How To Say Thanks And We Love You To The Father Figures In Our Lives
Sunday 1 September is when we celebrate Father’s Day this year! Dads, grandads, stepdads, father figures and funcles – whoever it may be.
We recommend hitting up our local businesses and doing some shopping. Scroll on down for some ideas on how to say thank you to the wonderful guys in our lives with The Fold’s Guide To Father’s Day In The Highlands.
DRINK
It’s pretty hard to go past our kickarse local breweries if Dad loves a frothy!
A growler filled up with his favourite ale from Eden Brewery would keep any beer fan happy.
Or order a case of cans from Southern Highlands Brewing. Celebrate Dad with an award-winning sip!
Both breweries offer online shopping too.
Pick up a flavourful frothie from Eden Brewery
If Dad’s into wine, head over to Flour Bar in Moss Vale for a choice selection. While you’re at it, grab some delicious deli treats to pair with his favorite bottle. Thirsty Cellars on Bong Bong Street in Bowral is also worth a visit for quirky and unique beers, wines and spirits.
A tour of our awesome Highlands cellar doors is a great way to treat dad on Father’s Day. It’s best to book ahead if you can, especially if you’replanning on having lunch at one of them [and we strongly recommend that you do!].
And we’re lucky to have amazing distilleries on our doorstep. Millsheds Distillery & Bar has recently snagged some epic awards for their gins and vodkas, so you know papa will be impressed. Renegade Spirits offers exciting flavors like S’mores and American Apple Pie Moonshine and SoHi Spirits has some seriously gorgeous bottles. Check out more awesome distilleries around town here.
And whatever your special Dad loves to drink, there’s a vessel for it at Cookshop Plus! Beer? Ale glasses. Whiskey? Decanter and tumbler sets. Wine? Wine glasses. Cognac? Snifters. Moscow Mules? Copper cups. Champagne? Champagne flutes. And the list goes on, and on, and on.
EAT
Breakfast in bed? Great idea. Get organised and grab some delish coffee and amazing pastries from lovely spots like Baked in Berrima, Gumnut Patisserie, The Strudel Lady – plus more in this tasty list. How good is breakkie in bed?!
You can book his fave cafe for breakkie, brunch, lunch or dinner or check out the following venues hosting a Father’s Day special event. We love these.
Up for preparing a feast of your own? Awesome – check these options out. Seriously – the Highlands is THE place to shop for delicious food treats. Let’s choose to shop small!
- Order some local meat (we’re talkin’ steak friends) from one of our local butchers
- Il Topolino Alimentari Delicatessen will help you take your cheese platter and antipasto game to the next level!
- Bendooley Estate Larder for a range of yummy sauces, salads and rubs that he’ll love – currently open so you can pop in and grab something
- WIllow & Chai in Berrima has lovely jams, honey and other delicious goodies
- Pop Cheese Etc in Bowral [you can stop off for a wine and little cheese yourself while you’re there!], Pecora Dairy and Mammas Country Kitchen at the Robertson Cheese Factory are top spots to visit to stock up on delicious cheeeeeese and other goodies
- And if dad’s got a sweet tooth, Bowral Sweets and Treats, The Lolly Swagman, and Bowral Pure Chocolate have got all their choccies, lollies, chips and more covered, and hit up Ms Peacock Chocolates for some next level honeycomb….. droooooool time!
So many gorgeous shops to visit. So many!
Surprises galore at Ms Peacock Chocolates
PLAY
A membership to a local golf course should go down well with a Dad who putts! Here’s a list of golf courses (with the all-important 19th hole) across the Highlands and click here for an article we put together with more info about where to tee off locally.
If Dad’s a collector then try Limited Editions in Mittagong for all kinds of gifts, novelties, board games and collectables. It’s so quirky and fun.
Head to The Fixed Wheel if cycling is his thing. This’ll be a winner! They’ve got loads of bikes and accessories to make sure Dad is safe, speedy and comfortable when he gets on his bike. A big range of bike shoes, super-comfortable (and padded) bib shorts, Dirt Surfer mud guards and Silca floor pumps for when Dad is feeling a little deflated.
They also have a very cool range of E-Bikes, which you can hire if you want to get out on two wheels for a loop before settling in for lunch somewhere. And indoor trainers if Dad’s up for taking his riding [and fitness] to the next level. If cycling isn’t your thing, the team are really helpful and can help you choose the best gift, or sort him out with a Fixed Wheel gift voucher so he can go in and choose something for himself. Or book him in [well, his bike…] for a comprehensive service – the bike mechanics at The Fixed Wheel are awesome and will have Dad’s bike safe and sorted in no time.
For all other sporty dads check out these sports stores. Shoes, rackets, balls and other goodies should put you in the good books.
If Dad’s ideal sport is more about four wheels, booking his beloved car in for a professional detail could be the perfect gift. Local faves include Detailed By Ben for the father’s who just love their cars looking schmick.
