Whether you’re planning a dreamy date, indulgent dinner, heart-stopping adventure, bubbly-filled brunch, a relaxing picnic, or scenic escape, there’s something to make every heart flutter in Ipswich this Valentine’s Day.
From romantic moments to fun-filled outings, here are some of the best ways you and your partner can fall head over heels in love all over again.
Love is in the air… literally with a hot air balloon flight
Take your love to new heights with a Floating Images Hot Air Balloon flight this Valentine’s. As you and your special someone gently float above the natural landscape, you’ll enjoy panoramic views as the morning light paints the horizon, creating a magical start to the day. Perfect for celebrating love, an anniversary, or even popping the question, this serene adventure promises an unforgettable experience you’ll both cherish long after you touch back down on the ground.
A magical evening for two at Spicers Hidden Vale
Step into a real-life fairytale with an unforgettable evening at Homage Restaurant at Spicers Hidden Vale this Valentine’s Day, where you will arrive by a horse-drawn carriage, enjoy a glass of champagne on arrival, and savour an elegant four-course dinner that seamlessly blends award-winning cuisine with the timeless charm of the countryside. Featuring an abundance of fresh ingredients on the menu, each dish is thoughtfully crafted to honour its surroundings and bring the paddock-to-plate philosophy to life in the most delectable way. Price is $200 per person and bookings are essential, more information here. The next day Spicers will host a wedding open day.
Bring your soul mate on a SoulDate
Join Soul Nook for their popular Picnics at Soul community picnic event on Valentine’s Day, a chance to join your loved ones for a dreamy experience with bespoke picnics at up to 30% off.
On offer is a fabulous and lush picnic set up, be it a Chill’d Picnic starting at $75, Sunshine Styled Setting starting from $125 for two or an enchanting Bell Tent starting at $160. Picnics include cafe drinks, a flower posie and one of two divine picnic options, the delicious Hearty picnic platter with treats and rolls or the Soulfuel picnic platter with tasty bites and treats.
Picnics can be booked from 9am until 2pm, get in touch to book your SoulDate and celebrate love with a little help from Soul Nook.
Romance takes centre stage at the Ipswich Civic Centre
Delivering a spectacular selection of timeless love songs from artists including The Beatles, Elvis Presley, Frankie Valli, Frank Sinatra, ABBA, Tom Jones and Michael Bublé, internationally acclaimed showman Thomas Armstrong-Robley and his six-piece band will deliver an evening of entertainment and romance as part of the Love in Lights – Valentine’s Dinner and Show at the Ipswich Civic Centre on February 14. Guests will also enjoy an indulgent dining experience while watching the show, with the specially-curated menu serving up a choice of oven-roasted grass-fed Angus beef medallions served with potato croquette, steamed broccolini and bone marrow jus, or balsamic honey glazed chicken accompanied by potato frittata, braised red cabbage and asparagus spears. For dessert, choose from a chocolate heart cheesecake with chocolate-covered strawberries and berry sauce, or a trio of macarons with caramel mousse and fresh raspberries. Tickets are $80 per person.
Indulge in a Valentine’s Day feast at Jets
Don’t spend your special evening slaving away in the kitchen and then washing up afterwards! Let the chefs from Jets Leagues Club give you the night off with their three-course shared menu, made exclusively for club members.
Treat your tastebuds with a shared entrée of Parma and peach bruschetta, grilled prawn skewers, and a fresh edamame bean salad, followed by the main event – the Duets of Meats Share Board starring tender sliced beef fillet with rosti potato and red wine jus, alongside camembert-pocketed chicken Ballantine served over sweet potato purée with a delicate champagne zabaglione, and accompanied with your choice of buttered baby carrots and broccolini or a chef’s garden salad.
Finish the experience on a sweet note with a quartet of Jets finest petit fours – passionfruit pavlova roulade, chocolate raspberry crunch mousse log, Gianduja chocolate cake, and a mandarin Yuzu white chocolate bar. The price is $120 per couple and is only available from 5.30pm on Valentine’s Day. Bookings are essential, and must be made before February 13.
