scoring a perfect 10 on date night

REVIEW 

By Mary Fekos

13/06/2014

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Here at The Den we understand that finding a date for Friday night can be hard enough. Planning and

executing the perfect date night however is a completely different playing field.  Whether you’re taking

a girl out for the first time, planning your 5-year anniversary or are in desperate need to win your

woman back - we’ve got you covered. I took to the streets to test out a couple of date locations to see

what was working and what was, well, let’s just say - a little awkward.

 

To start us off, a traditional sit down dinner.

 

What? Hurricanes Bar and Grill Restaurant.

Where? Harbourside Shopping Centre. Level 2. Darling Dr. Darling Harbour.

 

The aesthetic appeal of this restaurant is one of its finest assets; overlooking the harbour, the view is

stunning. The dim-lighting and candle-lit vibe makes for a sultry, romantic environment. Depending on

your timing and availability of tables you may be ushered to the bar to choose from a wide selection.

This provides a great opportunity for you and your date to casually talk and get to know each other

over drinks. Or perhaps just chat with your significant other before you are seated directly opposite one

another for a one-on-one candle-lit dinner. The food is great, the atmosphere is great and the chatter is loud – but is this venue ideal for a first date? Keep in mind, a sit down dinner will mean room for a lot of conversation. Which is good to get to know your date but may prove awkward if the conversation starts to die out early in the night.  

 

Verdict: The perfect location to take your loved one out to celebrate a birthday, anniversary or well – just because. But be cautious if you’re taking a lady out for the first time. If you’re just testing the waters, you don’t want to leave the wrong impression.

 

Overall rating: 7/10

 

 

If you want to skip the formalities, then you may want to opt for a more adventurous, fun and unconventional date.

 

What? Aqua Golf

Where? Panthers World of Entertainment. Mulgoa Rd, Penrith.

 

Golf + water = Aqua Golf. Hitting a ball off a tea into the water is a lot more fun than it sounds. Keep in mind you’re not aimlessly hitting balls into a swamp, but you’re aiming for the targets, which may result in up to $50 in winnings. However, in my experience the fun and games turned into competition real quick. The ultimate goal was to see who could hit the ball the furthest or rather, who could actually hit the ball in the first place. Aqua golf is a great first date venue. It’s fun, quirky and also leaves you an opportunity to chat and get to know your date without the restrictions of a sit-down dinner. You’ll also very quickly learn a lot about their personality, for example, whether they have good hand-eye coordination, or perhaps a short temper. This isn’t strictly for first dates, if you’re just after something different with your lady – you’ll want to give this a go. You pay for a bucket of balls ($7 each) and are free to play aqua golf to your hearts content. You can choose whether to take turns in the same cage, or play side-by-side. Either way you’re in for a fun night. Who knows, you might find their competitive side a little sexy.

 

Verdict: Fun, flirty and a great way to break the ice. Definitely recommend if you’re after something different and don’t want to stick to conventional sit-down affairs.

 

Overall rating: 8.5/10

 

 

And if you’re after something that brings both some intimate one-on-one time and some adventure, you might want to give this final one a go.

 

What? Leura Cascades Bush Walk

Where? Leura Cascades, Blue Mountains

 

This one is really going to get your heart racing. Free of charge – so no stressing over who needs to pay. All you need to do is follow the trail to discover the gorgeous sites of Sydney’s infamous blue mountains. You have a choice of three trails depending on time and difficulty level. The Leura cascades are a great tourist attraction but also a great way to discover the beauty of your own country. You’ll be spending a lot of one-on-one time with your date but you won’t be sitting awkwardly in front of each other. Instead, if conversation begins to die, either one of you can comment on the beauty before you. There isn’t much more to it other than walking and discovering. We brought along some lunch and sat by the waterfall for a romantic little picnic. The best part is you’re free to  utlilise the space before you however you wish. The possibilities are endless.

 

The Verdict: Perfect for some one-on-one time with your special other, whether it’s a first date or 100th – the atmosphere and activity allow for a flow in conversation and movement.

 

Overall rating: 9/10