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

Tired of the classic movie and dinner date night combo? Us too. That's why we're always on the hunt for new things to do, scouring the city for not-boring Brisbane activities — ones that are guaranteed to take your next date way beyond done-before beers at the pub.

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) ideas 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.

Free

Tourism and Events Queensland

Go Find a River to Swim In

The Brisbane River may give our city that romantic feel, but its muddy waters are pretty off-putting for swimming purposes. There's a growing call to clean up the waterway, but with those plans still in the pipeline — and warm weather a Brissie constant — we don't have time to wait.

So, we've scoped out some rivers near Brisbane where you and your other half can take a dip in clean, healthy waters. Whether you want to hang out underneath a tumbling waterfall or picnic among tranquil rock pools, there's a cool, watery escape for you here.

One ace suggestion: Lower Portals in Mount Barney National Park. To make the most out of this river swim, leave early. The swimming spot is a 1.5-hour drive southwest of Brisbane, then a 7.4-kilometre loop along a steep and rocky trail. That might sound like an effort, but the cool, lush gully is worth it — especially on a steaming hot day in Brisbane.

Here, you'll discover a string of crystal-clear rock pools, separated by enormous boulders and rising into subtropical rainforest. Fair warning: the water is usually rather cold, even in the middle of summer. But it's a refreshing dip during the warmer days ahead.

Under $50

Stephanie Adams Photography

Celebrate Festive Season with a Round of Christmas-Themed Mini Golf

Once, getting festive in Brisbane didn't involve taking to the greens to putt your way through Christmas trees, decorations and all things seasonal under twinkling lights. Thankfully, that hasn't been the case in the River City now for years. When the end of the year hits, Victoria Park's mini-golf course marks the occasion in the possible best way: by giving itself a jolly makeover.

Now that Victoria Park's Halloween course has been and gone for 2024, festive cheer, bells, bows and more are taking its place until Thursday, January 2, 2025. The seasonal makeover decks the greens with merriment all round, which means baubles, lights, mistletoe, foliage both green and white, and more.

This is the excuse that you need to swap the backyard cricket for 18 holes this summer — and to battle your special someone and other loved ones for supremacy in a different kind of sport when the holidays hit. In past years, the course has also sported holly, giant candy canes, gingerbread houses, elves, toy soldiers, polar bears, snow men and everything else festive that it can think of.

Reindeers and Santa are usually involved, too, and different sections of the 18-hole site tend to be designed around ideas like Chrissy Down Under, Santa's mailroom and Christmas morning — plus there's even been a festive feast fairway, The North Pole and a 'deck the halls' hole. If vying for mini-golf glory while getting merry also feels like an occasion for a beverage, boozy tequila slushies are also on offer. And, the course lets you order drinks and snacks as you play.

Under $200

Lyndon Mechielsen

Get Nostalgic with a Childhood Favourite Hitting the Stage as a Musical

Back in 2021, news arrived that Round the Twist was joining The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Muriel's Wedding, Strictly Ballroom, Starstruck and Moulin Rouge! in making the leap from Australia's screens to its theatres as a stage musical. If you've ever, ever felt like you needed to see the classic 90s and early 00s Aussie children's TV series with singing and dancing, the end result is now playing in Brisbane, with Round the Twist The Musical making its world premiere as part of Queensland Theatre's 2024 season.

The homegrown gem has gone the screen-to-stage route with a show that already has the entire country well-acquainted with its characters. Taking over QPAC's Playhouse until Sunday, December 8, it closes out Queensland Theatre's 2024 run. We bet you and your date are now more excited right now than a Twist family member in a lighthouse.

There's definitely a big lighthouse involved, because of course there is. Obviously, we all know which song absolutely has to be included — and multiple times, ideally. Yes, it's the theme tune by Andrew Duffield that you've now got stuck in your head and will keep singing to yourself for the rest of the week. (And no, we're not sorry for putting it there.)

Writer/composer Paul Hodge and director Simon Phillips (Muriel's Wedding: The Musical, Ladies in Black) are guiding the show, which will focus on single father Tony Twist; his children Pete, Linda and Bronson; and their efforts to save their home from the Gribble family while also attempting to solve a 200-year-old mystery. Expect haunted spaces, ghosts, smelly feet and a crystal ball as well, and songs.

Under $250

Build a Gingerbread House Over Cocktails

If there's an occasion to celebrate, W Brisbane's resident bar wants in on the action, theming its high-tea spread around different times of the year. Now that the festive season is upon us, it has switched to an appropriately merry offering. If you and your favourite person like drinking Christmas-themed cocktails while tucking into tiny bites to eat, then add a visit to Living Room Bar to your list.

On the menu for 2024's Festive High Tea: fig mousse with cinnamon sable, pineapple marshmallow snowmen with lemon curd, rosemary and parmesan scones, maple-glazed ham pinwheels, shredded turkey tacos with cranberry sauce, lamb and rosemary pies, and more. The edible highlight? This feast will also get you building your own gingerbread house, then tucking in. 'Tis the season, after all.

That's an impressive, tastebud-tempting range; however, the boozy side of things is also exciting — including a Spiced Holiday Highball cocktail featuring spice cake rum, sweet vermouth, macadamia and pineapple soda that's being made especially for the high tea. For non-alcoholic sips, endless tea and barista-made coffee come with the package.

This high tea is on offer from Thursday–Sunday until Sunday, December 29. Price-wise, you have three options. Pay $79 each, and you'll feast your way through the food like you're Santa on Christmas Eve, and enjoy the tea and coffee. Opt for the $99 option to add a cocktail. For $109, you'll also get a glass of Veuve Clicquot champagne.

One Big Blowout

Ruby Boland

Hear Dance Music Favourites Played Live by an Orchestra

If you and your significant other are fans of dance music, fond of getting nostalgic, and reside in Brisbane, then you're living in booming times for the intersection of all three. Ministry of Sound is one of the reasons. When it's not throwing massive 90s and 00s parties that nod back to raves three decades back and club nights at the turn of the century, it's busting out Ministry of Sound Classical, the orchestral tour that gives bangers from the past 30 years a new live spin.

Ministry of Sound Classical has been popping up Down Under for a few years now. Before 2024 comes to a close, Brisbanites will get another chance to attend. The latest tour has a date with the Riverstage on Saturday, November 30.

The brand that started as a London club night back in 1991 won't just get the Ministry of Sound Orchestra led by Vanessa Perica taking to the stage. Joining the fun this time around is DJ Groove Terminator, while the vocal lineup includes Reigan, Karina Chavez, Rudy, Lady Lyric and Luke Antony. Also part of the fun in the River City: Stafford Brothers, Sgt Slick, Vinyl Slingers and Rousey.

As it surveys tunes that've filled dance floors over the past three decades, the event provides the answer to a question you didn't know you had: what do classical renditions of Basement Jaxx, Darude, Röyksopp, Robin, Underworld, Moby, Fisher and more sound like played by an orchestra?