Fall in love again at Hotel Commonwealth
The perfect harmony of romance, flavour, and music awaits at Hotel Commonwealth on Valentine’s Day, with a specially curated set menu and soul-stirring love songs designed to set the mood for all couples during the hotel’s first Saturday Night Live session. Tickets are $70 per person (plus booking fee), with a $20 deposit required via Trybooking to secure your spot.
Create lasting memories with someone special at Bakehouse Steakhouse
Turn moments into memories this Valentine’s Day at Bakehouse Steakhouse with their three-course dinner. Upon arrival, enjoy a complimentary glass of champagne before indulging in some of their famous dishes.
Start with an entree of oven-baked brie or Mediterranean fried squid, then move on to a main of your choice – the 14-hour slow-cooked beef cheek, Humpty Doo barramundi, chicken ballotine, 220g wagyu rib cap, or slow-roasted pork belly. It wouldn’t be right to leave without dessert, and thankfully there are two excellent options to choose from – the bakehouse brownie or lemon meringue tart. The cost is $79 per person.
Love is on the menu at Brothers Leagues Club
Surprise that special someone in your life with an elegant dining experience designed to impress at Brother’s Leagues Club on February 14.
Perfect for a lunch or dinner seating, A Taste of Valentine’s features two standout main dishes including a char-grilled king pork rib cutlet with sticky soy prawns, or pan-roasted barramundi with prawn colcannon and lemon beurre blanc, at a cost of $38 for members, followed by a decadent hot chocolate pudding served with vanilla bean ice cream and candied macadamias at $14 for members.
Adding to the evening’s ambience, talented musician Nicky Steel will perform a host of love ballads in The Lounge from 5.30pm-9.30pm. Bookings are essential.
From breakfast to dinner, celebrate at Moselle’s
With beautiful views of the lake, delicious food, handcrafted drinks and a relaxed atmosphere, Moselle’s Café and Restaurant is a charming spot for a cute coffee or brunch date, laid back lunch or intimate dinner. From breakfast favourites like eggs benedict and pancakes to main course classics like fish and chips or chicken and bacon pasta, there’s plenty to treat your tastebuds. With extended opening hours and limited spots available, this is one date you won’t want to leave to chance so make sure you book early.
Plenty of laughs at Drag Queen Bingo
Brace yourself for a night of politically incorrect humour, bad language, adult themes, and one fat drag queen at the ridiculously fun Bingo with Nuts Valentines Show at Banshees Bar and Art Space on February 14. Hosted by award winner and Hall of Fame Inductee Dame Martini Fernando Ice FC, this won’t be your typical lovey-dovey night, but rather plenty of chaos and side-splitting comedy.
There will be also plenty of laughs, glamour, sass and high-energy entertainment when the fabulous Scarlett Fever and ShuShu Funtanna host Drag Bingo at the Orion Hotel on February 13. Held from 7-9pm, it’s the perfect evening for those looking to skip the traditional dinner date.
Truly connect with your partner at Fourthchild
Whether it’s your first Valentine’s together or one of many, celebrate the devotion you share with a memorable evening at Fourthchild Café and Restaurant and Lounge Bar. Featuring a delicious à la carte menu, live entertainment by a talented local singer, and a relaxed vibe, it’s the perfect setting to connect, unwind, and savour the moment together. They will be open from 5.30pm.
Sparks to fly at traffic light parties
Get ready to flirt and kick up your heels a traffic light party at Orion Hotel on February 14 featuring Twoface. The rules are simple – wearing red means your locked in love but here to dance the night away; Orange means you’re playing it cool but open to possibilities; And green means you’re single and ready to mingle. Whatever your status, make sure you dress to impress and pick up your glowstick or wristband at the door. Live music starts at 6pm.
Falvey’s Hotel Yamanto are also hosting a traffic light party featuring Brooklyn on February 14. Doors open at 8pm.
