Father’s Day is almost upon us—Sunday 4 September, to be exact—but don’t panic, there’s still plenty of time to get something sorted before the big day. And since fathers are notoriously difficult to buy for, we’ve gone and done the hard yards for you with gift ideas for every budget and every dad out there, and not a sock or novelty tie in sight.
Scroll on for the best Father’s Day gift ideas to shop in 2022.
The Critical Slide Society Cap
Price: $44.17
Keep dad looking sharp (and safe from the sun’s rays) with a mighty fine cap from the Critical Slide Society. Made from cotton canvas and garment dyes that aren’t tested on animals, in a factory in Bangladesh which is monitored to ensure staff are kept happy and healthy, dad won’t have a critical word to say about this snazzy snapback.
Auckland Urban Craft Beer Tour
Price: $170
If dad fancies himself a bit of a craft beer connoisseur, treat him to an Urban Craft Beer Tour of some of Auckland’s most coveted breweries like Garage Project, Urbanaut Brewing Co and Good George. Boasting yarns, bants and beersies, this four-and-a-half-hour tour includes a delicious lunch with craft beer pairing, comfortable transport with snacks for the road, beer tastings in three locations, a guided commentary and a behind-the-scenes look into how dad’s favourite craft beers are made. Stoked.
Eva Solo Green Tool Burger Press
Price: $69
If your dad’s proudly plant-based he’ll love this chic green burger press by Eva Solo. Making pattie-shaping a breeze, the press is designed for chickpea and vegetable concoctions but works just as well for the O.G. hamburger too. Most importantly it’s dishwasher-safe because ain’t nobody got time for washing up, especially when there’s a load of burgers, hot off the grill.
Toderick Hall: The Femuline Tour
Price: $65-85
Gift dad a wild night out with tickets to Toderick Hall’s highly anticipated show, The Femuline Tour. The multi-talented singer, rapper, actor, choreographer, and social media personality is set to storm The Opera House in Wellington and Studio The Venue on Auckland’s Karangahape Road in late September. With more nails, hair, hips and heels than dad can shake a sequinned pump at, it’s sure to be a night he’ll never forget.
MAHŌ Artisan Leather Sensory Stick
Price: $42
If Anchorman taught us anything it’s that very important people own leather-bound books and have apartments that smell of rich mahogany so if dad’s your VIP you might like to gift him a MAHŌ Artisan Leather Sensory Stick. With notes of leather, woody cypress and sandalwood, with allspice, dragon blood and musk for good measure, when dad lights up this boujee incense there’ll be no question how important he is.
BUG For Men
Price: $32.26
Can we just start by saying, if your dad wears nail polish, he’s the man. His perfect Father’s Day gift? BUG For Men. Inspired by the rugged British woodlands, this cruelty-free label smashes stereotypes and celebrates freedom of expression through specially formulated makeup, brow and beard brushes, nail ink, and hops and oat-infused skincare. If your dad might dig this be sure to order, stat, as it ships from the UK.
Holden V8 Race Experience
Price: $499
If dad’s a little too into The Fast And The Furious or maybe he’s a bit of a magnet for speeding tickets, unleash that need for speed in a Holden V8 Race Experience. Dad won’t be able to wipe the grin off his face as he hoons around the track, completing hot laps in a fire-breathing 400kw 6000cc V8 Holden Commodore. Gift this rush of adrenaline and there’ll be no question as to who’s the favourite child.
Allbirds Tree Flyers
Price: $270
Refresh dad’s runners with a brand spanking new pair of Allbirds Tree Flyers. Made with Forest Sustainable Council-certified eucalyptus tree uppers, a signature SwiftFoam midsole and a ZQ merino wool heel lining, these kicks pack a planet-friendly punch. Opt for the classic blizzard or natural black colourways, or shake things up with a striking limited edition hue like buoyant yellow, buoyant orange, lux beige, cream hush, lux pink or thrive yellow.
Bruno’s Originals
Price: varies
Seriously stylish dads will love a one-of-a-kind piece by Bruno’s Originals. Every garment is handmade by fashion designer Bruno Harding in Freeman’s Bay from vintage, antique, repurposed and deadstock fabrics. This Oversized Quilted Jacket made from a quilted blanket would be a perfect Father’s Day gift for a dad who feels the cold, and this Raglan Sail Jacket made from Bruno’s family’s windsurfer sail and lined with Peruvian cloth would make a great wind-breaker.
