With a little more than two weeks until Christmas, there’s no avoiding it, it’s time to get some serious shopping done. This is a sponsored post.

WITH a little more than two weeks until Christmas, there’s no avoiding it, it’s time to get some serious shopping done.

Whether it’s fast and thrilling, slow and relaxing or a special memento to last for years to come, “CityNews” speaks with businesses with unique gift ideas for the whole family this Christmas.

Exclusive drinks and special offers for Christmas

PAUL Cains, owner of Prohibition Bottle Shop Kingston, says Prohibition Bottle Shop Curtin has opened, and just in time for Christmas.

“We have a huge Canberra offering of wines and local spirits, as well as a huge supply of Japanese and Tasmanian whiskeys,” he says.

There are member offers on Eden Road local wines and Paul says the electric pink vodka cruiser is exclusive to his company for this year.

He says there’s an equal and extensive range of options available at both of the independently owned stores.

“There’s also a large range of local wines and we carry all the local beers like BentSpoke and Capital Brewing.

“Customers can always feel free to have a chat with our team of great staff, who do a wonderful job.”

Prohibition Bottle Shop, 39 Eastlake Parade, Kingston and Shop 1, 44 Curtin Place, Curtin. Call Kingston 6295 0864 or email prohibitionbottleshop@gmail.com

See Australia in a new way

INDEPTH Scuba is a five-star dive centre that says it has experienced instructors who love what they do.

The company has been running learn-to-dive to instructor courses in Canberra since 1998, and runs weekly scuba classes.

The company says its interstate dive travel is very popular and includes a great white shark dive trip in January in SA and a whale shark dive in WA in March.

The company says its dive travel destinations also include Coffs Harbour, South West Rocks, Melbourne, Tasmania and the Great Barrier Reef to name a few.

It also offers a “very unique component of the business, Ride Dive expeditions”, where motorcycling enthusiasts are taken to Australia’s best dive sites, via some of Australia’s most scenic roads.

“You won’t find anything like this anywhere in the world!” the company says.

Indepth Scuba, Shop 2, 2 Oatley Court, Belconnen. Call 6251 1070, email info@indepthscuba.com.au or visit indepthscuba.com.au

Handmade glass art from skilled artists

AT Canberra Glassworks, visitors can find a dynamic and amazing arts facility filled with skilled makers, says artistic director Aimee Frodsham.

“There’s a shop filled with gorgeous handmade glass pieces, with lots of beautiful gifts from jewellery to tableware and sculptures,” says Aimee.

“Our handmade marbles are a favourite, so this year we teamed up with local designer Chelsea Lemon to produce a stunning marquetry Solitaire game and, of course, our handmade Christmas ornaments are available which make a beautiful gift or special Christmas keepsake.”

Aimee says that visitors can also walk deeper into the heritage building to explore the facilities and see the artists at work

“You can take a walk around the viewing platform and see the Hot Shop in action with glassblowers, then walk into the vast engine room and see the cutting and grinding equipment and kilns as well as the 100-year-old-plus  gantry, which is still in action,” she says.

And, Aimee says the artists share their passion and techniques through classes and workshops available for adults and children.

“Offering the public the chance to see, make and own handmade glass is something I’m incredibly proud of,” she says.

Canberra Glassworks, 11 Wentworth Avenue, Kingston. Call 6260 7005 or visit canberraglassworks.com

Colourful and creative Christmas gifts

THE Artists Shed has a great selection of gifts for those looking to get in touch with their creative side this Christmas, says owner Margaret Hadfield.

An award-winning artist herself with decades of experience, Margaret says she hand picks quality products to compile “Art Packs” which are perfect for people getting started in a range of techniques like drawing, painting, watercolours, acrylics and more.

“If you use poor equipment your work won’t come out as well,” says Margaret.

“As a professional artist I pick products that I know are only good quality and which can help beginners achieve the vibrancy they’re looking for.”

For those looking to take their artistic skills to the next level, Margaret says the Artists Shed is also selling gift certificates for art lessons.

The lessons range from those who are absolute beginners, through to experienced artists looking to sharpen their skills.

And of course, Margaret says there’s also a range of art works by herself and a selection of Canberra creatives to purchase.

“We have a huge variety of beautiful pieces that are not necessarily expensive either,” she says.

“This includes hand crafted glass bead jewellery from another of our talented local artists, Carole Griffiths.”

