7 Activities To Try This Father’s Day

Fathers’ Day is on the horizon and so is your chance to say cheers to your old man. We’ve ditched the overpowering aftershaves and the poorly curated sock kits and come out with 7 male-approved bonding experiences to let Dad know he’s still the main man in your life.

Material things come and go, but memories are forever. Our Dad-bonding sessions are suitable for every kind of budget and under-appreciated dad. Hint: some of the following activities may contain seriously good wine.

Poker Night

If your dad appreciates a little mystery and a rocking game of poker, host a group of his friends or family at the The Roosevelt’s bespoke poker room. The secret speakeasy den is free of charge, instead they just require you to spend a minimum amount on drinks (which shouldn’t be hard given the nature of the activity). They also have a special poker menu to ensure the food doesn’t get in the way of the seriousness of the game at hand. May the flop be with you.

Hiking Adventure

For the adventurous dad, there are some pretty spectacular and rewarding trails in close proximity to Sydney. For starters, the Royal National Park is a veritable goldmine of cascading waterfalls, pristine natural pools, and beautiful vegetation. For the truly intrepid, the Mermaid Pools in Tahmoor are a must. The walk itself is quite short, but once there, the only way into the pools is a jump. Or for the more chilled out dads, there a number of really great coastal walks dotted around Sydney.

Camp Out

If a simple hike is not enough, Sydney is but a short car ride away from some of our country’s most spectacular camping areas, and what better way to celebrate your old man than by spending extended quality time together among nature? Bouddi National Park, near the central coast boasts Little Beach with capacity for only six campsites and is right on the beach, or you can chase waves nearby at the equally as intimate Tallow Beach campground. Pack up enough non-perishable goods to see you through the trip, and once the fire is lit and the stars are out, be sure to unwind with a bottle of wine. Penfolds Bin 28 Kalmina Shiraz is always a crowd pleaser.
Other great camping spots are: The Basin, Bendeela (free), Cockatoo Island and Seal Rocks.

Cooking Class

Take your dad along to Salts Meats Cheese in Alexandria, where they run cooking classes from pasta/ravioli, to mozzarella making. Or, if seafood is more his thing, head to Sydney Seafood School and learn how to prepare chilli crab like the best of them. For a class with a difference we recommend the Hudson meat demonstrations, where the resident butchers give fascinating lessons on everything meat-related, from making sausages to expertly breaking down beef and lamb.

Men’s Shave at SpaQ Barber Shop

If your dad has a tendency to be nostalgic (who do you think took all those photos from every birthday and every holiday?), make like Don Draper this Father’s Day and get him a cut-throat razor shave.

The timeless art of gentlemanly grooming is well alive thanks to The Barber Shop’s maestro barbers, their wet shave in antique leather chairs is legendary.

Skydiving

If your old man is a thrill seeker, and you have a bit of dosh to spend, take them on a gentle helicopter ride and then have them jump out of it (safely strapped to an expert and a parachute, that is). If that’s a bit too extreme, there’s always the option of indoor skydiving.

Penfolds

And for the wine savvy dad, look no further than the Penfolds experience. We’ve done the research – a Bin 28 Kalmina Shiraz pairs perfectly with all of the activities above, or you could show your thanks with a Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz & Pen Set. Reminisce about the good old days while creating a new tradition.