Stuck for Date Night Inspo? Here Are Ten Fun Date Ideas in Canberra

If your date nights are starting to feel a little tired, you’re probably in need of a few fresh ideas. Date night doesn't have to be complicated or expensive - sometimes it's even a case of the simpler the better. 

Luckily, there are plenty of fun date ideas in Canberra that will help keep the spark alight. From glass blowing to boating, picnics to riverside wines, there is no shortage of things to do beyond going to the same restaurant each week. Read on for our edit of fun date ideas in Canberra. 

Sign Up to a Class at Canberra Glassworks

Keen to get crafty with your SO? Get yourself to Canberra Glassworks, which hosts a number of unique and hands-on glass workshops. Together, you can make everything from jewellery to paperweights to glass vessels, and learn techniques like glass blowing, glass engraving and bead-making.

Not only is each workshop lots of fun, but you’ll also be able to take home a memento of your time together – perfect if you’re celebrating something special, like an anniversary.

11 Wentworth Avenue, Kingston

Stay Overnight at the Zoo

Speaking of celebrating something special, Jamala Wildlife Lodge is the place to stay if you really want to go all out. Located within the National Zoo & Aquarium, the lodge allows you to sleep among the animals and wake up to them milling about next to your room.

You can opt for the uShaka Lodge with its very own shark tank, the Giraffe Treehouses where giraffes come right up to your private balcony, or the Jungle Bungalows, which adjoin various animal enclosures via a glass wall. Regardless of where you decide to set up camp, you can expect a very memorable and romantic stay.

999 Lady Denman Drive, Canberra

Take Yourself on a Magical Mystery Picnic Tour

What better way to explore the city and its incredible food offerings than by venturing out on a mystery picnic tour? AmazingCo runs mystery picnics in both central and south Canberra, as well as just outside the city in the Yass Valley.

If you’re not yet acquainted with the concept of a mystery picnic, it’s pretty simple: it’s a self-guided tour where you’re given clues to solve, leading you to different local food businesses to pick up your picnic supplies. You’re then directed to an uber-charming location to recuperate from your day of sleuthing and treat yourselves to your hard-earned goods.

Enjoy Wine and Cheese lake-side 

Margot is the perfect place to while away an evening with your date. Pop by at dusk for a delicate sunset overlooking Lake Burley Griffin and chow down on a selection of cheeses, olives and locally sourced nuts with your evening tipple. Ther beverage menu focuses on local drops and is nice and concise so there'll be no decision fatigue here. If the date is going well, be sure to enjoy a nighttime stroll or cosy up to listen to the lapping lake.

West Kiosk, Queen Elizabeth Terrace, Parkes  

Ride in a Hot Air Balloon

Hot air balloons are practically synonymous with Canberra, so it probably comes as no surprise that the city offers plenty of opportunities to ride in one. If you’re eager enough to rise at the crack of dawn and soar over the city, this is a truly remarkable experience. You can view many of Canberra’s iconic landmarks and the surrounding valleys and mountains, all swathed in muted early-morning light – how much more romantic can it get?

There are a few different businesses that run hot air balloon rides in Canberra including Balloon Aloft.

Walk up Mount Ainslie by Night

If you and your date are up for a hike, why not travel up Mount Ainslie? We know, we know; Mount Ainslie isn’t exactly a novel idea – but hear us out. While the trail is incredibly popular during the day, it’s much less so at night, making it the best time to venture towards the mountain’s peak.

From the top, you can view almost the entire city and its many iconic buildings, with the added bonus of having them illuminated by sparkling lights. And if you set off during twilight hours, you might be lucky enough to spot a few kangaroos.

Mount Ainslie Drive, Ainslie

Get Creative at a Cocktail Masterclass

Sometimes a bit of organised fun goes a long way. One of Canberra's best bars is keeping date night easy breezy with cocktail classes at 3pm every Saturday. You'll score beer, wine or bubbles on arrival as well as an antipasto platter to share for two and, of course, plenty of brownie points. The good people at High Jinks will take you through bartending fundamentals and teach you how to whip up three of their signature cocktails. Unbeatable! 

15 Edinburgh Avenue, Canberra 

Stargaze at Mount Stromlo Observatory

If you and your partner consider yourselves astrophiles, or you’re simply keen on dipping your toe into astronomy, visit the Mount Stromlo Observatory for a stargazing session. Depending on the night you attend, you’ll see different constellations and planets, along with views across Canberra and the Brindabellas. You can also have a barbecue or picnic on the Observatory’s grounds if you want to keep the date going a little longer.

The Observatory hosts both public and private workshops, but either way you can be guaranteed an educational and fascinating evening.

Cotter Road, Weston Creek

Join a Ghost Tour at the National Film and Sound Archive

The National Film and Sound Archive (NFSA) is today known for housing a vast collection of documents and artefacts from Australia’s audiovisual history. But did you know it was once the Australian Institute of Anatomy? It used to contain a morgue and lots of human specimens, and is now considered one of the most haunted buildings in the country.

If you and your partner are game to tour it at night, you can do so via one of the NFSA’s spooky ghost tours. Hosted by Tim the Yowie Man, there are lots of interesting stories involved as well as opportunities to spot a ghost for yourself.

McCoy Circuit, Acton

Go on a GoBoat

When the weather’s warm and sunny, there’s nothing better than being by – or on – the water. In Canberra, that means heading to Lake Burley Griffin and hiring a GoBoat for the afternoon or evening.

There’s no boating licence required with GoBoat, plus you’re able to BYO food and drinks, or add extras to your booking like grazing boards and cheese platters, if you want to enjoy a picnic on the lake. You can book at various times throughout the day, but to really up the romance factor, we recommend taking a boat out at sundown.

Trevillian Quay, Kingston

Looking for more fun date ideas in Canberra? Check out our guide to Canberra’s most romantic restaurants, then follow up your dinner out with a nightcap at our favourite Canberra bars.