If you’ve always thought of Dad as a bit of a viking or lumberjack, why not book him a sesh at Highlands Hatchets? This axe-throwing experience will definitely make his day, and a round of beers and burgers at Eden Brewery and Boozy Burgers afterward is sure to double his happiness.
Keep dd happy on two wheels at The Fixed Wheel in Bowral.
GO GREEN
Got a green thumb for a Dad? You know, that guy who just LOVES to spend the day in the garden then sits back and just looks at it for hours???
Or maybe your Dad is a black thumb but loves trying!
Rusty Rose Designs is always a go-to for fun garden accessories.
Why not give him the gift of someone else getting their hands dirty [literally] for a change? Book some work from Turf 2 Trees Horticulture or Pristine Tree People and let him sit back and watch his garden bloom!
Here’s a list of more local nurseries to hit up for garden accessories, fresh new plants, rare species, pots and more.
STYLE
If the Dad you’re buying for is all about looking luxe in the Highlands (or perhaps not so, and needs a bit of help – but shhhhh, we won’t tell him!), shop the men’s fashion shops locally to give his wardrobe a little makeover. Click here to check them out.
Head to Berrima’s Natural Australia, for smart and snappy [and warm] quality clothes and accessories for Dad. Think belts, jumpers, hats, scarves and jackets – everything a Highlands guy needs to stay warm and look cool in the highest quality cashmere and other natural fabrics,
Dust N Ranch has western fashion that are stylish AND functional [win-win] and The Countryman has an excellent selection of accessories, boots, knitwear and other goodies.
For more ideas, head here for a list of mens fashion spots, homewares and gift shops.
Find something flash for fathers at Dust N Ranch
WORKSHOP IT
You CAN teach an old [or young] dog new tricks, we say!
For the Dad who’s always keen to learn, you should check out all of the upcoming talks, workshops and courses happening around the Highlands. What a great gift! There is something in there to tickle everybody’s fancy from bee keeping with Bowral Beekeeping, cheese making, gardening, jewellery making, cooking, furniture painting, art, ceramics…
We love the idea of booking Dad in for a cooking class at Cucina Calabria. He’ll learn all about the magic of Southern Italian cooking and the whole fam will reap the benefits.
MEMORY MAKING
HOME
Whose Dad is a homebody and loves nothing more than pottering around the house and garden fixing things, building things, digging things, burning things, cooking things then sitting back in a comfy chair to survey all the things he’s built, fixed, dug and cooked?
Sounds like a local hardware is the place to start your Father’s Day gift giving quest!
All the Gubbins Pulbrook Mitre 10 stores will have something to keep Mr Fixit happy and their new Yeti range would make a most excellent gift for the on-the-go papa.. And we are lovin’ their Highlands Selection Centre in Mittagong to hit up if Dad is a bit of a DIY renovator too.
And how about getting the man a BBQ? Or if he’s got one already, an upgrade? You buy the BBQ, he cooks you food – win win! The team at Highland Fires and BBQs in Bowral are specialist Weber dealers and Pig & Pilgrim in Mittagong are all about artisan charcoal bbq’s [we LOVE these beauties!] However Dad likes to grill you’ll be able to find the perfect BBQ!
Hit the villages and take some time to wander their High Street shops like The Brown Shutter in Berrima which is a treasure cove of gifts, The Mossy Store, Suzie Anderson and Nest & Burrow and Reece Furniture & Homewares in Mossy, Trotters Lane in Robbo. We have SO many options.
Check out NewsXpress at the Highlands Marketplace in Mittagong. These guys are waaaaay more than just a newsagency – they have stacks of great gift options.
Cotswold Furniture in Mittagong is the spot to head to shop incredible pieces for his outfoor space at home, giving him the gift of hours of relaxation on his super-stylish outdoor lounge. Happy days! The Modern Furniture store is also worth a stop for any hip daddio, especially if they’re suckers for that Scandi cool design.
SELF CARE
Our fabulous fellas need to look after themselves, right? And sometimes they put their health and wellbeing down the bottom of the priority list.
Well you can change ALL that with these awesome ideas for Dad to get his zen on, take some time out and joosh himself up cos, why the bloody hell not??
- Maybe he’s just hanging for a facial, some waxing or a mani and pedi, we all need that TLC!
- If Dad is keen to up his fitness game, check out our list of local gyms, fitness + leisure centres.
- Treat Dad to a sauna or a float at City Cave Bowral so any stress can just melt away…
- Treat Dad to a moment of total luxury at the spa at Osborn House
Let’s wrap it up!
And to give your gift the final touch, head to Bespoke Letterpress for all things wrapping and cards – they have a HUGE selection of cards (make sure you don’t forget to get Dad a card). They also have a very cool range of products like puzzles and stationary that would make for an excellent gift for Dad too. You can get it allll done there!
Say it with a card from Bespoke Letterpress
WhatEVER he loves, let’s all shop locally for him this year.
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