The best Father's Day gifts under $50

It's that time again, and we've got a bunch of gifts for dad from trusty socks to once-off experiences. These local gifts are the best buys in Melbourne.

When is Father’s Day in 2024?

Put it in your diaries – Father’s Day will be on 1 September in 2024. Don't be fooled by some Northern hemisphere countries, which celebrate Father's Day in June!

Quirky socks - from $12

What’s a gift guide without socks? Bruce Goose at Queen Victoria Market makes pairs covered in colourful stripes, polka dots and, yes, with sausage dogs. More laid-back fashionistas will love single colour and breathable socks. For the artsy dad, the NGV Design Store has a pair emblazed with Hokusai's famous Great Wave artwork.

Sketching supplies, from $18.99

Help him put pencil to paper with a crisp new Moleskin sketch pad. The choice of artists and thinkers, from Picasso to Hemingway, the fresh white pages will spark his imagination. Pair it with set of five graded graphite pencils in a gift-ready tin, then kick back and await your thank you note! Available from Milligram.

Critter keyrings, $15

Curious dads will marvel at the tiny specimens inside these keyrings. Peruse the range of seahorses, scorpions, spiders and more, perfectly preserved and trapped in time. You can get a matching pair to share and did we mention they glow in the dark? Find more fossils and curios at rare gift emporium Wunderkammer.

Rare LEGO sets - from $13

If you’ve got a LEGO nerd on your hands, Brickville needs to be your next port of call. This local Kensington gem deals in hard-to-find, decommissioned and retired LEGO sets. So if there's a particular Marvel minifig or vintage set they're after, this brick-loaded wonderland has it all sorted.

Cooking essentials - from $16.50

Melbourne's Mabu Mabu restaurant has brought First Nations' food to Fed Square – and now it's coming to dad's pantry. The small batch sauces and spices are made with native ingredients. Think fermented chilli sriracha, pineapple hot sauce and lemon myrtle meat rub – all found in the extensive pantry range. Or pick up a jar of honey from the Koorie Heritage Trust shop. It's created in a rooftop beehive on top of Fed Square!

Pop Vinyls - from $20

From Star Wars to Dragon Ball Z, there's a perfect Pop Vinyl figurine for everyone's interests. Pop culture paradise Minotaur sells stacks of the little statuettes. That includes four different Yoda iterations to choose from. Critical Hit also has a huge range of these cuties, with a focus on Japanese characters.

Lantern-lit ghost tour - $39

Got a history buff in the family? Book a ghost tour for dad to discover Melbourne's spooky past. There'll be tales of opium dens, medical science mysteries and a deep dive into the dramatic end of famous opera singer Federici. Add the dinner option and enjoy a meal at one of the city's most iconic old pubs before venturing off into the night!

Koko Black gin chocolate - from $30

The premium chocolate purveyors at Koko Black have brought the goods again with a bumper selection of Father’s Day goodies. The gift boxes are the perfect thing for the dad who loves a sweet treat. Or blow out the budget (just a little) with a box of gin-infused choccies. All perfectly presented in a funky package.

High Sierra backpack – $49

If he's still toting around the same tattered backpack he had when you were five, it's time to upgrade. The 31 litre High Sierra backpack is just the thing. Kitted out with all the bells and whistles, it has spacious inner compartments and adjustable padded straps for all-day comfort. Find it at TravellerShop, along with loads of handy travel gadgets.