Coral Chum

Let's face it, love in this economy can be tricky. Generally, living in Sydney means that (unless you’re among the city's one per cent), taking your squeeze out on the town can lead you to consider auctioning off a kidney to cover the costs. To all you lovers out there whose weekly budget doesn't stretch to chartering a seaplane (or getting tipsy at one of the city's sexy underground bars), we hear you. That’s why we've put together an ultimate list of the best cheap and free dates available to boot-strapped lovers in the Emerald City – a list we compiled with love and care, testing out each option with romance in mind. Each of these options is guaranteed to set you back either nothing or next to nothing – save the cash and stock up on memories. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, travel inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox.These are the best camping sites near Sydney for a low-cost romantic escape, and these are our readers' top tips for saving money in the Harbour City. 

We hate to say it, but TLC were wrong. Turns out you should go chasing waterfalls, especially in Sydney and New South Wales. Some are in national parks, you can swim in some, and some secret ones will take you a bit of a walk to find.  Load up the picnic basket and take a road trip to find these cascading falls near, in and around Sydney. You’ll find plunge pools you can swim in, waterfalls you can walk over and mountain walks so awe-inspiring they'll make you feel small. Feel like making a weekend of it? Here are the best weekend getaway spots near Sydney. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, travel inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox.

TLC were wrong. Turns out you should go chasing waterfalls in Sydney and NSW. Load up the picnic basket and take a road trip to find these cascading falls around Sydney. You’ll find plunge pools you can swim in, waterfalls you can walk over and mountain walks so awe-inspiring it’ll make you feel small once again. Fancy more than a ham sandwich for lunch? Order a spread from one of these picnic connoisseurs. 

Dave’s Brewery Tours are a great way to find out about Sydney’s craft beer scene while exploring parts of Sydney you may not be familiar with and, of course, getting to drink tasty beers. At the Northern Exposure tour of Northern Beaches breweries you’ll be greeted by knowledgeable guides Tom and Jamie, who will take you to three Australian breweries. Nomad is home of the Freshie Salt and Pepper Gose and the Cruisin’ Pale Ale, both of which are perfect for a hot summer day. Mona Vale’s Modus Operandi is where you learn about the history behind the name of Former Tenant Red IPA. Then there’s 4 Pines, a giant among craft breweries whose range of beers is as impressive as their microbrewery set-up. The Northern Exposure tour is lengthy but includes burgers and tastings.

Take a walk off the beaten path, away from the big beaches at Manly, and you may find yourself in a tucked-away cove that has a beach and its own waterfall. This is Collins Flat Beach – the closest waterfall to Sydney harbour and a nice little getaway from the city. It’s more of a dribble than a gushing waterfall on our visit, but the best time to go is after heavy rainfall in autumn. There are no picnic facilities, however, it’s a perfectly secluded spot for lunch at the beach or for a romantic walk away from the crowds. It’s not large enough to create a swimming pool, but the waterfall is easy to reach so you can get your feet wet if you want to. You can’t bring dogs though, as this hideaway is a habitat for fairy penguins. So leave your little buddy at home for the afternoon.