When it comes to advent calendars, why should the kids have all the fun? Well, they don't, as it turns out—because a growing number of companies are cashing in on the festivities with their very own adult versions that, quite frankly, are a whole lot better than the choccy numbers of our youth.
Think beauty products, tea, candles... even booze, for 24 days straight. So let's cut straight to the chase, here's our pick of the best adult advent calendars money can buy. Just remember that like so many of the epic things out there for Christmas, the best advent calendars in NZ are in limited supply—so be sure to snap yours up, ASAP.
Tony's Chocolonely Countdown Calendar
Price: $39.99
Taking a leaf out of the traditional advent calendar book comes this epic offering from the one-and-only Tony's Chocolonely—who if you didn't know, is on a mission to end exploitation in the cocoa industry.
Twenty-five mini bars made from their irresistible brand of Fairtrade, palm-oil-free choccy can be found hiding behind the doors of this gigantic, candy-coloured advent (it's nearly two feet tall!), including all of their most beloved flavours. Think milk chocolate caramel sea salt, white chocolate raspberry popping candy, and dark milk pretzel toffee to name but a few.
As you count down to the big day, you'll also have the chance to learn more about the ins and outs of slavery in the chocolate industry, and in keeping with Tony's sustainable values—you can even use the calendar tray to grow plants once you're done. So what are you waiting for? Treat yo self.
The Tony's Chocolonely Countdown Calendar is available now at cookandnelson.com, Farro Fresh, New World and selected retail stores.
Glasshouse Fragrances 24 Days Of Christmas Advent Calendar
Price: $299
As much as we'd love to fill our home with the smell of chestnuts roasting on an open fire, this is New Zealand aka a country steamrolling its way toward summer—so we'll be relying on the 24 scented surprises hidden inside Glasshouse Fragrances' 24 Days of Christmas Advent Calendar, instead.
This gorgeous, house-shaped box reeks of festiveness, from the gorgeous illustrations by artist Michelle Pereira to the exquisite line-up of candles, perfumes, and beauty products in Yule-friendly fragrances like the best-selling Night Before Christmas and A Tahaa Affair, waiting behind every door.
Keep an eye out for money-can't-buy products and even a limited-edition Chrissy ornament, to really drive the festive spirit home. Hands-down one of the best advent calendars in town.
T2 Advent Calendars
Price: From $56
Take a break from the merry-making and unwind with a relaxing advent calendar from T2. This year they have not one, but three tea-packed options to choose from, so dust off that beloved Santa-head mug and prepare to pinky-up.Lovehoney Womanizer Sex Toy Advent Calendar
Price: $247
If you prefer being on the naughty list at Christmas time, this might just be the advent calendar for you. Lovehoney has released their Womanizer Sex Toy Advent Calendar, with 24 days' worth of kinky presents, sure to excite both you and your special someone this silly season. Get your hands on yours here.
Sephora The Future Is Yours Advent Calendar Set
Price: $195
Makeup lovers go crazy every Christmas for Seophora’s epic value advent calendar, which is perfect as a gift or a little treat for yourself. The 2023 version has fan favourites like the cherry lip mask and matcha tea face mask plus a couple minis from their beauty range. Shop it here.
Nespresso Advent Calendar
Price: $85
For our lovers of all things caffeinated, Nespresso has an advent calendar that will have you up and buzzing until Christmas Day. Enjoy unreleased limited edition flavours, with a new cup of coffee to enjoy for 23 whole days. An extra special something is waiting for you behind door number 24, but we won’t ruin the surprise. Shop yours here.
Adairs Christmas Candle Advent Calendar
Price: $149.99
Is it possible to be more excited about an advent calendar, than Christmas Day itself? We're here to tell you that yes, it most definitely is when the advent calendar in question is filled with a dozen miniature candles in fragrances like Christmas cookies, apple pie, espresso martini, strawberry pavlova, gingerbread, and lemon meringue (anyone else suffering from festive-induced heart palpitations, or just us?).
