There's a moment every winter where you look at your weekend plans and think... actually, I'd rather just stay in.
Not in a sad way. In a deeply intentional, slightly smug, I-have-candles-and-snacks kind of way. The "do not disturb" energy that arrives when the temperature drops and the couch suddenly becomes the most appealing place on earth.
And that's exactly the right time to pick up a hobby. Not a hobby that requires a gym membership or a road trip or a group booking. A proper indoor one. The kind that gives you something to do with your hands, something to look forward to on a grey Tuesday night, and an answer to "so what have you been up to?" that isn't just "watching TV."
We've rounded up the best cozy indoor hobbies to get into right now, and matched each one with a gift hamper that makes the whole thing even better. Because what's a hobby without a little something to set the scene?
🎨 Painting: The Hobby That Doesn't Require Talent (But Does Require Wine)
Here's the thing about painting as a hobby. You don't have to be good at it. In fact, part of the appeal is that nobody is watching, nobody is grading you, and the whole point is just to be in the moment with a brush and some colour and maybe a very good playlist.
Paint and sip has been having a serious cultural moment, and it's easy to see why. It's relaxing without being boring. It's creative without being precious. And it turns out, making something with your hands, even something a bit wonky, is genuinely satisfying in a way that scrolling never quite manages to be.
The key to a good at-home paint night? The right setup. You don't need much. A decent kit, something to sip, a snack situation, and a candle burning nearby. That's basically the whole formula. We've got two great options depending on your budget and your vibe.
🎁 Arty Archie Gift Hamper — $90
The entry point for a brilliant paint night. Arty Archie is for the creative mate who just needs an excuse to switch off and have a go, and honestly, that's most of us.
Inside there's the same Paint Like Frida paint-by-numbers kit (20x25cm numbered rolled canvas, paint pots, and quality brushes designed by real artists, frame not included), your choice of two Strangelove Yuzu Sodas, a Freshwater Brewing XPA, or a glass of wine, Pebbly Path's Signature Rocky Road packed with whole hazelnuts from Oberon, peanuts, cranberries, marshmallow, and toasted coconut, and Fluffe handmade fancy fairy floss made from locally sourced sugars in Sydney.
The snack situation here is genuinely excellent. Rocky road and fairy floss while painting is an experience we highly recommend to everyone.
🎁 Painting Picasso Gift Hamper — $140
For when you want to take the paint night up a notch. Painting Picasso has everything Arty Archie does in terms of the painting kit, but layers in some extra luxuries that make the whole evening feel a bit more considered.
Alongside the Paint Like Frida kit and your choice of Minimum wine (red, white, rosé, or Polka Lilly Pilly non-alcoholic sparkling), you get a Black Blaze Seaweed Candle hand-crafted from high-quality beeswax and inspired by Australian nature, Up-Up Dark Sea Salt chocolate from certified slave-free single estate cocoa, and Mount Zero Mixed Olives in a lemon thyme and citrus zest marinade. You can even upgrade to Veuve Clicquot if the occasion calls for it.
The candle is the detail that tips this one over the edge. A beeswax candle burning while you paint, wine in hand, olives on the side? That's not just a hobby. That's a properly Good evening.
How to make it a proper paint night:
Clear a table. Light the candle. Pour yourself a glass. Put on a playlist you love and resist the urge to check your phone. Give yourself permission to be fully mediocre and entirely present. The painting almost doesn't matter. The hour you spent actually switching off? That's the point.
🍜 Cooking: The Hobby You Get to Eat Afterwards
Cooking as a hobby is different from cooking because you have to eat. One is a chore. The other is genuinely one of the most satisfying ways to spend a couple of hours.
The difference is usually the recipe. If you're making the same weeknight pasta you've made four hundred times, it's maintenance. But if you're trying something new, following a proper method, discovering a technique or a flavour combination you haven't tried before? That's when cooking becomes a hobby. It's tactile, it's creative, it engages you completely, and the payoff is immediate and edible.
Winter is the absolute best time for this. Kitchens get warm. Aromas fill the house. There's no pressure to eat outside or keep it light. You can properly commit to a project.
