19 Fun Date Ideas on the Northern Beaches

Struggling to find new, exciting and fun date ideas? Whether it’s for a first date or you’ve been together for years, finding new and exciting date ideas to impress your loved one can be a challenge. With the Northern Beaches as your destination you have lots of great activities to choose from for an unforgettable romantic date. Enjoy the fresh air on a walk, explore our stunning beaches or unwind with a glass of wine admiring a beautiful view.

Find inspiration below with our guide to fun date ideas on the Northern Beaches.

For the foodie

1. Bar hop around Manly

Take your date somewhere with good drinks and great vibes. A bar date is a great place for a first date and easy way to get to know someone. Make your way down the hidden laneways and checkout one of the many cosy bars along the way.

2. Go on a coffee date

If you are looking for a low-pressure first date, perhaps visit a coffee shop. Spoilt for choice, the Northern Beaches has lots of coffee shops with experienced baristas to help set the scene for a romantic date with a cup of your favourite beverage.

Try starting with one of the many beach front cafes along all the coast, while taking in the views with that special someone. If the date is going well, continue with a scenic walk along our world class beaches.

3. Enjoy the Brookvale craft breweries

Brookvale on Sydney’s Northern Beaches has a growing craft beer industry, where you and your date can easily hop from one brewery to another tasting some of Australia’s best craft beer.

You have a choice of  breweries to explore, Bucketty’s Brewing Co, Nomad Brewing Co, Dad & Dave’s Brewing, 7th Day Brewery, 4 Pines Brewery  and              Freshwater Brewing Company are all within walking distance of each other.

4. Put romance on the menu

You can’t go wrong with going traditional wining and dining. The Northern Beaches has plenty of venues to take your special someone for a romantic dinner.  Impress your date with some of these local favourites – Pilu Freshwater, Pasadena Manly and Garfish Manly.

For the adventure-seeker

5. Have a go at stand-up paddle boarding

If your date is on the sporty side, renting a couple of Stand up paddleboards (SUP) and taking to the calm waters of any of our beautiful bays is the perfect way to spend a magic day. If you are learning you can take a lesson with a guided tour to make sure you get the most out of your date. Avalon SUP has a twilight tour where the bottom of your board is fitted with LED lights that will light up the water as you paddle. If you are looking for a great location to SUP check out our list of top 5 places to Stand up Paddle board on the Northern beaches.

6. Kayak Sydney Harbour

Are you are keen to see our beautiful Sydney harbour from a new angle? Rent a kayak from Manly Kayak Centre and get out on the water to explore the harbour for an unforgettable date. Hire a 1 or 2 person kayak and discover the secret beaches in the Manly area and make memories with this exciting dating idea.

7. Go whale watching

Looking for a great winter date option? Say hello to the giants of the sea with a whale watching tour from Manly or Palm Beach.

If you are looking for a great spot for whale watching on the Northern Beaches, have a look at our list of our top spots for whale watching on the Northern Beaches.

For the outdoors enthusiast

8. Bike the Northern Beaches

Take your date on a two wheel adventure through the Northern Beaches. Narrabeen Lagoon is the perfect spot for a cycling date. The 8.6 km (5.3 miles) ride winds around the foreshore of the lagoon where you will enjoy views of the ecosystems, wildlife, cultural heritage and historical icons. Another great ride is to North Head or along the Manly foreshore. In Manly you can rent a bike from Manly Bike Hire.

9. Head to the beach

Summertime is the perfect time to have a date by the ocean. The Northern Beaches has 21 stunning ocean beaches for you to have fun in the sun. We think ocean views, sunshine and swimming make the perfect recipe for a successful date.

10. Learn to surf

Spend your date on the waves by learning to Surf. Manly Surf School is one of Sydney’s most renowned surf schools for both private and small group lessons. Whether you are a beginner or pro, a private surfing lesson will guarantee for some laughs and a little bit of competition.

11. Go on a scenic walk

Put on your best active wear before you embark on a scenic hike with your date. The Northern Beaches is home to some of the most spectacular walks in Sydney. Our favourite hikes for a date are – Manly to Spit, North Head, Narrabeen Lake, Barrenjoey Lighthouse and Long Reef Headland. Autumn and spring are the perfect time to have a hiking date.

For the arts and culture enthusiast

12. Attend a local event

If it’s the right time of year your date might coincide with one of our local events. Taste of Manly, Sydney Surf Pro and Manly Jazz are some of our most popular events. Have look at our Manly Event Calendar to see what’s on in Manly.

13. Channel your inner artist

Combine painting and wine for the ultimate date night. You and your date will be given step-by-step instructions to create a masterpiece that you get to take home to commemorate the date. Across the Northern Beaches, we have plenty of venues that offer paint and sip nights, and for something a little different, visit Crockd Manly, a pottery studio where you can get your hands dirty and create unique ceramic pieces together.

For the fun-loving

14. Watch a game of NRL

If your date is a rugby league fan you can catch a game at Brookvale Oval. If you are visiting the area between the months of March and October, you will be able to watch an NRL game played by the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles. Make sure you checkout when they are playing their next home game.

15. Get spooked on a ghost tour

If your special someone likes to be spooked, The Q station Ghost Tours are definitely worth experiencing. Enjoy one of Australia’s most haunted sites with stories of ghosts and paranormal occurrences entwined throughout its history. The 2.5 hour lantern lit guided tour will take you to the some of the most haunted spots on their property.

16. Experience an escape room

For an out of the box date night, book an escape room experience. Try to escape the themed rooms at Escape This by solving a series of riddles and puzzles before the 60 minutes run out.  Escape This Manly offers a range of scenarios for 2-6 players. Whether it’s a long-term partner or a first date, an escape room will give you an unforgettable experience.

17. Snorkel Cabbage Tree Bay

If you’re up for a unique date idea you can hire a snorkel and a mask and explore where time slows down and the local residents put on a show. You can rent a snorkel and a mask from Manly Dive centre or jump on a tour with ECOTREASURES. If you are lucky you might spot a friendly blue grouper, turtle or giant cuttlefish. Check out our list of top places to Snorkel on the Northern beaches.

18. Plan a sunset picnic

Pack a picnic blanket, a hamper filled with local produce or grab a take-away from a nearby restaurant or cafe. Having a picnic while watching the sun set over Sydney Harbour can be one of the most romantic things to do on a date. With so many places to choose from, we have tried to make it easier by putting together a list of some of our favourite picnic spots on the beaches.

19. Learn to throw an axe

Sparks and axes will fly at Brookvale’s axe throwing experiences, Kiss my Axe and Lumber Punks. Learn from the pros and challenge your date to a fun and friendly game of axe throwing. If you visit Kiss my Axe on a Tuesday and Wednesday, they have a date night special for $99 per couple. They also run a tournament with the other couples on the night.