Date Nights Ideas In Ōtautahi Christchurch

What could be better on a date night? Galaxy Arcade is a crowd favourite with a large selection of retro games. Battle it out on iconic games including Pacman, Space Invaders, Street Fighter along with pinball machines. Timezone Christchurch Central is another classic date night idea, play games, win tickets and score your date some fun prizes!

If you're out and about early afternoon, enjoy a classically Christchurch date with a romantic punt down the Avon, snuggling under warm blankets as you meander down the river. After your punt, take a stroll through the Christchurch Botanic Gardens followed by a bite to eat at Riverside Market just a stone’s throw away.

Test your creativity, communication skills, and ability to work as a team at one of the city's escape rooms. Find clues and solve puzzles to escape the themed rooms and have loads of fun along the way. Try to escape together in record time! The team at Codebreakers combines virtual reality and augmented reality into some of their games for an immersive challenge. Or try one of the rooms at Escape Artists located at Five Lanes at the BNZ Centre. 

Perfect for the mid-week date night, The Christchurch Art Gallery is open until 9pm on Wednesdays – time to get your cultural fix! If you're after a more in-depth experience take the free highlights tour. Finish with a meal or drink at the restaurant in the Art Gallery The Thirsty Peacock or head across the road to award-winning Fiddlesticks. 

HOYTS EntX is the perfect spot for a classic dinner and a movie date. The nearby Crossing makes parking a breeze with $4.00 parking for your first two hours. Grab a bite to eat at Joe's Garage or The Diversity, then head upstairs and settle back in the lush lazy boy-sized seats and enjoy a film on impossibly large screens! Impress your date and upgrade to the LUX theatre experience, with licensed in-cinema dining service! You can even play a few arcade games at Archie Brothers or a spot of mini golf at Holey Moley while you wait for your movie.

If you want to go less mainstream and more art house, head to Alice Cinema in the SALT district across from Little High Eatery. Located within the grand Old Post Office building down High Street, this wee gem specialises in the rare and unusual. For those that prefer to enjoy a movie at home, their rental library houses an impressive collection of foreign and art house films. 

Immerse yourself in the Christchurch arts scene. Make a night of it, get dressed up in your finest and catch a performance at the Isaac Theatre Royal or The Piano. Afterward, head down the delightful New Regent Street for dinner at Casa Publica, or Story, or grab the perfect cocktail or dram of whisky at the The Last Word then finish with a creamy gelato treat at Rollickin Gelato.

Sit back, relax and dine on New Zealand's only tram restaurant experience. Settle in and watch the world go by, as your tram circles the streets of the CBD. It's a great way to take in the highlights of the city while enjoying a delicious four-course meal with your other half. A bucket-list Christchurch experience you have to do at least once.

Pop along The Terrace in the central city for an epic array of dinner options including Italian, Mexican, Chinese, Japanese, Korean and boutique Kiwi pub fare. Top off your evening with delicious cocktails at Kong, rooftop views at Mr. Brightside or groove to live jazz at Fat Eddies.