Travellers have curated kits. They already own the bag they like, they have a packing system, and they're picky about weight. The strongest travel gifts respect that: compact, durable, multi-use, and weighing less than what they replace. Think Kindle Paperwhite (1,000 books, 200g), Bose QC Ultra noise-cancelling, a Bellroy Travel Wallet, a silk sleep mask, a quality travel pillow, a power bank that's actually airline-legal, a global adapter, or packing cubes.
What to avoid: full-sized luggage (loyal to a brand), bulky gadgets, single-region adapters, anything that needs a wall, novelty 'travel-themed' merch, and 'home office' accessories that have nothing to do with travel.
For non-physical gifts, an Airbnb gift card, a Qantas/Velocity voucher, a Lonely Planet gift card, or a paid stay at a specific property all work. For travelling parents, a packing service or a paid airport lounge pass is genuinely thoughtful.
Budget: A$80–A$200 for in-bag accessories, A$200–A$500+ for a stay or an experience. Every pick here is scored down if it reads as desk/office-only.