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Turning 18 deserves more than another gift card. Eighteenth birthday experiences run from high-speed driving and paintball through to harbour kayaking and abseiling, giving someone their first taste of choosing an experience over an object. Book instantly, or hand over a voucher and let them pick the moment themselves.
18th birthday experiences on this page range from high-speed driving at Sydney Motorsport Park to calmer mornings on Sydney Harbour, with stops in the Blue Mountains, Newcastle and Port Stephens along the way. Some put someone behind the wheel of a V8; others hand over a kayak, a jetpack or an axe instead. Whichever one gets picked, it marks turning 18 with a day out rather than another gift to unwrap.
At Sydney Motorsport Park, the Drift Car Thrill Ride - 4 Laps puts a rider alongside an experienced drift driver for four hot laps and a real-life side-by-side drift battle. The V8 Front Seat Hot Laps Ride - 2 Laps runs a similar ride from the passenger seat of a V8 race car driven by a professional driver who won't hold back. For someone who wants to drive rather than ride along, the V8 Drive and Front Seat Hot Laps - 8 Laps requires a P-plate licence as you take the wheel and drive six exhilarating laps. Away from the track, the Jetpack and Flyboard Combo Experience - Penrith gives 10 minutes each on jetpack and flyboard for a completely unique experience. The Axe Throwing Session - Melbourne maintains a similar danger vibe with some friendly competition woven in.
On the water, the Sunrise Morning Kayak on Sydney Harbour suits early birds with a love for the water, while the Sunset Kayaking Session on Sydney Harbour is perfect when getting up for sunrise is not your thing. Further south, the Jervis Bay Guided Sea Kayak Tour with Morning Tea gives you the chance to see dolphins, seals, sea eagles, penguins and whales during migration. The Port Stephens Group Surf Lesson is another way to spend a morning outdoors, and back in the city, the Sydney Attractions Pass - 4 Attractions bundles entry to four venues, including SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium and Sydney Tower Eye, valid for 60 days from activation, to spread out the birthday fun.
Those turning 18 are about to experience life differently, so why not add to that experience with a RedBalloon Gift Voucher. This lets them choose what they want, rather than you guessing. Buying the voucher itself takes seconds, and the person who receives it gets to pick the activity, the date and who comes along. That kind of flexibility matters most at 18.
A popular 18th birthday experience is the V8 Drive and Front Seat Hot Laps - 8 Laps - Sydney, when a need for speed must be met. If boats beat cars, then the Jet Boat Ride on Sydney Harbour is a frontrunner for those based near Sydney.
Something they would not buy for themselves. The Sunrise Morning Kayak on Sydney Harbour and the Sydney Attractions Pass - 4 Attractions both work well away from a race track, covering a harbour paddle and four venues including SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium and Sydney Tower Eye. The Jetpack and Flyboard Combo Experience - Penrith adds something physical without needing a driver's licence.
Driving experiences run shorter than time on the water. The Drift Car Thrill Ride - 4 Laps - Sydney gives four hot laps in around 15 minutes with an experienced drift driver, while the Sunset Kayaking Session on Sydney Harbour runs for 90 minutes as the sun goes down. Both suit an 18th birthday group with different energy levels.
Yes, the Axe Throwing Session - Melbourne needs no prior experience, since venue staff run a briefing before anyone throws. It works well for a mixed-sex 18th birthday group if you want to share the day with your friends.
No, neither one requires previous experience. The Jervis Bay Guided Sea Kayak Tour with Morning Tea is fully guided, with morning tea included along the way. The Port Stephens Group Surf Lesson teaches surfing in a group, with an instructor and board provided throughout. Both suit someone trying the activity for the first time.
For a recipient who wants the driving or paintball side of this list built around them specifically, Gifts for Him runs a wider spread of the same kind of experience. Gifts for Her does the same from the harbour and wellness end of the range. If 18 has already been and gone, 21st Birthday Gifts picks up where this page leaves off, and Birthday Days Out is worth a look for a group booking rather than a solo gift.