The Artists Shed, unit 1-3, 88 Wollongong Street. Call 0418 237766, email hadfieldgallery@gmail.com or visit artistsshed.com.au

Give the gift of travel

JAMISON Travel show tours are providing exclusive Christmas gifts, says owner Michelle Everson.

Of all the shows coming in the New Year, Jamison Travel wants to highlight two of their Sydney packages, “Phantom of the Opera” and the “Vivid” light festival.

There are three departure dates for “Phantom of the Opera”, March 30, April 8 and August 31, and the package includes return coach transport, overnight accommodation in a 4.5-star hotel, breakfast, premium seating for the show and a Journey Beyond Sydney Harbour lunch cruise.

Vivid Sydney runs on June 9 and gives travellers a chance to “avoid the crowds and experience one of the world’s largest festivals of light from the comfort of our luxury cruiser.”

“Vivid” includes return coach transport, overnight accommodation in a 4.5-star hotel, breakfast, Journey Beyond Sydney Harbour dinner cruise, a guided tour of the Archibald exhibition and lunch at the Art Gallery of NSW restaurant.

Jamison Travel, 5/39 Bowman Street, Macquarie. Call 6251 5166, email info@jamisontravel.com.au or visit jamisontravel.com.au

Christmas sales at the Q

The Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre (The Q) is offering memberships, three subscription packages and sales on every show.

Artistic director and programming manager Jordan Best says packages are Gold, Silver, and 30 and under.

“Gold will save you 25 per cent, Silver 20 per cent and you only pay $30 a ticket for our 30 and under subscription. Or become a Q Member for 2022 for only $50, with heaps of benefits, including 10 per cent off at our bars and a cute Q keyring.”

“Ask yourself, how far would you go to get what you want?” (“Ruthless”, February 24-March 12).

“What would the world look like if everyone was equal?” (“This Changes Everything”, July 22-30).

“What happens when a young girl hits a ball against the tin wall of her family’s home?” (“Sunshine Super Girl”, November 2-5).

“What happens when two sets of parents meet up to deal with an incident between their children?” (“God of Carnage”, November 23-December 3).

“The Q has the answers, in 2022.”

The Q, 253 Crawford Street, Queanbeyan. Call 6285 6290, search The Q on Facebook or visit theq.net.au

Protective shoes and patterned swimwear for Christmas

ROBYN Ebsworth, sales manager of COEGA Sunwear, says it’s a high-quality product that has not previously been available in Australia.

“Our swimwear is made of Carvico fabric from Europe and certified UV 50+ by the Australian government, it is long lasting, light weight, quick drying and chlorine and salt water resistant,” she says.

The ranges include babies, children, teenagers, women and men, “while also serving a fast-growing fashion niche offering greater coverage for those customers who prefer a more modest form of swimwear.”

Robyn says the beach/pool shoes are excellent for protecting your feet from the sand or concrete.

“We don’t ordinarily think about wearing shoes for swimming but these light weight shoes with the toughtek anti-slip soles give a barefoot feel while protecting your feet from hot sand, concrete, sharp rocks or shells.”

“Forget having to carry the kids across the hot sand while juggling all the towels, boogie boards and picnic stuff, just pop the beach shoes on and they can walk across the hot sand in complete comfort.”

COEGA Sunwear. Visit coegasunwear.com.au or email sales@getsplashing.com.au

Fly all over the world without leaving Canberra

JET Flight Simulator Canberra has the perfect Christmas gift for anyone who’s ever wanted to fly, says owner Trevor Vickers.

“Visitors get to operate a full-size replica of a Boeing 737-800 cockpit and can choose from 24,000 airports around the world to fly in or out of,” he says.

“There’ll be an instructor who’s there to point out what all the buttons and levers do and when to use them, but it’ll be you that’s doing the flying.

“Sometimes people want to fly over where they’ve been on holiday, others want to do things like fly under the Sydney Harbour Bridge – it’s all possible.”

But that’s not the only experience they’re offering, says Trevor.

Visitors also have the opportunity for a more fast-paced, virtual reality experience called “ICAROS” which he describes as a “completely different way to fly”.

“The way it works is that you lie on a frame and just by shifting your body weight it steers you in the virtual world,” says Trevor.

“The sensation is more like flying with a wingsuit or like you’re Superman.”

Whether it’s flying a 737, soaring through a virtual world, or both, Trevor says there’s multiple booking options on their website including gift certificates.

