We all need a little romancing but sometimes coming up with a plan to impress someone is half the battle! To make things a little easier, we’ve created a guide to the best date ideas in Newcastle. From exploring our city's hidden gems to a fancy candlelit dinner, we've got you covered – get planning for the ultimate date in Newcastle.

Explore

Head to Stockton for the day

Jump on the Newcastle Ferry and head over to Stockton for the day. Take a picnic and settle down somewhere in Pitt Street reserve as you watch the ships come into the harbour or go for a stroll up and along Shipwreck Walk.

Wander through Newcastle’s art galleries 

Walk the local galleries hand-in-hand with your loved one. Some notable venues to drop into include Cooks Hill Galleries, Cstudios Art Gallery, The Lock-Up, Watt Space Gallery, Wester Gallery, LEDA Gallery, Lighthouse Arts Newcastle, and Back to Back Gallery – just to name a few.

Explore Newcastle by foot 

Book a guided tour with local operator Newcastle Afoot and take in the streets of Newcastle. From seascapes to laneways, to architecture, street art, and hidden secrets, there’s a lot to explore.

See the city from above

Climb the Christ Church Cathedral tower and see the city from one of the most beautiful viewpoints in town.

Relax

Pack a picnic and head to a scenic spot

Dust off the old picnic basket and load up with all your favourite goodies. Try our guide to Newcastle's best picnic spots when it comes time to decide on a scenic location – we love Hickson Street Lookout and King Edward Park. Need some picnic help? Check out some of Newcastle’s top picnic businesses including the likes of Sharp & Co, Luxe Lakeside, and Newy Event Collective. Or, grab takeaway and take it to the beach.

Take a walk around town 

Newcastle is an incredibly scenic city (not that we’re bias or anything), and we think the best way to enjoy it is by foot. Check out our guide to the best walking and hiking tracks here.

Stay in and cook a meal together 

Why not keep things simple and stay in and cook up a storm? Drop into some of our local gourmet food stores (like Pork Ewe Deli, An Apple A Day, or Dawson's Oyster Supplies) and pick up some local produce before hitting the kitchen.

Keep an eye out for whales

When whale watching season kicks in, head to one of these local spots and see if you can spot the whales making their annual pilgrimage.

Relax with a couples massage

Is there anything quite as relaxing as a massage? Not in our books! Book yourselves in for a couples massage at one of the excellent beauty clinics across town.

Adventure

Hit the water with CoastXP

Take to the water with Newcastle’s premier whale-watching and coastal sightseeing business, CoastXP. Depending on the season, you could be getting up close to the whales making their annual migration, or exploring the many coastal delights of Newcastle all the way down to Lake Macquarie.

Climb on up at Pulse Climbing 

Head to Pulse Climbing and try your hands at indoor rock-climbing. Pulse has venues at Warners Bay and Adamstown as well as facilities for all levels of climbing.

Take to the skies 

Get romantic and take to the skies to see Newcastle and Lake Macquarie in all its glory. Hop onto a flight with Aerologistics and experience Newcastle from a helicopter.

Food and drink

Dine at one of Newcastle's best restaurants

It's a classic date for a reason – dinner at an excellent restaurant will always impress. Try our guide to Newcastle's best restaurants for some ideas on where to make a reservation.

Bar hop between Newcastle's best bars

Newcastle has plenty of great small bars, offering interesting cocktails, quality wine, and unique beer. Peruse our guide to Newcastle's best bars to pick a few and enjoy a drink at each.

Finish your evening with gelato and harbour views

Whether you’ve been out for dinner or just caught a show, call into Popolo Artisan Gelateria on King Street and pick your favourite gelato before wandering on down to the harbour and watch as Newcastle’s night lights reflect on the water.

Wine tasting at Inner City Winemaker

Have a cellar door experience right here in the city at Wickham venue Inner City Winemakers.

Brewery tour at Foghorn Brewery

For the beer-loving couples, you can book in for a brewery tour at the King Street's FogHorn Brewery. You'll learn all about the brewing process from grain to glass, plus you'll try FogHorn's finest brews.

Get crafty at Coal & Cedar 

Whether you love cocktails or whisky is more your thing, book in for a masterclass at one of Newcastle’s secret bars – Coal & Cedar.

Master the art of pasta making 

Love Italian food? Do you dream about upping those at-home Italian cooking skills? Then you’re going to love The Pasta Experience, a pasta making class held on the third weekend of each month.

Get cooking with The Hunter's Pantry

For the couples that are more than just a little food-obsessed, book into a cooking class at Junction Fair’s The Hunter's Pantry. Whether it's Turkish mezze or Thai street food, there's options to suit everyone's tastes.

Make your own bespoke gin with Earp Distilling Co.

This one’s for the diehard gin lovers out there. Become a distiller for a day and immerse yourself in the gin-making process. You’ll be provided with a hands-on, interactive experience where you become head distiller for the day and get to take home your very own bespoke bottle of gin!

Fun 

Go barefoot bowling at your local bowlo

Kick off the shoes, enjoy a bevvie, and get competitive with a game of barefoot bowls at one of our many bowling clubs across town. Our favourites are Lowlands in Cooks Hill, Carrington Bowling Club, Adamstown Bowling Club, and Bar Beach Bowlo.

Get muddy with a clay workshop

Get your Patrick Swayze on with a ceramics workshop. There are a few spots across town offering classes, such as The Art Department, Fancy Nancy Ceramics, and Workshopp Ceramics. Book in for either a hand-building or wheel course and get creating your very own ceramic masterpieces.

Throw an axe or two

Enjoy the ancient art of axe throwing in the most entertaining of ways, at MANIAX Axe Throwing in Newcastle CBD, or at Chill Axe Newcastle in Waratah.

Hit the ice

Does anyone remember heading to Hunter Ice Skating Stadium on Friday nights in high school? Well, however many years it’s been since you’ve hit the ice, it’s still a great way to have a laugh with your date!

Settle in at a unique cinema 

Step back in time and head to the quirky and cosy Lake Cinema in Boolaroo to catch a flick.

Don your bowling shoes and get competitive

Drop into Strike Charlestown or Dullboy’s Social Co for a round of bowling. Chuck on those dorky bowling shoes and see who can get the most strikes.

Try your hand at putt putt

Putt putt golf is always an entertaining way to lean into your competitive side and enjoy each other's company at the same time. Try Rippit Mini Golf, Newcastle Supa Putt, Holey Moley, or Dullboy's Social Co.

Do you think we've missed something? Email us!