Scout’s 2024 Christmas Gift Guide
Not a hunk of coal in sight here
DNA Distillery
Summer is here, the smell of fresh pine is in the air, the streets are alight with festive decorations, champagne is being poured and, most importantly, Santa is readying his sleigh. But what to get for those who have serendipitously fallen on your nice list this year? Whether you’re shopping for mum, dad, your S.O., your bestie, a colleague, or the person who seemingly has everything, thankfully, there are enough local businesses and talented creatives to tick everyone off your gifting list.
So, without further ado, keep reading to discover Scout’s Christmas gift guide for 2024.
Scout’s Christmas Gift Guide 2024
Pago & Co Gift Boxes
If you’re practically at the point of throwing your gift ideas list out the window in frustration, stop. Here to save the day is Pago & Co, an expansive warehouse in Caringbah dedicated solely to premium homewares, gourmet items and beauty products. Whether you’d like to build a custom gift box, opt for a pre-made selection, or simply browse the shelves for something special, their range is designed to take the guesswork out of gifting - even the wrapping is taken care of (complimentary, of course). Their dedicated Christmas range spans 12 options, including the gourmet Festive Feast with Fizz, luxe Love Actually, and delicious Nutcracker Nibbles to name a few. Visit in store or jump online - delivery is nationwide and a spend of over $150 will qualify for free shipping.
Hutwoods Scents
Candles are a gifting favourite for good reason, but a pick from Shire-based Hutwoods is a cut above. Benefitting from the comforting crackle of a wooden wick, Hutwoods offer a range of classic scents, as well as a selection of festive fragrances. New to the range are a selection of 12 lifestyle room mists, infused with essential oils, as well as a new deluxe size: the Extra Large Double Wicked Luxury Candles, which boast 200 hours of burn time and come housed in a beautiful vessel that you - or your giftee - will definitely want to reuse.
Bec Bakes Sweet Treats
This festive season, enjoy holiday treats from The Shire’s favourite dessert spot, Bec Bakes. The Christmas Dessert Glazer is a crowd-pleaser, featuring Mini Cupcakes, Mini Cookies, Lemon Curd Tarts, Triple Choc Brownies, and Caramel Slice – a perfect mix for sharing. For thoughtful gifts, the Christmas Taster Box is a great choice, ideal for teachers, colleagues, or staff. Stop by on Fridays and Saturdays for OG Mega Choc Chunk Cookies or Gingerbread White Choc Chunk Cookies. With ready-to-go gift packs and a rotating menu, there’s always something new to try. Pre-order Bec Bakes’ Christmas Menu online with just two days’ notice and make your celebrations a little sweeter.
La Cure Wellness Treatments Or Retail
Premium, non-invasive body and beauty treatments - including cryotherapy, massage, float therapy and IV therapy - are the calling card at Caringbah South-based La Cure. A light and bright salon that focuses on health and wellness from the inside out, a treatment at La Cure is sure to set your gift receiver up in good stead for another year ahead. Plus, for a limited time, if you spend $250 total on retail products or vouchers, you will be treated to a complimentary sauna. It’s a luxury, sure, but a well-deserved one for anyone who you consider to be your nearest or dearest.
Head Spa Experience At Innersense Beauty & Medispa
The holidays are the perfect time to treat someone special to the ultimate in relaxation. Cue: a luxurious head spa treatment at Innersense Beauty & Medispa. This trending treatment is all about rejuvenating the scalp, hair, and mind — guaranteed to leave anyone in a blissful state. With glowing five-star reviews rolling in, it’s hard not to book one for yourself while you're at it! A Shire favourite for 20 years, Innersense also offers facials, lash lifts, waxing, tinting, laser hair removal, LED Lounge sessions, and massages. Head online or in-store to grab a gift card.
