Let us hear you say love. Whether it’s your first or your one hundredth date, a little thought goes a long way and a dinner and a movie just ain't it. Luckily, there are plenty of awesome alternative date ideas that probably won't get you ghosted.
Here are 18 date ideas in Auckland that aren’t dinner and a movie.
Putt For Love
Holey Moley Golf Club, 204 Quay Street, Viaduct, Auckland CBD
Image credit: Holey Moley | Facebook
Nothing is quite as sexy as a loved one attempting to hit a tiny neon ball with a club. is a multi-sensory mini-golf labyrinth come playground where you can putt to your heart’s delight, serenade your love with karaoke, and whisper sweet nothings to each other as you sip on Smirnoff Sugar Caddies. Who knows, if your swing is snazzy enough, you might just end up scoring more than a hole-in-one…
Find The K-Spot
Karangahape Road, Auckland
Karanghape Road really is the spot to be on date night (see what we did there?). Especially given there are special $8 D8NIGHT deals peppered across the strip. Deals include vintage clothing drops at Plane Jane's, chips and dips at Open Late, prosecco at Atelier and Otto, wings at Lowbrow, orange sorbet with a shot of Grappa from Pici, coffees from Wish, jewellery from NZGO Pearl, and more. Keep an eye on the ever-evolving lineup .
Take Your Love To New Heights
The Sky Tower, Victoria Street West, Auckland CBD
If seeing your SO(s) makes your heart soar, could be the perfect date night (or rather, date day) for celebrating your love. 186 metres up in the air you can roll out of savasana feeling virtuous, then refuel with one of Tāmaki Makaurau’s best brunches. BYO drink bottle and a whole lot of “I’m 186 metres up in the air with a stunning 360° view of the sunrise but it’s you who's taking my breath away.” (You’re welcome.)
Sissy That Walk
Caluzzi Cabaret, 461 Karangahape Road, Auckland
Dazzle your special someone with a night of drag realness at , Auckland’s legendary drag queen cabaret show. Owned by drag royalty Anita Wiglet and Kita Mean (winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under) you’ll be served hilarity, fabulous costumes and a delicious dinner, and after that? Sashay up the road to Family Bar and party on.
Work Up A Serious Sweat
Various locations
Image credit: Northern Rocks | Instagram
We're referring to hitting the gym together—clearly. And while hurling some weights or getting totally destroyed by some overzealous pilates instructor might not seem as romantic as a candlelit dinner, that rush of post-workout endorphins might just lead to quite the spicy finisher (if you catch our drift). Gyms not your thing? Try rock climbing instead. It's the perfect combination of skill, teamwork, trust and communication, plus it's also a helluva lot of fun.
Puzzle Over Some... Puzzles
173 Symonds Street, Eden Terrace, Auckland
Love conquers all but can your love survive losing a game of Monopoly? Find out (or don't) at ’ enviable gaming library. With games for one player and beyond this place is the perfect date night for solos (because if you can’t love yourself how in the hell you gonna love somebody else?), couples, double-dates and polyamorous relationships alike.
Get Your Giggle On
Basement Theatre, Lower Greys Avenue, Auckland CBD
Bull Rush is Basement Theatre’s signature late-night improv show and it’s side-splittingly good, not to mention impressive. The rotating cast—including the likes of Vincent Andrew-Scammell, Rachel Brebner, Anthony Crum, Lucy Dawber, Itay Dom, Arlo Green, Rebecca Mary Gwendolon and more—is sure to have you howling. After all, if you haven’t laughed together until one of you wet yourself, is it really love?
Enter A World That Knows No Limits
Odyssey Sensory Maze, 291 Queen Street, Auckland CBD
Take a break from getting lost in bae’s eyes and instead get lost in a world of bright lights and mirror a-maze-ment. is the perfect escapist date and the lights lend themselves to intriguingly arty photos so you can proclaim your love all over the ‘Gram (if you’re into that).
Been there, done that? Immerse in the enchanting at Auckland Art Gallery instead.
Bliss Out
Various locations
All this working from home with unergonomic setups might have you both resembling human pretzels (and not in the fun way) so an ultimate pamper package isn’t just a swoon-worthy thought—it’s practically a health and safety requirement. Fortunately, Auckland is blessed with options when it comes to places delivering an earth-shatteringly good massage.
