When you’re travelling or living abroad, there are things you miss out on back home. Not just having to make do with Marmite instead of Vegemite, but anniversaries, engagements and birthdays.
Once you’ve reminded yourself you’re having the trip of a lifetime, jump online and send a gift to mark the occasion and, of course, to make sure you’re not forgotten.
With Father’s Day in Australia and New Zealand in just a matter of weeks (Sept 2, of course it hadn’t slipped your mind), here’s our pick of top websites to visit to buy great pressies. Get your order in now, while there’s still time …
What: Broken down into categories – less than $30, gifts for oldies – this Australia-based site offers same-day dispatch, which is handy if you’ve left buying your pa a present until the last minute.
Would your old man enjoy an inflatable beer bucket ($49.95), or is he a more practical sort who’d like an electric fly and mosquito zapper ($15.95)?
Delivery: From $9.95 for a standard five-day service delivery fee to anywhere in Australia, and $19.95 to New Zealand. Pay
in Aus dollars.
redballoon.com.au; redballoon.co.nz
What: Surprise your dad with a skydive so he can get a taste of what you’ve been up to while on the road. This experience site
offers tandem jumps across Australia and New Zealand from $285.
Or, if he prefers to have his feet closer to the ground, book him a V8 driving experience where he’ll throw a supercar around a track (from $199) for a couple of laps. Check it out for everything from watersports to abseiling.
Delivery: Voucher dispatched up to 72 hours after purchase. Pay in Aus dollars.
What: Everyone’s dad enjoys a drink or four, so a gift from this website will be more than pleasing to receive.
If he’s into his vino, there’s a decent choice of top red and whites (starting for less than $10), or if you’re scratching around for funds, a four-pack
of Three Oaks cider ($11.90) will at least put a smile on his face.
There’s a great selection of champers, beers and spirits, so your dad can have a drink on you.
Delivery: Delivery charges are on a per case basis, and delivery starts from $7. Pay in Aus dollars. See the website for full details.
What: No doubt you’ve accumulated a mountain of photos while on your travels. Well, at this site, you can turn the best ones (er, not you at the Walkie with another conquest) into a gift for pa. albelli.com is pretty simple to use.
For a photobook (from €7.95) just upload your images, decide on how many pages you want, design the images in the sequence you fancy, and hit send. You can also create photo calendars and diaries, make a canvas or send a personalised greeting card.
Delivery: Takes from seven days and charges start at €15. Pay in euros.
What: Is your dad not only the head of the household but also the king of the BBQ? Then get him some tools he’ll really appreciate.
You can buy guitar-shaped spatulas ($22.95) and tongs ($22.95) on this site, or your old man’s very own branding iron ($24.95), so he can sizzle his name into the meat.
If you’re feeling generous, splash out on the Coopers home brew kit ($120). Seriously, what’s the worst that could happen?
Delivery: Items take from two days to arrive in Australia, and delivery is $9.95. Pay in Aus dollars.
Photos: Thinkstock