Fall head over heels for one-of-a-kind finds at the markets
Whether you’re on the hunt for the perfect Valentine’s gift or simply treating yourself, the Southside Collective Market’s special Valentine’s Day Edition is sure to steal your heart. With a delightful mix of handmade goodies, preloved treasures, sweet treats and cheeky giveaways, there’s no shortage of things to swoon over. Head on down to the Ipswich Showgrounds between 7am-12pm on February 8.
Hands-on Valentine’s fun
Get creative with someone you love this Valentine’s Day at Creative Hearts Co, with two hands-on workshops on offer as a fun and meaningful way to spend time quality together. Try your hand at making a heart-shaped, living succulent wreath with expert Hue Kedge on February 12, or register for the beginner-friendly acrylic paint workshop, Love in Silhouette, on February 12. Both workshops are held at their studio in Brookwater.
Treat your partner to a Hollywood blockbuster
Dinner and a movie may be one of the most traditional date nights of all time, but that doesn’t mean it can’t still feel special. Whether you’re craving drama, passion or comedy, Limelight Cinema has the perfect Valentine’s movie date waiting for you. Catch Margo Robbie and Jacob Elordi in the hit story Wuthering Heights, or laugh along with Kevin James in his new movie, Solo Mio.
Level up your date night at General Public
If you’re searching for the ultimate date night packed with nonstop fun, look no further than General Public Ipswich. From classic bowling lanes and exciting arcade games to pool tables, shuffleboard, interactive darts, and a high-tech golf simulator, there’s always something to keep the good times rolling. Add in plenty of great food and drinks, and you’re guaranteed a night full of laughs and friendly competition.
A scenic country adventure worth the drive
Jump in the car and turn Valentine’s Day into a romantic country escape with a scenic drive to Summer Land Camels in Harrisville. Spend the day wandering the farm, meeting (and feeding) the friendly camels, and soaking up the relaxed, rural atmosphere that makes this spot so special. For something a little more memorable, book a camel ride with one of the farm’s experienced cameleers or go behind the scenes to learn more about the fascinating world of camel farming. Afterwards, treat yourself to a delicious breakfast, brunch, or lunch at the Homestead Café, known for its unique farm-made treats including camel milk gelato and camel milk vodka, all while taking in sweeping countryside views across to Flinders Peak.
Raise a glass or two with your besties
Grab your girls and celebrate Galentine’s Day with a night dedicated to friendship, fun, and a little self-love at The Rusty Nail on February 8. Set within a relaxed cocktail-bar atmosphere, the evening will feature shared grazing-style food, two signature cocktails, styled Galentine’s table décor, and live music by the talented Kayla Rose, all for $55 for person. There will also be a special self-love activity where you can write a love letter to yourself to open next Galentine’s Day.
Celebrate sisterhood with a boozy bottomless brunch
Expect plenty long chats and endless cocktails at the Galentine’s Bottomless Brunch at the Orion Hotel on February 14. Curated to celebrate friendship and honour the special women who have been there through thick and thin, this brunch is the perfect way to toast the bonds that make life brighter. Tickets are $79 per person plus a booking fee. Bookings are required.
Throw out the picnic rug
Gather your favourite foods – or pick up something delicious from one of Ipswich’s charming cafes – and head out for a romantic picnic in one of the city’s many beautiful parks.
For a serene escape Queens Park is perfect, with its lush gardens and the Ipswich Nature Centre to explore. For a family-friendly outing Bob Gamble Park is a hit, complete with a playground, water park, and the imaginative Discovery Forest.
And for a little adventure, Robelle Domain Parklands has it all including rainforest walks, waterfalls, water play areas, and playgrounds.
If you want to make the day extraordinary, head to Watercress Creek Olives and Limes in Pine Mountain where you can order a picnic box or grazing platter to enjoy after wandering through the orchard.
Get your heart racing with a hike
For couple who love to stay active, a sunrise or sunset hike to one of Ipswich’s most iconic peaks is sure to get your heart racing. 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. Bring along a few snacks, or maybe a bottle of bubbles to toast at the summit to make the walk a little extra special.
More gift ideas…
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