7 Reasons Why AmazingCo Mystery Picnics Make Great Gifts

Love is in the air, and as Valentine's Day approaches, the quest for the perfect gift begins. While chocolates and flowers are classic, there's something special about a gift that brings you closer through shared experiences and quality time. Introducing AmazingCo’s Mystery Picnic experience – your ticket to a unique and unforgettable Valentine's Day celebration. Still not convinced? Here are 7 reasons why Mystery Picnics are the perfect gift for your Valentine. 

1) Uncover local hidden gems, or discover somewhere new

On a Mystery Picnic, you’ll solve clues and riddles to uncover local hidden gems and pick up delicious picnic items along the way to enjoy at a picturesque final destination. No prior knowledge of the area is needed, making it perfect for the avid local explorer, or those looking for a fun way to be a tourist in a new area.

2) Explore together at your own pace

Mystery Picnics are a self-guided experience that put you in charge of your own adventure. The clues and riddles can be followed at your own pace, allowing plenty of time time to admire local landmarks, savor delicious bites or simply soak in your surroundings.

3) Perfect for two (or more!)

Mystery Picnics are completely customizable, allowing you to choose who you’d like to spend your experience with. Whether it's a romantic date for two, a double date with friends, or a family adventure with the kids, Mystery Picnics offer the versatility to spend quality time with whoever your heart desires.

4) Captures memories, not clutter

In a world where we've all got too much stuff, Mystery Picnics offer a unique opportunity to reconnect with your loved ones and create lasting memories together instead. Spend some quality time enjoying each other's company, and creating meaningful memories that'll stick with you long after the adventure is over.

5) The gift of choice

Can’t decide which location to explore? Offer the gift of choice with a ‘value’ gift card and grant your loved one the freedom to choose the perfect time and place for their Mystery Picnic adventure. If you do choose a gift card for a specific location and they have a change of heart, the gift card's value is versatile and can seamlessly be applied to any Mystery Picnic location. Should they be tempted by another experience instead, the value of the gift card can be redeemed against any experience in the AmazingCo catalogue. AmazingCo gift cards are valid for three years, giving your sweetheart ample time to plan their perfect romantic adventure.

6) Effortless romance, delivered

Gift cards can be purchased in under 2 minutes and are delivered digitally via email. You can choose to send the gift card to the recipient instantly or schedule the delivery for a future date so the timing is always right. Gift cards are also securely stored in your AmazingCo account. If the initial email containing the gift card details goes astray or is misplaced, it can be easily accessed and resent to your recipient in just a few clicks.

7) Spreads love to local communities

Since 2018, almost 400,000 people have enjoyed an AmazingCo Mystery Picnic. By gifting a Mystery Picnic, you're actively supporting the places and people that make each destination unique and are contributing to the vibrancy of local communities. It's a feel-good gift that not only brings joy to your loved one, but also leaves a positive impact on the communities they explore.

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Give the gift of love, adventure, and deliciousness this Valentine's Day with an AmazingCo Mystery Picnic. It's the perfect way to say "I love you" in a way that will linger long after the chocolates are gone.

19 Girls Night Out Ideas in Sydney

Sometimes you just need a good old fashioned girls' night out to take the edge off of life - and what better city to paint the town red in than Sydney? And so you don’t need to fret, we’ve done the hard bit for you and chosen our favourite 19 Girls Night Out Ideas in Sydney - enjoy!

1) Get Crafty at Pinot and Picasso

Unleash your inner artists by wielding paintbrush in one hand, vino in the other, with this wildly popular paint and sip workshop. The kind folks over at Pinot and Picasso will lead you and your gang through the artsy night, teaching you how to create your very own Picasso inspired work of art all the whilst sipping on some BYO wine.

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2) Unleash Your Inner Celine Dion and Go Karaoking

Whether you’re the reincarnated Nina Simone or (truly, abysmally) tone deaf, karaoke is always a good choice for girls night. While you’re undoubtedly spoiled for choice for options in this fair city of ours (turns out Sydney really likes karaoke), we love Lantern by Wagaya for its extensive song backlog (watch out for culturally significant bangers such as Sk8er Boi) and its Asian influenced menu (you’ll be ordering the likes of steaming bowls of ramen and fried chicken via a touch screen situated in your small karaoke capsule room, naturally).

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3) Host an At-Home Cheese and Wine Night

Who said you need to go out to have fun? For this take on the typical fancy wine bar night out, invite the girls over to your humble abode instead, asking each of them to bring a wheel of cheese and their preferred bottle of wine.

Spread the cheeses on a serving platter, pop open the vino and light some candles to up the ambiance (try candlesticks propped up in empty wine bottles for a cinch yet very fancy touch).

Image Credit: Unsplash

4) Get Your Golf On at Holey Moley

Gone are the days of mini golf being synonymous with an activity found solely in the hotel kids club on family vacation; mini golf has well and truly witnessed an upgrade, with a number of adults only venues cropping up in recent years.

Its most grown up and beloved incarnation can be found in Holey Moley, the adults only mini golf bar ensuring you’re served up a punchy cocktail with your 9, 18 or 27 hole game.

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5) Head to Saint Peter in Paddington for a Luxe Seafood Feast

Feel like treating yourselves? Go on, you all deserve it… For an otherworldly seafood feast, get the gang over to Saint Peter in Paddington. Here, you’ll dine on fresh seafood, indulging in a luxe mediterranean feast (paired perfectly with a delightfully crisp vino, naturally) while comfortably perched in the dimly lit, atmospheric restaurant.

