Give date night a makeover with these fun Gold Coast pastimes
Date night should be the highlight of your week, and frankly, dinner and movie just doesn’t cut it sometimes. We’ve searched the Gold Coast high and low for the best ways to spend a romantic evening, and not to sing our own praises, but our top picks are just what you need to make date night special again. Take a look at what we found.
Test your aim with some axe throwing
Whether it’s a first date or the fiftieth, the desire to perform feats of strength and skill in front of your honey never really go away. At MANIAX Axe Throwing in Surfers Paradise, flaunting you prowess has never been easier, or more fun. Take your pick from one to two hour sessions before a quick but thorough safety briefing and coaching session gives you all you need to hit the bullseye, and then it’s non-stop axe throwing until you and your partner are adequately chuffed. As a fully licensed venue, it’s surprisingly legal to throw axes and quench your thirst with a viking-inspired cocktail, mead paddle or craft beer at the same time – and take it from us, it’s much easier than it looks.
Wander through some nighttime markets
Every weekend, Dreamworld Night Markets transforms the theme park into a vibrant night market where food trucks, live music and entertainment make for a low-effort high-reward date night. Just $2 grants you entry into the only night market in a theme park, where every Friday and Saturday from 5:00–9:00pm, the doors stay open, allowing guests to soak up the electric atmosphere under the stars. At the night markets, the Dreamworld Flyer, Deep Sea Dodgems and Gamesite stay open for business, while a selection of vendors mean something delicious is always on hand.
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Get a dose of laughter at a weekly comedy showcase
The only thing better than spending an evening with the one you love, is spending an evening laughing with the one you love. Every Saturday night, HOTA hand-selects the best comedy talent around for its Comedy Underground Saturday Showcase, hosting big name acts, up-and-comers and the subversive voices making waves in live comedy. Offering an underrated replacement for the standard date night dinner and a movie, the weekly 90-minute showcase is a dark horse when it comes to mixing up date night – perhaps not your first choice, but once you’re crying tears of laughter together, you’ll understand how much better good comedy is when it’s experienced as a duo.
Charter a boat for a floating picnic
Getting out on the water has literally never been easier. With no boating licence necessary, GoBoat offers private boat hire from its Gold Coast location at Isle of Capri. Just select your preferred length of time (one, two or three hours), and then set sail through the waterways of the Nerang River, with views of Surfers Paradise, Q1, HOTA and more. A range of optional extras are also on hand, including Bluetooth speaker and iced esky hire, grazing boxes and Captain’s hats if you feel like looking the part. BYO food and drink is allowed on board the shaded, pet-friendly vessel, along with up to eight people if you want to double date and save.
Try your hands at a trendy new sport
The padel phenomenon has taken off in the Gold Coast with the recent arrivals of Racquet Club and House of Pickle – and with it, an opportunity to give date nights a fast-paced makeover. Located at Robina and Currumbin respectively, there are 17 padel and pickleball courts between the two, along with a full cafe, bar and pro shop on both sites, giving you even more to reason to stick around after a game. The sports’ sociability and addictiveness have seen them become some of the fastest growing sports in the world, and seeing as they’re best played in teams of two or four, there’s never been a better time to jump on the bandwagon.
Partake in a chaotic take on nana’s bingo
You might not think that your grandparent’s favourite game would make for a good date night but Miami Marketta is here to change your mind. Every second Wednesday, the venue throws out all the stops for Drag Bingo, with performances from local drag queens and DJ sets infusing new life and chaos into the elderly pastime. Themed cocktails and street food delivered straight to your table help make this mid-week outing all the more enjoyable, plus the strict no children or babies rule means audiences can enjoy getting a little silly with abandon.
Take a cosmic nighttime stroll through nature
What’s more romantic than night time stroll? A night time stroll with a mesmerising light show. Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is home to Astra Lumina, a permanent after-dark installation designed by Moment Factory that transforms a 1.5km stretch of pristine bushland every night with immersive projections, lighting and otherworldly soundscapes. Through its unique blend of art and nature, the result is an experience that was made for romantic nights – and there’s also the option to enhance the experience with a Koala meet and greet if you’re feeling so inclined.
See the city sights at sunset
A good relationship can make you feel like you’re on top of the world – so why not take your next date night there? As Australia’s tallest building and the tallest residential tower in the Southern Hemisphere, Q1 and its observation deck Skypoint offer a chance to see 360 degree views of the city lights and the never-ending coastline. Once you’ve ascended the tower’s 77 levels, commemorate the moment by admiring the view from the deck, dining at the bistro and bar, or, if you’re feeling adventurous, head to the launch platform for a guided climb to the tower’s summit. Open from early morning to 9:00pm most nights, the choice is yours about what’s more romantic between sunsets and sunrises.
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