If we’re to believe the dating trope that Hollywood serves up, Valentine’s Day is supposed to be filled with red roses, candlelit dinners and grand romantic gestures.
But what if you don’t want to spend the evening of February 14 staring longingly into your partner’s eyes over a shared plate of spaghetti? Perhaps you’re single and dating, in the early stages of a burgeoning relationship or just find the whole Valentine’s Day thing a bit… much.
According to a recent study by women-first dating and social networking app Bumble, more than 90 per cent of Australians have no idea what to do for Valentine’s Day.
To be honest, we’re not even sure if we should be celebrating at all. When asked how many dates is acceptable before going on a Valentine’s Day date, 33 per cent said a first date is no big deal, 24 per cent said one or dates minimum, 26 per cent said three or four, and 16 per cent said five-plus dates.
For those who want to do something to mark the occasion without being too cliché, Bumble and Airbnb have teamed up together to create a list of ‘active dates’ that you can do with your partner, including:
- A stargazing tour in the Blue Mountains (Wentworth Falls, NSW)
- Stand up paddle boarding lessons (Currimundi, QLD)
- A Vietnamese cooking class lead by a chef (Marrickville, NSW)
- An art class at Yarra Glen (Melbourne, VIC)
- A sailing trip to Carnac Island – AKA the world’s deadliest island (Perth, WA)
- A wine tasting tour of the Adelaide Hills (Adelaide, SA)
- Scuba diving lessons in Sydney’s south (La Perouse, NSW)
Not sure about you but a cooking class followed by a wine tasting tour sounds like something we can get behind. You can find Bumble and Airbnb’s full list of suggestions here.
