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Looking for a Father’s Day gift for the man who says he doesn’t want anything? He’s probably the kind of guy who always takes care of others but doesn’t want all the attention, which is wonderful and all, until it comes to buying a worthy present for him! We get it: gifting him something generic doesn’t feel like enough to show your love and appreciation.
No need to worry, though. Maybe a typical gift isn’t the way to go. If you’re not 100% sure what to do for Dad on Father’s Day, we’ve put together some meaningful gestures that will pleasantly surprise him, making this Father’s Day one to remember.
Organise a sports day
Whether you share a love of tennis, soccer, or footy, you can always book a court or head down to your local oval and forget your responsibilities for a couple of hours as you engage in a friendly match. If you haven’t found that one sport you’re both interested in, try something new, like pickleball or squash. Or, if flying balls aren’t your forte, find your nicest local walking track and get hiking.
Movement helps relieve stress and release endorphins, making it the perfect way to help Dad feel reenergised and happy! Plus, planning a day out together can help strengthen your relationship, add some fun to the everyday and leave you both hungry enough to enjoy a lunch at your local cafe afterwards.
Cook him a special lunch
Has your dad got a favourite cuisine? Does he love to fire up the BBQ? If you’re still stuck on what to do for Father’s Day, why not cook up a special lunch for your mum and dad? Get the table ready, prep their favourite drinks and let them sit back and relax as you treat them to a five-star service, all from the comfort of home. (Don’t forget that you’re on clean-up duty, too!)
If you’d rather get out for lunch but don’t want it to be like every other weekend, try a cooking class near you. Something like this gnochhi masterclass in Melbourne is the perfect family activity that keeps on giving. Tony M. had a great day out with his daughter:
“My daughter and I had a lovely day out at the cooking class. The service on arrival was friendly with coffee and a chat, and the class was well presented. Lunch and wine were fabulous, as was the goodie bag to take home. Thank you for a great day out.” Tony M.
You’ll learn how to make the perfect gnocchi dough (easy to recreate at home) and enjoy a memorable lunch together that won’t be forgotten easily.
Looking for first Father's Day gifts for new Dads? Discover the best gift experiences here.
Help Dad clean out his garage
There’s nothing quite as thoughtful as taking the pressure off and helping in a genuine, hands-on way. Has your dad been putting off reorganising the garage forever? It’s probably because he needs more than two hands to get it all sorted. It may not seem like the kind of thing Dad wants to worry about on Father’s Day, but once you’ve started, he’ll be grateful for the extra help.
Turn on some of his favourite tunes, make a plan and help ease the stress of clutter over some laughs and friendly banter. You may even find yourselves reminiscing about childhood memories or making new plans to help build Dad some extra storage. Once the day is over, your dad will have one less major thing on his to-do list and one more precious memory with you.
Take him on a road trip
If you’re still tossing up on what to do for Father’s Day, plan a simple itinerary and surprise Dad with some adventure. Road trips are a great way to bond and experience something new! Find a cool lunch spot, make a list of some vintage stores to rummage through, or book a friendly tour at a nearby town. You could even fit in some wine or spirit tasting, like this mead wine and honey tasting experience in the Hunter Valley. Enjoy an intimate sit-down trying magical drinks and sweet honey. Okay, you may not be able to indulge in too much mead as the designated driver, but you can still grab Dad’s favourite flavour to share at home!
“What an awesome experience. Martin was an amazing host who made an incredible mead. Great set-up allowing for good intimate discussions.” - Conrad L.
New adventures can help strengthen a bond and really show Dad how much you appreciate time spent together. Talking about building unique core memories…
Try learning something new with him
Getting out of your comfort zone together is a one-way ticket to big laughs, fascinating conversation and genuine connection. It can also simply be fun!
For a unique day out, head to a tufting class like this one in Canberra. All you need to bring is yourselves and an image you’d like to make into your very own rug! The studio will project your image so you can use it to guide your tufting masterpiece! Holding the tufting gun is fun in itself, let alone the quirky and wonderful product you get by the end. Do something different, spend some quality time with your dad and leave with a unique present that he’d never have thought to ask for.
“I had a wonderful time at the tufting class! The instructors were kind, patient, and very helpful. I was nervous as I was gifted a voucher for this class and went into it as a novice, but I was so happy with my result!” - Connor C.
Your dad may not want a typical present like socks or a nice shirt—but we can guarantee he won’t say no to quality time with you. Don’t fret about what to do on Father’s Day; your plan could be as simple as a day of fishing, and he’d be happy. Sometimes, it really is the thought that counts!
