Mother's Day gift guide 2026: unique, budget and last-minute ideas

Mother’s Day gift ideas under $50

Melbourne sightseeing cruise

Escape the everyday and take mum for a one-hour cruise on the Yarra River. See Melbourne from a different perspective, with the Melbourne River Gardens one-hour sightseeing cruise going past the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne Park, Federation Square and the Royal Botanic Gardens. Have a meal at Docklands and make a day of it.

Movie tickets

Everybody loves a night out at the movies. Gift mum a night out with a friend or partner at the local cinema, where she can enjoy some of the latest box-office releases on the big screen. For Mother's Day 2026, that could mean a screening of The Devil Wears Prada 2, The Drama or even Supergirl. 

Movie tickets are an excellent last-minute gift, as you can buy them online and even add on extras for mum, such as drink or popcorn vouchers. 

A history and ghost tour

If your mum is a history buff or you think she'd like the novelty of a ghost tour, then buy her a voucher for the Altona Homestead Ghost Evening Tour.

Located on the outskirts of Melbourne, Altona Homestead is one of the oldest homesteads in the country. This 90-minute tour will take her on an eerie journey to learn about the Langhorne family who resided on the property, and the births, deaths and heartaches that are still linked to the building.

If you want to make the outing extra special, make time for dinner beforehand at one of the many restaurants on Pier Street, Altona.

STREAT café voucher

For a Mother's Day gift that gives back to the community, consider a STREAT gift voucher.

STREAT is a social enterprise that runs a range of hospitality businesses to support and train disadvantaged youth. Their e-gift cards can be used to buy products online or in-store - mum can choose whether to treat herself to a gourmet hamper, or simply use her gift card for her morning coffee run.

An eGift card

Looking for a last minute Mother's Day gift? Look no further than the humble eGift card. Not only is an eGift card delivered to your mum instantly via email, but it also allows mum to choose the perfect present for herself. 

RACV Members can use the RACV App to purchase eGift Cards from more than 150 retailers including Myer, JB Hi-Fi, Sephora, The Iconic, Lorna Jane, Witchery, MacPac and dozens more. Shop and save through the RACV App.

Mother’s Day gift ideas: $50 to $100

High tea at Harding’s Lounge

Treat mum to a traditional High Tea at Harding’s Lounge at the RACV Torquay Resort, where she can enjoy a traditional afternoon tea while overlooking the glittering waters of the Bass Strait.

Mother's Day High Tea at RACV Torquay Resort starts at $65 per person for premium teas and coffee alongside a selection of scones, sandwiches and desserts. Or upgrade to the drinks package where for $95 per person your mum can enjoy the same high tea treats plus a welcome cocktail and two hours of free-flowing sparkling wine.

Both high tea experiences include access to a gin tasting station where you can sample and purchase premium gin varieties with guidance from local experts. Book your spot now.

If you miss out on a booking for Mother's Day, you can still treat your mum to a High Tea at Harding's Lounge, with bookings for two or more people available with 48-hours notice for any day of the week. 

Cocktail workshop at Four Pillars Distillery

For an interactive Mother’s Day experience book mum in for a cocktail class at the Four Pillars Distillery in the Yarra Valley.

As well as a classic G&T with snacks on arrival, she’ll learn to shake up two of her very own gin-based cocktails.

Flowers

If you're looking for a classic, tried-and-true Mother's Day gift you can't go past a beautiful bouquet of flowers. Chrysanthemums are known as the traditional bloom for the occasion, but carnations, leucadendrons, roses and irises are also in season around Mother's Day. 

For a budget gift, pick mum a bouquet of flowers from your garden. Or make a day of it and take her for a visit to one of the best free botanic gardens and beautiful parks around Victoria.

Cake from Le Petit Gâteau

Perfect for every special occasion, Le Petit Gâteau has irresistable cakes, tarts, chocolates, tasting plates and other patisserie items. You can get an individual cake for around $12 or a large cake for $60-$70, with special occasion cakes priced according to size, design, and embellishments.

