Fun Date Night Ideas

We know it can be challenging to come up with unique and fun ideas when it comes to date nights (and days!). There’s the pressure of trying to impress your date with something classic but not cliché, fun but not embarrassing…where to begin!?

To help you out, we’ve put together a list of our absolute favourites. Whether you’re planning a first date or arranging an overdue date with your special someone, we’ve listed some interactive, fun-fuelled and memorable date ideas below that guarantee laughter and smiles all around.

1. For a Fun Date

Zone Bowling is obviously at the top of the list for fun date ideas. Let’s be honest: bowling is one of the most ideal first dates! Zero pressure (you can put the rails up to avoid the embarrassment of constant gutter balls!), a relaxed atmosphere and the chance to engage with each another over some friendly competition. Whether you’re a pro on the lanes or a complete beginner, play around, explore different techniques and have lots of fun with it, you can even try out some bowling pick up lines!

Why stop at bowling? Another fun date idea is hitting up the arcades. They are not only jam-packed with nostalgia but have an exciting atmosphere, which makes for a great experience to enjoy together. Offering a range of new and old games, you can either choose to team up on the multi-player machines or have some light-hearted competition on the racing games to see who owes the first round of drinks!

If you're in Brisbane, check out our list of fun things to do in Brisbane to give you some extra inspiration!

2. For an Outdoorsy Date

When the sun is shining, it’s always nice to think of outdoor date ideas.

The zoo is a must for animal lovers on a sunny day. Take a leisurely walk around the enclosures, learn about the beautiful animals and explore the cafes and gift shops to buy your date a cute keepsake to remember the day by. This type of date is relaxed and far from boring, with shows on at all times of the day.

If you both enjoy the sea, why not grab a pair of flippers and a snorkel and head to a snorkelling spot near you? Perfect for beach lovers, a snorkelling date is a great combination of relaxation and romance. With the beautiful views and clear waters, you might even spot some colourful and interesting marine life!

If that’s not for you, but you still want to do something outdoors, surprise your date with a picnic to enjoy together and soak up the surroundings. The great thing about picnics is that you can choose the right spot that your date would love. By the coast, in a park or after a short hike, there are plenty of places all around Australia to have a picnic with breathtaking views.

3. For a Rainy-Day Date

A true classic first-date idea, and especially good for a rainy day, is heading to the movies to catch the latest blockbuster release. Cinemas give you a relaxed and informal environment, which makes a first date nice and easy. Watching a film together offers a great conversation starter that can even be carried into dinner at a nice restaurant after.

If something a little bit more upbeat is more your thing for indoor date ideas on a rainy day, then why not spend date night unleashing your inner pop stars and singing your hearts out together with some karaoke in a private karaoke booth at Kingpin? Put together a list of your go-to songs and have a battle to see who has the best vocals or sing along to your favourite tune together.

Otherwise, for something truly indulgent, de-stress and spend the day being pampered with a spa day – the perfect date idea for couples wanting to switch up their usual meal out and enjoy some quality time together. Many hotels in all the major cities around the country have impressive spas, offering all the luxury you need to treat yourselves!

If you're in Sydney and looking for even more ideas, we've got a longer list of rainy day activities to hopefully give you some inspiration! Alternatively for those of you in Melbourne, Timezone have a great list of indoor things to do in Melbourne.

4. For an Artsy Date

A comedy show is a great idea for a fun first date; the relaxed atmosphere and lively environment make it easier to connect and share a new experience together. Laughter is also a powerful way of bonding and may reveal a similar sense of humour, which will help ease any first-date nerves. Let’s be honest: this is also the perfect friend date or date night idea for long-term couples!

For those looking for an artsy date during the daytime, Australian cities are lucky enough to have dozens of galleries and museums. You can spend the whole day getting lost in some of the major museums and galleries of Australia, with huge exhibits that take hours to go around if you truly want to immerse yourself in what’s on show. The Australian War Memorial and its museum in Canberra are often rated the #1 thing to do in all of Australia!

For those wanting to get a bit more hands-on with their art, try a Paint & Sip experience where you are guided through creating a painting while enjoying some fine wine.

5. For a Sporty Date

Australians have an amazing culture of loving fitness, sport and the outdoors, so why not incorporate that into your date ideas?

For those couples with an absolute passion for working out, combine that passion with your date and sign up to a new and different gym class than just your standard routine. Barry’s Bootcamp or Vicious Cycle could be the ultimate gym first date to really show off how much you can push yourself.

If you’re looking for something a little bit less intense, try a yoga class or if the weather allows then get creative and head to a park for you to be each other’s Personal Trainer for a session – create funny or interesting exercise challenges for your date to complete to add humour into the exercise mix.

If you like sports but don’t enjoy exercise, then find a sport that you both like and try to catch a game. Whether it’s A-League, NRL, AFL, NBL, Cricket or Netball, there’s plenty of sports happening at all times of the year. 

6. For a Double or Group Date

Now this one is a double-date idea that is a fun-tester for those long-term couples. How well do you work together as a team under time pressure?  Escape Rooms are the ultimate bonding experience. use your teamwork and combine skills to master the puzzles and spot the clues you need to break out of the room on time.

The Kingpin Canberra and Macarthur Square venues offer unique and impressively challenging escape rooms that will put you to the test.  

7. For a Foodie Date

A cookery class is guaranteed to be one of your best date ideas yet. Cook up a storm and enjoy bonding over a unique and fun experience, from pasta making classes to learning all about Japanese street food – there’s hundreds of places to choose from. Plus, it’s a bonus if you get to enjoy your delicious meal together at the end of the class!

Food trucks and night markets offer informal settings to walk around and try lots of different nibbles from many different cuisines. From starters through to dessert, you can tickle your tastebuds with new and interesting foods you’ve both never tried before.

Don’t forget, if you’re heading to Zone Bowling for your date, you can add some delicious food and drinks to your visit – check out our food menu!