The first date with someone can be exciting but it can also be the basis for a whole lot of nerves! So how can you ensure you have a good…
Winter in Australia can be tough. We are swapping beaches for brollies and thongs for thermals (down south at least!) and the skies have gone from bright blue to many shades of grey. At first glance this doesn’t seem an overly romantic time of year. High winds and patchy rain just don’t say swoon the way moonlit summer strolls do. But, with a little thought, it actually turns out that winter can be an ideal time of year to look for love. EliteSingles explores five of the best winter date ideas.
Five of the best winter date ideas
1. Cuddle up with a coffee
An EliteSingles survey revealed that 60.5% of women and 42.5% of men would choose coffee for a first date.1
The popularity of a coffee date makes it a great choice no matter the season, but there is something extra inviting about a warm cafe in the winter. Imagine the scene: blustery wind, the patter of rain – and you, safe indoors with a hot drink and convivial company. Pretty cosy, right? There’s an added benefit too; the feel-good factor of a cuddly coffee date can actually put you in the ideal mood for romance. In fact, an advertising study linked feelings of cosiness to happiness and even mild arousal2 (in other words, perfect conditions for a date!).
2. Enjoy the thrills and spills of sport
It would be next to impossible to imagine a list of Aussie winter date ideas that didn’t include at least one mention of winter sports. Going to an AFL match, a rugby test or a league game is an ideal way to spend some time with your date. Why? Sharing the highs and lows of a team is a great way to bond with someone new (you just might want to check your date’s preferred code first!). What’s more, our recent survey revealed that rugby fans make for desirable mates! Watching sport can also give people a confidence boost: it has been shown to elevate testosterone levels, which are great for self-assurance. And if all of that is not enough of a reason to go to a match? Don’t forget that heading to a game offers a chance to share a scoop of hot chips with your date –true romance, Aussie style!
3. Get to the beach whatever the weather
Visiting the beach in winter may sound like a left-field idea but it can, in fact, be one of the more exhilarating outings on this list. Studies have proven that an outing to the beach can put you in a really positive frame of mind, which is great news for anyone needing to overcome their dating nerves. A beach meeting can be perfect on a stormy winter day, with the wildness of the shore lending the date a certain Byronic romanticism (think giant waves and dramatic skies.). Or, if that sounds too Wuthering Heights to be appealing, then just hold tight for milder weather.
Australia is lucky enough to get beach weather, even in the winter. In fact, you’ll often get all the beauty of the beach in summer but with fewer flies and – hopefully – less sunburn. Perfect.
READ MORE: Test your connection with a prospective partner with these Top 10 first date questions!
4. Try some winter wine tasting
The Roman poet Ovid said ‘’wine and love have ever been allies.’’2 Several thousand years later this sentiment still holds true: wine does seem to be a drink (perhaps the drink) that people associate with romance. What’s more, Australia’s award-winning wineries offer tastings whatever the weather, making them a popular year-round destination. Tastings are also especially romantic in the colder months – not only are the crowds smaller, you’ll get all the cosiness of a coffee date but with added wine! After all, winter date ideas don’t get much better than those involving you, your someone special, a roaring fire and a couple of large glasses of Barossa Valley Shiraz. (EliteSingles does, of course, encourage responsible drinking).
5. Make a date for a mini break
Although perhaps not the best idea for the first date, a mini-break is a wonderful idea for those wanting to take their relationship up a level and this is a great time of year to take one. Indeed, many of Australia’s most popular tourist spots are much less crowded in the winter, giving you and your squeeze ample time to be alone together. This is also the season to explore more wintery break options if you don’t mind a few people around. If you are craving a traditional winter wonderland then it is the ideal time to head to Perisher Blue for a ski. Spending the day on the slopes then the night in a hot pool or Jacuzzi means receiving the benefits of many of the points on this list. Not only will the outdoor activity boost happiness-giving endorphins,3 the pool dip afterwards will definitely add the cosy factor.
From exhilarating, mood-boosting, outdoor adventures to indoor meetings that can create no end of cosiness, the Australian winter is full of romantic winter date ideas. It is simply a matter of getting out there and finding them.
READ MORE: Need inspiration for a weekend getaway? Check out our recommendations for Sydney and Melbourne here!
Ready to fight the cold with a hot date? Join EliteSingles today.
Sources:
1 EliteSingles members survey of 623 members, 69% female, 2013.
2 Ars Amatoria (The Art of Love) by Ovid, circa .1BC
3 Alpine Skiing. Ronald Kipp, 2012. Published by Human Kinetics.
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