The Adairs Christmas Candle Advent Calendar also has some of the most stunning packaging we've seen this year. Created in the shape of a cute three-storey house decked out in full Christmas kit, this is festiveness at its absolute finest and we're here for it.
Makeup Revolution Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory 12-Day Advent Calendar
Price: $99
We're already counting down the days until Timothée Chalamet steps into the shoes of the world's most famous chocolatier (Wonka hits theatres on December 14, FYI)—now we can count down to Christmas with an advent calendar created in the latter's honour.
We're talking about this epic Makeup Revolution Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory 12-Day Advent Calendar, which is already proving so popular that your chances of landing one are akin to finding a Golden Ticket (we're only half kidding).
Think 12 days of gloriously sweet treats including blueberry blusher, candy-scented lipgloss, chocolate cream bronzer, and a fruit-emblazoned scrunchie (because everyone knows that fruit-flavoured wallpaper is Willy's best party trick), all wrapped up inside a fun, candy-coloured box.
And did we mention it's also vegan and cruelty-free? Oompa loompa doompety doo.
Fling Cocktails Advent Calendar
Price: $185
Not sure what kind of advent you had last Christmas, but this year, to save you from tears—follow Wham's advice and get yourself something special (we may have paraphrased just a little). And nothing screams special more than this incredible Fling Cocktails Advent Calendar, stacked with all you need to make 24 delish and expertly crafted drinks in the countdown to Christmas.
Each day you'll unwrap instructions and ingredients for shaking up all manner of cocktail goodness, using Fling's popular cocktail cans as the base and ranging from much-loved classics through to those with a decidedly festive spin (hello, Gingerbread Espresso Martini).
Makeup Revolution Emily In Paris 12-Day Advent Calendar
Price: $90
For the chicest way to ring in the festive season, say hello (or should we say 'bonjour') to this gorgeous Makeup Revolution Emily In Paris 12-Day Advent Calendar. You read that right fam, an advent calendar inspired by one of Netflix's most popular shows, set to start filming its fourth season next year.
This beauty features everything you need to channel your inner Em, from fluttery false lashes and mascara, to berry-red lippy and champagne-hued eyeshadow. We dare say it might even help you land that dream marketing job/bag your very own Gabriel (or Alfie—we don't discriminate).
Regrettably, Emily's wardrobe is not included.
Lush Advent Calendar
Price: $390
'Tis the season to be jolly, and the Lush Advent Calendar is the jolliest of them all. Stuffed full of unapologetically Christmassy treats (including a few exclusives) from the home of fresh, cruelty-free cosmetics, you'll find Candy Cane and Reindeer reusable bubble bars—Snowdrift, Magical Santa and Lump of Coal bath bombs—and yes, even some Snow Fairy shower gel (IYKYK).
This year they've even gone the extra mile and popped a Christmas Eve candle in for good measure.
As for the packaging, it's as festive as ever, with a design created especially for the occasion by Andre Williams at Trifle (yes, trifle) Studio.
Yves Saint Laurent Advent Calendar
Price: $554
Christmas is the time for luxury is it not, and no one does luxury quite like YSL. Case in point? The Yves Saint Laurent Advent Calendar, a collection of their most covetable goodies including 18 minis, five full-size products and one gift, packaged inside a gorgeous, gold-embossed box made with recyclable cardboard sourced from responsible forests.
Prime your lips for a kiss under the mistletoe with their assorted lippies—eyelash-bat your way to the top of Santa's nice list with the help of their Lash Clash mascara—and spray yourself silly with the only scent better than a real Christmas tree (that would be Black Opium).
MAC Frosted Frenzy Advent Calendar
Price: $526
If makeup makes you merry, then check out the gorgeous MAC Frosted Frenzy Advent Calendar. This beauty may set you back a cool five hundy, but we reckon that's a small price to pay for 24 days of gifts (including 21 full-sized products) that will have you out-shining even the brightest Chrissy tree—especially when the whole thing's valued at $980.The Weekender Gin Bauble Advent Calendar
Price: $295 $260
If gin-gle bells are the only kinda bells you're interested in this Christmas, then you're gonna loveee this luxe Gin Bauble Advent Calendar from The Weekender.
