25+ Auckland Date Ideas That Aren’t Dinner And A Movie
Alice Rich
Contributor & Former Editor | Urban List NZ
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 alternative date ideas that'll have you sweeping your significant other (or others) off their feet.
Here are 25+ date ideas in Auckland that aren’t dinner and a movie.
Auckland's Best Date Ideas At A Glance
Jump To:
- The Best Date Night Activities In Auckland
- The Best Date Night Restaurants In Auckland
- The Best Date Night Bars In Auckland
- The Best Date Night Stays In Auckland
The Best Date Night Activities In Auckland
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. Holey Moley 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…
Get Handsy
Hackland Inc., 21 Newton Road, Grey Lynn, Auckland
Obviously, I'm 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. Hackland 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.
Meet Them In The Basement
Lower Grey's Avenue, Auckland Central
Image credit: Basement Theatre | website
A curious indie theatre in a carpark, if you're dating an art-lover you'll do well to snap up some tickets to Basement Theatre. Specialising in 'urgent and adventurous live performance' (which is what you just might be getting up to later), you'll discover everything from heavy-hitting experimental pieces to awe-inspiring feats of artistry and gigs so downright hilarious they'll leave you howling. As a bonus, all gigs and drinks are accessibly-priced so you can put this spot on regular rotation.
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 ‘Our Night Sky’ at the Stardome first, to get in the know.
Break Bowls, Not Hearts
The Smash Room, Inside Sweet Axe Throwing, 5 Galatos Street, Newton
If you haven't smashed the sh*t out of a flat screen TV together with matching giant mallets, is it even official? Auckland's Smash Room is the adrenaline-spiking good time every relationship needs. Fine china? Reduced to dust. Beautiful plates? Frisbeed into oblivion. Incrediby intricate glassware? Crushed like a tin can. I'm getting flustered just thinking about it. And once you've smashed everything to smithereens and that primal energy is running high? I'll leave you to imagine what sort of smashing might come next...
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Work Up A Serious Sweat
Various locations
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 my drift). Gym 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. My current fave? Boulder Co.
Bliss Out
Various locations
Image credit: SO/Spa | supplied
Unergonomic work setups aren't sexy. But sadly, they're super common. If you and your loved one's subpar desk situations have left you both resembling human pretzels (and not in the fun way), an ultimate pamper package isn't just a blissful thought, it's practically a health and safety requirement. And not least because it'll help you limber up for... activities... later on. Treat yourselves to an earth-shatteringly good massage, stat.
Sissy That Walk
Caluzzi Cabaret, 461 Karangahape Road, Auckland
Dazzle your special someone with a night of drag realness at Caluzzi, 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 or Eagle and party on.
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 arcade games bumper cars, a dance machine, fortune telling and a circus-themed bar. Luckily, Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq has all of the above.
Flex Your Code-Cracking Skills
Various locations
Think you’re the ultimate duo, thrupple or polycule? 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.
The Best Date Night Restaurants In Auckland
Forest
243 Dominion Road, Mt Eden
Image credit: Forest | Instagram
Snuggle into Forest's cosy home dining room aesthetic for phenomenal plates, liquid libations and desserts worthy of a cult-following (which they have, by the way). It's also entirely vegetarian, not that you'll notice the lack of meat.
Queens Rooftop Bar And Wineshop
Level 21/1 Queen Street, Auckland Central
Image credit: Queens Rooftop and Wineshop | Instagram
For jaw-dropping views (if you can tear your gaze away from your lover's eyes), Queens Rooftop Bar and Wineshop is the place to book. Expect immaculate plating and flavours that hit just right.
Blue
1/1a Franklin Road, Ponsonby
Image credit: Blue | Patty Lagera
Brunch spot by day, romantic snack spot by night, take your date to Blue for treats like Kiwi onion with crisps and roe, a cheese plate, burrata and crudo. It's your home away from home... If you had an expert chef in the kitchen.
Tempero
352 Karangahape Road, Auckland Central
Image credit: Tempero | Instagram
There's a lot of love at Tempero. Not least because it's run by chef-host couple, Fabio and Tiffany. The Latin bistro and bar cranks out some sensational fare, but I can never go past a caipirinha, their pão de quijo cheese bread (naturally gluten-free, by the way), plus a hearty serve of cassava chips with chipotle and some sort of sweet something something to end.
Taikin Teppanyaki And Takoyaki Bar
Stand Arcade Shop 16, Taikin, 233/237 Queen Street, Auckland Central
Image credit: Taikin | Instagram
Channel the buzz of Japan's food streets and that irresistable holiday feeling by taking your date to Taikin. Here you'll find crispy-on-the-outside-creamy-on-the-inside takoyaki made fresh to order, okonomiyaki and donburi.
