This Father’s Day, we’re rolling out the green carpet for dads and their beloved dogs. For one special Sunday each year (out of respect for our resident bird population), Rippon Lea opens its gates for families and their four-legged members to enjoy the beautiful grounds together.
Bring your furry friends along for a wander around the gardens, lay out a picnic on the lawns, go blossom hunting around the estate, and soak up the glorious spring weather.
Dress to impress and purchase your ticket to join the Dog & Owner Look-Alike contest. Celebrate the uncanny resemblance between you and your dog, with the winning duo taking home a fabulous hamper of dog accessories valued at $250. Entry to the contest is included with your garden entry.
Don’t forget to capture the charm, the whiskers, and those matching grins in a paw-some portrait. Celebrate the bond between you and your dog with a professional photographic portrait by Award-winning photographer, Suzanne Phoenix. Photo sessions are $10 per session, with pictures available to be purchased online after the event. See below for full details.
It promises to be a tail-wagging good time for all!
What’s On
– Market Stalls open 10am – 3pm
– Dog & Owner Look-Alike Contest, taking place at 1.30pm on the main lawn. ENTRY INCLUDED WITH GARDEN ENTRY.
– Dad & Dog Pawtraits photo sessions from 11am to 1pm. Pre-booking is highly recommended. Cost is $10 per session.
– Pie Van is available from 10am to 3pm (or until sold out). Coffee can be purchased from Gatehouse (near the entrance). We regret that the previously advertised Sausage Sizzle is no longer able to go ahead.
– Mansion – Open House: Open from 11am – 2pm (additional charge for entry, sorry no dogs allowed inside).
Please note all dogs must stay on a leash at all times. Dog drop bags will be available at the entry.
Thank you to these businesses who have donated items for the Dog & Owner Look-Alike Competition Hamper
House of MaJaw, Little Rascal Delights, Clover’s Pet Diner, 3 Hounds, Cheeky Furriends, Pride and Pop, Sunday Pet Jumpers, Bug & Bun, DogDelish & Howler Collective
Dad & Dog Pawtraits
Because every dynamic duo deserves to be framed!
Capture the charm, the whiskers, and those matching grins in a paw-some portrait. Whether you’re a dapper dad, daggy dad or the doggy daddy of the year, it’s time to strike a pose and create fur-ever memories.
This Father’s Day, celebrate the bond with a professional photographic portrait by Award-winning photographer, Suzanne Phoenix. Have something of your own that captures the paw-some duo – from shared smiles to wagging tails. Whether it’s a classic pose or something a little more playful, these will be picture-perfect keepsakes of ‘mans best friend’ – and his dad.
Feel like dressing up in matching outfits? Don’t just take a photo, create a masterpiece that tells your story! There’s also a competition for best looking pair – just remember – we all love pets that look like their owners (or owners that look like their pets).
Photo sessions are $10 per session, with pictures available to be purchased online after the event (see below). Pre-booking is highly recommended as only limited walk-ups will be available on the day.
What you need to know
– Limited slots are available between 11.00am and 1.00pm (10 minutes each slot). Pre-booking encouraged.
– ‘Pawtraits’ will not be available on the day but will be available to purchase via our website in the week after the event. Image costs: High Res Digital Image $55, A3 Printed Image $135 + postage
– All portrait images taken on the day may be used on the social media channels of the National Trust and photographer Suzanne Phoenix. By booking you are agreeing to full usage rights from the two named entities.
About Suzanne Phoenix
Rippon Lea House and Gardens