Ali + Julie
Co-Founders, GroupTogether.
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Gift Ideas
18th Birthday Gift Ideas That Aren't Just Booze
Your BFF, sibling, or maybe even your own offspring is about to hit the big one-eight. It's a milestone, folks! And guess what? You've got to get them a gift that screams, "Welcome to Adulthood!" But also one that says hold your horses, don't get black-out drunk, please. As your honorary gift gurus, we’re here to spill the beans on some great 18th birthday gift ideas they’ll really love.
By Ali + Julie
May 12, 2024
Gifts Under $50
Cotton On Nylon 5 Panel Hat
18th birthday gift ideas that are cute and sun smart. That’s a win for both parents and children alike. We love Cotton On's 5-Panel Hats. They’re cute, look expensive, and are incredibly lightweight so their head won’t overheat. You don’t have to stress about size when you’re buying as they’re adjustable too!
Malmaison Empress Soy Candle - French Pear
This candle would make a gorgeous beside table ornament to spruce up their room. Candles are great 18th birthday present ideas as they add a little extra luxury to their everyday. This candle is crafted in Australia and boasts fragrance notes such as orange, pear and vanilla.
T2 Paws for Tea: Dog Lovers Edition
For our dog-obsessed kings and queens, we have the perfect gift for you! The T2 Paws for Tea Dog Edition features 20 different flavours of tea, including Chai, French Earl Grey, New York Breakfast and plenty more. Better yet, it comes in the cutest limited edition dog-themed tin which they can repurpose for their favourite pooches treats. This is a thoughtful birthday gift idea for their 18th birthday.
UmamiPapi Chilli Oil
This is the perfect condiment for scrambled eggs, stir fry and spaghetti marinara. UmamiPapi is an Australian brand making a healthier chilli oil from soy sauce, shallots, Sichuan peppercorn and other natural ingredients. Its versatility means it enhances the flavours of so many different dishes. We love that it’s vegan and gluten-free.
Daily Lab Aroma 360° Car Diffuser
Has your friend just bought a new car off marketplace? Help them spruce it up with this award winning car diffuser made by the Daily Lab. It features notes of green citrus, bergamot and more! Leaving their car smelling fresh for up to 30 days. The best part is that it doesn’t dangle from your rear-view mirror. A thoughtful 18th birthday gift that can be used daily - j’adore!
The Alchemist
No one talks about the weird feeling you get when you leave the structure of school and enter the world of adulthood. It can leave your fresh 18 year old feeling a little lost. One brilliant way to navigate that uncertainty is by reading. We love The Alchemist, a book that carries so much wisdom. A short read, spanning only 208 pages, author Paulo Coelho has sold more than 65 million copies of this cult-favourite book. The book follows a young boy who embarks on a world adventure and must confront numerous challenges along the way. It’s a book that inspires through its various, priceless lessons and is a book they will read multiple times over their life-time.
Gifts $50 - $100
Chelsea Handler Live Comedy
Many consider year 12 as the hardest year of their life and we don’t blame them. Arguably the best way to ease the stress and anxiety is by giving the gift of laughter. Enter Chelsea Handler, a renowned comedian known for her sharp wit and humour. Handler's comedic genius promises an evening filled with laughter and levity. Catch her live on her upcoming tour, hitting cities across the country, including a stop at the Palais Theatre in Melbourne on the 9th of July 2024. You won’t want to miss one of the brightest stars in comedy!
Funday Natural Sweets ‘Can’t Decide’ Box
An 18th birthday present idea for your sweet-loving friend. This guilt-free present is an absolute winner and these sweets are our team member Sara’s go-to after-dinner treat. Funday Natural Sweets is exactly as it sounds. They are fun and natural sweets made completely sugar-free and from all-natural ingredients! Funday has 91% less sugar content than your average lolly. These lollies are the real deal.
Hommey Terry Towel Bag
18th birthday gifts that can be used daily are always welcomed. This spacious and functional bag could be their new school bag replacement. Made from 100% terry towel, it is the perfect companion for a visit to the beach or even a weekend away. Did their water bottle spill in their bag? No worries! The cotton terry towel material is quick-drying so no weird water marks will be left damaging their bag.
