Our favourite last-minute Father's Day gift ideas
Well, Father’s Day is almost here – this Sunday, to be exact – and if you’re still scrambling to pick something up for the special father figure in your life, then we’ve got you covered.
Below are our favourite last-minute gift ideas that are sure to satiate even the pickiest of dads, and if you’re still in need of inspiration, please peruse our gift ideas collections here or below.
Sadly, the delivery window for online purchases has closed, but you can still pop in to any of our seven stores to get something in the nick of time.
FICTION
For the dad who loves historical adventure…
Fortune by Lenny Bartulin
Spanning more than a century, Fortune follows the lives and fates of a handful of souls whose lives were impacted the day that Napoleon conquered Prussia. Feel the reverberations of history as we go from the Napoleonic Wars to South America to Van Diemen’s Land, in a thrilling, adventurous story of twists and turns and fascinating characters. Our reviewer Bernard calls this ‘an exciting book, excitingly written and daringly executed’. Read the full review here.
CRIME FICTION
For dads who love crime fiction with a big dose of intrigue and revenge…
The New Girl by Daniel Silva
At an exclusive boarding school in Switzerland, a mysterious girl arrives and leaves each day in a heavily protected motorcade fit for a head of state. Mystery surrounds her. She’s said to be the daughter of a wealthy businessman, but she is in fact the daughter of the Saudi Crown Prince. When the girl is kidnapped, the ageing but legendary chief of Israeli intelligence, Gabriel Allon, is roped in to rescue her and save her life. The latest instalment (the 19th, to be exact) in the well-loved Gabriel Allon series, The New Girl is a thrilling novel of intrigue, betrayal, and revenge. Fear not if you’re not up to date though, reports assure that it can be enjoyed just as well as a standalone novel.
BIOGRAPHY AND MEMOIR
For dads who love an exciting true story with plenty of travel and adventure (and a dog)…
On the Trail of Genghis Khan by Tim Cope
Inspired by the life lead by Mongolian nomads, adventurer Tim Cope decided to pack in his life in Australia and spend the next three years (and 10,000 kilometres) trekking on horseback from Mongolia to Hungary, in a dangerous trek that hadn’t been completed since the times of Genghis Khan. His only company? The horses he needed to make the treacherous journey in one piece, and his beloved dog, Tigon. This is a thrilling adventure-come-memoir, and you’ll be genuinely nervous for Cope as he battles wolves and would-be horse thieves. You’ll also be very glad of your warm socks – it gets very, very cold on the steppe, and there are many hair-raising accounts of Tim and Tigon trying to find shelter before blizzards hit. For young readers who want to read along with Dad, Cope’s just released a young readers’ edition of this memoir, called Tim and Tigon.
HISTORY
For dads looking to expand their knowledge of Indigenous Australian history…
Song Spirals: Sharing Women’s Wisdom of Country Through Songlines by Gay'wu Group of Women
Look at your country with fresh eyes. Aboriginal Australians are the longest-surviving human culture on earth, and at the heart of Aboriginal culture is song. These ancient narratives of landscape have often been described as a means of navigating across vast distances without a map, but they are much, much more than this. Songspirals are sung by Aboriginal people to awaken Country, to make and remake the life-giving connections between people and place. If you read Dark Emu and are eager to learn more, then Song Spirals: Sharing Women’s Wisdom of Country Through Songlines is your next port of call.
COOKING
For the outdoorsy dad…
The Camping Cookbook by Viola Lex and Nico Stanitzok
Does your family like the outdoors? Is your family sick of tasteless, pre-packaged food? Fear not. Chef Nico Stanitzok and lifelong camper Viola Lex have teamed up to create more than 80 sweet and savoury camping recipes, each perfectly designed to satisfy even the pickiest eater on your camping trips. The eclectic mix of recipes will satisfy the more adventurous outdoor cook, while the step-by-step instructions and mouth-watering photography make the recipes easy to follow for those new to cooking outdoors. Rely on toasted marshmallows and two-minute noodles no longer. Pro-tip: photograph the pages you need before your trip so you don’t need to cart a big book with you in your backpack.
PICTURE BOOKS
For the brand-new dad…
Daddy Cuddle by Kate Mayes and illustrated by Sara Acton
If there’s a new dad in your life, no doubt they’re being constantly inundated by countless picture books on the topic. But they must, must have Daddy Cuddle. This gorgeous little story of an early riser who just wants to play with their dad will ring true with just about every parent who’s ever lived. Plus award-winning illustrator Sara Acton’s watercolours (very reminiscent of Quentin Blake, thus invoking all kinds of fond childhood memories) will snuggle their way directly into your heart. Awww.
