Finish shopping and put your feet up

Video game Beatles: Rockband. Photo / Supplied

Six shopping days to go and in a present panic? The Herald gives six recommendations for easy-to-find presents for the whole family

1 If you don't know your bruschetta from your bon bons, allow Nosh to gather the best gourmet, festive treats from their food market for you.

Hampers range in price from $55 (Wine, chocolate truffles, and Christmas cake) to $200 (everything from gingerbread to brandy) and come neatly boxed, with no need for wrapping.

* Nosh food markets are in Ponsonby, Mt Eden, Greenlane, and St Johns.

Get this for mum, pack a picnic blanket in the car and send her on her way for a well-earned day off.

2 If the Where the Wild Things Are film bamboozled your kids because of its adult themes, revert to Maurice Sendak's original children's book.

It still deals with dark emotions, but it is told in 200 words, and the illustrations in muted colours are visually powerful.

Or head to gift store Askew, which has Max and three of the monsters in soft toy form.

* Maurice Sendak, Where the Wild Things Are, in Whitcoulls stores nationwide, $17.95.

* Askew, 2b Jervois Rd, Ponsonby, small soft toys $29, large soft toys $55.

One for the kids, just be ready to read the book to some of them.

3 Vouchers can be considered utterly unimaginative for a Christmas present, but they're a safe bet for the relative you know nothing about.

A teenager would far rather a petrol voucher for their summer road trip than a woolly sweater. As film prices creep up toward the $20 mark, film vouchers are a great present for couples, and can be purchased on reusable cards.

And any female relative, or stress-prone male relative, will appreciate an excuse to be professionally massaged.

* MTA petrol vouchers are available from any major petrol station.

* Equipoise Spa vouchers - $60 for a "stress reliever" massage or $95 for a full body massage. 100 Jervois Road, Herne Bay.

* Rialto Cinemas, Newmarket, sell movie vouchers from $15 minimum.

Movie tickets for the kids, MTA petrol vouchers for anyone with a car and massage therapy for mum and dad, who both deserve a well-earned day off.

4 With the world's greatest golfer Tiger Woods out of action - or so we are told - for an indefinite period of time why not give your golf lover a better chance of reaching his lofty standards with a new driver, putter or an entirely new set.

Or perhaps treat them to a roundat one of New Zealand's premier courses.

* Golf Warehouse, stores throughout Auckland, Wellington and Lower Hutt

www.golfwarehouse.co.nz

* Wairakei International Golf Course, Taupo: 18 holes $100 (affiliated members) $200 (non-affiliated)

Dad can always do with a few more sets of balls in his bag, just ask him.

5 Before The Sims most young girls growing up in the 1980s and early 90s had adventures with collectible animals from the Sylvanian Families range.

The toys have not only made a comeback but are one of the hottest selling items this year - and not just with the kids.

"It's basically girls, older daughters ... and their mothers," said Holdson Toys managing director Simon Holdsworth.

"We brought it back in about four years ago. Immediately a whole lot of young mothers who had it as young children were buying them too. It's our best-selling item this year."

Keeping in mind the Sylvanian Families collection includes houses, schools, buildings, fairgrounds and the like, Mr Holdsworth said there was "incredible demand" for the battery-operated Willow Hall House of Lights, which retails at about $150 plus GST.

* Sylvanian Families range at Toyworld stores throughout the country and good independent toy stockists.

For young girls and their mums.

6 Although it was released a few months back there is still a lot of joy to be had in The Beatles: Rock Band game devoted to the Fab Four's songs which combines the best of party favourites Singstar with Guitar Hero and more.

The game has incredible visuals, room for players on guitar, bass, drums, vocals and even back-up singers and even gets an endorsement from the two surviving Beatles - Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney.

For something more physical but no less fun, try the four-player Super Mario Bros on a Nintendo Wii.

* The Beatles: Rock Band from $59.99 on Xbox 360, PS3, Nintendo Wii at Fishpond, gaming stores, The Warehouse, Dick Smiths throughout the country.

* Super Mario Bros for Nintendo Wii $129.99 at gaming stores