Escape from the city and spend quality time with your significant other with a quiet day at the Lake Parramatta Reserve. Explore the reserve on the lake, either on a kayak, pedal boat or row boat, while you soak in nature’s splendour. Feeling peckish? Check out the cafe here for some light snacks and drinks after your boating experience. 

Get directions to Lake Parramatta Reserve

Nestled in the Sydney Olympic Park is the Badu Mangroves—a perfect escapade for nature lovers. Lose yourself in this natural wildlife habitat, where you are likely to catch a glimpse of birds, bats, fish and other local fauna as you stroll along the boardwalk. If you’re are really lucky, you could even witness the migration of birds such as the sharp-tailed sandpiper, which travels all the way from Siberia to Australia when its wetland freezes. Surrounding the mangroves are woodland and parkland, offering a tranquil environment to chill with your other half.

Get directions to the Badu Mangroves

Embark the RiverCat and begin your journey up the Parramatta river in the company of your significant other. A journey up the Parramatta River is quite different to any other ferry ride in Sydney.

The ferry ride gives you a unique view of the more laidback side of the city—it begins from the mangroves in Parramatta and ends with a dramatic view of the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Take the ferry at dusk to catch a magical golden sheen of the city’s reflection on the river.

Get directions to the Transdev Sydney Ferries

Parramatta Farmers' Market

There is something about farmer’s markets that delights; the combination of fresh, local produce, handmade crafts, and freshly baked pastries provide a great way to spend a morning with your loved one. A hidden gem in Parramatta, the Farmers Market at Centenary Square is open only on Wednesday, and offers visitors a wide range of home-made treats and artisanal crafts—from fresh fruits and savoury pies to handmade soaps and local handicrafts. 

Get directions to the Farmers’ Market

Bring your romance up a few notches with an afternoon tea at the elegant Gatehouse Tea Rooms. Housed in the fresh outdoors of the Parramatta Park, the tearoom’s heritage structure is a significant part of Parramatta’s colonial history and was granted World Heritage Listing by UNESCO in 2007. With most of the seating outdoors among the eucalyptus trees, this nostalgic hangout is the perfect place to unwind and have a heartfelt tête-à-tête with your beloved. 

Get directions to the Gatehouse Tea Rooms

What could be more romantic than strolling through rows of Wisteria trees? A hidden gem in Parramatta, the Wistaria Gardens are a must-visit natural attraction in Spring. Soak up the sun while you picnic in the sprawling gardens and appreciate how the Wisteria blooms. If you are really lucky, you may even catch Cherry Blossoms in bloom during Spring. 

Get directions to Wisteria Gardens

Riverside Theatres

Restaurant 317

Wind down your romantic getaway with an evening of culture at the Riverside Theatres. From art, dance, music to theatre, pick a performance that both of you enjoy and make it a night to remember—first with dinner and cocktails at the nearby Restaurant 317, an Italian restaurant serving authentic Italian cuisine as well as local Australian fare.  

Get directions to Riverside Theatres

Get directions to Restaurant 317