7 Father’s Day gifts Dad will actually use

Father’s Day in Australia falls on the first Sunday of September, so mark it in your calendar and set a phone reminder. It’s a day to celebrate dads, stepdads, grandads, or any other father figures who’ve subjected you to years of dad jokes.

The most important thing to do is call Dad for Father's Day and to send him a card, but don't think for one minute that he won't also appreciate a thoughtful gift - despite his protestations. Here are seven gifts that Dad will actually use.

Papa Mia! Give Dad the glorious gift of backyard bragging rights with a pizza oven. Portable or built-in, these ovens can pump out woodfired-style pizzas in just a few minutes. Picture the next family gathering where Dad’s the star pizzaiolo, tossing dough like he’s auditioning for the Great Italian Bake Off.

Brands like Ooni, Everdure, and Solt have options that suit backyards big or small. Best of all, you benefit too, because Dad will be only too happy to share his pizza-making prowess with anyone who looks a bit peckish.
Budget range: $600 – $1,500+

If Dad’s squinting at last decade’s flatscreen, it could be time for an upgrade. Mini LED TVs display richer colours and brighter images than his old telly, thanks to thousands of tiny backlights paired with Quantum Dot technology. Whether Dad’s cheering on the footy or streaming the latest Mission Impossible, the difference is easy to see.

Brands have their own names for Mini LED: Samsung’s Neo QLED (including The Frame Pro which doubles as artwork in standby mode), TCL’s QD-Mini LED, LG’s QNED, and Hisense’s ULED. No matter the make, Dad will be dazzled by the crystal clear visuals.
Budget range: $900 – $4,000+

With winter finally winding down, spring is prime BBQ warm-up season. Upgrading Dad’s barbie setup now is a clever tactic to make him King of the Grill by summer. Gas barbecues are convenient, charcoal delivers smoky flavour, and portable gas BBQs are great for camping trips or picnics. If you want to really level up, smokers from brands like Traeger can turn out melt-in-your-mouth brisket that’ll make him a lunchtime legend.

Whether you go Beefeater, Weber or Napoleon, Dad will be stoked - and if he’s a Star Wars fan, this TIE Fighter portable BBQ from Gasmate screams ‘happy Father’s Day’ louder than any tie ever could!
Budget range: $120 – $3,000+

From wings and fries to cakes and bakes, Dad can cook up a storm without drowning everything in oil. Air fryers have become household heroes in the last few years, and as time has gone on, they have evolved to become truly multifunctional kitchen companions. With options ranging from compact single baskets to massive dual-zone models, there are air fryers for footy snacks and family feasts.

Ninja, Philips, Sunbeam and Breville all have highly rated models that combine speed with versatility.
Budget range: $170 – $600+

Whoever said “good things come to those who wait” probably had a slow cooker bubbling away on the bench. With a decent slow cooker, Dad can prep in the morning and serve fall-off-the-bone ribs or melt-in-the-mouth curries by dinner. It’s low effort, maximum flavour and perfect for busy households. More fuss-free family meals and fewer pricey takeaways - you know Dad will be a fan of that.

Breville, Morphy Richards, and Instant Pot all have excellent slow cookers to suit all budgets and households of all sizes.
Budget range: $100 – $400+

Let Dad skip the café queues by giving him the gift of café-quality coffee at home. Espresso machines come in a few flavours: fully automatic models for supreme ease and ultra-fresh taste, pod-based Nespresso machines from DeLonghi or Breville for mess-free mornings, or manual machines for dads who secretly fancy themselves baristas.

Whether you choose a contemporary design or something retro from Smeg, Dad will love having top-notch brews to hand (and he won’t mind saving himself a few bucks on takeaway lattes either).
Budget range: $150 – $3,000+

Esky loyalty runs deep in Australia, but a portable fridge is next-level cool that can help Dad say goodbye to soggy snags. Perfect for fishing trips, camping adventures or family beach picnics, these powered units keep food and drinks reliably chilled without the messy ice melt.

Brands like myCOOLMAN and Evakool offer options in a range of sizes, from compact models for quick outings to dual-zone monsters that can handle serious road trips.
Budget range: $400 – $1,600