Five Free Dates to Plan This Spring in Melbourne

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There's a chance your finances have gotten in the way of your love life before. Maybe you've just matched with a cutie on your dating app of choice, arranged a date then realised you're a little tight on cash, or maybe you've scheduled a night out with your partner before realising payday isn't for another week.

Don't fret. Melbourne has an abundance of romantic date ideas that are bound to impress your date and your bank account at the same time. To help you out, we've rounded up some of the best free dates in Melbourne, while our friends at CommBank have gathered some handy money tips for when you're dating or coupled up. Here are five free activities to check out this spring — happy non-spending.

Spender? Saver? See CommBank's tips on how to understand your and your date's financial similarities and differences.

TAKE A BIKE RIDE ALONG THE MERRI CREEK

Now you can be ride-or-die partners, literally. The Merri Creek runs from Clifton Hill to Reservoir and along it lies a cycling and walking trail, perfect for a mid-morning bike ride. Jump on the track wherever is convenient for you both, and head north towards Reservoir. It's around 20 kilometres from one end to the other, so decide how far you want to go (and how sweaty you want to get) then take off. Along the trail, you'll see all sorts of sites like wetlands, an amphitheatre, a velodrome, a drive-in cinema and, if you get all the way to Reservoir, unscathed native grasslands. Once you've done a loop, head back towards Fitzroy North and down through Yarra Bend park to come to the Abbotsford Convent. In spring, the convent gardens are heavy with the scent of flowers (which will help to cover up any BO issues) and are a wickedly romantic setting for a picnic.

TEST YOUR POP CULTURE KNOWLEDGE TOGETHER

Finally, all those nights spent binge watching Netflix are about to pay off. Book in a session of trivia at the Palace Hotel in Camberwell for you and your date on a Monday night. It's free to play, and the questions are based on all things TV and pop culture. You'll have to decide whether to bring friends and make it a group thing or go it alone, just the two of you against the world. If the latter, you'd better study up because the stakes are high. Every week there are prizes to be won, as well as a cash jackpot. So, if you can pull it off, you might even make a profit on this date and can treat yourselves to a decadent dinner feat. oysters. Now, wouldn't that be a story to tell your future grandkids?

SPEND THE NIGHT SALSA DANCING

Salsa isn't just a delicious topping for corn chips; it's also a delicious way to get up close and personal with your date. Every Wednesday and Thursday, you can book free salsa lessons with the Salsa Foundation and learn to dance together. You might not be any good, but it'll surely be memorable. Plus, it's a great way to see if there's physical chemistry between you and your date. The classes are for beginners — bumbling-two-left-feet-style beginners — so don't worry about looking silly. You only need to learn three or four moves before you can hit the floor and shake your groove thing. Classes are held on Little Collins Street in the CBD and you'll need to book ahead of time on the website. Remember to wear comfy shoes, bring a waterbottle and leave your inhibitions at the door.

SMASH OUT 1000 STEPS

You can learn a lot about your date by observing how they handle adversity, and conditions don't get more adverse than on the challenging 1000 steps. Drive out west to Ferntree Gully and head to the Picnic Ground to kick off this heart-racing date. It's exactly as advertised: 1000 steps upwards in a sharp 300-metre ascent. It's tough going (wear good shoes and take plenty of water) but the pay off is worth it. Firstly, all that huffing and puffing will get your feel-good endorphins flowing. Secondly, you know if your date is keen for this slog, they've got plenty of grit and determination. Third, and most importantly, the stunning rainforest views and sense of accomplishment you feel when you reach the summit will make sure it's a date you'll never forget.

CATCH SOME FREE LIVE MUSIC

The Old Bar is an iconic establishment on Johnson Street in Fitzroy. It's a musically agnostic place and has hosted every type of musician you can fathom; from intimate quiet gigs featuring solo crooners on guitar to fully kitted-out rock bands playing at high decibels and dancing on the bar, The Old Bar has seen it all. During the week, tickets range from $5 to $20 but, since we're all a little skint by the end of the week, Sundays are on the house. From 4pm every Sunday, you can catch a rotating selection of up-and-coming musicians for free. It's the perfect place to take a date, allowing you to talk as much or as little as you feel. And, while it's usually quite chill, if the band really gets going it can be the perfect place for an impromptu boogie together, too.

Don't spend a cent on your next date with the above recommendations, or, even better, enter our comp and let us pick up the bill.