The best Valentine’s Day events in Sydney

There are advantages to heading to an open-air cinema – chief among them, you have more room to spread out comfortably on a blanket, and more freedom to chat (or canoodle, or talk smack about Hollywood’s problematic depictions of romance) than the shushing you may encounter at a traditional indoor picture house. Sydney has some really beautiful outdoor cinema locations, and they’re screening Valentine’s-appropriate movies on February 14. 

Valentine's Day is as good an excuse as any to book a staycation – we've rounded up the best hotels in the city.

Let us set the scene. From the the sky, you spot a pod of 20 dolphins frolicking around Barrenjoey Lighthouse. Your pilot Tim tilts the plane so you can get the best photos possible as you cruise back to the inner harbour at 1,000 feet. And as you think it couldn’t get better, you circle the fortress island of Fort Denison for the finale: Sydney Opera House, the Harbour Bridge and the Botanic Gardens. While it all sounds romantic, these small seaplanes are large enough to host your friendship group for the ultimate empowered-singles outing.

What could be more romantic than a hamper packed for two coupled with sweeping harbour views? Where else could you organise a long, lazy lunch for a group of friends? Or an impromptu dinner date, al fresco? We've rounded up Sydney's top picnic spots – and don't worry, we've done the research on whether there’s parking, toilets and barbecues available. Want the hamper packed for you? These are Sydney's best.

We’ve rounded up some of the best tiny house escapes close enough to Sydney to book for a weekend. Low on funds? This round-up of camping sites in and around the city should help – who needs walls in summertime, anyway?

While the most important part of a romantic date night is, of course, the company you keep, a candlelit dinner and a cosy spot to play footsies certainly add a little something to the vibe of the night. The great news is, Sydney is absolutely awash with intimate eateries and sexy cocktail bars to set the mood just right.

There's nothing more magical than golden hour on the banks of Sydney Harbour. Watch the sun set on the day of love at one of these heavenly harbour beaches.

Want to get away from it all? If you suspect that setting up your dusty old tent might ruin the romance, we've got you: the good people at these glamping sites do the hard work for you. Don't have time to get out of the city? We'd suggest catching a ferry over to Cockatoo Island and camping here for the night. Tents (complete with beds) are set up before you arrive – order a BBQ and breakfast pack when you book, pack a bottle of wine and you're set. 

Nobody ever said first dates are easy. Our advice? Pick a place where vibe is king and ace cocktails, first-rate snacks and excellent service are all talking points, too. 

What's more romantic that staring into eachother's eyes? Staring at the stars together, probably. Grab your cutie and head out on a totally free trip to one of Sydney's best stargazing spots this Valentine's Day. 

Kissing in the ocean is so much more acceptable when there aren't families around. Go for a Val's Day dip at one of these secret swimming spots hidden around the city.

For the young folk, the poor folk and the folk who just like to run free, love in this economy can be tricky. To all you lovers out there whose weekly budget doesn't stretch to chartering a seaplane, we hear you. That’s why we have put together a list of the coolest cheap and totally free dates available to lovers in Sydney. Each of these options is guaranteed to set you back either nothing or next to nothing. So grab your current cutie, leave your hundred-dolla bills at home and hit the road. Free love, folks, is where it's at. 

Bathhouses are having a moment in the Harbour City, and while they can make a sexy (sweaty) date spot, they're are few better ways to switch off on your own if Valentine's Day is a triggering occasion. Sofitel Darling Harbour's "Balance and Brighten" package (a full body massage and a dreamy facial) is the perfect all-in-one self-care treat, and an angel-enhanced treatment from Venustus will make you feel like you're levitating.