Father’s Day gifts for the dad who loves travel

Although it’s certainly true that the thought matters more than the gift, Father’s Day can also be a chance to expand dad’s horizons, delighting his senses or taking him on a journey near or far.

Designed for the ones who live for the quickening of the pulse at take-off, the serenity of the sky at 32,000ft, or sweet anticipation of visiting new destinations, there are plenty of great gift ideas for dad (or even yourself) to enjoy at home.

These are some of our favourites:

Ultimate Winery Experiences Australia

Happy Socks and fluffy bathrobes are nice, but memories last a lifetime. To that end, gifting your father an Ultimate Winery Experience could be the perfect way to say ‘Thanks, Dad’.

As the name suggests, these are much more than mere cellar door tastings. They’re often a chance to go behind the scenes of the country’s top wineries, learn from the winemakers themselves and perhaps even get a little adventurous too.

Small-batch wine collection Artisans of Barossa is one of the newest additions to the UWE stable.

The ‘Indulge with Swinging Bridge’ featuring a guided tour of Orange’s Hill Park Vineyard followed by a four-course degustation lunch is a great example, while the ‘Printhie Helicopter Winery Tour’ is guaranteed to take your exploration to new heights.

Ultimate Winery Experiences are available across 15 Australian wine regions.

Rhone Ultimate Package

Self care is something everyone should make time for, be it mental or physical wellbeing, or just an excuse to treat yourself. The Ultimate Package from men’s skincare brand Rhone fits this brief to a tee. 

Rhone is Australian made and owned.

Out of the box it includes signature beard oil and beard balm, made using botanical ingredients like Kakadu plum and argan oil, plus a cleanser, clay mask and accessories pack to ensure you’re always well-groomed and looking your best.

$203, from Rhone.

Hellyers Road Original Whisky Cream Liqueur

When you learn a whisky has been voted ‘the world’s best’ in an international competition, your interest is instantly piqued. And when you discover it’s made in Australia, the patriotic thing to do is to order yourself (or someone likely to share it with you) a bottle.

Tasmania’s own Hellyers Road Distillery recently received such an accolade, picking up the title of World’s Best Whisky Cream Liqueur for its Hellyers Road Original Whisky Cream Liqueur at the World Liqueur Awards 2024. 

The Whisky Cream liqueur has delicious notes of chocolate, coconut and malt biscuit.

Made with fresh cream and single malt whisky, it retains its distinct flavour and mouthfeel on shelf without refrigeration for at least 2 years, and contains no added preservatives.

$44 from Hellyers Road Distillery.

Bellroy Travel Folio

Keeping your passport safe, secure yet easily at hand is important on the road. With that in mind, Bellroy’s supremely stylish Travel Folio could be a worthwhile addition to any traveller’s kit.

A back slip pocket lets you keep your passport and boarding pass at hand through boarding.

Available in four colours, the zipped case is made of soft and supple leather and sports room for up to eight cards, two passports and boarding passes. Plus, it comes with a small-size pen and space for a SIM card and ejector pin, so you’re never left hunting for a paper clip.

$225 from Bellroy.

Victorinox Golf Tool

Teach a man to fish and he’ll never go hungry again. Teach him to play golf, however, and you’ll most likely rarely see them again, because they’re too busy perfecting their swing in some of the most beautiful settings imaginable.

Raise your game and lower your handicap with the GolfTool.

Victorinox’s Golf Tool is designed firmly with that player in mind, delivering 10 functions from a tee punch and bottle opener to a ball market and repair tool in one palm-size gadget.

$139 from Victorinox.

Bvlgari Man Rain Essence

There’s something empowering about a quality fragrance. It’s like a suit of armour; a confidence builder. Bvlgari Man’s Rain Essence – a new addition to its collection – adheres to that brief, delivering a powerful burst of zesty orange mixed with an earthy green tea.

It's an invigorating scent inspired by rain.

Bvlgari looked to nature to inspire this latest release, specifically the energising sensation of rain “when it falls on the skin and the feeling it leaves when it is over,” adding the smell of freshly fallen rain is unmistakable and “a brace for new beginnings”.

Available in 100ml, Rain Essence is a fragrance that’s sure to have broad appeal, with top notes of green tea and orange; middle notes of musk and white lotus (no connection to the fictional hotel); and base notes are Amber and Guaiac Wood.

$210 from David Jones.

Stay: The Interlude Melbourne

Pentridge once housed some of Australia’s most infamous criminals: Mark ‘Chopper’ Read and Ned Kelly, to name a couple. These days though, it welcomes a very different clientele, with a seasonal-driven restaurant and even a wine bar now inside the former prison’s echoing halls.

There’s also a unique accommodation offering dubbed ‘The Interlude’. It’s not a hotel, but an ‘experiential retreat’ with bluestone prison cells converted into premium suites with marble bathrooms.

A stay at The Interlude is a unique way of experiencing one of the country’s most infamous sites.

Each stay comes with a bespoke itinerary, with guests able to choose from Signature Experiences such as wine tasting with a sommelier or a rejuvenating visit to the underground pool, alongside standard inclusions like welcome drinks and a minibar credit.

From $699 per night (including hosted experiences) at The Interlude.

Dark Lark Single Malt Whisky

There’s no finer gift for a tipple-loving dad with exceptional taste than a bottle of single malt whisky… like this latest limited edition ‘Dark Lark’ from Tasmanian distilling icon Lark.

Dark Lark was recently awarded a prestigious Master Medal at the World Whisky Masters in London.