Apple Watch Series 7 GPS
Price: $689
Apple wants us to know that size does, in fact, matter so they made their Apple Watch Series 7 bigger and better than ever. Look, if your dad likes to sport a tinfoil hat then this isn’t the gift for him, but if he’s tossing and turning all night wondering what his blood oxygen levels are then he’ll probably want to slap one of these slick straps on his wrist. With this over-achieving watch on his person, dad can access his vitals whenever the mood strikes. Heck, he can even take an ECG and then soothe his stress with the new mindfulness features. Shook.
Tattoo Vouchers
Price: varies
If you’ve got yourself an illustrated dad, there’s no better Father’s Day gift than a voucher to help him finish off his latest tatt, or realise a design he’s been mulling over for a while. Tāmaki Makaurau has a treasure trove of tattoo studios, each with an array of artists specialising in unique styles. You can buy vouchers online from Auckland Tattoo Studio, Black Cat Tattoo, Sunset Tattoo and Two Hands Tattoo or pop into dad’s local and make a sneaky arrangement. Better still, you could get matching designs—too cute.
DIY White Russian Kit
Price: varies
If dad not-so-secretly aspires to attain The Dude status, enable that fantasy with a thoughtful bundle of vodka, coffee liqueur and cream—everything he needs to whip up a White Russian. You could use any vodka and coffee liqueur, but we recommend going boujee with a bottle of Ciroc vodka and Mr Black coffee liqueur, then nabbing a bottle of cream from your local dairy, you know, for balance. With this delightfully DIY-ed bundle, dad can abide… in low-key luxury.
Oceana Handmade Ceramic Mug
Price: $44
Mugs might have a bad rep when it comes to Father’s Day gifting but you’d be a mug to not get dad one of these great hand-painted vessels for his morning coffee. Hand thrown in Raglan by local artist Sarah Bing, this Oceana design is reminiscent of windswept beach days, seagulls stealing your sandwiches and almost dropping your ice cream cone—perfect for a salty dog ocean-loving father. Not quite dad’s cup of tea? (We had to.) Discover the full range of Artoon mugs, as well as cutlery, wall art and ceramic bells, here. Novelty mug who?
The Camping Life
Price: $59.99
The Camping Life by Brendan Leonard and Forest Woodward will go down a treat, packed with tips and inspiration for dad’s next adventure. Within the pages, he’ll find expert knowledge on a range of need-to-knows from how to pack a backpack or touring kayak to crossing rivers safely and, perhaps most importantly, how to camp with your dog. This stunning book is a must-read for any father who revels in spending time in nature.
Secret Kiwi Kitchen DIY Hot Sauce Kit
Price: $45.99
Set dad’s tastebuds alight with Secret Kiwi Kitchen’s limited-edition DIY Hot Sauce Kit. This bad boy is packed with everything fire-breathing patriarchs need to craft not one, but four bottles of their very own hot sauce, including a spicy selection of dried chilli peppers (habanero, guajillo, pasillo negro and tianjin) and the brand’s top-secret spice blend. Did we mention you also get free shipping? Talk about a hot deal.
Aēsop Karst Eau de Parfum
Price: $265
Aēsop’s Othertopias range is a collection of unorthodox fragrances inspired by worlds within worlds. We’re here for it and we know dad will be too. Their Karst Eau de Parfum is reminiscent of cliffside vegetation. Both moody and fresh it has a herbaceous aroma made from juniper, cumin and sandalwood. All Aēsop products are vegan and Aēsop is Leaping Bunny approved and a Certified B Corporation which means this gift is a win for dad, a win for animals and a win for the planet.
T2 The Lot Gift Pack
Price: $101
If your dad loves spilling the tea on the reg, The Lot Gift Pack from T2 might just be his cup of tea (we had to). Packaged in a funky blue box he’ll have nine teas at his fingertips: China Jasmine, French Earl Grey, Green Rose, Just Peppermint, Lemongrass and Ginger, Melbourne Breakfast, New York Breakfast, Packs a Peach and Sleep Tight. All tea, no shade.
Planning to take dad out to dinner to celebrate? Take your pick from Auckland’s best restaurants.
Image credit: Ketut Subiyanto, The Critical Slide Society, Red Balloon, Father Rabbit, Toderick Hall, MAHŌ, BUG For Men, Red Balloon, Allbirds, Bruno’s Originals, Apple, Black Cat Tattoo, Mr Black, Artoon, Father Rabbit, Secret Kiwi Kitchen, Aēsop, T2.
Editor's note: Urban List editors independently select and write about stuff we love and think you'll like too. Urban List has affiliate partnerships, so we get revenue from your purchase. Information was correct at the time of posting, though may be subject to change.