You can dial up the romance, or experience an adrenaline rush with these date ideas… Great for Valentines Day, anniversaries or just to spice things up a bit…
Boho styled picnics
If you’re after something special and romantic then a hanging pod picnic at The Soul Nook Collective will tick all the boxes.
Indulge in a packed and styled picnic with your love.
And if something more down to earth is your thing, you can book picnics in bell tents or just under a tree with a couple of chairs!
Sunset walk at The Llama Farm
You can book guided llama walks in the afternoon at The Llama Farm. Depending on the time of year you might just start to catch the sun setting as the walks start at 3.30pm and go for about two hours.
On your walk you’ll get to take one of the farm’s friendly llamas for a walk down to the Brisbane River.
If Llamas aren’t your thing, you can also book a time to visit the farm animals at the Haigslea Ewe Nique Hobby Farm and grab a coffee from the on-site cafe. Or take a stroll through the Ipswich Nature Centre and visit the nearby Queens Park Cafe.
*Note Ewe Nique Hobby Farm is closed for the month of February, but gift vouchers are available to purchase if you want to gift these experiences for Valentine’s Day…
Hot air balloon flight
Floating tranquilly above the ground with Floating Images Hot Air Balloon Flights while watching the sunrise will give your date a romantic day to remember.
Once you come down to earth, the experience is finished with a beautiful breakfast at Fourthchild Cafe.
Axe throwing or rage cage smash
For something left of field why not try axe throwing! Learn the ancient viking way of hitting a target with an axe – it’s a fun date idea and completely unexpected!
Or book in to let off some steam at Rage Cage – a fully enclosed space where you can smash to your hearts content!
Picnic in the olive grove
Spend a day outdoors at the Watercress Creek Olive and Limes Farm. Wander in the orchard and book a picnic pack full of cheese and olives and dips!
Round of golf
You can tee off for a round of golf at the award-winning public golf course Brookwater Golf and Country Club. Then finish the day with lunch or dinner at the restaurant on site.
Antiquing
There’s a number of antiques shops around Ipswich including the Ipswich Antique Centre and Vintage Advantage in the CBD or you could take a drive to the country town of Marburg and pop into Scotland Yard Antiques and The Black Museum both in Marburg’s main street.
Visit Spicers Hidden Vale
Arguably the most romantic date night would be a night at Spicers Hidden Vale in the Ipswich town of Grandchester with dinner at the hatted Homage restaurant.
Take full advantage of the resort pool, enjoy a market garden tour and cheese tasting in the cellar, or just relax and enjoy the view!
There’s a few other places to stay in the region that speak romance, cute B&Bs including Cumquat House or the historic Woodlands of Marburg would also hit the romance mark and glamping at Twigley Farm…But there’s also Quest Ipswich and Oaks Ipswich Aspire Suites in the heart of the Ipswich CBD for a getaway.
For more places to stay visit our accommodation page.
Wander the markets
There’s plenty of markets on offer year round including the a monthly market at Robelle Domain and along Main St, in Ripley there’s a monthly evening market.
Spend a few hours at Spec Ops Paintball
If you love adrenalin and adventure, then you’ll love Spec Ops Paintball.
Book in for a gel ball, reball (paintball) session or some Nerf Battle fun!
V8 Race Experience
Does your date love fast cars? If so a V8 Race Experience for two would be the ultimate adventure!
Take laps as a professional driver guides you through the turns or book for hot laps only as a passenger!
Watch a blockbuster or romantic movie
There’s a reason dinner and a movie has worked so well for date night… Grab a bite at Ruby Chews Burgers and Shakes or book in for the lounge experience at Limelight Cinemas and have a delish dinner brought to you during the movie!
Hoyts is open in Nicholas Street, right next door to General Public and across from The Rusty Nail, which would make a fantastic date!
Take a ride on a heritage train
Train and history lovers will enjoy taking a trip down memory lane in restored heritage carriages pulled by either a historic steam or diesel engine train.
The Queensland Pioneer Steam Railway only runs on certain days, be sure to book ahead.
Degustation at The Cottage Restaurant
Known for their romantic and quality dishes, The Cottage Restaurant, offers a five or seven course degustation menu that you can pair with wines.
Enjoy the gourmet food, gorgeous wine and great company.
For more romantic dining options around Ipswich, see this story.
Ghost tour
A quirky date idea is to book in for a ghost tour. Tours run at the Ipswich Cemetery, in the CBD and at the Goodna Cemetery and unveil the haunting histories of the town.
Pet and feed the camels
A day out at Summer Land Camels with a farm tour or just a stop to the cafe for breakfast or lunch would make for a nice date idea, but if you really want to impress book in for the Sunrise Camel Ride and Breakfast where you can ride around the stunning property and finish with a scrumptious breakfast.
Gin tasting at an award-winning distillery
On Friday afternoons you can head over to Imbibis Craft Distillery to taste test the award-winning drops produced on site. Learn about the making process with a distillery tour or add on a grazing platter for two by ordering with Imbibis partners Baked by Brooke to make the date extra special.
On weekends Sip and Banter Distillery at Tallegalla is open, book in for a tasting and pop in a cheese platter!
Hiking
If you like to stay fit and active a sunrise or sunset hike to some of the region’s most popular peaks with a few snacks and some bubbles for when you get to the top makes for a great date idea.
You could try the White Rock-Spring Mountain Conservation Estate and stop at the Main Ridge lookout, or if you’re an advanced climber try Flinders Peak. Just check parks information online to ensure they are open before you go.
*Note: Due to the cultural significance of White Rock we respectfully discourage climbing and traversing onto the rock itself.