Leading on from last year’s moreish iteration, the 2023 release is richly toned with flavours of dried fruit; a syrupy sultana arrival followed by deep mocha and caramel with hints of sticky date. It’s a feast for the senses and a delicious way to unwind after a meal.

$250 from Lark Distillery.

Canada Goose Freestyle Crew Vest

Daniel Craig, Ryan Reynolds, and Ben Affleck are three of Hollywood’s most bankable movie stars. They’re also fans of Canadian clothing brand Canada Goose, whose distinctive puffer jackets have been protecting wearers from the elements since 1957.

The Crew Vest is available in 10 different colours and shades.

Down-filled and featuring a suede-lined rounded collar and snap buttons, the Freestyle Crew Vest is sharp, stylish and ideal for Aussie conditions. It’s also incredibly comfortable, with classic good looks that make it a perfect layering option in any season.

$964 from Canada Goose.

Google Pixel Buds Pro

Noise cancelling earbuds are always appreciated on the road. There are some fantastic models out there, each one with their own pros and cons. Google’s Pixel Buds Pro is an ideal option for those dipping their toes into the wireless earbud world, for a few simple reasons.

Premium, immersive sound that adapts to you.

For one, the battery life is solid: 31 hours with the wireless charging case. The audio is quality too, delivering arguably the best sound from the Google range. It’s also easy to pair and to connect, seamlessly switching between multiple devices.

$299 from Google.

Timekettle Fluentalk T1

Never underestimate the power of conversation, particularly when travelling. Meeting people, sharing stories and learning from their first hand experience often leads to a deeper connection to the place you visited, rather than merely relying on the sights alone.

Inspired by that, a real-time translator device like the Fluentalk T1 from Timekettle could be the best gift you ever give. Unlike many rivals, it also allows easy two way conversation: one tap for quick translation or two for fluent conversation.

There are no earbuds involved either, meaning you don’t need to offer an earbud to someone just to facilitate a conversation. Simply hold the T1 in your hand or place it on the table. 

T1 supports 40 languages and 93 accents, including Japanese, German, and Korean.

Even better, it doesn’t require a phone or SIM card to use. It comes with free mobile data for up to two years with connections to more than 200 wireless network operators worldwide. There’s also an offline mode for use across 13 languages when there’s no network coverage.

$450 from Fluentalk.

Rado Captain Cook High Tech Ceramic Skeleton

People who appreciate craftsmanship, precision and quality have long been drawn to Rado. The Captain Cook High Tech Ceramic Skeleton – a sleek, stylish twist on the classic retro-diver – is sure to appeal to devotees of the Swiss brand, while likely winning over new ones too.

The matt-finish monobloc case is framed by a high-tech ceramic bezel insert which matches the tones of the case and the outer bracelet links. Inside the rotatable bezel, a warm and bright rose-gold-coloured index ring adds contrast, next to the box-shaped sapphire crystal.

A stylish addition to any wardrobe.

Equipped with anti-magnetic and highly reliable 'Nivachron' hairspring (fully tested in five positions) and provides up to 80 hrs power reserve.

$7,125 from Rado.

Solid State ‘Aviator’ Fragrance

Looking good and smelling great on the road is easy with Solid State, which boasts the likes of solid shampoos and hair products among its curated range of grooming products. It’s the colognes that really set it apart though.

Solid State’s colognes are wax-based, long lasting and available in a range of scents: Aviator has notes of grapefruit, mint and sandalwood, while Journeyman delights the senses with mandarin, cedar and vetiver. Just put a bit on your finger and dab away.

The pocket-sized scents are long lasting and non-greasy.

They’re ideal for travel too: small and light enough to pop in your carry-on and containing no liquids. A melting point of 54 degrees means you’re unlikely to encounter any issues either… unless you’re planning to visit the Middle East in the height of summer, that is.

$39.95 from Solid State.

Hunter Lab Ultimate Ritual Kit

Australian skincare brand Hunter Lab is a frequent sight in hotels around the country (including the sensational A by Adina Sydney). But while its soap, shampoo and conditioner are indeed wonderful, there’s much more to the product range than this trio alone.

The Ultimate Ritual Kit is an excellent showcase of its wares, containing five gender-inclusive products including a face scrub, eye cream and moisturiser. They’re ideal for mature skin too, as this handy guide explains.

Products are an easy fit into a morning and evening routine.

In addition, the Ultimate Ritual Kit comes with a sleek tactical leather bag, which not only keeps the bathroom tidy when you’re at home but doubles as a great toiletry bag on the road too.

$299 from Hunter Lab.

Wild Mingo yoga mat

Staying fit and active is important at every age. Rather than giving a gym membership though, which could be a bit intimidating for some, gifting a workout mat like those from Wild Mingo could be a more accessible fitness option.

Wild Mingo has mats in eight eye-catching designs, along with resistance bands and blocks.

On top of being a comfortable base to work out in the comfort of your own home, it’s a great visual cue to move and stretch. The brightly coloured 'Oorunye' yoga mat, designed in collaboration with Dampier Peninsula artist Hayley Pearson, looks fantastic too.

$119 from Wild Mingo.

Monte Carlo from Assouline

It may be one of the world’s smallest countries, yet Monaco’s influence on the international stage is one that leaves many of its larger rivals in the dust. There’s more to it than flashy sports cars, glamorous casinos and super yachts too.

L-R: Assouline Monte Carlo / Alamy / Michael Alesi
Assouline

‘Monte Carlo’ is a photographic journey through the past and present of Monaco’s lustrous capital, where the guest list of visitors over the decades reads like the ultimate party: Charles Leclerc, Sir Roger Moore, Frank Sinatra, and Ringo Starr, to name a handful.

AUD$185 from Assouline.