Spirits will be at an all-time high and your festive cup overflowing as you work your way through 24 of the country's most awarded gins, each individually packaged inside its very own bauble (honestly, they've thought of everything).
LEGO Advent Calendars
Price: $52.99
Okay, so technicallyyy this one is for the kids, but we reckon you're never too old to enjoy the magic of LEGO.
As is the case every year, you'll have a few different options to choose from—ranging from the classic LEGO City and LEGO Friends varieties to those themed around Star Wars, Harry Potter, and even the Avengers (because Christmas happens in the MCU too, you know).
Lovehoney Rose Sex Toy Advent Calendar
Price: $157
Another spicy advent calendar option available from Lovehoney is this Rose Sex Toy Advent Calendar. Full to the brim of saucy surprises, it even includes their best-selling Rose Sex Toy. Whether you’re looking for something for yourself or a special someone, this calendar will be sure to keep everyone entertained in the lead-up to Christmas Day. Click here to grab yours.
Kereru Beer Advent Calendar
Price: $179
Raise your pint, people, because the hugely popular Kereru Beer Advent Calendar is back for another year.
Containing 24 cans of Kiwi-made craft beer, each hiding behind a perforated door—just like the advent calendars of old—you'll sip your way through a legit sack-load of brews (including a number of special editions) like Tonka Bean Cream Ale, and Ginger Bird: Spiced Brown Ale. How very merry.
Winter Lights 12 Days Of Puzzles Christmas Countdown
Price: $59.95
Some people like their advent calendars filled with beauty products, some people like them filled with booze—and others just like theirs filled with a Christmas-themed jigsaw to put together each day, can we get an amen?
Enter the Winter Lights 12 Days Of Puzzles Christmas Countdown, available here in NZ from The Jigstore. This charming advent calendar features 12 80-piece mini puzzles, each depicting an unapologetically festive scene including a Christmas tree market, ice-skating rink, and a whole lotta Christmas shopping, illustrated by New Jersey-based artist Joy Laforme.
For one of this year's most novelty (and long-lasting) advent calendars, you gotta get yourself a piece of this.
Honest Chocolat Advent Calendars
Price: From $55
These are kinda like the Christmas calendars you had as a kid, only better, with two options to choose from this year. Both contain 24 miniature houses that you'll put together yourself, then fill with treats—plus daily anecdotes to add to the festivities.
The Jolly Christmas Advent Calendar is stuffed full of chocolates, marshmallows, fruit jellies, hokey pokey and caramels, while the Decadent Christmas Advent Calendar is an all-chocolate affair bursting with chocolate bonbons and festive chocolates.
Place these cute li'l houses on your mantelpiece for the ultimate display of holiday cheer, or string them together with ribbon and hang them on the wall. And did we mention that you can even get advent calendars for TWO?
Cult Wine Advent Calendar
Price: $595
Imagine counting down the days to Christmas, with wine. Better yet, grab yourself a 2023 Cult Wine Advent Calendar and do it for reals.Beer Jerk Cider Advent Calendar
Price: $145
Famous for their annual Craft Beer Advent Calendar (of which there are now two options to pick from, including an alcohol-free version), Beer Jerk is shaking things up for another year with the return of their deliciously refreshing Cider Advent Calendar.
Stacked with 24 cracking brews from some of the country's best producers, made with apples, pears, berries, tropical fruits, citrus and even botanicals, it's like all of our Christmases have come at once.
Now it's time to really get into the festive mood with the best Christmas movies to binge on Netflix.
Image credit: T2, Tony's Chocolonely, The Jigstore, Glasshouse Fragrances, T2, Adairs, Makeup Revolution, Fling Cocktails, Makeup Revolution, LUSH, MAC Cosmetics, The Weekender, LEGO, Kereru Beer, Honest Chocolat, Cult Wine, Beer Jerk.
Urban List editors independently select and write about stuff we love and think you'll like too. Urban List has affiliate partnerships, and if you purchase something through the links in this article, we will earn a commission from those partners. To find out more about who we work with and why read our editorial policy here.