Jet Flight Simulator Canberra, 4 Montford Crescent, Lyneham. Visit jetflightsimulatorcanberra.com.au or call 0438 834026.

‘Unique and quirky’ gifts to suit every budget

THE Crystal Chalice in Gold Creek has “unique and quirky” Christmas gifts to suit every budget, says owner Lilitu Babalon.

“Pretty much anything I’ve got would be a great Christmas gift,” she says.

The shop has more than 300 tarot and oracle decks to choose from, “they’re really great gifts”.

It also has statues, plush and soft toys for kids, fairies and dragons, incense and jewellery and books.

“We’ve got hundreds of pieces of jewellery, mostly in sterling silver and gemstone. We also sell books and they always make great gifts,” says Lilitu.

“We have everything from just a few dollars to thousands of dollars, there’s a lot to choose from.”

In the week leading up to Christmas, she says she will be doing a giveaway.

“Previously, I’ve given all my customers a little gift, that will be the Monday to Friday leading up to Christmas,” says Lilitu.

The Crystal Chalice, Shop 3, 7 O’Hanlon Place, Nicholls. Call 6241 0799 or visit thecrystalchalice.com.au

Walking tour shows the highlights of Canberra

FOR those wanting to see the best of what the capital has to offer in a day, Neil Hermes says his “Highlights of Canberra” tour hits all of the ACT’s premier destinations.

“Say you had one day to explore Canberra and no more time, what would you see? In this tour we answer that,” says Neil.

“There’s visits to new and old Parliament House, the War Memorial, the Royal Military College and plenty of other iconic locations.”

“It’s a great opportunity for people with friends or family visiting Canberra who want to see the best of the city.”

He also says the tour is a great way for visitors to learn from some local experts what destinations to see in the capital on other days of their visit.

Neil, an expert local ornithologist, has also recently published a book on the bird life of Canberra, a place he describes as a “city of birds”.

“‘A Photographic Field Guide to the Birds of Canberra and the High Country’ has more than 300 illustrated species of local birds and is your guide to any bird that you’re likely to see in your garden around Canberra,” he says.

Visit canberraguidedtours.com.au or neilhermes.com.au

Cookie’s pedalling hard until Christmas Eve

OWNER of Cookies Cycles David Cook says he’ll be selling his extensive range of e-bikes and e-scooters all the way up until Christmas Eve.

“We’re very glad to be fully back up and running,” says David, who’s backed with more than 35 years of industry experience.

“We’ve got the leading brands in e-scooters, electric bikes, normal scooters and much more on the floor and we recommend getting in quick, because we’re already selling out fast.”

David opened the store in 2015 to “cater for the family cyclist” and says he and the team pride themselves about their in-depth knowledge of the products and their parts.

That expertise is transferred into the store’s fully equipped workshop, which David says offers services and repairs.

“We back up and service all products that we sell with our large range of parts and accessories,” he says.

With Canberrans getting back out and about as lockdown ends, bookings for bike repairs are filling up fast and David recommends calling ahead to get a spot.

Cookies Cycles, 227 Flemington Road, Franklin. Call 6242 0338, email shop@cookiescycles.com.au or visit cookiescycles.com.au

Motorcycle champion store in Mitchell

HAVING represented Australia in several motorbiking world championships, owner of Moto Central Don Murray enjoys sharing his knowledge with new and experienced riders.

His store sells a range of road bikes, off-road bikes and scooters with brands such as CFMoto, Benelli, Crossfire, Sherco and Beta, as well as Kymco and Lambretta scooters.

“Currently, our most popular adult bike is the CFMoto 150 NK, which is proving to be a big hit with the commuter and delivery crowd,” says Don.

“For the kids, you can’t go past the Sherco Electric kids’ balance bikes in two popular sizes: EB12 and EB16.”

Don says the store also has a fully equipped service centre with the latest, state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment that can service most makes and models of motorcycles and scooters.

“Log-book servicing, tyres and brakes are our specialty,” he says.

Don has been riding motorcycles since he was a kid, and says it was a dream to be able to represent Australia as both a rider and a team manager at multiple Australian championships.

“I love the freedom of being out in the elements, meeting interesting people and exploring new places always seems better on a bike,” he says.

“We are more than happy to get people started on their first bike as well as help them with where to get their licence and help with all the right gear like helmets, jackets, gloves and more.”

Moto Central, 12 Sandford Street, Mitchell. Call 6248 0229, email sales@motocentral.com.au or visit motocentral.com.au