Father's Day gifts for the dad who loves travel

Although it’s certainly true that the thought matters more than the gift, fathers 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 to enjoy at home, or on the road.

These are some of our favourites: 

FIX. Dining

Chef Peter Gilmore requires little intro. Creator of the ‘snow egg’, his venue Quay has a glittering reputation and a wait list to match. But you don’t have to wait, because you can enjoy restaurant-level cuisine by Gilmore and a who’s who of top chefs in the comfort of home with FIX.

Shipped direct to your door, each three-course menu generously feeds two diners.

Available on the east coast, FIX. chef dining experiences designed by the likes of Lennox Hastie and Analiese Gregory will be prepped, sustainably packaged, and shipped direct to you, with a handy how-to video showing how to plate.

Adding a local connection, videos also profile the producers of the produce, giving diners a greater appreciation of its origins. FIX. Freezer Stash meals are also available.

From $200 at FIX.

Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless

Whether on the ground or in the air, the newly-released Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless headphones will be music to dad’s ears. Offering exceptional sound quality and comfort, not to mention a phenomenal 60 hours listening time, they’re also pretty stylish too.

The newly-released Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 will take dad's listening to new heights.

Under the hood, or inside the cups as the case may be, they include adaptive noise cancellation, a handy transparency mode for when you want to hear the sounds around you (particularly handy on a flight), plus a host of intuitive personalisation features.

$549.95 from Sennheiser. Available for preorder now and on sale from August 23.

Westward Single Barrel Opacus Stout Cask Single Malt Whiskey

There’s no better gift for a tipple-loving dad with exceptional taste than a bottle of single malt whiskey. Westward’s Australian-Exclusive Stout Cask American Single Malt is the one.

For starters, the American-made whiskey is wholly unique – the result of only one single cask, used previously to age Portland Oregon’s infamous Stormbreaker Brewing Opacus stout.

With the flavours of cacao, plums, toffee and spice, this single malt is singularly delicious.

With only 321 bottles in existence, it’s a limited edition tipple perfect for sharing with those who matter most. And when it’s gone, there’s no better excuse to visit the tasting room in Portland. 

$175 from The Whisky List. 

Halliday Wine Companion Membership 

Give dad the gift of knowledge with a subscription to Halliday Wine Companion – aka Australia’s wine bible. ‘Vintage’ membership unlocks access to over 150,000 tasting notes from the country’s top wines, wineries and growing regions, plus a copy of the latest Wine Companion Book. 

Among the notable treasures of the 2023 edition are Living Roots in the Adelaide Hills, which claimed the coveted title of ‘Best New Winery’, and Margaret River’s Xanadu Wines, home to Halliday ‘Winemaker of the Year’ Glenn Goodall – known for creating exceptional cabernet.

With the Halliday Wine Companion, dad'll never drink a bad bottle of wine again.

Vintage membership is $129 a year from Halliday.

Seiko Astron SSH109

Those who appreciate fine craftsmanship, precision and quality products that stand the test of time have long been drawn to Japanese watch manufacturer Seiko. That trend continues with the new Seiko Astron SSH109, with some high-tech enhancements to boot.

The Seiko Astron is powered by solar, though has a reserve to operate up to six months on a single charge.

Perfect for jetting off on a holiday, the Astron connects to the GPS network and adjusts to the local time zone with a touch of a button. And since it’s powered by solar, you’ll never be caught short or need a battery change.

$3,750 from Seiko. 

Bras: The Tastes of Aubrac

Food is often the glue that holds families and cultures together, with mealtimes a chance to gather and talk about the day. For chef Sébastien Bras, owner of two Michelin star restaurant Le Suquet and son of legendary French chef Michel Bras, food is his passion and his life.

Food and family come together in Chef Sébastien Bras' new must-read.

Featuring never-before-published recipes and mouth-watering imagery, Bras’ new book ‘Bras, The Tastes of Aubrac’ tells the story of his family, where cooking was not only passed from generation to generation but constantly reinvented and imagined.

$79.95 from Phaidon. 

DJI Mini 3 Pro

The Mini 3 Pro is a small yet mighty drone. An upgrade to the excellent Mini 2, it flies just under the 250g weight limit needed to register it with the aviation safety authority (meaning dad won’t end up in jail when he inevitably forgets to do so) but still delivers exceptional footage.

Taking impressive 4K footage and 48MP photos, and now sporting Active FocusTrack to follow the subject plus Advanced Pilot Assistance to help you avoid obstacles, the Mini 3 Pro is ideal for those dipping their toes into the world of drone photography.

It's mini by name, yet packed full of big features to help you create exceptional imagery.

$1478 from DJI, the Fly More Combo comes with extra batteries, carry bag and more.

Pirie Late Disgorged 2011

Tassie is renowned for its stellar cool-climate wines. Among those behind them is Tamar Ridge near Launceston. While their wines are all delicious, it’s the Late Disgorged 2011 from their sparkling brand Pirie you’ll want to get your hands on right now.

Pirie Late Disgorged is a showcase for just how good Tasmanian sparkling can be.

Their tête de cuvée, meaning best wine of the vintage, it’s an elegant sparkling with cashew, citrus and brioche notes. Ready to drink now, though it will also develop nicely over the next three years, Pirie Disgorged comes in an elegant gift box.

$145 from Tamar Ridge, online or at the cellar door.

Getaway: Raes on Wategos

A favourite of the jet set elite for some time, Raes on Wategos is one of Byron Bay’s most revered hotels. Mere steps from the waves of Wategos Beach, under the beam of the Cape Byron Lighthouse, it offers sandy feet indulgence in a location that’s second to none. 

Step off the beach and into luxury at the five star Raes on Wategos.