Frank Green Ceramic Reusable Bottle
Looking for a statement piece that’s also cutting plastic pollution? We’ve got you covered. Frank Green has quickly become a cult fave and a household name. We bet you’ve seen a few of these at your local cafè and felt envious. The stainless steel base with a ceramic lining ensures great-tasting beverages that stay at your desired temp. It keeps hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold due to its triple-vacuum insulation design. The best part? For an extra $10, you can customise the colours and add their initials. This one deserves a spot on your 18th birthday suggestions list.
National Geographic Magazine 12-month Subscription
With adulthood comes maturity, wisdom and new interests. National Geographic has been publishing magazines for over 130 years with a purpose to promote conservation, travel, adventure, and exploration of the world. 18th presents for guys can be tricky, we suggest giving the gift of Nat Geo magazines for a whole year. It could spark their career in conservation or give them a few travel ideas!
Gaming Keyboard
There are two types of people in the world. Those who game and those who don’t understand the appeal of gaming. For those who don’t game, what you need to understand is arguably the best part of gaming is buying the gear. So we recommend this polychromatic keyboard. Yes, it functions as any regular keyboard. Except, the Bloody B500N Gaming Keyboard is a device that is constantly flashing with colour and was specifically built with gamers in mind. I would go into the product details but who are we kidding? None of us will understand what it means! Looking for 18th birthday present ideas for your gamer friend? This is it!
Calvin Klein CK One Eau De Toilette Spray
They’re 18 now, which means they’ll be going out partying every weekend. So as far as 18th birthday gift ideas go, this is a nice option for them to pop on when they’re heading out the door. This unisex fragrance is the perfect entry-level perfume to kickstart their collection. It’s a fresh-smelling scent featuring notes of pineapple, bergamot, green tea and more and was designed for men and women. It’s a classic, an icon some say.
WeWander Inspire Experience Collection
They’re an adult now so they are going to want to invest in some new hobbies to go with their newfound school grad identity. The WeWander Inspire Experience Collection has a whole heap of activities such as surfing lessons, pasta-making classes, Australia-wide pursuits and many more. There are more than 400 experiences and they are all valid for 3 years. If they’d love to take a mate there are plenty of 2-person experiences too. Birthday gift ideas for 18th birthdays that are experienced over material items are some of our faves.
Gifts $100 - $200
Freestyle Projector with Miracast
A cheaper, more aesthetic version of a TV? A projector! With Kogan’s Freestyle Projector, you can transform any room into a home cinema, gaming room or even display graphic art. This portable projector is compact and lightweight, weighing half a kilo. So you can take it from room to room or if they’re starting their big lap in their van it’s perfect for storing in small spaces. You can connect via WiFi or Bluetooth and it’s even screen mirroring compatible, so you can display anything from your phone or computer onto the projector. Popcorn is not required but highly encouraged! 18th birthday gift ideas like this will be a cult fave with vanlifers!
Philips Series 5000 Electric Shaver
A lot changes happen when you turn 18. Some changes are more welcomed than others. One change that really makes you realise you’re an adult is facial hair. One day you have a nice, soft face. The next you have hairs growing out of your cheeks and chin. And the worst part is it can be uneven. The Philips Series 5000 is an easy-to-use, wet or dry shaver. Meaning you can use it over the sink or even in the shower. It doesn’t irritate your skin and only takes one hour to fully charge. 18th birthday present ideas like this is a perfect gift from parents to sons.
Spikeball Game Set
Have you heard the latest sporting trend? No, not pickleball. The OTHER latest craze in the sporting world. Spikeball! The game that can be set up in minutes and played with 3 other willing participants for hours. We love this set as you can easily pack it up into a compact and convenient storage bag that can be left in the car for beach day Spikeball sessions. The Spikeball Game Set comes with the Spikeball set, 3 Spikeball balls and a convenient drawstring bag for easy pack-up/down. A birthday gift idea for their 18th birthday that will bring them fun memories - run don’t walk!
