24 Unique Gift Ideas for Travellers That Are Actually Useful (And Still Stylish): Gift Guide for Travellers
Enjoying the sun in Perth, Australia.
Gifting for the Wanderlust-Fuelled: Travel Gift Ideas They’ll Love (And Actually Use)
If you’ve got someone in your life who’s always planning their next adventure, or constantly uploading dreamy travel snaps, you’ll know how hard it is to find a gift that sparks wanderlust, and doesn’t end up at the bottom of a draw somewhere.
Forget baggage tags and guide books… As someone who travels frequently, I’ve tested plenty of travel gear. These are my go-to gifts for fellow travellers: not cliché, not bulky… just genuinely helpful and beautifully designed. Let’s dive in.
🎒 1. The Actually Stylish Camera Bag – Taz + Tez
Forget the bulky (somewhat ugly) camera bags of the past… Taz + Tez is an Australian brand founded by two sisters creating vegan leather bags that look like fashion pieces but secretly double as functional camera bags. I have their shoulder bag in tan and black (because outfit matching, obviously), and I never travel without it. I also have their backpack in tan, which I often use this as my carry on bag. And (because I know I’m onto a good thing) I also have their black duffle bag. I don’t believe they stock this currently, but I use it as a gym bag, work bag, and the bag I take when I travel domestic for work.
Why it’s a great gift:
Removable padded inserts for camera gear
Pockets for sunnies, wallet, SD cards, spare batteries, and more
Vegan, chic, and ridiculously practical
🚁 2. A Travel-Ready Drone: DJI Mini 4 Pro
If you’re shopping for someone you really love (as this one is a little more pricey), a travel drone like the DJI Mini 4 Pro is a total game-changer. Lightweight, under most country’s weight restrictions for registration, and fits in carry-on.
Bonus: the combo pack charger can also double as a power bank. Genius.
🛖 3. Tiny House Getaway Voucher
Sometimes, the best gift isn’t a thing… it’s a reset. I try to take a tiny house escape at least once a year. Companies like Into the Wild Escapes, CABN, or Unyoked offer unforgettable off-grid stays across Australia.
👉 Perfect for: overworked adventurers who need to unplug and breathe. Discover Why Everyone Should Do A Yearly Off-Grid Tiny House Stay (And How To Plan Yours).
Tiny house getaway in the Scenic Rim, Australia.
📸 4. Travel-Friendly Camera Accessories from URTH
Eco-conscious and designed for minimalist packing, URTH’s lens cleaning kits, filters, and removable camera inserts that turn any backpack into a camera bag, are sure to be a hit.
🔋 5. Multi-Tasking Power Bank
A power bank that’s also a flashlight, Bluetooth speaker, and charger? Yes, please. These are lifesavers when travelling remote, hiking, or just stuck in long transit.
🍷 6. Picnic Wine Table
This lives permanently in the boot of my car. Fold-out legs, wine glass holders, and a cheeseboard top. Perfect for impromptu sunset stops and beachside breaks.
Enjoying a wine in the Scenic Rim, Australia.
🧖♀️ 7. Luxury Travel Skincare
Mini Sephora or Mecca sets are perfect for the skincare-loving traveller. Flights and travel can be dehydrating and tough on your skin. A luxurious and high quality skincare set (that’s travel sized) makes for a perfect gift. Start by searching the ‘gifts’ section of these sites to find mini (travel sized) sets. Bonus points if they’re vegan and refillable.
Tip: Mecca’s Beauty Loop boxes are ideal mini-travel kits. I hoard mine for trips. If you’re buying gifts from Mecca, sign up to become a Beauty Loop member to take full advantage of their bonuses.
📽 8. Pocket Projector
Road-trippers and vanlifers will love a mini projector for movie nights under the stars. All you need is a blank wall or sheet.
🌍 9. Document Wallet
Forget flimsy passport holders… a proper travel document wallet keeps everything in one place (passport, visa docs, boarding passes, local currency, itinerary printouts). Functional + stylish = winning combo.
🌊 10. Waterproof Jewellery from Atolea
Sweat, swim, hike, repeat… and your jewellery won’t tarnish. I travel with an Atolea necklace because they’re light, durable, and still pretty enough to wear out to dinner. I get so many compliments on this necklace and it makes for a perfect gift.
🧕 11. Versatile Travel Friendly Scarf
I was gifted a red scarf by my grandmother and it became one of the most useful things I’ve ever travelled with. For modesty, warmth, or sandstorms… it does it all.
Camels in the Sahara Desert, Morocco.
