Ah, the big 18! It’s a momentous day for boys and girls in Australia! Finally, you are able to drink, vote, and get married (though you’ll probably want to wait for the latter). You are still technically a teen, but you are slowly starting to understand what it is like to be an adult with family members and friends (hopefully) treating you as such. Thus, what better a time to truly celebrate coming of age, than on this glorious day.
The trouble is…what on earth do you do for an 18-year-old boy or girl for such a special birthday? Everybody is different so we will try to offer a mixed variety of things to do for 18th birthdays. In this article, we will go through 18th birthday party themes, 18th birthday party ideas for girls, and 18th birthday party ideas for boys. Hopefully, you’ll be able to find a little inspiration and throw them an amazing party that they will look back on fondly for the rest of their lives. Now, let’s take you through some awesome and fun 18th birthday ideas in Australia.
Then there is the same problem with the gift. Follow the link if you need some 18th birthday present ideas for a boy or girl, we have put a great deal of thought into it for you.
Australian 18th birthday party ideas
Here are some brilliant 18-year-old party ideas that can apply to both boys and girls:
What to do:
Scavenger hunt
A scavenger hunt might feel a little juvenile for an 18th birthday party, but you can always be scavenging for a miniature bottle of alcohol! In any case, it is a fun idea for an 18th birthday party for both boys and girls.
Water fight
Again it may sound a little childish but there are few things in life more fun than chucking a water balloon at your friends and family and not getting in trouble for it!
Breakfast for dinner
Sure, it sounds a little crazy, but who doesn’t love the sound of wearing pyjamas and eating a massive fry-up for dinner? It’s a fun and silly idea but it can go down a treat.
Fireworks
What better way of marking such a momentous day than with a couple of big bangs? Fireworks are a great way of marking a special event.
Sports
This might not be for everyone, but a sports-day-themed birthday is a great way to encourage a little healthy competition between friends and family. That, and you’ll all work up a massive appetite so you can finish off with a sumptuous BBQ afterward.
Mocktails (or cocktails)
Creating lots of delicious mocktails (or cocktails—they’re 18 after all) is a fun and creative way of celebrating the day.
Culture
While not for every 18-year-old, there are a variety of options like spending the night in a museum, going to an observatory and celebrating your birthday under the stars, and many other ways to really make the day and night special for everyone.
Adventures
For the more adventurous type, why not spend the birthday on a surfing, kayaking, or paint-balling trip? There are many adventures to be had. All you need to do is settle on the one your 18-year-old will enjoy the most!
Things to do for an 18th birthday party
There are so many 18th birthday ideas for you to choose from. Here are some more awesome things that you can consider:
What to do:
Board-game party
Again, this might not be for everyone, but if your kid is particularly competitive, a fun board game party might be an affordable alternative to bring everyone together and mark the occasion.
Pub games party
Another fun option is to offer up a lot of the pub games and activities that they will (of course) have never played before. Darts, pool, and even some old classics like shove ha’penny and billiards, can be a (hopefully) memorable way to spend the night.
Escape room
An escape room is a thrilling way to spend an 18th birthday party, whether for a boy or girl. It’s a great way to inspire a little competition between everyone and see who can make their way to safety the fastest!
Surprise party
Of course, you can’t beat a good old-fashioned surprise birthday party. It does, of course, help if the honouree doesn’t mind being startled and ambushed by all of their loved ones!
Camping
Camping is another great adventure and a wonderful way to spend an 18th birthday party. BBQ, beers, and lots of laughter under the stars; perfect. Here’s how to choose a sleeping pad.
Pizza making
It’s all part and parcel of preparing them to leave home! Here’s how to make pizza, enjoy it. Now leave and live off this for the rest of your life. Thank you for stopping by!
What about decorations for an 18th birthday?
Decorations for an 18th birthday party are easy enough, to be honest. You can either roll with the typical 18th birthday balloons and candles and so on. Or perhaps, opt for something a little more grown-up and stylish. Colours like black and gold for a more fancy and sophisticated type for example. Or of course, you can choose a theme for the 18th birthday party. What do they love the most? Nobody knows them better than you, so use the knowledge that you have for their 18th birthday decoration ideas.
Perfect 18th birthday party themes
The perfect 18th birthday party theme should be based on their favourite thing in the world. A fancy dress-themed 18th birthday party is a whole lot of fun and everyone can get involved. One option could be to dress as the birthday boy or girl, another to select things beginning with a letter or that happened in the year they were born. There are so many choices so again really think about what would most suit the soon-to-be 18-year-old.
18th birthday party ideas for girls
Movie marathon slumber party
You can’t beat a good old knees-up with the girls at a movie marathon slumber party for the 18th birthday party. All of the trashy rom coms that the heart desires.
Bonfire party
Get wrapped up in blankets and sit around swapping stories by the fire, talking about the future, and getting tipsy for the first time (hopefully).
Royalty dinner
Your princess might not be so little anymore, but the least you can do for her 18th birthday party is throw her a royalty dinner!
Photo booth party
Girls love selfies, so what better way of marking an 18th birthday party for girls than by throwing a photo booth party?
Fantasy party
Whether you are 8, 18 or 80 lots of people still love the chance to dress up as their favourite character from Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, Star Wars, or pretty much any universe, book, or film. Again you know them best, so get your wands, swords, or space suits ready and have a blast.
Karaoke party
Not just for the girls, though the boys may pretend otherwise, a classic tune, mics, and all your friends to sing along can make a really memorable 18th! Just be prepared if your music tastes are wildly different and grab yourself some earplugs just in case!
Dance party
Just as much fun for your lifelong ballerinas as your break dancers, and even those who haven’t had much experience at all, there are many ways to bring dancing into your Australian girl’s 18th. You could use dance mats, existing games, or even get an instructor in to show off some moves.
18th birthday party ideas for boys
Weekend adventure party
Get the lads together for a weekend adventure party! Paintballing, camping, swimming, surfing, whatever they love the most. A little bit of outdoor activities at an 18th birthday party is a great coming-of-age experience.
Casino party
A casino party is a fun and lavish way for young lads to get dressed up in a suit and channel their inner James Bond!
Movie marathon
Whether you’d prefer to rent out a cinema with all the popcorn a boy could want or go for something just as fun at home, for those kids with a favourite franchise or film this can be a fun way to end the night.
Master class
This could be an awesome opportunity to teach your 18-year-old son some handy life skills before you kick them out of the house. How about a masterclass in cooking?
Zombie party
It doesn’t matter how old you are, zombie parties are awesome. Get everyone dressed up nice and spooky or divide your family and friends into the living and the dead and have a massive game of zombie tag!
Go Karting
Yes, your loved one is old enough to drive, but there is something about careening around a track that brings together the stupid and the fun to make it stupidly fun!
Game themed party
From mini-games inspired by Wii Party to a Mario-Kart-themed race, there are loads of excellent ideas to be taken from your 18-year-old’s favourite games. Sometimes it can be better if it’s something they loved as a child – even at 18 it can feel like a long time since you have played and liked something, yet that reminder of youthful fun can really make your day special.
Our conclusion on 18th birthday party ideas
We hope that you are not feeling too overwhelmed by the sheer volume of ideas of what to do for the 18th birthday parties that we have shared with you. Again, it’s all about understanding the honouree and choosing a theme or idea that will really resonate with them the most. In any case, if you find yourself struggling and need further assistance, you can always check out a professionally planned and managed 18th birthday bash!