We Are Mindful Chic Lifestyle Products
Rooted in the belief that from the clothes we wear to the items we fill our homes with, every decision we make should be a conscious one, We Are Mindful is the perfect place to search for the perfect gift. Lined from wall-to-wall with Kathryn’s curated picks from brands such as SSAINT Fragrance, Frank Green, Maison Balzac, Gentle Habits and Sage and Clare, the store is a treasure trove of gorgeous gifting options for the sustainably- and ethically-minded.
Baked Collective Cakes
Based out of a sweet storefront in the leafy streets of Caringbah, Baked Collective grew from Laura’s home business in 2023, then known as Cakes by Capes, into a thriving and much-visited destination. Her specialties lie in bespoke cakes for all occasions, but you’ll also find a number of crowd-pleasing treats including NYC-style cookies, decadent brownies, slices and her signature carrot cake slab. Where gifts are concerned, look to Laura’s Treat Boxes (available in three different sizes - ideal for Christmas gatherings, too!), her festive sugar-cookie-packed Advent Calendar, Sugar Cookie Gift Boxes and Bento Christmas Cakes. The ideal gift for the sweet tooth in your life.
A Hydrafacial at Beautician Australia
Nestled in the heart of Miranda, Beautician Australia is here to help you (or your giftee) achieve the best skin of their life this holiday season. Their popular HydraFacial is the ultimate treatment for a holiday glow. For first-time visitors, use our exclusive Shire Scout discount code 'SS30' at checkout for 30% off — available until December 21st on all bookings and HydraFacial gift vouchers. Plus, every HydraFacial includes a full-size Airyday SPF as a bonus (while stocks last) to keep that glow protected.
Saint Cobes Cologne
If you’re looking for something for the fragrance lover in your life, get them something you know they’ll love - but with a unique twist. Veering away from liquid-based scents, Saint Cobes have opted instead for a solid product, offering a longer-lasting cologne that is also compact and travel-friendly, better for the planet and even hydrating for your skin. Each tin is refillable, and there are four signature scents to choose from, ranging woody, ambery, floral and fresh.
Local and Yonder Art
Formerly known as Shire Arthouse, Local and Yonder sits centrally in the Cronulla Mall. Chic and flaunting gallery-like vibes, Local and Yonder’s space perfectly matches the work it displays; handheld, drone and macro photographs of iconic locations both here in the Shire and Australian-wide, captured by local talent. For a lover of our beautifully beachy location, any pick from here will make the perfect gift - and for a priceless piece, it’s actually very affordable.
Salt Meats Cheese Cooking Class
Mama Mia - this summer, beloved institution Salt Meats Cheese are sharing Nonna’s coveted skills and recipes across an array of cooking classes. Whether your gift receiver loves nothing more than the perfect pizza slice, or prefers the pillowy shape of ravioli, there’s a workshop for everyone who appreciates a simple, but delicious Italian meal. Imparting traditional methods and recipes, this is the gift that keeps on giving…and giving and giving.
A Voucher To One Of The Shire’s Newest Restaurants
ICYMI, the Shire is quickly becoming a foodie hotspot, with destination restaurants popping up right, left and centre. The newest on the streets include Pippis, Benny’s, Folk, a revamped version of Summer Salt, and Pino’s Vino e Cucina, to name just a few. You can check out our thoughts in more detail over here - but we have no doubt that a gift voucher or joint visit to one of these oh-so-popular venues will be very well received indeed.
Spirits from DNA Distillery
This is not one for the little elves among us, but is guaranteed to be a hit amongst those of legal drinking age. Perfect for table setting, gifting and, of course, drinking, DNA Distillery’s award-winning rakija is about to become a new Christmas tradition. Founded by two Sydney-based cousins, DNA’s rakija is based upon a timeworn recipe passed down through generations and is made simply by distilling bold and full-bodied Australian shiraz. If you’re looking for a gift (or wanting to test it for yourself), Dedo’s Sample Pack is the ideal way to say zdravje (hello) to a whole new drinking experience. We don’t want to get ahead of ourselves, but this could even blow gin’s popularity out of the water - you heard it here first.
Posted: December 2024
