A better clue than Dad’s age
Twenty-three kinds of dad.
When someone says they do not need anything, their habits are more useful than their wish list. These are grouped by what Dad actually does with a Saturday, because that is a question you can answer about another person.
Start with the one Dad would mention first
Grouped rather than listed alphabetically, because the groups are how people actually think about it. A man can sit in more than one, and the overlap is usually where the good answer is. 339 gift ideas across the twenty-three, from 39 Australian retailers, every price read off a live page and dated.
Sport
What Dad plays, or what he watches. They are different gifts.
The cricket dadFourth grade, junior coaching, or the Boxing Day Test from the couch. Those are three different gifts.18 giftsThe AFL dadPlaying gear is genuinely thin online in Australia. The supporter side is where this one lives.9 giftsThe league dadClub or Origin. It is the one allegiance that survives moving interstate.13 giftsThe golf dadPlays weekly. Careful here: novelty golf gear reads badly to a serious player.15 giftsThe tennis dadSocial doubles or a real ranking. Getting that wrong is an expensive mistake.12 giftsThe swimming dadLaps before work. Chlorine destroys everything eventually, which makes dad easy to buy for.11 giftsThe running dadSocks, lights and watches. He will insist the shoes have to be his own choice.17 giftsThe football dadA club he has followed since before you were born, and a 2am kick-off he still gets up for.3 gifts
Outdoors and water
Everything that involves getting up before dawn.
The fishing dadSalt water destroys everything eventually. Buy the tool, never the reel.20 giftsThe boating dadA tinnie, a runabout or a yacht. Everything corrodes and everything matters.11 giftsThe surfing dadBoards, travel, and the gear that lives in the car for a 5am check.12 giftsThe camping dadSwag, camper or roof-top tent. Everything he wants runs on 12 volts.13 gifts
Cars, tools and the shed
The dad who fixes it himself.
The 4WD and car dadThe recovery kit he hopes never to need, and the driveway detail he does every Sunday.12 giftsThe shed dadFixes it himself. Owns most things already, so specifics matter more than price.20 giftsThe gadget dadLikes the clever thing. Hard to surprise, easy to delight if it is genuinely new.18 gifts
Food, drink and the backyard
Where everyone ends up anyway.
The barbecue dadOwns the tongs, has opinions about charcoal, checks the meat too often.26 giftsThe whisky dadHas a shelf. Would rather try something new than be handed a bottle he already knows.11 giftsThe food dadCooks properly, or eats out properly. Either way he notices the difference.13 giftsThe coffee dadThe morning routine is not negotiable.15 giftsThe backyard dadThe deck, the fire, the pizza oven. Gifts that make people stay longer.21 gifts
Everything else
Screens, memories, and days out instead of objects.
The gaming dadConsoles, controllers and the games he actually played. Get the generation right and this is the easiest dad on the site to buy for.8 giftsThe nostalgic dadThe car, the film, the era. A reference that lands is worth more than the price on it.31 giftsThe dad who has everythingNothing fits in the house. Give dad a day out instead of another object.10 gifts