7 Non-Cliche Romantic Things To Do In Auckland

It’s easy to forget that Auckland can be a magical and romantic place with a little bit of imagination. Below are some date ideas that you can borrow or remix.

1. Azabu and Kelly Tarltons at Mission Bay

Lunch dates are hard to nail but this is definitely a straight 10. Park up next to the playground as you enter Mission Bay. Start with a stunning lunch at Azabu which is a Japanese-Peruvian fusion restaurant.

Impress your date by sipping on some classy Sake or interesting cocktails you can’t pronounce.

Then walk along the coast to Mission Bay to Kelly Tarltons. Make sure to book your tickets online to show that you planned this whole thing out.

Finish the date off by a walk up to Bastion Point for DMCs.

2. Fabric and Hobsonville Point Coastal Walk

A bit of a drive for most but it is definitely worth it. Pick up your date and cruise along the SH16 to Hobsonville Point. Baulk or complement the Scandy urban planning as you make your way to something truly kiwi — a quiet café on the water — Fabric. The food is divine and the hot chocolates on a cold sunny day is perfect.

Follow it up with a looped walk around the coast and burbs. Pass houses that you can only dream about buying and walk into show homes pretending you’re a serious buyer looking for a change in lifestyle.

I’ve found the best time to go is around 3.30pm. The cafe is quiet, the sun is gentle, and the walk around the coast during sunset is pretty cool.

3. Cocktail tasting down central AKL

Bring out the connoisseur in the both of you. This date is a bit pricey, a bit of admin, but definitely worth it. Start your date at around 6pm at Paname Social with French inspired cocktails and appetisers.

Stroll down to Mezze Bar and Bistro for some Turkish influenced breads and dips. Not known for their cocktails, consider getting a glass of red or white to look fancy.

Then make your way to Panacea — the mecca of cocktails in Auckland. Known to be a kitchen and not a bar, their menu is organised like a degustation with a 7 course boozy bonanza. The wait staff are well informed and can make pretty good recommendations on what will tickle your fancy.

By this time you will probably need some dinner. Head to Le Chef on Vulcan Lane for a bit more French because this date is boujie asf. They also know how to pair their meats with their wines.

Get onto O’Connell Street and make your way up the hidden entrance to Hotel Debrett. Their bar is out of James Bond film.

Pull out your suave as you order a martini — shaken not stirred. Talk about the future you want for yourself as you sit on the sofa next to the crazy cool fireplace.

By this time you will be pretty boozed up. Somehow walk to Miann in Britomart. Indulge in some dessert outside — especially on a warm summer night.

And finally, finish your date off by getting a booking at Caretakers (book well in advance!) Ask for something stupid like a drink inspired by Pikachu to see what they make. Remind your partner that you’re funny and creative.

And lastly, make sure you Uber home and don’t open up another bottle of wine.

Extra for experts: Take short videos and photos at each location and turn it into a short film in black and white because that’s what the French do right?

4. The Observatory, Cornwall Park and Ollies

If you want to stay sober and get dizzy at the same time, then this date is perfect for you! Start your date at late sunset on a clear night with a trip through the galaxy with one of Stardome’s immaculate shows. After that, and if you’re lucky you will be able to peep through the telescope that has more zoom than a Samsung S20.

As the Stardome adventure ends, bring yourself right back down to Earth as you stroll to a hopefully now closed Cornwall Park. Its weirdly even better at night.

Pretend to understand all the things you heard at Stardome and start talking about quantum mechanics to prove that you’re smart — or at least fascinated by the cosmos (”How can something truly be in 2 places at once?” is the go to one liner).

Make your way towards Ollies — an absolute Auckland establishment. Get an ice cream that is at least 2 scoops. Play a couple of arcade games and either walk back through Cornwall Park or via the lit streets.

5. Sunset Picnic at Piha and Dinner at Deco

This is one of my favourite dates. It requires a bit of luck and a bit of planning. You can also make the date longer or shorter depending on what you’re feeling.

The first thing to do is choose a perfect Auckland day. And if you want some peace and quiet, preferably a weekday (picking up your partner from work and organising the date is a boss move).

Then you also need to know exactly when the sun sets. And you need to be at Piha probably at least 30 - 40 minutes before the sun sets.

Make your way towards Piha. En route to the beach there are a couple of stopping points overlooking the water. Park your car around there and get out a picnic blanket, a bottle of wine and some cheese and crackers. If you have a wireless speaker, search up something like FKJ radio and have it in the background.

After sunset, make your way back to civilization and stop in Titirangi. There, you will find a beautifully set Mediterranean restaurant called Deco.

The food there is A1. The decor is just the vibe you need and their desserts are hard to find anywhere else.

You can extend this date in a few ways. Before sunset you can do the Kitekite falls walk or even climb Lion Rock (this would also be an awesome place to watch the sunset too).

Alternatively, you could also book a show at the Lopdell House which is right next to Deco.

6. Dice & Fork and Dinner at Wynyard Quarter (if you like someone in your friend’s group)

This is a smooth manoeuvre if you find yourself liking someone in your friend’s group. Organise a group hangout at Dice and Fork. Pick a board game that you know most of your friends are really good at, and you and the person you like isn’t.

Get destroyed in the board game with the person you like. Form a secret alliance and bitch about your mutual friends as you both make your way to the bar to cool off.

There is something weirdly romantic about sucking at something together.

Have dinner at a place like Baduzzi or The Conservatory. Get your partner in crime a blanket if its cold and order a drink for them. Maybe it could be the start of something special.

If you are already dating, Dice and Fork on your own is a risky date. If one of you are competitive, prepare for an awkward walk to the car as accusations of cheating pollute the vibes.

7. Ferry to Devonport

I’m not sure about you but I never go to Devonport. So it genuinely feels like I am in a different city when I do. And getting there by boat makes it feel even more like a destination. With numerous restaurants, dainty antique shops and bars that close too early, it's definitely Europe-vibes without the price tag.

To make this even more interesting, try and do the whole date via public transport. Catch the train or bus into town with your partner and have brunch at The Store or Amano in Britomart. Stroll to the ferry terminal and jump on the ferry. On arrival at Devonport, walk through time as you enter shops still using cash registers and don’t have Paywave.

If you feel the need to prove that you’re fitspo, walk up Mt Victoria and inhale the gorgeous views. Take photos for the gram to prove that you are the “it couple”.

As you make your way back to AKL CBD around sunset, sit on the top deck of the ferry like you own the thing.

Have dinner across from the Ferry building at Advieh. You can probably tell I am a sucker for Turkish inspired menus. But yeah, there are plenty of options in and around Britomart if we don’t share the same taste buds.

Reckon these dates could turn into a proposal? Swing by on your cocktail date to Four Words on O’Connell Street. We do custom bespoke engagement rings for all budgets. Bookings are essential.