Christmas gift ideas for him

If you’re thinking of dropping into Big ‘double-ya’ or Targie (aka Big W & Target) on the way home from work to pick up some stock standard socks and jocks for your man’s Chrissy pressie, here’s my advice – don’t. Put the car keys back in your bag, and stay a few extra minutes by your computer to finish reading this post. You’ll thank me for it later, I promise.I’ve grown up my whole life around boys, so whether you’re buying for your smelly little bro, your overprotective dad, your flamboyant BFF, or the man of your dreams, give a little something special this Christmas with these gift ideas for the men in your life.

The man who has your heart

Woot wooo, so you’re in love. You really want to make this man smile then, so make sure you get him something you’ll know he’s going to enjoy. It doesn’t have to be a tangible present that lasts forever either – think outside the four walls you live in, and consider ideas that’ll whisk him away (or you both) for an unforgettable experience.

For the thrill-seeker: So your man thinks he’s the bravest of the lot? Put him to the test with a Tandem Skydiving experience, or better still, throw him in the deep end with a Great White Shark Dive (pairing this up with a copy of JAWS of course). The adrenalin junkie inside of him will love every bit of it, including the pre-event jitters when he locks in a date.

For the outdoor lover: If your man loves a little BFC (boating, fishing, camping), then make sure he does it in style. The VW Camper Tent will make him the envy of the campsite, and the best thing about it is that it’s built to sleep four. If camping’s not your style, give him the go-ahead for a boys BCF trip away – he’ll only love you more for it.

If he likes to smell good: Firstly, lucky you! Secondly, we’ve got a number of different man-fumes to keep your beau smelling fresh. From scents such as Bvlgari Man, 212 Sexy Men, Calvin Klein: CK Man and if he’s serious about keeping up appearances, throw in a Milk Clean & Protect Skincare Pack.

The father figure in your life

Mr Masterchef: I’m proud to say my dad makes a killer roast (bring on xmas day!) so if you’re sitting in the same boat with a foodie father, then grab him a copy of Jamie’s Great Britain. If he loves food but hasn’t quite mastered the skills of a successful chrissy dinner, book him in to a cooking class so he can fine tune those skills to perfection. For the beer lover, this Sundowners pack will do just the trick.

The dad on the green: If you’re anything like me, you will have gotten your dad some golf balls for chrissy at least once – even when he barely plays golf! Old habits don’t die young, so if your Dad’s an avid golfer or needs a little inspiration to get back on the green, tee him up with the 50 More Places to Play Golf before you Die book. If you want to make it an extra special day for your Paps, book him a weekend away into one of our hotels with a golf course. We’ve got them all around the world – so kick start his bucket-list with a night away. That’s a gift option well above par.

For the king of the sea: Make your Dad Captain for the day with a boating and sailing adventure he’ll never forget. Let him kick start the retirement planning because as soon as he gets out there, it’ll be hard to get him back in.

That little man you love to hate

For those of us blessed to have them, buying for your little bro (or cousin, or nephew) can prove to be quite the challenge. Keep them active while you can with something fun to do or play with.

The sports-fanatic: Boys will be boys, and whether it’s rugby, soccer, AFL, league, tennis or WWE (the list goes on!) they’ll love you no matter what if you get them something sports related. My pick has to be the mini foosball table.

The ‘give it a go’ bro: If you want to make him smile, throw a challenge at him. A learn-to-surf lesson will make him put down the Xbox controller and have him feeling as cool as Kelly Slater. Want to make it even more special? Book a lesson yourself and turn it into a bonding day. Sup Bra.

Unlimited fun just for him: Kids love theme parks. Heck, I love theme parks! If you want to really put a smile on his dial, hook him up with a Warner Bros Super Pass. It’ll give him 28 days of unlimited entry into Movie World, Sea World, and Wet N’ Wild. If you think he’s more into the big rides and screams, the World Pass will get him unlimited entry into Dreamworld, White Water World and SkyPoint Observation Deck until November 2013. There’s no losing here!

Your flamboyant BFF

Pass the champers, darling! One of my fave things to do with my GBFF is to sip on some champers and let the good times roll. This champagne interlude hamper has his name write all over it but if champers isn’t your mans drink of choice, hook him up with a bag full of beer, or something a little more refined.

For the stress-head: Let’s face it. Hubbys and BFs aren’t the first to put their hands up when it comes to a day filled with pampering. Your BFF will be much more willing to put a hold on their masculinity in exchange for a day filled with indulgence. This 90 min Chocolate Decadent for Couples is the purrrfect way to unwind from the stress of Christmas shopping – plus, you get to go too! Located in Sydney, you’ll get to use the rooftop pool, jacuzzi, steam rooms and sauna, and enjoy being lathered in chocolate. Finish your day off with cocktails on the rooftop and the much needed gossip sesh.

For the one who loves to party: If bringing out old school ABBA and Madonna rings a bell, then give him something to play it off. This iHome Portable Stereo Speaker System will have you up all night doing the bend and flick. It also makes the perfect addition for weekends away when you wish you’d BYO music device.

Still can’t decide?

Get the fussy pots an experiences gift voucher and let them decide. With vouchers ranging from $25 to $1000, they’re fit for any type of budget big or small.

So there you have it – gift ideas for any kind of man in your life. (Please!) leave the socks and jocks for another day of the year, for his sake, and spoil your man with something he’s really going to love. Tis’ the season after all.