Run Away To The Circus
Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq, Westfield Newmarket, 309 Broadway, Newmarket, Auckland
Image credit: Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq | Facebook
If there was a magical potion for the perfect date night it’d likely involve bumper cars, a dance machine, fortune telling and a circus-themed bar. Luckily, has all of the above and more. This has got to be one of the most fun date nights in Auckland.
Get Handy
Hackland Inc., 21 Newton Road, Grey Lynn, Auckland
Obviously, we’re talking about doing a bit of woodworking together… what were you thinking? You’ll be living relationship goals when you proudly show off the loveseat (or table, or birdbox) you handcrafted. is a maker space with everything from 3D printers and robot arms to laser cutters and sewing machines. They’re open to the public every Thursday so you can go along and suss out what you’ll need to make whatever your hearts desire.
Save The Cheerleader, Save The World
Various locations
Think you’re the ultimate duo, thrupple or polyamory unit? You may have found your way into each other's hearts, but can you find your way out of the room? Put your communication and code-cracking skills to the test at an Escape Room. Here’s our pick of the best escape rooms in Auckland, and many of them do online rooms if you’re not quite ready to reintegrate into the world just yet.
Live That Lumberjack (or Lumberjane) Fantasy
Sweet Axe Throwing Co., 5 Galatos Street, Auckland
Image credit: Sweet Axe Throwing Co. | Facebook
Take your sweetheart to for a seriously good time. Whether you’re a seasoned thrower or new to hucking an axe, you’ll be totally looked after by the skilled axe-perts. Before you know it you’ll be signing up for the league, coming up with a punny doubles name, and planning cute matching outfits.
Indulge In Oral Pleasures
Various locations
And by that we most certainly mean tucking into a feast at one of Tāmaki's best restaurants. Promising immaculate plating and flavours that hit just right to décor that sets the scene for one helluva night out. It's a tough decision so we've done the hard work for you. Select any spot from our ultimate list and you're guaranteed a very good time indeed.
Fling Some Paint
Various locations
For a creative date night, Auckland’s favourite wine and paint party, , is sure to please. These fun-loving events pop up in some of Tamaki Makaurau’s best parks and bars—we particularly love the ‘painting after dark’ glow in the dark paint party—and are totally judgment-free with no artistic experience necessary. The best bit? At the end of the night, you’ll come away with either a gorgeous or hilarious painting to keep forever (or dramatically burn if your relationship hits the fan).
Get Loved Up By Candlelight
Various Locations
Image credit: Candlelight Concerts | Facebook
Add candles to anything and it instantly feels romantic. So it should come as no surprise at all that when you pair hundreds of flickering candles and a live orchestra, something pretty damn magical happens: suddenly the urge to blurt out your first 'i love you' goes waaaayyyy up. Fever is known for throwing the dreamiest , with a string of different musical-themed nights. From Queen to Coldplay, Hans Zimmer to the Best of Bridgerton (yep, it's a thing)—you're bound to find something that'll make your partner feel super special.
Have a Heart-Stoppingly Good Time
Spookers, 833 Kingseat Road, Kingseat, Karaka
Speaking of love taking your breath away, so can a haunted house full of terror so it just makes sense to combine the two with a date night at . Let’s be honest—a surprise date to an adrenaline-pumping, self-acclaimed ‘Hell on Earth’ is 100% the most romantic thing you could do for someone you love. Show you care by creating a bespoke evening choosing from the Haunted House, The Woods, Disturbia and The Fog, or sign your squeeze up for all four.
When Stars Align
Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Road, One Tree Hill Domain, Epsom, Auckland
It doesn’t get more romantic than a night sky studded with stars so if you really want to woo, slay the snack run, whisk them away to one of these awesome stargazing spots and treat them to a moonlit picnic. Want to impress with your knowledge of the night sky? Head along to ‘’ at the Stardome first, to get in the know.
Keen to up the ante with a multi-night date experience? Whisk your loved one(s) away to one of these romantic getaways around Auckland.
Main image credit: Kirsten Winegeart.
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