Relationships are all about games. The Hard-to-get Game. The If-You-Don’t-Know-Why-I’m-Angry-I’m-Not-Going-To-Tell-You Game. The Hide-the… oh, nevermind. The point is, we’re hardly ever straight with each other, us lovebirds.

So the Games Night date seems a perfectly fitting night out for two, when you put it like that.

We found out that the Panama Dining Room in our hometown has boardgames all day Sunday. Glass of wine, plate of tapas, round of Monopoly. What a great G date! This bar-cum-restaurant is uber cool and very classy and we had a wonderfully relaxed night together there.

Wherever in the world you are, I’m sure there’s a bar or pub nearby that stocks the old favourite boardgames and maybe even a fireplace if you’re lucky!

Of course, Games Night can just as easily be done in the comfort of your lounge room. Which means that you can break out the really fun ones such as Twister! Or even, if you’re feeling racy, our personal favourite adult game… Nookii.

We opted for checkers, seeing as we were in public and all. We’re a big fan of the best out of three. Den won the first round, then I won the next two… and I have to say it… he’s a sore loser. Especially when it comes to losing to me. Which is why he has his sad face on here:

All in all a lovely and relaxing date to combat the winter chills… here’s the official rating.

Rate the Date
Romance Factor: 6/10 (bonus romance points if you do find a fireplace or candlelight)
Cheesiness Factor: 7/10 (dependant also on which games you play!)
Fun Factor: 7/10

Perfect night out for two no matter what your mood, great for a rainy afternoon and gives you a chance to chat as well as a nice distraction to focus on if you need it.

This was an encore G games night because we had to put off H for a week or so… planning something fun but it didn’t fall into place, timing-wise. Stay tuned though!

We picked a gorgeous sunny day (Hello to summer down here in Australia!) and headed to the local pool where we spent a lazy morning getting some sun, splashing in the water, reading, chatting and eating. We took our underwater camera and snapped some fun shots in the pool…. What could possibly be bad about that?

I don’t have much else to say about it, apart from mentioning that if we can have a great time on the ‘Worst Dates Ever’, there’s nothing stopping anyone else from having an absolute ball on the best of the best dates available on our website!

Mind you… we still have ‘Borrow a Kid’ and ‘Nudist Beach’ to go…. I could be eating my words very soon!

Disclaimer: Swimming at the Y fell into the bottom 5 after we had to remove going for a jog as Den has sustained a pretty serious leg injury that is preventing him from jogging. THAT said, Den and I used to meet for weekly jogs back in the day before we even got together. We would get up early and jog 5km around our local lake together. Tough work (especially if you’re a bit of a nuffy when it comes to jogging like I am), but there is still fun to be had. We made it a competition – Who could get the hottest body by Summertime. Gives you something to work towards. Plus, an excuse to strip down at the end and “assess” each other’s physiques!

Dominique Portet's Famous Rose

The Local Produce Plate at Dominique Portet

The Pentanque Pitch

Gorgeous Winery!

…all for under $30! Great date night in Melbourne’s Yarra Valley… go find your own local winery reigon and seek out some cellar door specials! Enjoy!

Rate the Date

Romance Factor: 5/5 – Gorgeous wine region drive, beautiful views, great food and great wine
Cheese Factor: 1/5
Fun Factor: 3/5

Overall: Wonderful date for a lazy Sunday. Opportunity for great conversation and connection. Just lovely.

And the tea menu was great! Beautifying teas, calming teas, happy teas, mental clarity teas… I could have stayed all day and had pot after pot!

Anyway, Yum Cha is a great date for a lazy Sunday. I’ve compiled a list of a few more for you here:

1. Breakfast Date Idea
Go out for breakfast, and pick somewhere fancy. You’ll still get away with it for about the $30 mark even if it is a well known restaurant!

2. Movie Marathon Date Idea
Have a movie marathon at home together – pick up some snacks, snuggle on the couch under a blanket and enjoy a themed movie afternoon. Select your DVDs according to actress or actor, or pick ones with a certain word in the title, that are set in a certain country (and theme your snacks to match!) or your childhood favourites!

3. Window Shopping Date Idea
Take your date shopping, let them spend the $30 on something for themselves! Take them somewhere new where you can explore little boutiques or handmade items you haven’t seen before and pick them up a little gift.

4. Jigsaw Puzzle Date Idea
Buy or borrow one of those huge 1000-piece jigsaws and spend the afternoon putting it together over a couple of mugs of hot chocolate, and some good conversation.

5. Garage Sale Date Idea
Trawl around your neighborhood’s garage sales with a couple of takeaway coffees and see what you can find. One person’s trash…

Bake Gingerbread Men together

6. Baking Date Idea
Pick up some ingredients for a yummy cake or squishy cookies or gingerbread people and get baking together in the kitchen with the music turned up loud before indulging in afternoon tea together once it’s cooked.

7. Floor Picnic Date Idea
Have a picnic in your very own house! Your choice of al fresco or lounge room floor, spread out a rug and lots of yummy cheeses and snacks.

8. Swimming Pool Date Idea
If it’s beautiful weather, go and laze in the sunshine at your local swimming pool. Take towels, snacks, reading material and enjoy an afternoon of nothing much together!

9. Yoga Class Date Idea
Take a yoga class together, or pop an instructional DVD on in the lounge and do your sun salutations in the comfort of your own home! Then drink fresh juice and enjoy the invigorated feeling!

10. The Memory Lane Date Idea
Pull out all your old photo albums and mementos and walk each other down memory lane. Tell stories from your childhood days, marvel over how young and spunky your parents used to look and get to know each other a little better. You may learn something new about your partner!

For Fun Date Ideas that can be done on days other than Sunday – Check out $30 Date Night.