Top Sydney Date Night Ideas

Why wait for Valentine's Day? There's always time for romance and what better place to spend time with your loved one than in beautiful Sydney.

Whether you’re a married couple looking for a night away from the kids, a new couple wanting to enjoy a holiday or a group of friends that are looking for some inspiration, Sydney is packed full of great 'date night' ideas. 

A modern twist on the classic dinner and a movie, an open-air cinema is the perfect Sydney date idea during the summer months. Pack a gourmet picnic basket filled with cheese, wine and maybe even some chocolate-covered strawberries.

There is nothing quite like an evening under the stars on a balmy Sydney summer evening – and there are plenty of venues for you to choose from.

Get tickets to the Westpac Open Air Cinema and enjoy uninterrupted Sydney Harbour views from the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Find a nice patch of grass at the Moonlight Cinema in the Belvedere Amphitheatre of Centennial Park or book a viewing with Sunset Cinema at North Sydney Oval.

If you are looking to get cosy, then Mov’in Car Open Air Cinema in Moore Park is a new 'drive in' movie experience complete with pizza, drink and lolly service direct to you (car) door! 

Need a little break from the hustle and bustle of Sydney? Then pack up the car and take your special someone on a day trip out of Sydney.

Only an hour’s drive from Sydney, the Blue Mountains is the perfect day trip location for couples seeking adventure and the great outdoors. This UNESCO World Heritage Area is the perfect place to stretch your legs, with lots of great walking tracks offering stunning mountain views along the way.

Be sure to catch a glimpse of the 3 Sisters, the region’s most iconic rock formation, or if you’re a waterfall-hunter then Bridal Veil Falls will give you a run for your money. Pack a picnic, your walking shoes and enjoy escaping to the great outdoors for the day.

If wineries are more you and your partner’s thing, then the Hunter Valley is for you. Only 250 kilometres from Sydney, the Hunter Valley is a great place to spoil the foodie in your life.

Blessed with excellent growing conditions, the Hunter Valley is teeming with fresh, local produce such as cheeses, chutneys, chocolate, oils, olives, and excellent wine.

Spoil your partner with lunch at one of the Hunter Valley’s top wineries or restaurants. You can’t go past Circa 1987 or The Cellar Restaurant for a meal, or Audrey Wilkinson Winery for a cracking glass of wine. 

Not all dates need to cost an arm and a leg. With a beautiful coastline and excellent weather for a large part of the year, Sydney is the perfect place to get outside and enjoy the city’s outdoor spaces.

There are plenty of great walking tracks around the city to enjoy. Pick up a cup of coffee and take a stroll along the classic Bondi to Coogee walking track. If you are looking for something more leisurely, then the Bradley’s Head to Chowder Bay walk which begins at Taronga Zoo offers great views of the Harbour Bridge, Opera House and city skyline.

There are plenty of great picnic spots along the way for you to lay out your picnic blanket, so don’t forget to pack some nibbles – and maybe even a bottle of bubbly.

If you have a need for speed, then you can hire out a bicycle and cycle your way around Sydney. One of the best places to hire a bike is in Centennial Park which offers 189 hectares of flat, smooth cycle paths for you to follow. Test your relationship on a tandem bike or pedal car or hire out a retro bike with a basket to carry your picnic essentials. 

There are plenty of ways to get creative in Sydney, so why not roll up your sleeves on date night? Put your creative cap on and get ready to express yourself with a creative workshop.

One way is a ‘sip and paint’ class such as the one at Cork and Chroma to help get your creative juices flowing with a nice glass of red – think of it as liquid courage. If you’re wanting to recreate that famous scene from Ghost, with your significant other, then a pottery class is the way to go. Bring your apron and an open mind and create whatever your heart desires. Plus, you even get to take home whatever you produce in the class, so you will have a memento to keep forever.

Want to give your partner a subtle hint that their cooking isn’t a quite up to scratch? A cooking class could be just what you need. With plenty of classes running all over the city, there is something for every budding chef. Book into Essential Ingredient for a themed cooking evening, be it sushi, vegetarian or Indian. Or join a class with the Sydney Seafood School held at the Sydney Fish Market and enjoy fresh produce straight from the boat. 

Sometimes all you want to do is stare at you partner over a great bottle of wine and meal – there’s nothing wrong with that – and Sydney’s food and drink scene means there are plenty of places to wine and dine your significant other.

If you are looking for a show-stopping view and delicious cocktails then Hacienda Sydney is an excellent choice.

Visit Atelier for a French-inspired meal or Chin Chin for something more laidback but as equally delicious.