Five Romantic Brisbane Date Ideas for This Week From Budget to Blowout

We're always on the hunt for new things to do, scouring the city for not-boring Brisbane activities — and that includes different ways to spend time with your special someone. Need an idea that's guaranteed to take your next date way beyond done-before beers at the pub? We have suggestions.

Whether you're taking someone on a second date or doing your 100th with your significant other, we've got some killer (and, yes, cute) options for dates to go on this week, no matter how much money you've got to spend.

Just think of us as your cultural wingman. You're welcome.

Under $20

Tourism and Events Queensland

Crawl Into a Cave

Offering a hearty dose of Mother Nature's magic, there's something pretty special about a good cave, rocky and majestic as they are. After all, what better antidote to that hectic city life than a visit to an impressive natural rock formation?

Without trekking too far out of Brisbane, you'll find a handful of captivating grottos to light your adventurous spark — from glow worm caves and underground marvels to huge limestone beauties filled with stalactites.

Here's one nearby suggestion: Kweebani Cave in Lamington National Park. Set among the dense eucalypts of the Gold Coast Hinterland, this circuit of caves was once shelter for the Yugambeh Aboriginal kinship group, the area's original inhabitants. Created by wind and rain erosion, some of the caves have some serious size to them — and in one of the biggest, Kweebani Cave (or 'cooking cave'), you might even spy fragments of bone and charcoal hinting at the space's past. You and your other half can see these natural beauties up close and personal when you hike the park's five-kilometre Caves Circuit.

Here's another: Natural Bridge, Springbrook National Park. As far as caves go, this specimen in the heart of Springbrook National Park is downright majestic. Located about an hour and a half south of Brisbane, Natural Bridge is a striking rock archway, created by the force of a waterfall running onto a basalt cave. The result is a stunning natural oasis, where daylight spills through the cave's top and onto pools of water below. By day, you'll catch a glimpse of creatures like tusked frog, paradise riflebirds and koalas, while come night, it's buzzing with microbats, fireflies, luminous fungi and a sizeable colony of protected glow worms.

Under $100

Drink Taco Margaritas and Tuck Into Nori Kimchi Peking Duck Tacos

February might be synonymous with romance, but the second month of the year is also home to another celebration-worthy occasion: International Margarita Day. You don't just need to settle for devoting a single 24-hour period to the festivities, however, especially now that it has been and done for 2025. And, don't go forgetting to line your stomach before you sip.

The Mama Taco x WET Deck collaboration at W Brisbane takes care of all of the above. Running throughout February — available from 11am–9pm Sunday–Thursday and 11am–late Friday–Saturday, right up until Friday, February 28 — it sees West End's Mama Taco cross the river, set up shop at the luxe CBD hotel and whip up a special menu.

If you and your significant other haven't tried a nori kimchi peking duck taco before, here's your chance, complete with toasted seaweed, daikon kimchi, corn mousse and guacamole. Or, go with the cheese jalapeño nacho if your tastebuds can handle the heat.

To drink, the taco margarita couldn't be a more-perfect option — and yes, with its blend of tequila, corn liqueur, tomato water, lime and jalapeño, it's designed to taste like taco in a glass.

Get Feasting by the River

No one should spend their lunch break eating at their desk, but stopping that habit isn't always easy. Until Thursday, April 3, 2025, the Howard Smith Wharves precinct is giving you and your date plenty of motivation to step away from the computer. Head to the riverside spot from Monday–Thursday for a middle-of-the-day meal and your lunch costs will start at $25 each.

Seven HSW venues are getting in on the deal, with most serving up multiple options — so you can pick between several dishes at Felons Brewing Co, Felons Barrel Hall, Mr Percival's, Stanley, Greca, Yoko Dining and Ciao Papi. Or, you can work your way through them all (and stare at their slightly different views of the water) across two months. You'll just need to keep an eye on each eatery's opening hours — and, while you can just rock up, bookings are recommended.

As for what you'll be eating during the Let's Dine festivities, the specials are varied. Double smash burgers, baked fish and char-grilled eggplant parmigianas are on offer at Felons, while chicken and cashew stir fry, warm pork salad and noodles in beef curry broth are on the menu at the brewery's Barrel Hall — all for $25 each, and not just for lunch, with the deal running from 11am–late. For dining over the water, Mr Percival's is doing grilled fish, pork cutlets and pumpkin lasagne for between $25–29 — and also from 11am–late.

If you're keen on Ciao Papi, you'll be eating a two-course menu for $49 from 12–3pm that includes a glass of wine or beer, plus a pick of dishes such as kingfish crudo and roast chicken. Stanley also has a two-dish spread for the same price from 12–4pm, but with selections including duck spring rolls and Beijing shredded beef. Opt for Greca or Yoko and you'll be paying $35 — for a souvlaki platter at the former from 12–3pm, with your choice of chicken, haloumi or seasonal vegetables; and for a bento box at the latter from 12–4pm, with a vegan option available.

Under $150

Wander Around a Cemetery

Blame Buffy for this addition to the list. Whether she was dating humans or members of the undead, the TV vampire slayer was often found stalking around a cemetery with the object of her affection — and, apart from having to deal with pesky bloodsuckers, their evenings always seemed quite sweet.

Follow in her footsteps by taking your loved one through Toowong's towering city of the dead, South Brisbane's riverside burial ground, Ipswich's heritage-laden spot or Nundah's small and intimate graveyard. A tour guide will tell you all the secrets of the site, including many a ghost story.

Grabbing your special someone's hand because you're a little scared is perfectly acceptable.

And, consider it the perfect way to get excited about Buffy's potential return, too.

One Big Blowout

Erik Melvin

Spin Around While Seeing Kylie Live

Put your hand on your heart and tell us: how excited are you and your plus one that Kylie Minogue has not only announced a new world tour, which is her biggest in 14 years, but that she's starting it in Australia? Headlining Splendour in the Grass 2024 mightn't have worked out after the Byron Bay music festival was cancelled mere weeks after revealing its lineup, but the Aussie pop superstar is ensuring that local fans will see her new Tension tour before anyone else on the planet.

Minogue kicked off her latest shows in Perth — but across Wednesday, February 25–Thursday, February 27, it's Brisbane's turn at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre.

The last time that Minogue embarked on a tour this big was back in 2011. The last time that she hit the stage Down Under was in 2023 to open Sydney WorldPride.

In what's proven a massive career since her Neighbours-starring, 'I Should Be So Lucky'- and 'Locomotion'-singing 80s era, it's been a big last few years for Minogue thanks to the huge success of the Grammy-winning 'Padam Padam', a brief return to Neighbours and a Las Vegas residency — and now the Tension tour keeps that streak running.

Top image: Tourism and Events Queensland.