12 unique Father's Day ideas that scream thoughtful.

Whether it’s an unwanted item someone donated to the school gift stall, a six-pack of something ‘fancy’, or a sentimental keepsake, dads across Australia will be tearing open a range of gifts in honour of Father’s Day on September 1. And while each father figure has their own unique interests, there’s only so much you can say with the generic gifts of yesteryear, like a box of chocolates or a pair of socks. 

This Father’s Day, we're making it easy for you to say more with this cheat sheet of 12 handy ideas that put the ~thought~ in thoughtful.

Moonpig Father’s Day card, $7.99

Image: Moonpig.

Nothing screams thoughtful like a little something you prepared earlier, which is why a customised Moonpig Father’s Day card is the ultimate keepsake way to show the father figure in your life that you care. 

Taking kids to the shops to choose a generic card that gets recycled a week later can be more of a nightmare than it’s worth, and you can bet that the glitter left behind from a home-crafted card will be found for *months* longer than the card itself. Instead, leading online personalised card platform, Moonpig, offers time poor parents and their kids the opportunity to create cards that make a great impact, with only minutes of effort — and no mess.

You can choose from over 30,000 cards on the Moonpig website, select a size (up to A4!), and hit personalise to efficiently change every part of the card, from the layout, stickers and photos, to the message inside. You can scan a message in your own handwriting (or the kids'!), but if writing on cards isn’t your thing, Moonpig's range of smart features like their SmartAI writing tool can help you pen a memo to remember. You can even record a meaningful video or audio message they can access via a QR code in the card, making it something they’ll never want to throw away.

To make life even easier for yourself, you can choose to have the card sent directly to the recipient and include something from Moonpig's growing range of gifts from brands such as Bananabae, Mr. Consistent, Charlie’s Cookies and more. 

(Make sure to use the code MAMAMIA to get your first card free, including free shipping!)

There’s Only One Dad Like You by Jess Racklyeft, $15

Image: Affirm Press.

Why not start a tradition and add a new dad-themed book to your collection each Father’s Day? There’s Only One Dad Like You, by Melbourne-based author and illustrator Jess Racklyeft is a great start, artfully celebrating the uniqueness of all dads and their ability to bring fun, joy and adventure to the lives of their kids.

Fressko Camino Coffee Cup, $39.95

Image: Fressko.

There’s almost nothing as compulsory to parenting as caffeine. Particularly as a parent to young kids, cups of coffee regularly run the risk of getting cold, spilled or simply going unfinished in a mad rush to leave the house. Gifting an insulated, spill-proof coffee cup like this reusable Fressko Camino Cup is truly the gift that will keep giving, and will equip him with the energy to navigate everything parenting throws his way.

ClassBento Experiences for Dad, $150

Image: ClassBento.

It’s certainly satisfying to unwrap a physical gift, but sometimes the best gift is not stuff, but time. If you’re buying for a dad who already has it all, buying an experience is a great way to give him some guilt-free time out. 

ClassBento is one experience-gifting platform with a range of options, from woodworking and cooking courses, to rum-spicing and bee-keeping workshops. With courses available in a multitude of major areas, including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra and Tasmania, there may be a thoughtful experience to gift right in your suburb.

Tacpac ‘D-Ploy’ Backpack, $169

Image: Tacpac.

While gender neutral family-friendly backpacks are certainly on the rise in recent years, few of them really shout 'dad'. If you have a significant other who loves a good bag and needs to carry the million and one things that come with each kid, Queensland-based company Tacpac’s D-Ploy Backpack is a thoughtful present with a variety of velcro patches available to make it as dad-specific or personalised to his interests as you wish.

GoPro Hero12 Camera, $499.95

Image: GoPro.

While a GoPro might be a little on the spendier side, you can’t put a price on capturing great memories. For the active dad who’s keen on outdoor adventures, or simply those who are taken with technology, a GoPro’s a fantastic investment to capture more home videos. And with Dad behind the camera, you might even score a few more photos of you and the kids.

Bronte Co Father/Child Swim Shorts, $120

Image: Bronte Co.

You’re either into the matchy vibe or you’re not, but one thing’s for sure – kids love matching those they look up to the most, and nothing screams 'I want to be like you' more than a matching outfit. It can be difficult to find matching apparel that’s not cringey, but these swim short sets from Bronte Co are a great option for those with kids who still think dad’s style’s the coolest thing since Cocomelon. 

The Seed Collection Seeds and Tools, from $1.50

Image: The Seed Collection.

When you think of flowers, you might only have Mother's Day spring to mind. But dads with a green thumb and a touch of sentimentality can also love the experience of growing their own flowers with the help of their trusty green-thumbs-in-training. To make this gift extra thoughtful, why not buy flower seeds that bloom in their kids' or grandkids' birth months? You could round out the gift with some fresh gardening tools like a wooden dibbler for easy seed planting, or a bug, bee and insect hotel to encourage passing bees to hang around and pollinate the flowers.

The Horse The Original Watch with engraving, $159.95

Image: The Horse.

Done well, monogrammed or personalised items make a meaningful and useful gift that will hold joy and sentiment for years to come. An engravable watch, like this one from The Horse, is a great way to incorporate a subtle yet significant message. Whether it’s your kids' initials, the year he became a father, or a short and simple 'I love you' inscribed on the back of the watch face, he’s sure to appreciate it.

RK Threads Custom Hoodie, $89

Image: RK Threads.

If your kids are constantly drawing sentimental pictures that inevitably get lost, repurposed or "accidentally" binned, this might be the gift for you. As much as dads love a hand-drawn family portrait, there’s only so long it can take up real estate on the fridge — so why not transfer their artistic flair to a custom hoodie that he can wear? Melbourne-based company RK Threads can subtly embroider kids' precious drawings to a hoodie that he can show off time and time again.

Small Batch Brew Home Brew Starter Kit, $120

Image: Small Batch Brew.

Alcohol has become a bit of a default gift for events like Father's Day, and while it’s true that many father figures enjoy a bottle of something special, it may be more thoughtful to invest in your loved one's hobbies around it instead. A twist on the alcohol gift is this home brew starter kit, which includes all the tools and ingredients he'll need to craft his own small batch of beer from home.

LEGO Polaroid Camera, $90

Image: LEGO.

Let’s be honest, many dads are just big kids at heart. Whether you’re buying LEGO for him to build in a quiet moment, or to make alongside the kids, anything from this brand is basically a winning option. This Polaroid Camera is a great starting point, but choose a kit that speaks to his personal interests for maximum thoughtfulness.

Whether you’re buying for someone’s first Father’s Day or you’re running out of steam several years into the journey, we hope these gift ideas have helped you on the road to making someone you love feel extra special this year. 

Order your Moonpig card for Father's Day and use code MAMAMIA for your first card free.

Feature Image: TacPac/Fressko/The Horse/The Seed Collection/Moonpig/Bronte Co.