Valentine’s Day is just around the corner! Traditionally regarded as a day for romance, Valentine’s Day might be a good time to start exploring Australia’s dating scene, spend the day with your significant other, or even do something fun with your friends!
Nowadays, many people use Valentine’s Day as a great excuse to get out and enjoy new experiences. So, if you’re looking for date ideas in Darwin, read on to find a list of the best spots to enjoy with your date—or your mates!
Spend a day at the beach
A day at the beach is always a fun time for couples and friends alike, and this is especially true of the beach at Darwin Waterfront.
This artificial beach is free, patrolled by lifeguards, accessible, safe from crocodiles and full of fresh seawater. Sprawl out on the sand, snap up a few of the public lounge chairs or spend the day cooling off in the water.
If you feel like getting active, you can enjoy free beach volleyball seven days a week or check out the wave lagoon. For $28 per person, you can even bounce your way through the inflatable obstacle course in the Aqua Park.
Plan a wild date
If you want to enjoy some nature this Valentine’s Day, look no further than Territory Wildlife Park, where you can get up close and personal with the animals and plants of the Northern Territory!
Just a 45-minute drive out of Darwin, this is the perfect spot if your ideal date involves a stroll in the fresh air while taking in lagoons, tree-top aviaries, a giant aquarium, and incredible plants and wildlife.
Watch a movie under the stars
Dinner and a movie have stood the test of time when it comes to date ideas. Take it up a notch and enjoy the balmy evenings of the dry season at the Deckchair Cinema, open every night and showcasing a diverse lineup of movies including family hits, Australian gems, and international masterpieces. It’s the perfect outdoor date night spot where the pressure to keep the conversation going is low, ideal for those first-date jitters. Make it cozy and comfortable by bringing along your favourite snacks, a cold beer, and your own pillows to relax on!
Enjoy a picnic by the waterhole
Looking for some more romantic things to do in Darwin? What could be more romantic than a picnic by the water? Only a one-hour drive from Darwin, Litchfield National Park is full of picturesque waterholes, waterfalls, sandstone pillars and walking trails.
Full of stunning places to swim and rest, you can head to Litchfield National Park with drinks and snacks to enjoy a day of eating, drinking, dipping in the waterholes and walking through the scenic bush.
Immerse yourself in art, culture and science
The Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT) is another amazing date spot and is definitely one of the most popular things to do in Darwin for couples. It’s also the perfect place for a first date, as there’s no time for awkward silences when there’s so much to see!
MAGNT Darwin houses an incredible array of exhibitions, displays and workshops, not to mention a great cafe and a gift shop!
Visit Aboriginal Bush Traders
Spend a few hours with your date checking out the art, craft, and homewares at Aboriginal Bush Traders, right in the heart of Darwin city. Did we mention that there’s coffee and bush tucker too?
Also functioning as a gallery space, Aboriginal Bush Traders is a fully not-for-profit organisation, so any money you spend there directly supports local Indigenous communities.
Check out one of Darwin’s great cafés
Thanks to Darwin’s rapidly growing café scene, there are lots of cool cafés where you can impress your date with a cup of specialty coffee, like Kopi Stop, Laneway Specialty Coffee, and Besser Kitchen & Brew Bar.
If you haven’t had much experience with coffee culture in Australia, don’t worry, as cafés in Darwin are known for being super friendly and laid back.
If you or your date aren’t coffee drinkers, that’s not a problem! Cafés these days offer a whole range of coffee alternatives, not to mention snacks, meals and sweet treats. Nothing says Valentine’s Day like sharing a dessert!
Spend a day in the garden
Botanical gardens are popular date spots in any city, and Darwin is no different. Located only two kilometres from the city centre, George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens offers a stunning environment filled with tropical plants and walking trails. Entry is free, and the gardens are open from 7am to 7pm daily.
The Botanic Gardens also have everything you need for the perfect Valentine’s Day date. Bring a packed lunch to enjoy at one of the many picnic tables, make use of one of the public electric barbecues, or grab a bite to eat from Eva’s Cafe.
