Spring is around the corner, which can only mean one thing: Father’s Day is approaching—fast. And while many of us would go to the ends of the earth and back for our dads, planning the perfect Father’s Day surprise is a surefire way to stump us.
Racking your brains for the best way to show him how much he means to you? Don’t worry, we’ve got your back.
This year, Perth has a bunch of unusual, fun, and heartwarming ways to make the old man's day extra special—from good ol' fashioned lunches he'll love to adrenaline-pumping adventures that'll make it a memorable one.
Here are the best things to do this Father's Day in Perth.
Get The Adrenaline Pumping
Got a daredevil dad? Well, we’ve got just the right adrenaline-spiking activity for him.
Optus Stadium’s VERTIGO Rooftop Tour is a must for your sports-loving thrill-seekers. The 90-minute experience will give Dad a unique look at Perth’s iconic stadium when he’s strapped into a harness above the playing field.
For something a little less Mission Impossible and more Top Gun, this exhilarating Warbird flight is a goodie. Dad’ll get to strap into a CT/4A for 40 minutes of low level coastal flying backed up by the kind of higher-altitude aerobatic manoeuvres Maverick would be proud of.
Speed demon dads will be all over this V8 Race Car Drive. After a safety run-through and orientation lap with a pro, he’ll choose his car (sedan or ute) before strapping in for three speed laps around Barbagallo Raceway.
Otherwise, you could always take him for a snorkel with sharks, stingrays, turtles and hundreds of stunning fish. Don’t worry, it’s all pretty safe inside AQWA’s three million-litre shipwreck coast aquarium.
Go For The Always Faithful Father’s Day Feast
This one is for the dads who are always hangry—whose idea of heaven is a pint of beer in one hand and a belly full of good grub under the other. Perth’s restaurants are amping up their game this Father's Day with special menus and one-off lunches to cater for foodie fathers.
Besk is putting on a Caribbean Father’s Day Feast, complete with a cocktail on arrival and a Feed Me menu packed with tropical flavours. They've also got a beer and snack pairing masterclass going down from 3.30pm til 5pm too.
Bar Rogue has an indulgent three-course lunch set for a king. Think turmeric flatbread and dips, shaved wagyu bresaola and prosciutto, cold pork pie and pickles to start. Then it’s Big T-Bones for the main event with chippies and salad. Finished off with a bloody good cheesecake. You can also add on a full or half WA Rock Lobster for cray-lovin’ dads.
Hadiqa is hosting a special Father’s Day rooftop lunch with four courses of beer-infused eats and a selection of iconic and limited-release Pirate Life brews.
Jetty Bar is serving waterfront views, top drinks and cracking eats all damn day, with brunch on from 8.30am and all-day dining specials kicking off from 12pm. Book a table outside and keep your eyes peeled for passing dolphins.
Ingido Oscar is the perfect excuse to take your Father's Day lunching seaside. The Cottesloe gem has crafted the ultimate Latin-inspired menu—think: marinated flank steak with fried egg, crispy potatoes, shallots, or whole fried baby barramundi, with buttered corn salsa, chilli, lime, and many more South American friends.
The Raffles is another great option with unbeatable river views and a damn good $28 meat platter loaded with ribs, brisket, pulled pork, cornbread and slaw on from 11.30am, plus, $10 Swanny D pints and live music from 1pm.
The Merrywell is doing a dad-friendly spin on high tea with beef pepper mini pies, pulled pork quesadillas, cheeseburgers, nachos, and onion rings.
The Ritz is the place to go when you, well... want something more ritzy. Think four decadent courses, exclusive wines and unbeatable views of Elizabeth Quay. They're also doing a special dad's day afternoon tea if that's more your speed.
Santini is putting on a two-course Italian brunch spread kicking off with a complimentary fizz or frothy that’ll get dad home in time for the footy.
Or if dad prefers a classic roast, there are a fair few belters going round at the moment. The Bassendean Hotel, Galway Hooker and Durty Nellys all have killer roasts on for Father's Day, and The Globe is bringing back its giant Yorkshire pudding roast just for dad. How good.
Otherwise, take a gander through Perth's best restaurants and book something right up your dad's alley.
Catch Some Side-Splitting Comedy
If your old man can’t go past a dad joke, we say give him the night off and let some of Perth’s best comedians tickle your fancy (and your ribs). The Comedy Lounge hosts the creme de la creme of Australian comedy talent and big-name international performers under one state-of-the-art roof, so snap up tickets for a Saturday night show with the old man.
Although if he does prefer to crack the jokes, The Civic is hosting a dad joke comp for Father's Day. They've also got a meat raffle, live sports and a free drink for dad on arrival, so best tell dad to starting putting his stand-up set together.
Tee Up A Golf Session
In support of those who never quite got the concept of a hole-in-one, we present to you a simplified rendition of the classic dad sport: mini golf. Depending on you and your dad’s vibe, Perth has a couple of top spots, each with its unique charm.
First up, Holey Moley takes you on a colourful adventure through pop culture icons, neon lights, and larger-than-life obstacles. Putt putt your way around the immersive courses while sipping on your favourite cocktails from The Caddyshack bar.
For something that actually resembles the great game, head to Wembley Mini Golf. It’s pretty much a smaller version of a regular 18-hole golf course with perfectly manicured greens, mini sand bunkers, water hazards, the works. Plus, they've got a great driving range too where dad can have a good old whack.
Otherwise, try any of these the top mini golf spots in Perth.
Sip Rare Whisky In An Underground Bar
Now, we're not saying whisky is a dad drink—but we're not not saying it, either. Got a father figure who loves a dram? Head on down to Varnish On King for an exclusive Father’s Day Whiskey Masterclass. The event will see dad learning and sampling all things American Whiskey in between smashing some of Varnish’s cracking eats. He’ll also walk out with a limited edition trucker hat and 20% off the dinner bill if you wanna kick on after.
If bourbon, beer and bacon are more dad’s thing, you could also check out this cheeky little double header from the same crew. Start with brews and bites at Pirate Life then walk on down to Varnish for bourbon and bacon.
Shout Dad A Cold One
We can put our necks out to treat our father figures this Father's Day but, at the end of the day, all that matters is spending some quality time with them. Of course, doing so with a beer in hand doesn't hurt. Sounds like your cup of tea (or should we say your pint of beer?)
True beer geeks will appreciate the opportunity to go behind the brews at Otherside Brewing Co. on a guided tour and 10-sample tasting session. Then again, you could also snag him a seat right next to Pirate Life’s brew kit so dad can gawk at the brewing set-up while sipping frothies and feasting on juicy steaks at Priate Life's Father’s Day Long-Table Lunch.
Of course, if you’d prefer to keep it simple, you can treat dad to a cold one at Perth’s best pubs or breweries.
Our top pick if you wanna impress the old man is probably Gage Roads in Fremantle. The huge brewpub is right on the water, so you can grab a fresh pint and take a seat outside to watch the container ships come in.
Beer Corner is hard to beat for its exceptional range of craft brews and ales. And if you take advantage of their Crafternoons from 12pm, you can shout dad to WA home-made brews from as little as $7.50 per pour.
Or, for something you can make a whole day out of, head to Bailey Brewing in the Swan Valley. The beaut brewery has craft beer, eats and a cracking family-friendly atmosphere nailed. Afterwards, you can always try to convince mum to drive you to a couple of other spots before getting dad home for his afternoon snooze.
Now, scope out the best Father's Day gifts.
Image credit: The Ozone at Optus Stadium, The Globe, The Comedy Lounge, Holey Moley, Elle Borgward (Gage Roads)
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