In fact, stepping inside is almost like an international holiday in itself, with the curvaceous Moroccan-inspired arch doorways, sun-dappled terraces and Mediterranean-influenced menu at Raes Dining creating the feel of an overseas jaunt – with no passport required.

Gift vouchers for the amount of your choosing can be purchased via the Raes website.

Carl Friedrik Palissy Weekend Bag

A well-made weekender bag never goes out of style. Take the Carl Friedrik Palissy Weekend bag for example. Made in Italy from premium leather, with a distinctive curved profile guaranteed to receive compliments, it’s a perfect blend of elegance and function.

The Palissy features a zipped pocket, as well as three open fabric pockets to fit a wallet, passport and keys.

Available in black, blue, chocolate and cognac, the upright bag is just 2.2kg, small enough for an overhead locker yet with plenty of room to fit several outfits for a weekend away or short trip.

$1300 from Carl Friedrik.

Chef’s Armoury Japanese Knife

Does your father consider himself a bit of an iron chef in the kitchen? Help take his culinary arts to greater heights with light-weight, perfectly balanced Japanese knives.

Australian importer Chef’s Armoury is a specialist providore with an extensive range, including hand-forged blades from Japan’s Fukui prefecture and nickel damascus-clad Saji knives, created with supreme skill by third generation blacksmith Takeshi Saji. 

The Kaiden Shinka 150 Petty, Ichigo Ichie 210 Black Forged Gyuto, and Mcusta Zanmai Hammer 165mm Nakiri.

With stores in Sydney and Melbourne, they also do sharpening and repair, plus you can even design your own knife, selecting your preferred type, blade and handle.

From $81.95 at Chef’s Armoury.

Atlas Weekly

Food is one of the greatest parts of travel. It’s a chance to try new flavours, exotic ingredients, and perhaps find a new favourite dish. Australian-born premium meal kit Atlas Weekly was created with this in mind – except the flavours come to you, instead.

Send your taste buds on a trip to Argentina and beyond with Atlas Weekly.

Bringing the world to your door (or Dad’s), the globally-inspired kits focus on a different cuisine each week, with a step-by-step recipe and all ingredients. 

From $64.95 for four meals for one person at Atlas Weekly.

Exclusive offer for Executive Traveller readers: Use the code EXECTRAVELLERS to receive a 15% discount on a voucher, meal plan, or one-off-purchase. 

Readly App

Does dad love to read magazines at home or on the road? A three, six or 12 month subscription for the Readly app, which is a bit like Netflix or Spotify but for magazines, could be the perfect gift.

Never miss a single issue with the Readly app.

Accessible on Apple and Google devices, this all-you-can-read buffet lists 7500 publications from around the globe within its stable. Among them are big-name titles like Time, National Geographic, Australian T3, Caravanning Australia – and a whole lot more.

$11.99 per month from Readly. 

Hugo Boss Jacquard-logo Kimono Robe

There are some classic father’s day gifts that never go out of style. Take the humble bathrobe, for example. Although something people rarely buy for themselves, it almost certainly ends up becoming an after shower staple for those who receive one as a present.

The best-seller is sure to leave dad looking 'like a boss'.

Hugo Boss has this classic and sophisticated option: a black, kimono-style Jacquard-logo dressing gown in waffle weave.

$249 from Hugo Boss.

Getaway: Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley

Australia punches well above its weight in the luxury resort stakes, yet there’s one name that consistently makes its way onto every ‘best of’ list: Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley in the Blue Mountains. And yes, it deserves every bit of the praise it receives.

Choose from one-, two- and three-bedroom villas, each with a private pool and cosy fireplace.

Treat your dad to an unforgettable two night escape with his choice of ‘plus one’. More than just a place to rest his head, activities run to Wolgan Valley’s core, with horseback rides and wildlife spotting, private picnics and lazy, long lunches a handful of the experiences.

From $2290 per night at Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley. 

Amouage Interlude Black Iris

Evoking the bustling marketplaces of the Middle East, Amouage Interlude Black Iris is a woody and spicy scent from one of the world’s greatest fragrance houses – an update to the popular Interlude Black Iris from 2012. And it’s somehow even better.

The signature glass bottle sports a midnight blue and black hue with gun metal detailing.

Amouage enlisted award-winning perfumer Pierre Negrin to reinvigorate the scent, which is a layered and lasting blend that includes notes of bergamot, rosemary and violet leaves, countered by frankincense and myrrh, and finished with leather and smoke.

$360 for 100ml from Amouage. 

Getaway: Princess Sydney-Tasmania Cruise

A perfect reintroduction to cruise life, Majestic Princess will embark on a five-day round trip from Sydney to Tasmania this November. 

Featuring stops in historic Hobart and Port Arthur, not to mention plenty of time to enjoy the live music, Michelin-quality dining and movies under the stars, this cruise would make a ideal gift for dad and a plus one. 

See Tasmania from a new perspective onboard the Majestic Princess.

A Balcony stateroom is just $1199 per person from Princess Cruises.

ooGee Hats

Whether at the beach, in the bush or beyond, ooGee Australia’s collection of crush-resistant hats make a perfect travel companion.

Made of a single, continuous braid, each hat maintains its shape regardless of how long you wear it, where you store it, or the environment.

Oogee's crush-resistant hats can take whatever your travels throw at them.

Hand-stitched in Gosford, NSW, ooGee hats – including the Hunter Creek at $120, or the Bowman River at $90 – are available in a wide range of colours and styles.

From $90 at ooGee. 

Of course, even after father's day there are plenty of great gift ideas for travellers, as our handy guide shows. 

Have some other recommendations for dad? Let us know in the comments.