Darling On Drake
27 Drake Street, Auckland Central
Image credit: Darling On Drake | Instagram
With opulent decor, a sprawling outdoor deck and a meticulously crafted food and drink menu, taking your darling to Darling On Drake (sorry not sorry) is always a good idea. Home of the viral $200 cocktail, every iteration of their menu is even more spellbinding than the last.
D8 Night
Various locations, Karanagahape Road
Thursday's the new Friday with Karangahape Road's $8 D8NIGHT deals peppered across the strip. At the time of writing, the ever-evolving lineup included all manner of oral pleasures, including prosecco at Atelier and Otto, wings at Lowbrows, orange sorbet with a shot of Grappa from Pici, coffees from Wish, plus fun things like vintage clothing drops, jewellery, and more.
Check what's currently on offer
The Best Date Night Bars In Auckland
Truth Or Dare
9/23 Customs Street East, Snickel Lane, Auckland Central
Image credit: Truth/Dare | Emily Raftery
Somewhat hidden, tucked into Snickel Lane, Truth Or Dare is one of my all-time favourite bars despite being a relative newcomer to the scene. For the ultimate atmosphere, park up at at one of the indoor tables, soaking up the sultry decor and sipping through their inventive, Asian-inspired drinks and snacks list.
Caretaker
Downstairs, 40 Customs Street, Britomart Place, Auckland Central
Image credit: Caretaker | Instagram
This New York Prohibition era-style speakeasy is hidden behind a caretaker's door. Slip inside, huddle around one of Caretaker's dimly-lit tables and feel that delectable tension begin to build. And from Sundays through Tuesdays, be serenaded by live jazz. It's almost too romantic. Almost.
Parasol And Swing Company
7/204 Quay Street, Auckland Central
Image credit: Parasol & Swing | Instagram
For a flirty date, soaking up the sunset from a rooftop bar where the drinks are strong and the menu even stronger, skip along to Parasol & Swing Company in the Viaduct Harbour where you can party long into the night, or quietly slip off into an uber for a private after party.
Bar Albert
38th Floor, voco Auckland City Centre, 13 Wyndham Street, Auckland Central
Image credit: Bar Albert | Instagram
If seeing your significant other makes your heart soar, Bar Albert could be the perfect bar for celebrating your love. 38 floors up in the air, tuck into elevated cocktails and snacks (or a sensational raclette during the winter months) and be sure to bring a whole lot of 'I'm 38 floors up with a stunning panoramic views of the sunset but it's you who's taking my breath away." (You're welcome).
The Best Date Night Stays In Auckland
Hotel Britomart
29 Galway Street, Britomart, Auckland Central
Image credit: Hotel Britomart | Instagram
Perched in one of *the* hottest precincts in Auckland, date night at Hotel Britomart lands you in the heart of the best eateries, drinkeries, and things to do with the likes of Kingi, Ghost Street, Cafe Hanoi, Mr Morris, Caretaker, and more, on your doorstep
Hotel Indigo Auckland By IHG
52/53 Albert Street, Auckland CBD
Image credit: Bistro Saine | Instagram
An architectural delight smack bang in the heart of Auckland Central, Hotel Indigo makes for the most luxurious date night with thoughful, detailed room fit-outs rivalled only by the sleek in-house French restaurant, Bistro Saine.
Abstract Hotel
8 Upper Queen Street, Auckland CBD
Image credit: Abstract Hotel | Instagram
Booking into Abstract Hotel sets the scene for a date night immersed in the vibrant culture of Karanghape Road. Be sure to schedule time to discover Abstract's inner sanctuary, Sa-Ni Spa, with an aromatherapy treatment, Deep Sleep Therapy, or a Sa-ni body mask for top tier date night pampering.
The Convent Hotel
454 Great North Road, Grey Lynn, Auckland
Image credit: The Convent Hotel | Instagram
Once a nunnery, now a boutique hotel and the gorgeous restaurant Ada, The Convent Hotel stands in all its stucco arched glory. And if you end up waking there on a Sunday morning, Ada's beautiful long lunch is sure to whet your whistle.
Piha Retreat
Waitākere Ranges
Image credit: Airbnb | supplied
Escape to Waitākere Ranges for a staycay with epic views of Piha's iconic Lion Rock. And at this wonderful Piha Retreat, all the vital components of a romantic overnight date are accounted for with an outdoor bathtub among the trees, an indoor fireplace for the cooler months, and seven acres of walking tracks to explore (if you find yourself with energy to spare).
Onetangi Chalet
Waiheke Island
Image credit: Airbnb | supplied
A cheeky night away on Waitangi Island makes for a magical destination date and the fairy light-adorned Onetangi Chalet will have you falling asleep in an ancient broad-leaf forest and awakening to native birdsong. And if the weather turns sour? It's kitted out with Netflix, for all the Netflix and Chill you could desire (yes, I'm referring to that).
Keen for more? Check out:
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Main image credit: Kirsten Winegeart.