What’s on: Best way to celebrate Christmas in the NT is by supporting small, local businesses

Looking for a Christmas gift for your favourite Territorian that won’t harm the Earth? Kate Dinning has you covered.

Former Lord Mayor of Darwin, Katrina Fong Lim as Santa. Pic: Katrina Bridgeford.

Tis the season of giving – but I think the end of year wind down is also about using the ‘festive season’ as an excuse to spend intentional and quality time with family and friends, which we may not get to do as much during the other seasons of life.

I try to take gift-giving seriously – I do really care about the impacts that unnecessary consumption has on our environment ­– and I want to give thoughtful gifts that people will appreciate.

So whether it’s for your family Secret Santa, a work gift, or something for your friends at your Darwin orphan Christmas: as my gift to you, I wanted to do a bit of the hard work, so you had more time to spend with those that are important!

I’ve pulled together a list of Christmas gifts that are thoughtful, memorable, and importantly – supportive of our local shops, organisations and communities.

If you had something already in mind, maybe you’d been served a social media ad for something that caught your eye, but now that you’re reading this, it doesn’t feel quite ‘special’ enough?

Try hunting in boutique, second-hand, or locally made stores first. Real shops! Check out craft markets, or pop into the many local boutiques in the city and across the suburbs.

Subscriptions for the delivery of fresh roasted DTown Coffee beans, and flower deliveries from the Rain Florest and Beja Flor make a unique Christmas gift. Picture: Kate Dinning

Pop into a gallery and purchase some local art or maybe a local image taken in the NT. If they’re new to Darwin - pop into Delaney’s and get them a voucher so they can get their Akubra!

Sometimes practical gifts get a bad rap, but if you know your audience, they can be really helpful!

Gifts that make life a little easier or are a reminder to do something you enjoy are always a pleasant surprise.

Many subscription services make for fantastic gifts for your mates, your partner, or your parents.

Have you considered giving a Deckchair Cinema membership, which includes members’ screenings, free tickets, and discounts?

Or for parents of young kids – what about a Darwin Waterfront membership which gives them access to the Wave pool for a year, and various other activities and discounts?

Darwin Waterfront memberships are available - which give access to the Wave pool for a year. Picture: Kate Dinning

Equally valuable is a Territory Wildlife Park membership, which gives them a year of free entry – which means a whole 12 months of free activities for the kids!

Another thoughtful gift that keeps on giving is a subscription from a local florist.

You can be the person they think of every flower Friday, with a weekly, fortnightly, or monthly flower delivery from florists like The Rain Florist or Beja Flor.

Did you know you can get a subscription for the delivery of monthly coffee beans, freshly roasted here by DTown Coffee?

Perfect for the friend or family who has just bought a house, or a new coffee machine!

One of the best things about the NT is the adventures, right? Let’s give more of that! If there is something you know they’ve always wanted to do – support a local tourism business and buy a voucher. It’s also a great way to remove the stress of the decision, a voucher from Tourism Top End allows them to choose their own adventure.

And if you’re scrambling for unique gifts for your work or friends Secret Santa – there are plenty of fantastic Territory things you can get for a small cost – a few ideas that I love; head into Fishing and Outdoor World and grab a couple of barra fishing lures – imagine if you gave someone the gift that wins them a million dollars.

Got a favourite coffee shop, or a lunch spot near your office? Head in there and grab a voucher for some free coffee, a lunch on you, or a nice dinner.