5 last minute gift ideas for Valentine’s Day 2018

Going the classic route for Valentine’s Day doesn’t just mean a nice dinner out anymore. You’re going to have to get that special someone (assuming that’s how you’re spending the day) a gift for tradition’s sake, and you’re going to be flooded with ideas left, right and centre in the lead-up to one of the most commercialised celebrations of the year.

To help keep you calm and not overwhelmed with choices, we’ve put together a brief five ideas for you to muse over if you’re still stumped when it comes to gift shopping, from two of the best tech gifts around to the most trusty gift of all: wine.

A Table to End World Hunger

For it’s third year, A Table to End Hunger has once again partnered with some of the biggest restaurants in the country to a) ensure Valentine’s Day is well-spent and partners are well-fed, and b) raise money to end world hunger. Restaurant partners (think big, like Automata, Ester and Biota Dining) are auctioning off tables as well as more fleshed out experiences (like a private tour of the Art Gallery of NSW followed by a dinner at Matt Moran’s Chiswick at the Gallery; or a private karaoke house party at Brisbane’s Little Big House) to help attract funds so if your ideal gift involves good food and even better drink you should definitely give this one a look over.

A full list of restaurants available to bid on nationally is available HERE, but be quick: bidding ends this Sunday at 9pm.

Sonos One

Sonos nailed it with the Sonos One. While it’s only half-functional right now, since it’s still only future-ready for Amazon’s Alexa and other virtual assistants like Google Assistant and Apple’s Siri, the Sonos One is one of the most worthwhile smart speakers on the market to date. 2018 will be a huge year for the increasingly ubiquitous technology, and you’re going to want one that actually sounds good. That’s where this attractive looking speaker is most valuable: in addition to all those things which will be rolling out this year, the Sonos One dwarfs the competition when it comes to sound, presenting a perfectly balanced audio experience that’s crisp, clear and loud without distorting at higher levels. And of course, as with all Sonos products, this can easily be incorporated into a full multiroom ecosystem to improve the listening experience.

If you have an audiophile in your life that either already has a Sonos set-up to add this too, is looking to start one up, or simply just needs a good Wi-Fi speaker then it’s hard to look past this. For more details you can check our review HERE. You can pick one up for around $299.

Canon EOS 200D

It seemed Canon had really perfected the entry-level DSLR to with the EOS 100D but its newer iteration, which was released last year, proved that you can always refine technology even when it seems to be as perfect as it’s going to get. The EOS 200D is a stunning, incredibly user-friendly DSLR for its price point with all the modern finesse one would expect, making life so much more easier for amateur photographers who are looking to take a few giant leaps up from their smartphone camera. From the ultra-modern selfie mode to a guided display that makes each function simple to understand, Canon have packed a lot into this one and have clearly studied exactly what a newbie needs to progress their skills.

If your better half has been thinking about really getting stuck into photography then head on over the Canon’s official website for more details and the camera’s full specs. You can pick one up for around $769.

Wines That Won’t Break the Bank

If you’re planning to cook up your own Valentine’s Day dinner and you’ve blown all the funds on fancy ingredients then you’d be glad to know there are some really nice, affordable drops that have been picking up traction on Dan Murphy’s and BWS shelves. Top picks this year are the Chapel Hill Sangiovese Rosé 2017 ($20), geared towards the fresh and juicy notes of raspberries and cherry; the Lovers Note Toreadors Rosé 2015 ($24.99), with herb aromas and fresh cherry tones; and – our favourite of the bunch – the Freixenet Prosecco NV ($24.99) which comes in a very eye-catching, highly textured bottle containing drops with fresh citrus, apple and floral aromas and a palate full of ripe lemon, green apple and grapefruit.

Melbourne’s Pop-Up Florist

This one’s for the Melbourne locals only (unless you just so happen to be visiting in the next few days). Beloved venue Garden State Hotel are teaming up with Mary Mary Studio to put on a Valentine’s Day pop-up florist on-site from Monday 12th to Wednesday 14th February. The front windows of the iconic Flinders Lane shopfront will be transforming into a boutique store selling high-end, textured arrangements and romantic bouquets which should tempt locals back to the idea that flowers really are the best gift for the day.

The Coburg based floral studio are putting together some special arrangements which will also be available for delivery, starting from $25. You can grab more details HERE.

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Chris Singh

Chris Singh is an Editor-At-Large at the AU review, loves writing about travel and hospitality, and is partial to a perfectly textured octopus. You can reach him on Instagram: @chrisdsingh.