First Date Ideas For Over 80s

First date on the calendar? How exciting. At our age the best outings are unhurried, close to a comfy seat and never far from a cuppa and a loo. Here are six ideas that suit an 80 year old pace, whether you live in Hobart or Cairns.

1. A Club Lunch

Lunch beats dinner every time. It is quieter, the light is better and nobody has to drive home in the dark. Your local RSL, bowls club or a cafe you both know well makes an easy choice, with parking close by and staff who will happily find you a table away from the pokies. Take your time over dessert, there is no rush.

2. A Gentle Stroll

A short, flat walk makes conversation easier, because you are side by side rather than face to face. A beachfront path, a riverside boardwalk or a park with plenty of benches is perfect. Go early before the heat sets in, wear a good hat and take water. If the chat stalls, the magpies and kookaburras are never short of something to say.

3. A Bit Of Local History

Most towns have a historical society museum, a heritage homestead or an old gaol that locals never quite get round to visiting. They are usually quiet, have seating and are full of conversation starters. Bring your Seniors Card, as many places offer a discount.

4. The Botanic Gardens

Every capital city has beautiful botanic gardens, and many regional towns do too. Paths are mostly level, there are benches everywhere and a cafe is never far away. Some gardens run a little shuttle or a guided buggy tour, which is worth asking about if your legs are not what they were.

5. A Gallery Or Museum

Galleries and museums are cool in summer, warm in winter and usually have lifts and seating. Many of the state galleries are free to wander. A favourite painting or an old photo of your home town can spark stories that last all afternoon.

6. Devonshire Tea

Scones, jam, cream and a pot of tea for two: a Devonshire tea is hard to beat. Tea rooms in the Blue Mountains, the Dandenongs and the Adelaide Hills have built a reputation on it, but any good cafe will do. You may need to agree to disagree on whether the jam or the cream goes on first.

Wherever you go, meet somewhere public, let a friend or family member know your plans, and arrange your own way there and home again. Most of all, enjoy each other's company.