The ultimate Christmas gift guide: best picks for travellers

Santa might bring the sleigh, but this Christmas, give the gift of adventure to the favourite traveller in your life. Forget the novelty socks and forgo the scented candle: instead, send loved ones packing with these travel-inspired gifts that cater to all budgets and tastes. Forget the perils of parking the rig or emptying the porta-potty: the biggest bugbear for van-lifers is the amount of dirt, grass and mud you walk into the caravan, no matter how diligent you are with wiping your feet. The Muk Mat fixes that issue, with high-quality UV-resistant material to help you keep sand, mud, dirt and grit outside your rig. Try the portable step mat, although they have a comprehensive range suitable for campers too. From $75; mukmat.com Some people travel light. Others come prepared for anything. Antler's new Heritage Striped Trunk is for those people. Made of lightweight aluminium, it features TSA-compatible double latch locks, replaceable 360-degree silent glide wheels and a lifetime warranty. From $625, antler.com.au From caravan parks to private homes, it's getting more and more normal to bring your furry friends on the road with you, and DOOG has a series of excellent car seats and harnesses to help them travel in comfort, safety and style (while preventing fur from getting everywhere). An added bonus: they've also just launched a cat bed and harness perfect for your moggy. From $117; doog.com.au Australians are serious about having a decent cup of coffee ... and most of the time, that roadhouse brew just doesn't deliver the caffeine hit you need. The shatter-proof Aeropress Go Plus travel coffee press means you'll always have a decent brew on hand, dripping straight through the microfilter into a stainless steel mug from the press. It's also easy to tidy up: once you're done, it easily tucks back into the compact mug. From $189; aeropress.com.au Everyone loves exploring new places. Getting there, however, can be torture on the nervous system. With this in mind, sensory deprivation can help you avoid anxiety while on the move. The perfect Christmas gift for those who struggle with flying, crowds, wind or noise, Bose's next-gen QuietComfort Ultra Headphones not only feature noise-cancelling ability and smooth sound, but offer up to 30 hours of playtime, have a low-power standby mode that can last for months and are easily foldable for easy travelling. From $650; bose.com.au Tired of screen time, but need something to occupy the kids? Try the ultimate boredom-busting travel tool for little ones from age 3-12. The Yoto Mini is an audio device that uses sturdy cards to play audiobooks, music and run activities for kids - and the best part is you can add an earphone jack for two kids (perfect for some backseat quiet time). From $130; au.yotoplay.com Worried you'll leave something behind, or that someone else might lose it, or take it away? Invest in a set of Moto tags. Working with the Android system, these small and stylish geo-tags help you keep track of all your belongings along the way: you can pop one in your luggage, inside your backpack or hide them in the bigger things you might not think anyone could take, like your caravan, jetski or tinny. From $55; harveynorman.com.au Travel makes for incredible memories, but go one better than a framed picture and commission a bespoke art piece to celebrate all the places you've been with your other half. While there are plenty of options available on Etsy that you can order in digital form (and take to be printed out on fine paper locally), order early for a hand-drawn, personalised travel adventures map by Places and Spaces Art Co. From $182; etsy.com/au/shop/PlacesAndSpacesArtCo Whether you've got a loved one with an upcoming trip, or a culture vulture with a passion for armchair travel, Context Travel's scholar-led, pre-trip travel talks by expert historians, archaeologists, chefs, writers and artists will fit the bill. From a talk on the hidden gems in Paris by a local perfumer to the Sistine Chapel with an art historian and the top 10 dishes in Sicily with a head chef, these talks offer the insight, experience and local knowledge people need to know before they go. From $US27 ($41); explore.contexttravel.com/context-talks We all have those people in our lives: the ones who seem to have everything. One of the best gifts can be a National Parks Pass for your state or territory, which covers vehicle entry into national parks. However, prices vary, and the caveat is not every state or territory offers this pass as a gift voucher. For example, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service gift vouchers can be used for camping and vehicle access permits, but in NSW these vouchers can only be used for camping and cabin hire, not vehicle access. Check with your state or territory for more information, including price. Based in Fiji, Rise Beyond The Reef works with women in remote Pacific communities to produce island-inspired, artisan-made lifestyle and travel products. Their beautiful, bright tropical prints are featured on a number of travel products, including packing and toiletry pouches in three sizes, passport covers, luggage tags and travel journals. The best part? They ship from Australia (as well as Fiji and the US), and also have an incredible range of lifestyle products for the home, so you can bring Fiji home with you. From $7; risebeyondthereef.org 1. The Swiss Army Knife remains a classic for all the right reasons, and while it has to be checked in when heading overseas, those on the road can attest to its helpfulness - whether you're camping in the wilderness or just needing to manage that difficult corkscrew in the hotel room. Victorinox manufactures the most widely used and recognised brand, with their Hunter version considered the best fit for travellers on the go. From $115; victorinox.com.au Make it special: Get your gift recipient's name engraved on the blade. 2. Travel diaries are everywhere, but Moleskine's black leather-bound notebooks have been the favourite writing vessel of artists, writers and keen observers for decades. This year, they have three interesting variations: you can get initials embossed on a plain book; a city-specific guide with a few travel tips (for New York, Paris and London); or a beautiful travel guide with eight years of dates, a section for planning and room to record either 20 shorter trips or six big trips. From $55; milligram.com Make it special: Inscribe the inside with a personal message 3. From vinyl records to old cassettes, physical media is making a huge comeback. And what better way to capture (and share) our travels than with a retro-style instant camera. Back in fashion again, these self-developing cameras are all the rage at parties and on holidays. Why? Because along with being an all-ages present, suiting everyone from teens to retirees, the camera's limited film makes you seriously consider what moments are worth capturing - and creates more tangible mementos than a digital snap forgotten on a camera memory card. From $129; instax.com.au Make it special: Buy extra film 4. An oldie but a goodie: everyone might have a few stray bandages in the glove compartment, but consider purchasing a travel-sized, car-sized or pocket-friendly first-aid kit for travellers on the go. From scratches to snake bites, the simple, but organised contents inside might help stop infection, secure a broken bone or even save a life. From $23; stjohn.org.au Make it special: Throw in an emergency chocolate bar 5. Perfect for road trips, picnics and camping adventures, Australia's Seed & Sprout have crafted beautifully designed BPA- and lead-free, insulated vacuum-sealed drink flasks. With the ability to keep your coffee and food hot or cold on the go, and with a handy tea infuser included in the flask, it's an old-fashioned, but fashionable gift for the thoughtful traveller. From $49; seedsprout.com.au Make it special: Opt for the Winter Warmer's Set, with an insulated drink flask, stainless steel container and glass coffee cup