Maiming of the Shrew.

Or have you could have a host a murder party arranged for you, your family and friends. Murder packages are available at various locations around Australia, where you have the option of holding it in recommended hotels and restaurants, or you can have it at your own home, office or a venue of your choice.

(Yes we know these have been around for a while, but what goes around comes around!)

7. Get lost in a good book

We think that books make the best gifts ever. Now if you’re lost for ideas, Australian Writers' Centre presenters and creative writing alumni have published 43 books this year and we guarantee there is something for everyone here.

We highly recommend that you support your local independent bookseller as they provide a vital cultural role in your community. 

8. Author… author

What better way to encourage creative writing pursuits and passions than with a writing course from the Australian Writers' Centre.  Choose from more than 50 quality, world-class courses – each designed to help achieve writing goals in the shortest amount of time.

There are creative writing courses; freelance writing courses and business writing courses which are tutor-led online or in a classroom or online self-paced courses which can be done from anywhere in the world. And there’s even an online creative writing course for 9-14-year-olds.

So buy an Australian Writers' Centre Gift Voucher and let the budding writers in your life choose their course at a time and place that suits. 

You never know, you could soon be buying their book!

9. Green thumb

Every home needs beautiful plants as there’s nothing nicer than reading in a flourishing indoor or outdoor garden. Just imagine flowering gardenias, luscious lemon trees, planted terrariums, stunning indoor plants, potted succulents or delicious gourmet herbs beautifully packaged and delivered to the doorstep. You just can’t beat giving a living plant as a gift and Growing Gifts is just the spot to place your order.  

And while we are on a green theme, Australia’s only 100% palm free and cruelty-free store Biome has something for everyone and all tastes. We love their eco-friendly gardening gifts and their Green Living Guide.

10. Tequila mockingbird

What better way to kick off the holiday season than with a good book and a drink? Why not consider 25 miniature bottles of a favourite tipple in an advent calendar? That’s one a day from 1 December for 25 days. For gin and whisky lovers, you can’t go past Whitepossum advent-calendars complete with 25 bottles of Australia’s finest. At BoozeBud you will also find beer, cider, red wine, white wine and rum advent calendars. Buy before 1 December as they sell out quickly.

Now all gifts must be wrapped and we know you’ll be wrapped with these literary gift wrapping papers from the Literary Gift Company.

And finally, you’ll need an appropriate literary card to go with it.

Literally, we wish you all happy shopping!