Date Night To Remember: The Best Activities To Impress Your Date

Valentine’s Day is coming, and while it’s definitely one of the biggest date-dates on the calendar, it shouldn’t be the only one. Date nights, whether they’re the getting-to-know-you first date kind, a well-deserved break for long-term lovers, or just a friendly catch-up, should be a regular part of the social rotation. They’re essentially just fun ways to spend time with someone – especially if you can avoid rehashing the same old date ideas.

So whether you’re sweating over the perfect first date, taking a break from domestic life or just planning with a platonic pal, here are four out-of-the-box ways to spend some quality time.

Hit the lanes (and more) at Zone Bowling

There’s a reason bowling is such a winner when it comes to date night. The game itself is fun, whether or not you’re good at it. Playful, competitive energy can come out for some lighthearted banter (aka trash-talking).

And where you bowl matters just as much as the bowling itself. Zone Bowling is an exciting, energetic and colourful place for a date: an atmosphere ideal for relaxing into those high-expectations first dates, setting the tone for a fun double date, or just catching up with an old buddy for a friend date.

Plus, there’s plenty more beyond the pins, with themed laser tag arenas; classic and modern arcade games (and the chance to win your date a prize on the claw game); and a lit-up, floor-is-lava-ish game called ColourGrid. Add in a classic alley-style menu of burgers, nachos and pizzas, plus a range of wine and beer, and you’re fully set for date night. Just don’t get too mopey if your date wipes the floor with you, okay?

Take a spooky ghost tour

You can tell yourself that ghosts aren’t real, but when faced with a believable backstory, creepy location and theatrical tour guide, you might start wondering. Ghost tours are common around Australia and – if you and your date won’t get too terrified – are a fun way to explore a bit of local history while chains rattle and restless souls wail. Haunted houses, abandoned asylums and old gaols are regular locations for these tours, so a scary tour can be a great way to learn a bit more about your city while cuddling up to your date.

Get arty

Sure, the paint’n’sip model has long been a hit, but it’s far from the only way to do a fun-and-artsy date night. There are pottery classes, photo developing sessions, mosaicing spaces, life drawing nights – pretty much every style of art you can think of, in a casual, creative and low-stakes format. When it comes to dates, having something to do while chatting (or sipping, if it’s that sort of class) is a great way to take the pressure off – a big plus if you and your date are just getting to know each other.

Catch the golden hour with a sunset cruise

With so many of our cities and towns boasting picturesque rivers and coastlines (sorry, Canberra), it’s well worth getting out for a date on the water. Especially when the days are long and warm, a sunset cruise has everything a date should: a little bit of romance, great locations and, in many cases, a lovely glass of something cold to go with it. Cruises can also be a great way to catch a different side of your city – views that are sadly too often seen only by tourists. Plus, many cruises will be done by the time the sun is down, so there’s plenty of time to head out for dinner or more drinks afterwards if the mood strikes.

The ghost stories probably (hopefully) won’t change after your tour; you might not want to make the same kind of art twice in a row; and after your wallet’s been hit by the cruise price, you can always catch your next sunset from a free viewing point. But with plenty of activities, an extensive food and drink menu, and the kind of fun you can keep replaying over and over, visiting Zone Bowling again after Valentine’s Day and beyond is a no-brainer.

This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with Zone Bowling. Ditch the predictable dinner-and-drinks for a fun and playful date night you can enjoy on Valentine’s Day and all year ‘round.