Arms of Eve Emilia Gold Necklace
Turning 18 is one of the biggest milestone birthdays, so we always think a beautiful jewellery piece that they can keep forever is a winner. Guys note this down for 18th birthday gifts for your girlfriend! We love this piece because it is eye-catching, yet they can wear it every day dressed up or down!
The North Face Thermoball Traction V Mules
A great 18th present for guys who love their camping or live in a van! These North Face mules are the perfect dress-up/dress-down shoes and are very comfortable. Another piece Sara one of our team members raves about. They are water resistant, have a fleece lining on the inside which keeps your feet so toasty when you’re camping, and are super cute too. They are the perfect travel companion because they are lightweight and have a collapsible heel.
JBL Headphones
Have you noticed how headphones have become a fashion accessory? For their 18th birthday pressie give the gift of these Bluetooth-compatible, noise-cancelling headphones from JBL. These headphones have up to 70 hours of listening time. So their commutes to uni just got better!
Apple AirTag - 4 Pack
Is your 18-year-old about to embark on their globe-trotting adventure? Apple AirTags may not be on their list of presents, but we can guarantee you it will save you some sleepless nights and panic attack phone calls when the budget airline they booked loses all their gear. There’s nothing quite like losing a suitcase or even worse your passport in a foreign country. They can simply attach an AirTag to their suitcase, wallet or other important possessions and it shows you real-time where their belongings are. 18th birthday gift ideas that give the gift of peace of mind to both of you - perfect!
Adidas Samba
Every influencer and their mother have been collecting Adidas Samba’s so this will be a winning 18th birthday present idea. You can find them at JD Sports, we love that they have free shipping Australia-wide. So if you live in the boonies you won’t have to pay a ridiculous amount for shipping.
Gifts $200+
Limited Edition Signature Polaroid Camera
They’re 18 now so they’ll want to capture every moment of their journey into adulthood. What better way to capture these moments than a remote-controlled Polaroid camera? 18th birthday gift ideas like this are the gift that keeps on giving as they can use it for years to come.
Oakley Radar EV Path
18th birthday present ideas that are high-quality are usually out of your 18-year-old’s budget. We love Oakleys for our sporty friends as they are designed with adventures in mind, which means they don’t just disintegrate after you drop them on a hike one time. Oakley sunglasses are made in the USA and boast a unique design with their colourful lenses, matte frames and head-turning style.
Zempire Zeus Hiking Tent
For your friend who loves camping you can never go wrong with great hiking gear. The Zempire Zeus Hiking Tent is the perfect camping companion. We love that it’s lightweight, weighing only 2 and a half kilograms, has 360-degree doors and is the perfect size for 2 people and their gear. Birthday gift ideas for 18th birthday that they can get heaps of use out of will get you heaps of brownie points!
Flight Centre Gift Card
18th birthday gift ideas for your adventurous young adult! We’re seeing gap years grow in popularity and the most expensive part for many people is the flights, which means a gift card like this will be welcomed! Flight Centre offers 980 global destinations and is valid for 2 years after purchase. This one is a great gift to GroupTogether as a family to give to your not-so-little one.
Skydiving
For our adrenaline junkies! Give them an experience they have always wanted but will never forget. The feeling of free-falling from a height of 15,000 feet overlooking miles of ocean and hectares of land. 18th birthday present ideas like this are no-brainers for big milestone birthdays like 18!
DJI Mini 3 Drone
18th presents for guys who love their tech. If they love photography, it’s likely their phone just isn’t cutting it. A drone could be the answer to their prayers! We love that they provide aerial footage, with the camera on the device small enough to fit in the palm of your hand. The remote controller makes it really easy for them to manoeuvre the drone to get the best shot. The DJI Mini 3 Drone captures dazzling footage in 4K HDR, has 38 minutes flying time and has a foldable design so it is very easy to travel with, perfect for van lifers.
For the 18-year-old friends reading this blog, we know you probably don’t have a heap of money to spend on your bestie. So we suggest coming together as a friendship group with GroupTogether. Not only will your friend be stoked you all chipped in for one really great gift, it’ll also lighten the load on your wallet. It takes just two minutes to set up a collection today and we handle all the card signatures and late payers so you don’t have to have any awkward convos!
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