Best Father's Day Gift Ideas in Lockdown

With September 4th creeping up on us, we've assembled our top gifts for Dad in Sydney that are guaranteed to crack a smile. Whether you're eager to get out and about for Father's Day 2024, live across borders or seas, or are in isolation for the day, our unique experience gifts vary from in-person to live streaming workshops to suit everyone's circumstances. Help Dad unleash his creative side with pottery or give him the opportunity to wind down with mindful cooking classes in Sydney. Simply read on to discover a multitude of Father's Day activities in Sydney that will make Dad feel ultra-loved.

Father’s Day ideas for a Dad who loves cooking

There are many gift ideas for Dads who consider themselves the ultimate foodies. With cooking experience gifts that span from virtual classes to in-person workshops at culinary schools in Sydney, you can have your dad feeling like the Michelin-star chef no matter the situation.

Connect with dumplings at hands-on Sydney workshops

Unless you love eating oil paint, cooking dumplings are the most delicious art form available, and knowing how to handcraft your own is an enviably tasty skill and one worth offering up as one of the best gift experiences for dad. Thankfully, Honkas Bar + Eats in Potts Point offers up one of the best dumpling and cocktail making classes that Sydney has to offer. Spend the afternoon shaking up two cocktails before spending the next half of the class mastering the perfect DIY dumplings fold. You'll be laughing, chatting and making memories in no time, which is why it's one of the best things to do in Sydney.

Make your own potato gnocchi at home

Gnocchi is one of the most versatile kinds of pasta in the world, and one of the best at-home Father’s Day activities. Making gnocchi isn’t anywhere near as difficult as you may think, it just takes a little bit of time. Italian food maestros Salt Meats Cheese offer a live stream cooking class that works perfectly for your list of Father’s Day gift ideas.

You’ll have to provide the ingredients yourself, but gnocchi is made using predominantly flour and potatoes, making it a cheap and effective dish to make on a budget. Not only this but because there’s no accompanying craft box for this one, it makes it one of the more affordable gifts for dad in Sydney.

Cook Spanish tapas at home

Spanish tapas is legendary as being a fantastic cuisine that can be shared by the whole family, so not only is this a fun choice when it comes to Father’s Day gifts in 2024, but you might also get to share in the spoils of your dad’s cooking adventures. Covering everything from paella through to zucchini flowers, this virtual class is ideal if you’re chasing Father’s Day ideas in Sydney for a dad that loves to cook.

Father’s Day gift ideas for crafty fathers

Everyone knows that a dad doesn’t need a tool shed to get over-invested in an obscure hobby, and we are totally here for it. We support Australia’s dads and their desire to build, wilt, quilt and shave, and we have Father’s Day gift ideas in Sydney to help your dad either discover a new hobby or get better at one he may already have. 

Make a leather glasses case at home

Got a DIY dad who insists on making everything himself? This virtual workshop is one of the best Father’s Day activities at home. In this quick forty-five-minute class, your dad will learn basic leatherwork skills as he builds himself a very fashionable glasses case! With a craft box delivered to his door that includes everything he needs, this is one of the best presents for dad in Sydney.

Give glassblowing a go in Marrickville

Is Dad always up for a challenge? Uncover the sticky and whimsical world of glassblowing at an immersive workshop with Mark Elliot in Marrickville! Over a taster session, your dad can learn how to yield glass with a flame, and shape it into a range of weird and wonderful creations. This hands-on class is perfect if you've been searching for unique gifts for Dad in 2024, and is a great option if you're also looking to tag along with him. Just be warned: glassblowing is highly addictive!

Learn how to write a book at home

Has Dad got a bunch of stories and experiences that he just won’t stop talking about? If you’re looking at experience gifts for dad that’ll help him exorcise some of that long-winded storytelling energy, this class is perfect for him. Not only does this Sydney class cover a variety of storytelling techniques, writing devices and fun creative exercises, but Jan Cornall runs an exceptionally well-paced workshop that ensures the time will just fly by. By the end of it, your Father’s Day ideas will have yielded a whole canon of literary classics. Hopefully.

Sculpt your family pet with clay at home

Father’s Day gifts in 2024 will tend to have a very direct focus on your dad, but why not bring the family pet into it? In this pottery workshop with a twist, your father will be shown how to hand-build a clay sculpture of the family pet, no matter the size, breed, colour or species! From Golden Retrievers to goldfish, this workshop is one of the best gifts for dad if he’s a bit nifty with his hands, and looking to get a little more creative.

Father’s Day gift ideas to pamper dad

If we break stereotypes here for a minute, we have a plethora of Father’s Day ideas to ensure that not only will your dad feel appreciated, he’ll feel pampered as well. Looking after your skin and your hair is important no matter your gender, and offering your dad a bit of self-love for your Father’s Day gifts 2024 can be a new experience for him, and a fun experience for everyone else!

Make DIY skincare in Camperdown

Although not every dad has a rigorous exfoliating technique, maybe they should. There are plenty of leathery old dads out there that could use a few tips on taking care of their skin, and what better way to offer that than with a natural skincare making class? From a multi-purpose balm to a detoxifying face mask, this is one of the best Father’s Day gift ideas to get him out of his comfort zone and have him trying something new.

Melt and pour candles at home

Learning to make candles offers something more fragrant to your Father’s Day activities at home. Not only is it fun, but it’ll also fill the house with the smell of breaking down Father’s Day gift idea tropes. A friendly teacher's expertise will help your dad discover a new meditative hobby that will impress mum. This also is a wonderful present for Dad that can get the whole family involved.