You’ve already sorted the best Christmas present of all (Santa photos on the beach, obviously). Now for the tricky bit: filling those Christmas sacks.
So, we rounded up five Northern Beaches businesses we know and love, who have great gift ideas for recipients young and old, and budgets high and low. Some are run by our own Santa crew, others are long-time supporters, and all of them have gift ideas that you won’t find at Warringah Mall. These ideas aren’t just stocking fillers, they’re thoughtful, different and won’t break the bank 💫
1. Socks for sock haters: stop the morning meltdowns
I Hate Socks are bamboo, seamless socks that are almost guaranteed to stop the meltdowns before school. Available in white, grey and black.
If you’ve got a kid who’d rather go barefoot to school than put on a pair of socks, you’ll get why these socks are selling out around Australia.
I Hate Socks is the other business of our founder, Gill. She started it to help parents end the daily sock battle with kids who can’t stand the feel of regular socks, especially little ones with sensory sensitivities. They’re made from the softest bamboo, with an invisible seam across the toe so there are no lumps or bumps. They’re also designed with no heel, so they don’t twist or bunch up in shoes. Genius!
Grab a few pairs of seamless bamboo socks for kids and use the code SANTA10 for an extra 10% off your first order (valid until 25.12.2026). Socks in the stocking have never been so welcome. Turn sock haters into sock lovers here.
2. Capture these days before they all grow up
When she’s not wrangling kids, dogs and Santas on the beach, our co-owner Sophie Geraghty is a full-time photographer with her own business, Images by Sophie.
Her 15-minute mini sessions are perfect for wriggly little ones (or impatient older ones). She also runs family sessions up to 90 minutes if you’d rather take it slow and let the real smiles come out. And favourite of all? Maternity and newborn shoots, capturing those tiny fingers and sleepy cuddles before they disappear.
It’s a gift to the whole family, and to future you, scrolling back through these photos for years to come.
3. Remember the good old days? Your cosy corner bookstore, online
Glenealy Books is an independent online bookstore created by Sophie, one of our favourite festive managers at our Santa sessions over the years. As a true book lover, she missed that feeling of slowing down and getting lost in a good local bookshop. So she set out to bring that feeling online!
Expect a curated collection of their favourite reads, with a soft spot for cookbooks, second-hand favourites and unique finds you won’t see on every bestseller table.
At the time of writing, they were very close to launching, so follow Glenealy Books on Instagram to see where they’re at now.
4. Summer and beachwear: Okanui, the shorts of choice for our Santa
Ever wondered where Santa gets his summer wardrobe for his gigs Down Under? Our beach Santas have been rocking Okanui shorts and wide-brimmed hats for a few years, because nothing says Aussie Christmas like a bright hibiscus print.
Okanui is a true Northern Beaches original. Back in the 1960s, an Avalon surfer made a pair of boardies out of a canvas mailbag from the Avalon Post Office. Everyone who saw them wanted a pair, and the brand was born. These days they make bright, comfy beachwear and swimwear for men, women and kids.
If the man in your life has been wearing the same boardies from 2009, take some inspiration from Santa and shop Okanui here.
5. Dine, stay and sauna: a weekend at Q Station
Q Station is home to our premium Santa sessions on Quarantine Beach, and it’s full of gift ideas for everyone on your list.
For the zen one (or one who needs a little zen): a session at Harbour Heat, the wood-fired sauna on the edge of Sydney Harbour. Sessions are 50 minutes, run Wednesday to Sunday and start from $25. Private hire is available for groups, and it’s even better shared with a friend.
For the history buff (or curious kids): the Quarantine Wander, a walk through the original grounds where new arrivals to Sydney passed through for nearly 150 years. It’s a side of Manly most locals have never seen.
For anyone who needs a breather: a night in heritage accommodation inside Sydney Harbour National Park on North Head. It feels a world away but is only minutes from Manly, so it makes a perfect post-Christmas reset.
Add dinner at Boilerhouse and you’ve got a whole day sorted! If you’re thinking of booking a Premium Santa Session here, book right now as sessions are limited and filling fast.
Hope you’ve found these unique Christmas present ideas helpful (and even if you do revert to socks and jocks, at least make them I Hate Socks!)
Good luck with the shopping. You’ll find us at the beach!
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