Activities & Itineraries

6 Top Mate & Date Night Ideas That Don’t Rely On Booze

By Morgan Reardon
17th Mar 2023

All too often we think the perfect date—either with your mates or a potential lover—should include booze. Be it the need for some liquid courage or just because you simply can’t think of anything better than hitting up a wine bar, there’s actually a slew of great date ideas that won’t include a drop of alcohol. 

Whether you’re wanting to embrace a sober lifestyle or you’re just trying to cut back on the booze, we’ve sussed out six epic date ideas—sans booze—to fill your social calendar. You’re welcome. 

Catch A Gig

A night out doesn’t get much more vibey than checking out a live music gig. Be it your favourite musician or scoping out a local band, catching a show is the perfect date night activity. And because you’ll be so busy blessing your ears with smooth tunes, you won’t even miss booze. In fact, no booze means not having to waste time lining up at the bar, leaving more time for you to show off your dance moves to your date. Need help deciding where to go? Hit this list.

Hit Up Some Food Trucks

If avoiding alcohol at a sit-down dinner feels just a bit too hard, then why not hit up some food trucks instead? Not only does it mean you get to fill your tum with a bigger variety of mouth-watering eats, but it’s also an immersive experience so if you are on a first date, it gives you something to talk about straight away. Fortunately, Queensland is bursting with epic markets. Wondering where to head? We've got you. Here are our top picks for markets in and around the Gold Coast, Brisbane and Sunshine Coast. And did we mention some even have a live music roster? It’s good vibes aplenty—and you don’t need a sip of booze to enjoy it. 

Paint Like Picasso

Learning a new skill or honing a long-treasured hobby is a great way to spend time with your mates— and it makes for a fun, unique date idea if you’re looking to impress. Much more interactive than just dinner at a restaurant or drinks at a bar, a painting class is the perfect mid-week activity to get your creative juices flowing. With many BYO drinks and snacks, you can get super adorable by creating your own charcuterie board and as for the sips, grab some fruity San Pellegrino and pour them into some fancy glasses—trust us, you won’t even miss the booze. Not sure where to find your local painting studio? Here are some of our favourites to try.

Go Old School With A Round Of Mini Golf 

Bring on the nostalgia with a good old-fashioned round of mini golf. A surefire way to have LOLS with your friends, or the chance to show off your skills to a potential love interest, mini golf is the ultimate feel-good date, with no booze required. Thankfully, there are a bunch of great courses to try that boast beautiful views, host themed events at Easter, Halloween and Christmas and offer photo ops galore. We recommend you putt your way through these great spots.

Check Out A Comedy Show

Laughing together is the perfect way to bring you closer to someone—be that a pal you’ve been wanting to catch up with or a potential lover you’re wanting to connect with. A date night spent at a comedy show is one you won’t soon forget—and it’s a great booze-free outing. There are loads of places to go for a solid cackle sesh. Plus, the annual comedy festivals are filled with local and international acts who are guaranteed to make you giggle.

Go On A Sunset Hike

In Queensland, our sprawling backyard is filled to the brim with a natural, rugged beauty that is best discovered on an evening stroll. Lace up your kicks, fill your emotional-support water bottle and grab your best mate or date. Just a short drive from Brisbane’s CBD escape to tranquil Mt Coot-tha. The Summit Track will see you meandering amongst lush vegetation and First Nations art, plus a waterfall. At the top, you’ll be rewarded with cracking views across the city. If you’re on the Sunshine Coast, you can’t go past the Glasshouse Mountains, in particular, Mt Ngungun. Taking around two hours to complete, set out before dusk and you’ll traverse a 2.4km track that rewards you with one of the most stunning sunsets you’ll ever see at the top. On the Gold Coast, make your way to Burleigh Head National Park. The one-kilometre track winds around the mountainside, fringing the coast where you might be lucky enough to spot a pod of dolphins frolicking in the water below. Endorphins + fresh air = one of the most wholesome dates ever. 

Having a great time doesn't need to include alcohol. If you're after even more ideas to help reduce your alcohol intake, visit the Your Drinking site or ADIS for support and information. 

Editor’s note: this article was produced in partnership with Qld Health. Thank you for supporting the partners who make Urban List possible. To read our editorial policy, click here.

Images: Urban List.

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