Are you looking for Darwin date ideas? We don’t blame you – there’s a lot of love here!
A permanent Darwin summer makes for the perfect outdoor dates, storm season makes you want to hug someone, and the people here are often infectiously happy.
Whether you’re visiting with a partner, or a local looking to spice it up – we’ve pulled together a handy list of date ideas in Darwin!
CLASSIC DARWIN DATES
Sunset Picnic @ East Point
Is there anything better than a Darwin sunset? One of the quintessential first dates, second dates, things to do as a married couple, or even with your mates! Pack a picnic and an esky, and head down to East Point for sunset.
Deckchair Cinema
One for the dry – the Deckchair Cinema runs seven nights a week during the dry season screening a range of movies that include family favourites, Australian and foreign films. A great way to get outdoors with your date – and you don’t have to talk too much! Grab a beer, some snacks, and bring your own pillows for extra comfort!
Day Trip to Litchfield
There’s no better way to find out if you’re really into someone – sitting in the car with them for a couple of hours!
Pack a hat, some sunscreen, some snacks, and go and explore! Swim under Florence Falls, rock hop down Buley, admire the view at Tolmer and Wangi. Call into the Litchfield Motel for lunch or Berry Springs Tavern for a beer on your way home. It’s great with a group or with your friends too – the best Territory date ever!!
SOMETHING ROMANTIC
Pee-Wees
There aren’t many things more romantic than fine food, a glass of wine and an uninterrupted view of the Arafura sea.
Pee Wee’s is a local favourite for a fancy dinner, BUT you can actually just go for drinks on the lawn in the lounge area too, if a full dinner isn’t your style.
Pepperberry Restaurant
The Hilton’s Pepperberry restaurant interior is beautiful – and the modern Australian cuisine & bush spice-infused menu is a winner. For something a little bit fancy, or just somewhere different!
Sunset cruise
With multiple options departing from Stokes Hill Wharf – whether the Champagne Sunset Sail or dinner cruise is more your thing – watching a sunset on the water with your love is always a good Darwin date idea.
Sand Bar Picnic
If you’ve been in Darwin a while – you would have seen the Cullen Bay sandbar appear in the ocean at low tide. Enquire with Sea Darwin – they can take you out there for a super cool picnic in the middle of the ocean, or you can jump aboard the Sunset Fish’n Chip cruise when the tides are right – it calls into Darwin’s famous sandbar.
SOMETHING PROPOSAL WORTHY
Helicopter Tour
Is there anything more romantic than a birds-eye view of Darwin city, followed by drinks and tapas on a private beach at NT golden hour? Airborne Solutions have a tour for that!
What about a private flight over Litchfield, landing at the top of a waterfall for a swim? There’s a tour for that too!
BEST DATE VENUES FOR A DRINK
- Hanky Panky Lounge – Fancy cocktails, and a very dark room to avoid the gaze of others, and awkward eye contact!
- Smoke & Oak – Head there on open mic night or a night of live music for a relaxed date
- Ski Club – You actually can’t beat a Sunset Ski Club date. We’re big fans!
- Lola’s Pergola – A funky circus-themed bar overlooking the Cullen Bay marina, gives casual cool vibes
- One Mile Brewery – Another funky industrial brewery and pizza place in Winnellie, less likely to see people you know on a first date!
- Stonehouse – Darwin’s CBD wine bar, if you want to be a bit fancy
- Willing Distillery – Another Winnellie favourite – it could be fun to ride there too – a bar and cellar door/distillery!
- Dom’s – A Nightcliff local cocktail bar with fun games nights and low lighting for date night vibes
- Beaver Brewery – A Coconut Grove local, in a shed, that’s only open on Friday nights – perfect after work casual date venue!
ALCOHOL-FREE FUN
Bowling / laser tag
A perfect indoor, air-conditioned activity and one for competitive hearts. Kingpin is a fantastic group date idea too – There are 22 bowling lanes, laser tag, arcade games, Karaoke – you’re both guaranteed to win at something!
Aqua Park @ Darwin Waterfront
We don’t think we’ve ever had as much fun on a ‘playground’ as we did on the Waterfront Aquapark on a Sunday Arvo! You can beat all the kids and impress each other, push each other into the water, laugh until your chest hurts, and then go and refuel at one of the many waterfront restaurants afterwards. Best Date Ever!
If you’re not convinced, Check out our Reel here!
eScooter Race around Darwin
There aren’t many funnier, faster or more fun ways to see the city of Darwin than on an eScooter.
For as little as 38c a minute, you can race your date – at the top speed of 15km/h – around the CBD, along the Esplanade, down to the Waterfront, and even to Cullen Bay!
Sunset Jetski Tour
Burning around the harbour at sunset on your own 00Seven JetSki is guaranteed to get the endorphins flowing and laughter is almost guaranteed!
SOMETHING FREE
Walk the Darwin Botanic Gardens
A lovely way to get to know someone, or reconnect with your partner. You literally just walk & talk. There’s a rainforest, 450 species of palms, and even a desert rose display – AND there’s an app that lets you do a self-guided tour if that’s what you’re into!
Sunset at Nightcliff Jetty
This Darwin date idea is multi-purposed. It can be for one of those dates that you’re just not entirely sure about yet… no cost, low fuss, a definite end time at sunset… OR the ones that you just want to be completely within their presence, in nature, with minimal distractions! It rarely disappoints.
Museum & Art Gallery of the NT
Whether you’re into art, history, or animals – there’s an exhibition at the MAGNT that you’ll find interesting. Moving through the exhibitions means there’s always going to be something guaranteed to keep the conversation going, it’s air-conditioned, and it’s free – what more could you want?!
Go for a Skate
So this one may be for the more balanced… but learning a new skill can be a great bond-creating exercise. And it’s free! Whether you want to roller skate, skateboard or longboard – Check out our article for all the best skate spots in Darwin!
Walk the Darwin Street Art Tour
Did you know there’s an app that you can download that shows you all the Darwin Street Art, and some of them come to life through Augmented Reality? A fun, free walk around the city!
Leanyer Water Park
We can’t believe this was free – honestly – you’d pay $40 for this at wet & wild!!
JUST SOMETHING DIFFERENT
Go Thrifting / Antique Shopping together
Shopping with your significant other doesn’t sound that appealing… but finding some hidden treasures while Op Shopping? WAY MORE FUN! We’ve nailed down a list for you of our favourite op-shops and vintage stores in Darwin to make a full day of it!
Jump in an Ice Bath or a Float Tank
Why not kick off your ‘get to know you’ with either seeing if they can stay silent and relax for a whole hour… or seeing if they can manage an ice bath for a few minutes! We’ve decided 2023 is the year of wellness dates – try a float tank, a yoga class or an ice bath at the Wellness Hub or Darwin Ice Baths if you dare!
Go to a bookstore
There’s a lot to be said for the type of books you read – and there’s even more to be said by the type of books you pick for others. This could go a MULTITUDE of ways – and you get to decide which of them it takes. It’s a bit different and it’s a lot of fun…
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