Perth is an excellent city for dates, if you know where to go. A dinner date is classic, but if you want to something with a little more oomph, these alternatives might just be for you. Pick from a variety of outdoorsy and indoor-y activities around the city, and perhaps the date leads to more in the future! Here’s our list of the best date activities that Perth has to offer, perfect for a blossoming romance.
1. Cycle along a scenic Perth route
This might be a slightly controversial one to start with. But for those who love feeling the wind kiss their face, cycling can be a very romantic outing indeed! As this is not an athletic activity, avoid pedaling along for 30 km. Instead, enjoy a leisurely bike ride for a few kilometres along Elizabeth Quay or Fremantle Rail Corridor. Make a quick stop for caffeine at Exile Coffee or La Veen Coffee (or any cafes along the way, honestly) and soak up the sun while getting to know your date. Win-win!
2. Get enthralled by marine life at The Aquarium of Western Australia
Taking a leaf out of the To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before playbook, go on an aquarium date at The Aquarium of Western Australia (AQWA), the biggest of its kind in the country. Located 30 minutes from Perth CBD at the Hillarys Boat Harbour, there are dozens of unique activities one can prebook for a truly memorable Perth first date. From a special glass bottom boat ride to a special dining experience surrounded by marine life on three sides, the AQWA has it all!
You can book tickets to visit the aquarium here.
3. Bask in the beauty of a Candlelight Concert
Candlelight dinners are considered the epitome of romance. It’s time to change things up and go for a concert in the soft glow of candles instead. From the classical tunes of Mozart and Bach to orchestral versions of Pink Floyd, these Candlelight Concerts at various venues make for a picture-perfect Perth date. For more information about upcoming concerts, click here!
4. Prepare a picnic at a Perth park
This date idea does involve a little bit of extra planning. But if done right, it can be a very romantic time with the person you like. Perth has a plethora of lush green parks, including Kings Park and Botanic Garden, Hyde Park, and South Perth Foreshore. So, grab a blanket, make sandwiches (or get them pre-made), peel some fruit, load up a cooler, and chat for hours. What could be better?
5. Explore art at the Perth Cultural Centre
If you’re the kind to get enamoured by art, walking around the galleries around the Perth Cultural Centre area will be a fun date. From the Art Gallery of Western Australia (AGWA) to the Perth Institute of Contemporary Art (PICA), art enthusiasts can browse to their heart’s fill. The Boola Bardip museum close by also has unique art and history-related displays. It could be impeccable date for art nerds.
6. Show off your gaming skills at a retro arcade
Bring out your competitive spirit by playing old-school video games with your date. Consider it a litmus test to your future relationship— if they absolutely destroy you at Mario Brothers, maybe it’s meant to be! Jokes apart, going to the arcade brings out the child in everyone. Check out Palace Arcade and The Nostalgia Box for their extensive collection of games you may have seen in an eighty’s sitcom. Guaranteed fun!
7. Take a dance class together
Hear us out. Stumbling over the same steps while attempting to learn a choreography is a surefire way to get closer to someone. Luckily, Perth has a host of dance classes teaching different styles from Jazz to K-pop, Bollywood to Flamenco. Fitzgerald Street’s The Dance Workshop organises classes and workshops for adults of all ages and levels, while Dance Power focuses on ballroom dancing. Another lovely studio to take that first step towards becoming a seasoned dancer is Perth Dance Centre.
8. Experience a blindfolded meal with Dining in the Dark
What if you could not see what you were eating and had to rely on your other senses to feed yourself? Taking the pressure out of a traditional dinner date, Dining in the Dark at the Stables allows one to eat freely while picking up unique flavours of the food. Eating and chatting while completely in the dark (literally) will allow people to get to know each other and be vulnerable freely. Check out the upcoming dates of this much-sought experience here!
9. Get crafty at Stackwood’s studios
There’s a reason that Ghost‘s iconic pottery scene still evokes powerful feelings, more than three decades later. Arts and crafts are romantic activities! Fortunately, Stackwood, a Freo-based collective of artists of various specialities often holds different workshops almost every week. Get stuck into pottery painting with Deep Earth Ceramics or create collages with Carley O’Neil. Following a fruitful artistic venture, grab coffee at the cafe close by.
10. Become detectives with Perth Murder Mystery 2
Solve a date-related crime with an interesting interactive experience, Perth Murder Mystery 2, which involves real-world clues and a phone each with a stable internet connection. Those who take on a role-playing game such as this with enthusiasm prove that they’re a fun person, which makes them a good date. It’s simple, really. Make your way to Northbridge Piazza and solve a crime— it really is the perfect Perth date! Book this experience here.
