Sometimes it’s just nice to get out in nature and enjoy the fresh air in the company of your partner or even a group of friends. And enjoying the day in the park won’t cost you a cent! Pack a picnic basket with lunches, snacks and drinks! Bring along games you can play in the park as well to ensure an entire day of fun! If you are taking your partner on a picnic date don’t forget to bring a nice big picnic rug that you can snuggle on, under the canopy of the trees, after enjoying your picnic lunch or bring even bring kite! If you are enjoying a picnic with friends, take a step back into your childhood and set up a treasure hunt with wrapped sweets. In our 21st century world, these nostalgic date ideas will have you up from in front of your computer and enjoying time with the people you love, without hurting your hip pocket! For great picnic sites in your state, follow these links: NSW, ACT, NT, WA, SA & Tasmania.

A little bit of mystery can go a long way, especially when organising date night on a budget! If you can’t make your mind up on where to go or what to do, why not try a mystery trip on public transport. If you live in the areas of NSW serviced by Cityrail, get yourself a MyMulti Day Pass (Adults $21 and Children/Concessions $10.50). With that ticket you can travel anywhere on the Cityrail train line, buses and ferries for the entire day. You could go for ice cream at the Manly Corso, to taking stroll down by Sydney Harbour at Walsh Bay to a beachside dinner at Avoca Beach on the Central Coast. This is a great date idea for the indecisive couple, as you can just hop on a train, bus or ferry and see where your trip take you!

There sure is something poetic about strolling hand in hand through an art-gallery or museum looking at paintings and photographs of love and romance. Treat your loved-one to a day of fun at one of Sydney’s culture hotspots. After an almost yearlong makeover process, the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) in Sydney is reopening in March 2012. To browse the exhibitions of the first two levels in the MCA is free for all visitors. The top level is a paid exhibition featuring the work of globally renowned artists - past exhibitions have included: Annie Leibovitz, Fiona Hall & Julie Rrap. If you are less of an art-person and more of a history-person, maybe the Powerhouse Museum would be more your cup of tea.

Dinner at home seems like the most boring date night prospect… But with a little imagination you can turn your evening meal into an exciting event that won’t break the budget (like most restaurant bills!) Together decide on a theme for your dinner. This theme can be a type of cuisine or part of the world, for example: Parisian Nights or Tastes of Morocco. Plan your dinner date with your partner over the week. Take each step together or delegate parts of the evening to plan separately so you can organize little surprises for each other. Search the web for recipes that both fit your theme and are budget friendly. Take the grocery trip together and make sure you get all of your ingredients for less! If your dinner at home is for a night in with the girls, plan ahead and get crafty! Put together a themed, dress-up dinner and movie night that will have everyone in party mode without breaking the bank.

Wine-tasting is a traditional, romantic outing for couples looking for a great date together with a bit of travel or adventure vibe without having to take a plane or boat to get there. Also, with a little planning and shopping around you can find yourselves taking a wine tasting tour that is both palette and wallet friendly… The Hunter Valley is home to some of Australia’s finest wine producers and is conveniently situated only two hours drive from Sydney City. The drive itself is an adventure through beautiful NSW farmland, vineyard estates and historical sites. The stunning suburb of Pokolbin the city of Cessnock is home to 56 wineries listed in the Australian Good Food & Travel Guide. Bimbadgen Estate Cellar Door offers free wine tasting and for those who aren’t so smitten with wine, Esca Bimbadgen Estate also offers High-Tea for two for only $30! For more information, visit: Bimbadgen.

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