🎁 Ramen Riko Gift Hamper — $90
For the night you want to cook something that feels like an event.
Ramen Riko is Japan in a gift box. The centrepiece is a Naked Asian Grocer Ramen Kit packed with slurp-worthy ramen noodles, a miso-based broth, and toppings including crispy fried shallots and seaweed. Paired with House of Nom's Mildly Wild Chilli Oil, made with golden canola oil and crispy garlic for the kind of warmth that makes food more fun, not frightening. Then there's Moji Matcha Spread, smooth and creamy, made with authentic matcha from Kyoto, which works on toast, stirred into lattes, or honestly just eaten straight from the jar.
For chocolate, Up-Up Dark Cherry satisfies as a rich finish, and you choose your drink from two cans of Strangelove Yuzu Soda (complex, citrusy, and genuinely unlike anything else), a craft lager from Freshwater Brewing, or a glass of wine.
This is the gift for anyone who loves cooking as an experience, not just an outcome. The friend who watches travel food shows and takes notes. The partner who got really into Japanese cooking during lockdown and never stopped. Yourself, honestly, on a Thursday night when you want dinner to feel like a small adventure.
🎁 Lavish Lizzie Gift Hamper — $70
For the night you want to go full Italian kitchen.
Lavish Lizzie is built around Saturday Night Pasta's Pipette, a short, ridged pasta made from Australian durum wheat semolina. Pipette translates to little pipes, and the design exists precisely to catch sauce in all its curves and crevices. Paired with Italians Do It Better Pasta Sauce, a rich tomato and basil base that works beautifully as is or as a starting point for your own improvisation.
Alongside that, Mount Zero Mixed Olives in a lemon thyme and citrus marinade as a starter situation, and two servings of A Glass Of wine, sourced from Australia's best independent winemakers and curated by restaurant sommeliers. Delivered in foil-lined pouches that are better for preserving quality and more sustainable than glass, which is the kind of detail that makes you feel good about what you're buying.
This one is for the person who genuinely loves cooking but also appreciates that the best pasta nights don't require a full grocery shop or a complicated shopping list. It's all there. Open the box, boil the water, pour the wine, and turn a weeknight into something worth sitting down for.
The Hobby-Hamper Logic
Here's a thought. The best gift you can give someone, including yourself, isn't always a thing. It's a reason to do something. A reason to slow down and be in the moment with something that isn't a screen.
A paint-by-numbers kit gives you an excuse to sit at a table and make something. A ramen kit gives you an excuse to cook properly and try something new. A pasta night kit gives you an excuse to slow down and enjoy the process of making dinner instead of just getting it done.
And when that's wrapped up in beautiful packaging with quality Australian products from brands that actually care about what they make? That's not just a gift. That's a Good Day, gifted.
Shop all Foodie Hampers and find the one that matches the hobby night you've been meaning to plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's a good gift for someone who loves to cook?
A foodie gift hamper with quality ingredients they wouldn't necessarily buy themselves is a great call. Think artisan pasta, gourmet sauces, specialty condiments like chilli oil, and a drink to enjoy while they cook. Good Day People's Ramen Riko and Lavish Lizzie hampers are two strong options for the home cook in your life.
What's a good paint and sip gift hamper in Australia?
The Painting Picasso hamper from Good Day People is exactly that. It includes a Paint Like Frida paint-by-numbers kit, your choice of wine or non-alcoholic sparkling, a Black Blaze beeswax candle, chocolate, and olives. Everything you need for an at-home paint and sip night, delivered.
What do you put in a foodie gift hamper?
The best foodie gift hampers include a mix of gourmet staples the recipient would love to cook with or eat. Think artisan pasta and sauces, specialty condiments, quality chocolate, and a drink to match. The key is choosing products with real provenance, things from small producers and local makers, rather than supermarket staples in nicer packaging.
Do Good Day People hampers deliver Australia-wide?
Yes. Good Day People ships to all Australian states and territories with express delivery options nationwide, including same-day delivery in Sydney metro for orders placed before 11am on weekdays. New Zealand delivery is also available via Australia Post International Express.