The patisserie's Mother's Day cake for 2026 comprises a crunchy berry base topped with a vanilla lamington sponge, strawberry compote, crème brûlée and coconut mousse. The elegant treat is finished with a pink and white glaze and white chocolate decorations.

The cake serves 10-12 people and costs $90. Orders are open now for collections from Monday to Friday, until May 8, 2026.  Place your order via email or by calling 03 9944 8893.

Brunch for two at Green Olive

Looking for a bit of one-on-one time with mum? Take her to an al fresco experience that includes a delectable brunch with sparkling wine at the Green Olive winery and olive grove in Red Hill.

Dine on a variety of local grazing-style produce, overlooking vines and ducks on the dam.

Or take Mum out for a date at one of the best boutique wineries on the Mornington Peninsula.

Mother’s Day gift ideas: $100 or more

New sunglasses

As well as making mum feel and look good, a new pair of sunglasses will protect her eyes and improve her comfort.

Even in winter, sunglasses can help reduce glare when you're driving and protect the eyes from harmful UV rays - they're a key sun protection measure as noted by Cancer Council Australia.

RACV Members can us the RACV App to save on eyewear at OPSM, Sunglass Hut and Oakley. 

Lunch or dinner aboard the Q Train

Indulge mum with an award-winning degustation lunch or dinner aboard the Q Train. Travelling through the Bellarine Peninsula, the three-hour train journey serves up mouthwatering dishes and panoramic views. The experience is a delight for foodies, and there is time between courses to wander around and explore the historic train.

It may inspire your mum to see more of Australia by train.

An all-inclusive resort stay

Gift the perfect getaway this Mother's Day with a voucher to a luxurious  RACV Resort. It can be redeemed at nine locations across Victoria, Tasmania, and Queensland. 

From fine dining and dramatic coastal scenery to rich bushland or a bustling city break, there’s a resort experience for everyone. Mum can choose from resorts in: 

• Torquay on the stunning Great Ocean Road
• Cape Schanck on the coastal Mornington Peninsula
• Cobram along the serene Murray River
• Inverloch on the pristine Gippsland Coast
• Goldfields near historic Ballarat and relaxing Daylesford
• Healesville in Yarra Valley’s wine country
• Noosa, the foodie’s hotspot on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast
• Gold Coast  in Queensland’s surfing paradise
• Hobart, Tasmania’s ever-evolving capital city.

A hot springs experience

Give mum the ultimate gift of relaxation and wellness with a trip to Peninsula Hot Springs on the Mornington Peninsula. Featuring a package in the adults-only Spa Dreaming Centre with immersion in the geothermal bathing pools, you can even add in a sumptuous dinner so mum has a full day to relax and unwind.

Alternatively, there's also the Alba Thermal Springs and Spa, with access to 22 pools during the day and under the moonlight. Both spas are located close by to RACV Cape Schanck Resort for visitors who may wish to make a weekend of their hot springs experience.

Otao Kitchen cooking classes

Is mum looking to take her culinary masterpieces to the next level? Otao Kitchen Cooking Experiences include a choice of cooking with Australian native ingredients, Vietnamese cooking, or dumpling making. 

Buy a voucher and mum can book the experience for a day that suits her. She can look forward to a welcome drink and a delicious meal of her own making, with access to online recipes to enhance her enjoyment of cooking at home.

Echuca Paddle Steamers wharf to winery river cruise

Give mum a day on the premium Wharf to Winery river cruise along the Murray. With a two-course lunch, glass of wine, and wine tastings at Morrison's Riverview Winery, you’ll definitely be in the good books with this culinary river trip.

Degustation at Cape

For a mum that deserves the best, send her on a gastronomical trip for the senses at Cape.

This hatted restaurant on the Mornington Peninsula offers either a three or five-course fine dining experience, with optional paired wines.  The restaurant is known for blending European gastronomical traditions with the very best local produce, with as many ingredients as possible sourced from the Mornington Peninsula itself.

One Spa voucher

With a One Spa voucher, your mum can choose from a range of wellness treatments, including massage, facials or water therapy rituals. 

With retreats located throughout Victoria and Queensland, One Spa offers ample opportunity to indulge in self-care.