6) Venture to Luna Park, for Nostalgia's Sake

Who says adults can’t go to Luna Park? Unleash your inner child and run amok at the beloved theme park for girls night out. We recommend hitting the rides nice and early in the evening, then making your way to a nearby bar (we love Kirribilli Hotel for its no fuss pub grub and outdoor terrace) to even things out.

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7) Go for a Mexican Night Out at Chica Bonita

Craving a Mexican feast? Make your way down to Chica Bonita in Manley; the beloved Mexican joint is the place of taco dreams, serving up mouthwatering variants of the tortilla and other traditional pièces de résistance in its sleek, modern space.

We recommend getting the gang together and ordering much too much food, with plenty of tequila to go round for good measure.

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8) Chow Down On Some Pancakes for a Midnight Feast

If you and the girls have a sweet tooth, venture to Pancakes on the Rocks for a late night feast. While the venue is laid back, amp up the evening by wearing your fanciest evening attire out for the occasion - you’ll attract mystified looks, but there’s really no funnier way to sink your teeth into a syrupy stack of buttermilk pancakes.

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9) Treat Yourselves to a Boozy Brunch

Boozy brunches have witnessed somewhat of a renaissance the last 5 years or so, and for good reason - pleasure really knows no bounds when you’re sitting with friends, fried egg in one hand, mimosa at 11am in the other.

A plethora of bottomless brunches have cropped up around the city in recent times, but we recommend Dead Ringer in Surry Hills for optimal good times.

Image Credit: Unsplash

10) Indulge in an Evening at the Beach

A girls night out needn’t involve the typical booze and fan fare; strip things back with a subdued evening at the beach. We recommend packing a cheese platter, your favourite beach games and a loudspeaker from which to (respectfully) blast some beachy tunes to complement the background of the slowly setting sun.

11) Go on a Gallery & Museum Hop

Feeling a little artsy? Gather the girls for a cultural day out museum and gallery hopping. Fortunately, we’re home to a number of museums and galleries in Sydney so you’re more than spoiled for choice, but our favourite cultural destinations include the Museum of Sydney and the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia. Finish your gallery and museum hop off by resting your feet at a local watering hole for a well deserved vino.

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12) Join a Class

While joining a class isn’t so much a singular girls night out activity as it is a recurring social activity that gives you an excuse to see your girlfriends on a more frequent basis, we stand firm on its place on this list. Classes to join with your friends span far and wide; perhaps you’ll find yourselves preparing a laksa in a Southeast Asian cooking class, or wielding a paint brush for a live drawing class?

13) Treat Yourselves to High Tea at Gunners Barracks

Feeling fancy? Of course you are! Skip the typical bar night out and indulge in the finer things in life with a high tea spread at historical Gunners Barracks, instead. Opting for a standard high tea spread will see you munching on traditional delicacies (think the likes of finger sandwiches, flaky pastries, tea and coffee), while those feeling extra celebratory will rejoice in the addition of prosecco in the sparkling wine option.

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14) Embrace Your Inner Child at B. Lucky & Sons, An Adults Arcade Bar

What do you get when you cross a cocktail bar with a high energy arcade? The answer lies in B. Lucky & Sons, Sydney’s most beloved adults only games arcade.

Here, you’ll find the likes of classic arcade games (Mario Kart and Space Invaders, anyone?) but with the welcome addition of a luxe bar serving up an array of impressive drinks (the usual culprits -espresso martinis and mojitos- are here, but so are more dramatic varieties, such as a gin based cocktail served in a bowling pin that is yours to keep).

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15) Stargaze in the Botanical Gardens

Stargazing, while often reserved for cheesy romantic comedies and second dates, makes for a remarkably unique friendship activity and subdued alternative to the classic, paint the town red girls night out. While stargazing at the Royal Botanic Garden is an obvious choice, we recommend venturing out a little further from the city for views unspoiled by city lights.

Photo Credit: Unsplash

16) Cosy Up for a Netflix Night In

Sometimes all we really need is a night in with everyone’s favourite streaming platform (it’s got Friends and The Office - we’re calling it), Netflix. Get the gang together, get your hands on more food and drinks than you think you’ll need, and curl up on the couch (binging doesn’t count as a guilty pleasure if it’s done in a social setting, right?).

17) Jazz It Up

There are truly few things more exquisite than venturing to a jazz club and sinking into a plush armchair, vino in hand.

Fortunately, Sydney is home to a number of jazz dens, paving the way for a cosy girls night out (our favourites are Venue 505 and Foundry 616).

18) Embrace the Wonder That is a Potluck Night

Stay indoors this girls night, and explore the wonder that is a potluck. The pretense of a potluck is simple; each guest is asked to cook and bring along a meal of choice to the dinner party’s location, meaning there’s less work for the host (you) and more food to share (this is always a good thing).

While it’s a great idea to ask everyone to bring their favourite dish along, a fun take on the classic potluck is an ‘international’ potluck night, where each guest must prepare something from a predetermined cuisine.

19) Go on a Foodie Scavenger Hunt with AmazingCo’s Mystery Picnic

Trumping all other picnics (we’re calling it) is AmazingCo’s Mystery Picnic; a self led food and adventure scavenger hunt. 

Throughout the course of your Friends Mystery Picnic, you and the girls will need to band together to solve a number of clues and riddles, the answers to which lead you to boutique food stores where delectable picnic items await. To finish off the day, you’ll be led to a secret picnic location where you can chow down on your spread.

Have we piqued your interest? Check out the Mystery Picnics here (and psst, we’ve got them for families and couples too!).

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