The key to a successful Father's Day gift is to give your father something that your mother never would. Something they may not think of for a gift, something they may not be allowed, or something that your father may like that drives your mother crazy! You'll definitely score in the favourite stakes and ensure your gift is memorable – even if for all the wrong reasons according to your mother!
Send him to do something he wouldn't book himself.. swimming with sharks perhaps?
Once a man has children they inevitably see their leisure time reduced and things settle into a routine. Think back to anything they may have said sounded cool, used to do but let fall by the wayside, or something they may have dreamed about. With online experience vouchers making more and more activities accessible to the masses; sites like
Scoopon.com.au or
Redballoon.com.au are fantastic resources to bring these hopes to fruition. Think your dad may like to swim with sharks? Does he wish he had his own boat? Book a day experience for him that you can either do as well or at least go along with him to watch. Boat charters, fishing tips, horse-riding,
swimming with sharks,
parasailing, even tickets to the upcoming
Sydney Fringe Festival; the only limit is your imagination and finances.
The Sydney Fringe Festival in 2013 has affordable tickets that can make nice gifts
What habits does your dad have that drives your mother crazy? Does he obsess over clipping his toenails or facial grooming? Book him a pedicure or a hot shave at a luxury hotel like
QT in Sydney. Does he love to watch sports hour after hour on the TV? Upgrade your
channel subscription to include extra sports channels. Enjoys
wine-tasting a little too much? Steal him away up to the Hunter Valley for a day of cellar-door bonding. Even something as simple as sneaking a shot of scotch at the end of the night can provide inspiration… what dad wouldn't like a nice bottle of
scotch complete with a camouflaging sock to go with it to hide from disapproving eyes? Lovely gift; sense of humour included.
Enjoy tasting tipples together...a past-time well enjoyed together
If there are jobs on the 'to do' list; get your elbows greased and get stuck in. This is a cost-effective way to show your dad you care so long as you follow through. This is also a great one for the kids or if you're short on dollars. Creating a voucher book wherein they can exchange their vouchers for your services is a great gift for dad's who may want to wriggle out of their regular daddy jobs of mowing the yard, washing the dishes or cleaning the windows. They'll appreciate the thought and enjoy watching you do them when the time comes to collect.
Book onto a boat trip for the day so Dad can cruise the harbour in comfort
Gifts don't have to cost a lot of money, but a good gift does require a little bit of thought outside the box. Get your thinking cap on; recruit your siblings if you want to pool money or labour for a bigger and better gift, but most of all; remembering a simple cuddle and a kiss on the cheek will ultimately help show your dad you appreciate him on the day dedicated to all the great dads out there.
