10 Alternative Valentine’s Date Ideas
Planning a Valentine’s or Galentine’’s date or just hanging out with your friends this Friday, but don’t just want the classic dinner date? No problem! Here are five alternative date ideas in Wellington and Auckland that you can book now.
Wellington
From putting over waterfalls to spending the evening under the stars, here are five of our favourite date night ideas in the capital:
We couldn’t not include Pirate’s Cove in this list! Yes, we’re biased but we think adventure golf is a brilliant date idea! It’s a chance for some friendly competition, there’s no need to book so you can build it into your date day or night (we’re open until 8pm!) and, most importantly, with its waterfalls, caves and pirate ships, it’s great fun!
When was the last time you went to zoo? Or for those with children, when was the last time you went to the zoo by yourself? Te Nukuao Wellington Zoo is hosting an adults only (18+) evening on Valentine’s Day from 5pm - 8:30pm. They’ll be live music, an outdoor bar and you can pre-book at Ploughman’s picnic basket for two from REX Tremendous Events Catering - but you’ll need to be quick as picnic basket bookings close on Wednesday 12th February at 3pm. REX Temendous will also be putting on a BBQ on the night too. Throughout the evening there will also be love-themed animal talks, including Lemur L’amour and Otterly Erotic. And if you really want to go all, book an Extra Close encounter with the tigers, lions, giraffe and others or join one of the animal group feeds or tours. In Auckland? Check out Auckland Zoo’s Valentiene’s Late.
Heavenly Bodies: Valentine’s Under the Stars at Space Place
Take the Wellington Cable Car and head up to Space Place for an evening of romance under the stars. Doors open at 5:30pm and the evening will start at 6pm with drop-in craft sessions with Greta Menzies, a photobooth, access to the interactie Space and Science exhibits, a chance to visit the gift shop with 14% discount and food and drink to buy. Your ticket also includes a live planterarium session about love in the cosmos and then you can head home with a complimentary Wellington Chocolate Factory bar!
Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a fringe newbie, the Fringe Festival is open to everyone who is keen to get out of their comfort zone, check out lots of different shows and potentially witness the start of the ‘next big thing’. Launching on Valentine’s Day and running until the 8th March 2025, the fringe festival takes place across Wellington and is a celebration of comedy, theatre, dance, music, cabaret, circus and everything in between! There’s definitely a show for everyone, plus with it on for a couple of weeks if your date goes well you could go back to another show on your second date!
Let off some steam with an exhilarating experience: axe-throwing. Yep, head to Sweet Axe’s new rooms in Wellington (you’ll also find them in Auckland) and you and your date can learn from the axeperts how to throw an axe before you begin a tournament with others to find out who is the axe-throwing champion!
Auckland
In Auckland for the Valentine’s weekend? Whether you want to get creative or get competitive, check out these alternative date ideas.
Head to Australasia’s largest adventure golf course and take on our two fantastic 18 hole courses: Blackbeard’s and Captain’s. Watch out for the eel infested water, beware of the cannon blast and putt through the spooky caves! Visit as a couple, or get your family and friends together, book the BBQ area and make an evening of it! We’re open until 9pm so if you are heading for dinner first, you can still come and make the most of the summer evenings after!
You know what is better than snakes’n’ladders? Snakes’n’ladders with added cake. Cakes n Ladders is a board gaming cafe in with a huge variet of games for you to play, whilst eating cakes, cookies and scones! Open until 10pm it’s ideal for couples but also you can get your crew together for your Galentine’s or friends’ night and head over!
Taking place at Residium, this intimate (10 person) workshop is a chance for you to make your very own blended scent candle, learn about the secrets of candle making from candle-maker Sybs and eat vegan cakes and treats from Neat Cakes! Finishing at 8pm you can then head on out for drinks, or call it a night and go home for a candle-lit evening!
Planning a day date on Saturday instead? Get your favourite people together and join Paintvine for their summer, Paintvine in the Park class. The two hour step-by-step session includes all the materials you’ll need to complete your masterpiece, best of all you don’t have to clean up afterwards!
Direct from a sell-out tour of the UK, this incredible show taking place at the Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre by candlelight, features a cast of West End Singers and a live band and is packed with all the best-loved Fleetwood Mac hits including Little Lies, The Chain, Rhiannon and Don’t Stop!
However you’re spending this weekend we hope you get to spend it with some of your favourite people!