🏜 12. The Perfect Lightweight Linen Shirt
My go-to shirt for everything from desert sunsets in Morocco to poolside cover-ups is a CABO 3 Palms Shirt from White Bohemian. Breathable, oversized, with roll-up sleeves and a palm tree cut-out on the back. Its style meets substance. My fave colours are Almond and White.
Wandering through mud villages in Morocco.
🎧 13. Noise-Cancelling Headphones
Essential for long flights or noisy buses. Say goodbye to screaming kids, conversations and coughing during transit, and noisy neighbours at hostels, hotels or Airbnb’s.
💺14. Airport Lounge Pass
Let’s be real: travellers love comfort, but often don’t splurge on it themselves. A lounge pass feels luxurious and appreciated — perfect for birthdays, farewells or Christmas.
📷 15. Lightweight Travel Tripod (with Mobile Attachment)
Perfect for solo travellers, a compact and durable tripod can help them snap epic shots without asking strangers. Pair it with a phone mount for bonus brownie points… it’s a total game-changer for reels, night shots, or stable selfies.
🔍 16. AirTags
Give the gift of peace of mind with an Apple AirTag. These tiny trackers slip into luggage, wallets or camera bags and can be tracked via smartphone. Ideal for frequent flyers and forgetful packers.
🌍 17. Universal Travel Adapter
A plug that works in over 150 countries? Yes, please. Choose one with multiple USB ports so they can charge everything… laptop, phone, power bank… all at once.
🧼 18. Hanging Toiletry Bag
One with a hook is essential. Whether they’re in a cramped Airbnb or simple hostel, a hanging toiletry bag saves counter space and keeps everything dry and organised.
🎧 19. AirFly Wireless Adapter
If you’ve ever suffered through flimsy (and uncomfortable) airline headphones that just don’t fit right, this clever little adapter converts the in-flight entertainment audio jack to enable Bluetooth. Pair AirFly with AirPods or other Bluetooth headphones for a much comfier flight. Some airlines are Bluetooth-friendly now… but for the ones that aren’t, this is a game changer.
🗺 20. Wooden World Map
Great for wanderlust-fuelling home decor with Enjoy The Wood world maps. They come with little pins to track your adventures. Perfect for your mate who collects memories like souvenirs.
🧳 21. Packing Cubes
If they’re not already using these, prepare to change their travel life. Packing cubes keep things tidy, help you fit more, and make unpacking a breeze.
🌊 22. Waterproof Action Camera
For the adventurer who surfs, snorkels, or climbs volcanoes. A waterproof action camera such as a GoPro captures epic memories in extreme conditions without risking their phone. Another great option is the DJI Osmo Action Pro camera.
📱 23. Underwater Dome Housing for Phones
These genius domes let you shoot those half-underwater, half-above shots… think turtles in Palau or beachy island scenes. Just make sure it’s compatible with their phone model. GDome is a great option.
🎟 24. Experiences (RedBalloon, Adrenaline, etc.)
Experiences > things. From winery tours to camel rides, escape rooms to hot air balloons… these make unforgettable gifts. Add a note encouraging them to book it for their next bucket-list destination.
🚫 Travel Gifts I Recommend You Avoid
Not all travel-themed gifts are created equal. Here are some I’d skip, especially if you’re gifting someone who travels often:
Locks: A TSA-approved lock, may be tempting, though most luggage now has inbuilt locks. Frequent travellers often already have their preferred system.
Currency Converters: Nowadays, there are so many brilliant apps that do this faster and better (and for free). A physical currency converter just isn’t it.
Baggage Tags: I’ve never had a baggage tag that’s made it through the first flight. They get knocked about and often fall off. Chances are, they’ve already got plenty.
Guidebooks (For Younger Travellers): In a world of apps, AI tools, and real-time Google Maps… bulky guidebooks often stay behind. Unless it’s a beautiful coffee table edition, skip it.
Passport Holders: These are often pretty but impractical. They make it harder to access your passport quickly and don’t offer enough space for all the travel docs needed. A travel wallet is a much better option.
Whether you’re shopping for a minimalist adventurer or a content creator who lives to have all the best gear, this list is packed with practical ideas they’ll actually be thrilled to use. Travel gifts shouldn’t be cheesy… they should be thoughtful, stylish, and useful, to support their epic experiences to come.
💡 Travel Gifting Tips:
Match style with function
Think lightweight and multi-use
Always consider TSA restrictions and carry-on size
Bonus: Find Australian or vegan brands that align with their values
You might also like:
Where To Travel Next: Unique Destinations For Your Bucket List
10 Travel Mistakes You’ll Never Make Again (and How to Avoid Them)
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