2012 Valentine's Day in the West Coast
Published on 08 February 2012
Sometimes the thought of Valentine’s Day can be a bit stressful, trying to think of something special to do. And sometimes with pressure from the media to shower your partner with cheesy and disposable gifts, it’s difficult not to shrug it off as some consumer driven farce.
On the other hand, it’s always a good idea to show someone (even a best friend) that you care about them, and Valentine’s Day can inspire one of those days. Even the traditional
flowers can be tailored to suit favourite colour or scent and be sure to give your special someone that warm and fuzzy feeling.
If you're struggling to think of unique ideas for this Valentines Day, here are some tips for you, and whether you're a romantic or not you're sure to find a tip that will suit you!
Four Tips for the Romantic
- Instead of the usual flowers, get a small plant from a garden centre.
- Get married. You won’t be the only one though: According to Statistics NZ, in 2010, out of approximately 20,000 marriages, 600 marriages occurred on the 20th of February (the Saturday of Valentine’s week), and traditionally, Valentine’s Day itself has mores marriages than other days of the year.
- Try a new restaurant.
- For the extravagant, why not take a trip to your local jeweller.
For the non-romantic, doing something fun or touristy can be a great way to celebrate Valentines Day.
Four fun Valentines Day activites for the non-romantic,
Not all of the following events are exactly for the 14th of February, but you might find that they offer some time together that will bring you closer to your favourite friend or partner, and give you something to celebrate on the 14th.
- A day at the beach
- Book tickets to see a play at your local theatre or playhouse.
- For the sporty types, do a race together. The
Buller marathon is coming up on the 11th February, and you can even choose to walk. Otherwise there is a mountain bike ride planned for the 25th of
February. You could spend actual valentines day training together, or if you do the maranthon, recooperating (maybe get a remedial massage voucher for your partner). - If you're not so much into being sporty but still love being in the great outdoors, why not try a relaxing paddle boat cruise on the Mahinupua waterways - might be just the
thing for Valentines Day.
Four ideas for a weekend getaway
There’s nothing like that holiday feeling to spark (or respark) a romantic mood. And the West Coast is the perfect setting for romance, with glaciers, coastlines, mountains and more.
- Visit the Glacier hot pools or do a scenic flight over one of the glaciers.
- Stay at a bed and breakfast so that you can both sleep in and relax, while someone else flips the pancakes.
- Visit some of the west coast’s most beautiful places, from coast to caves to national parks. Check out www.doc.govt.nz for more info.
Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to belong to Hallmark. Instead of feeling pressured to buy things that you think are silly, consider what other options there are to show someone how much you care, after all Valentines Day is a great excuse to spoil someone you love.
The West Coast is blessed with beautiful scenery and lots of fun activities, so this Valentines Day, make the most of what the West Coast has to offer you!
Jill
