11 Fun Date Night Ideas in Sydney
Coming up with inventive, fun date night ideas can really challenge your creative thinking and Googling skills! Let us help you find something unique to do in Sydney with this list of top picks for wooing a loved one without stepping foot inside a restaurant or cinema.
A thoughtful and savvy soul such as yourself doesn’t default to flimsy flowers and dinner at the usual place for your date nights or Valentine’s Day gestures of undying love. Oh no!
You’re all about thinking outside the box and going the extra mile to deliver a romantic experience that’s memorable for all the right reasons. But coming up with something new and fun time and time again can be tough.
Looking for inspo? Venture beyond the usual romantic dinner and drinks scenario with these 11 fun ways to date night across the Sydney CBD and further afield.
Sydney CBD
1. Savour a Picture-Perfect Picnic
A classic no-brainer for a romantic date is the perfect picnic set up alfresco in the beautiful Royal Botanic Garden, overlooking sparkling Sydney Harbour. Relax and soak in the sunshine amid soaring fig trees and beds of colourful flowers, spending all the quality time you need with your loved one in this great green space. Pack your own picnic food for a low budget date option or opt for a luxurious picnic hamper for two available at the on-site eateries at the gardens.
Image credit: Tourism Australia, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney
2. Cook Up a Storm With A Cooking Class
Whoever said that food is the way to a person’s heart was right. Roll up your sleeves and learn from culinary experts at one of Sydney Seafood School’s cooking classes. Take home some tips from Australia’s best chefs on-site at the Sydney Fish Market via a range of hands-on cooking experiences. Mingle over a canape and drink before slipping on your apron and having a go at creating your own culinary masterpiece. Then sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labours over a glass of wine in Sydney Seafood School’s private dining room.
Image Credit: Franz Scheurer Photography
3. Sail Along Sydney Harbour Together
Feel like you’ve sauntered around the same old stomping grounds in Sydney? Why not try seeing it all from a different angle, from the harbour? Sydney by Sail offers a plethora of sailing experiences for you and your date to enjoy. With no previous sailing experience required, you and your partner have the option to either take the helm, hoist the sails and truly learn the ropes; or to simply relax on the deck as your skipper guides you across the harbour. Hop on board and soak up the limitless view of the blue waters – it’s the ultimate way to see Sydney Harbour.
Image Credit: Sydney By Sail
4. Share A Musical Experience
Catch an award-winning performance at Sydney Lyric Theatre for a truly intimate experience. Take in the sights and sounds of a memorable musical, play or ballet and feel closer to your loved one as the lights dim and the melodies start to play. Hit the bar beforehand for a glass of bubbly and enjoy an interval snack of cheese and antipasto and perhaps a cheeky ice-cream to complete the experience. It doesn’t matter if you’re not a true theatre buff as Sydney is host to a multitude of hit musicals and performances with venues like the iconic Sydney Opera House and Capitol Theatre, so there’s always something for everyone!
Image Credit: Sydney Lyric Theatre
5. Dine On Dumplings In The Gardens
Ok, so we’ve cheated a bit here and slipped in a dining experience, but this one is unique enough to qualify! Find tranquillity at one of Sydney’s most beautiful gardens and enter a peaceful nature retreat filled with a huge koi pond, miniature mountains and plenty of flora. As you enter this city oasis in the middle of Darling Harbour, you feel as though you have been transported to China, back in time to the Ming dynasty. While you’re at the Chinese Garden of Friendship, be sure to have a bite of the delicious dumplings and other Chinese delicacies at The Gardens by Lotus. Sip on the finest teas as you stare out to admire the prime views of the Chinese Gardens from afar.
Image Credit: Destination NSW
6. Discover New Bars On A Hop
Hit the streets and uncover a different side of Sydney, accompanied by avid traveller Justin and his fellow hosts from award-winning Local Sauce Tours. Be entertained as you learn cool stories, fun facts and a sprinkling of history whilst checking out Sydney’s hidden sights, secret bars, unique restaurants and hole-in-the-wall cafes. Or if you’re more keen on DIY exploring, discover what you can find on your own with plenty of fantastic spots for a bar crawl in and around Pyrmont. Raise your glass at one of Sydney’s oldest pubs, The Terminus Hotel, or head up to the Rooftop at Quarrymans Hotel for a cheeky cocktail. And why not try our Wayfarer’s Bar & Cafe for a place to kick back with your partner and relax with a local wine in hand.
Image Credit: Local Sauce Tours
Broader Sydney
7. Learn To Throw An Axe Together
Throw a little danger in the mix. If you’re all about the thrills, bring your date to an experience of a lifetime and try your hand at axe throwing. While you may probably be a first-timer, that’s no worry as you get to learn from the professionals before taking on the challenge and competing against your date for some action-packed fun. Now that’s an awesome new couples workout routine! Check out MANIAX in St Peters or Kiss My Axe in Alexandria.
Image Credit: Kiss My Axe
8. Fly Over Sydney Hand-In-Hand
Soar into the sky and take your date to unparalleled heights with unforgettable views of Sydney and the city’s world famous landmarks. From sparkling waters to bright blue skies, the view from above is unrivalled and your partner is sure to thank you after a luxuriously grand date such as this. Find the best helicopter rides in Sydney via Sydney Heli Tours.
Image Credit: Hamilton Lund
9. Combine Brain Power With An Escape Room
Ready, set, play! With over 15 different, visually-stunning challenge rooms, Hijinx Hotel is in a league of its own compared to the usual escape room offerings in Sydney. Stick with your partner and solve a range of diverse puzzles in each room to win as many points as you can while under the clock. Show off and embrace your competitive side – you might learn something new about your date!
Image Credit: Zennieshia Butts, Hijinx Hotel
10. Tee Off In a Small Way
Eliminate any awkward first date tensions with balls of fun at Holey Moley Golf Club. With its quirky, colourful interiors brimming with pop culture nostalgia (yes, you can actually sit on The Simpsons couch!), there’s plenty to talk about as you play a round or two. The crazy ballsy mini golf experience also comes with a full service bar so you and your partner can enjoy a beverage or two while you putt. There’s no doubt that this is no ordinary mini golf date.
Image Credit: Holey Moley Golf Club
11. Have Your Ghost Pottery Moment
Now what could be a more romantic way to show off your creative side than a pottery class? Bring your date to a casual class at The Pottery Shed and learn wheel thrown pottery with no prior experience required. Then take your wonderful creations home so you can reminisce about this special moment between you and your loved one. Plus, when else would you get the chance to re-enact the famous pottery scene in Ghost?
Image Credit: The Pottery Shed
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And when you’re done with your daytime date activities, make a night of it too and stay at Aiden Darling Harbour, choosing from our range of rooms. Our pick? Choose a room with a private balcony at one of our The Balcony rooms, and watch the twinkling of the city night lights while you share a bottle of sparkling.