On Father’s Day in our family we honour my Dad and my husband with a special family meal together, some music playing (usually some German Folk music for my dad), their favourite foods, a glass of wine, and lots of chatter around the dinner table. We give them handmade cards that my daughter has made and a little gift that suits each of them to a tee.

Father's Day is often described as a day to find a gift for Dad. However, perhaps the best Father's Day gift isn't always something you can wrap.

It might be an afternoon together. A favourite meal (like we share). A long-overdue phone call. A drive in the country. Or simply sitting down and listening to one of the stories you've heard a hundred times before.

Because Father's Day is really about letting the dads, grandads and father figures in our lives know that they matter.

And that can mean Dad, Grandad or Pop (or Opa as our dad is known), a stepdad, uncle, father-in-law, family friend — or someone who stepped into your life and quietly became a father figure.

Father's Day gift ideas that are about more than presents.

If you're looking for Father's Day ideas that suit their unique style, I’ve put together a few suggestions for different kinds of Dad — including some ideas that won't cost you a thing.

Because sometimes your time is the most thoughtful gift of all.

 

Dad, the home cook or BBQ chef

Every family seems to have one.

The Dad who takes charge of the BBQ. The one who has strong opinions about how the steak should be cooked. The home cook who somehow ends up feeding everyone else.

A kitchen or BBQ-inspired gift might be just the thing for him.

But you could also give him the day off.

Cook his favourite meal. Make breakfast. Fire up the BBQ and let you be in charge for once.

Or ask him to choose his favourite family meal and make it together.

No gift required — just good food and good company.

 

Dad, the gardener

For the Dad who is happiest outside, a gardening-inspired Father's Day gift is an easy choice.

But there's another option that might mean even more.

Spend some time in the garden with him.

Ask what he's growing. Let him show you what he's particularly proud of. Help with a job he's been putting off. Or simply sit nearby with a cup of tea while he potters.

You don't have to know anything about gardening.

Just be interested in the things he's interested in.

 

Dad, the car enthusiast

For some dads, their car is more than transport.

It's a hobby, a project, a source of pride — and sometimes a topic of conversation that can last considerably longer than you expected!

Perhaps turn his interest into an afternoon of fun with a Car Buff Trivia Game!

Or make a day of it without buying anything.

Help him wash the car. Ask him to take you for a drive. Take the long way home. Find a favourite lookout and stop for a coffee.

And if he starts telling you the story of how he got his first car, let him finish.

You might hear a story you've never heard before.

 

Dad, the true crime solver

He has watched the documentary.

He's listened to the podcast.

He's already decided who did it.

For the Dad who loves true crime, mysteries and investigations, a thoughtful gift can be something he'll enjoy during his next evening of sleuthing.

Perhaps you love a good mystery too? Challenge him to a True Crime Trivia Game!

Or simply make an evening of it.

Choose a documentary or podcast together, make some snacks and settle in.

Then let him explain his theory.

Even if you've heard it before.

Especially if you've heard it before.

 

Dad, the traveller or camper

For the Dad who loves to travel, you don't necessarily need to buy an airline ticket to make him happy.

Sometimes it's enough to give him something to look forward to.

Plan a day trip.

Pack a picnic.

Take a drive somewhere you've never been.

Visit a nearby town you've always driven past.

Pack an overnight bag with a Travel Essentials Kit and go camping for Father's Day to experience all that nature has to offer.

Or sit down together and make a list of the places he'd still love to see.

It might even turn into your next family adventure.

 

Dad, the joker

Every family has one.

The Dad who can turn almost anything into a joke.

The Dad whose jokes are sometimes terrible — but who tells them anyway.

For this Dad, perhaps the perfect gift is simply an audience.

Get the old family photos out.

Ask him about the stories behind them.

Reminisce about funny family holidays, embarrassing moments and the things you all laugh about years later.

And yes, laugh at his jokes.

Even the ones you've heard approximately 47 times.

Because one day, you might find yourself wishing you could hear them again.

 

Father's Day doesn't have to cost anything

If money is tight, or you're simply trying to keep Father's Day simple, there are plenty of ways to make Dad feel special without buying a present.

Make his favourite breakfast.

Go on a walk with him.

Wash his car.

Cook dinner.

Call him.

Look through old photographs together.

Ask him about his childhood.

Take him somewhere he loves.

Write down a favourite memory of him.

Give him an afternoon where he doesn't have to do anything.

And perhaps one of the nicest things you can give someone is simply your full attention.

Put the phone away.

Sit down.

Have a cuppa.

And listen.

 

Remembering the dads who aren't here

For many people, Father's Day is also a day of remembering.

A Dad or Grandad who has passed away can still be very much part of the day — in a favourite recipe, an old photograph, a familiar saying or a story that gets told every year.

If you're missing someone this Father's Day, perhaps take a little time to remember them in a way that feels right for you.

Cook something they loved.

Visit somewhere special.

Look through photographs.

Tell someone a funny story about them.

Or simply sit quietly and think about what they meant to you.

The people we love leave pieces of themselves behind in us.

And perhaps that's one of the loveliest things about Father's Day.

It's not really about the present.

It's about the presence they have had in our lives.

Whether you're celebrating Dad, Grandad, a father figure, or remembering someone who is no longer here, we hope your Father's Day is filled with warmth, laughter, good food and a little time together.

Warmth and Love,

creating the comforts of home