First dates have always been a balancing act. How early is too early to arrive? Is coffee or dinner better? And how far is too far to travel for a first date?
Back in February, we uncovered the national one‑hour rule – the invisible line when it comes to driving for a first date.1 But fast-forward a couple of months, and Australia’s fuel crisis is forcing many of us to rethink how we move through everyday life – including how far we’ll go for love.
With petrol prices rising and Aussies tightening their driving habits, we went back to the data to see how attitudes and behaviours around driving to a first date have shifted.2 The result? Love hasn’t disappeared – but the bar has moved.
The one‑hour rule is shrinking
As fuel has become more expensive and volatile – Aussies haven’t taken long to adjust. The data reveals a clear shift: more than half (53%) now say that their cap on travelling for a first date is 30 minutes or less. Prior to the fuel crisis in February 2026, only 1 in 3 (35%) held this rule.
While “one hour max” was previously the top driving distance at 41% (now only 36%), that distance has been replaced by shorter, more local trips. Less people now say they’d be willing to drive an hour or more, and the drop‑off becomes greater the longer the distance to travel.
This change reflects broader driving behaviours across the country amid the fuel crisis. With 49% of Australians reporting they’re driving less overall and 26% actively combining trips or cutting unnecessary travel3, dating is no exception. Love might be priceless – but fuel isn’t.
Who’s feeling the fuel the most – men or women?
Interestingly, the biggest change isn’t between genders – it’s within how their preferences have evolved.
In February, men were notably more willing to travel further on average, with 16% saying they would drive two hours or more for a first date compared to just 5% of women. By April, that willingness dropped sharply for both groups, down to 4% among men and 2% among women.
At the same time, both have shifted toward shorter trips. Men saying they would cap a first-date drive at 30 minutes or less rose from 25% to 42%, while women increased from 44% to 63%. Women are also less likely to drive 1 hour max, with only 30% now willing compared to 42% in February.
So, while men remain somewhat more willing to travel further, both genders have tightened their limits, suggesting that rising fuel pressures have compressed, rather than reversed, differences in dating travel preferences.
Clearly the fuel crisis hasn’t made dating less romantic – just more realistic.
Generations feel it differently
While every age group has adjusted their first date expectations due to the fuel crisis, some are feeling the squeeze more than others.
Gen Z’s attitudes have shifted the least, appearing less rattled by fuel costs when it comes to dating – likely due to being more familiar with using public transport or already limited car use.
The biggest shift towards shorter travel distances is seen across Millennials and Gen X, likely reflecting the combination of higher household expenses, financial pressure, and day‑to‑day driving responsibilities. When fuel costs are already stretching the budget, those extra kilometres for a first date starts to feel a lot bigger as these age groups opt for shorter distances.
Millennials:
- 30 mins or less – now 48% in April 2026 compared to 28% in February 2026
- 1 hour max – now 39% compared to 43%
- 1-2 hours – now 9% compared to 17%
- 2+ hours – now 4% compared to 12%
Gen X:
- 30 mins or less – now 59% in April 2026 compared to 37% in February 2026
- 1 hour max – now 32% compared to 42%
- 1-2 hours – now 6% compared to 11%
- 2+ hours – now 3% compared to 10%
So, has chivalry been impacted?
Back in February, many Aussies felt comfortable mentioning how far they’d travelled to meet a date (55%) – a signal of interest or slight-bragging...
However, the latest findings show people are slightly less comfortable disclosing the effort they made to attend a first date – with only 46% now feeling comfortable.
This shift suggests dating etiquette is changing as financial pressures fluctuate. When everyone knows fuel is expensive, pointing out the effort made to drive may feel less romantic – and more transactional.
Despite some areas of change, some dating norms remain surprisingly steady.
Expectations around being picked up by the person who organised the date and who should cover fuel or parking have barely changed. This shows that rather than becoming more demanding or selfish, Aussies seem to be accommodating in different ways to the fuel crisis by choosing closer locations, meeting in the middle, or keeping things local instead of asking more from their date.
It seems the fuel crisis hasn’t changed or lessened Aussies standards per say, instead it has made them more considerate in the dating world – adjusting how much effort feels reasonable.
The extra mile isn’t so long now
The most telling shift is what Aussies now consider as “impressive” in regard to travelling for a first date.
More people now say that travelling 30 minutes or less is enough to earn appreciation, an evident change from earlier attitudes – now 24% compared to 13%. While many still believe any distance is impressive because it’s the gesture that matters, it’s clear that Aussies now have a clearer idea in mind of what an impressive driving distance is, all things considered.
As Australians rethink every kilometre they drive – for work, family, daily errands or love – there’s a newfound respect for showing up at all.
Love in today’s climate
The global fuel crisis has reshaped the way we drive, plan, and prioritise to conserve costs – and dating proves to be no different. First dates are becoming more local, more considerate, and measured less in kilometres and more in intention.
As Aussies become more fuel-conscious themselves, they also become more considerate that crossing city limits isn’t necessary to make a good impression. Sometimes, love is just a short drive away, and in today’s climate that effort means more than ever.
To read how far Aussies would drive for love before the fuel crisis, visit Distance Might Make the Heart Grow Stronger.
How far would you drive for a first date?
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1 Disclaimer: Data for the First Date study was sourced from a survey conducted by Dynata from 30 January 2026 to 2 February 2026, involving 1,002 individuals aged 18 years old and above, from all states and territories within Australia. Some percentages have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Survey results have not been independently verified by Youi and may not be representative of the general population. Youi makes no representation or warranty of any kind of the accuracy, adequacy, reliability, or completeness of the data and accepts no liability for any loss or damage of any kind suffered as a result of the use of or reliance on the data. Individual experiences may vary.
2 Disclaimer: Data for the First Date 2.0 study was sourced from a survey conducted by Ideally Group Limited from 7 April 2026 to 10 April 2026, involving 1,002 individuals aged 18 years old and above, from all states and territories within Australia. Some percentages have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Survey results have not been independently verified by Youi and may not be representative of the general population. Youi makes no representation or warranty of any kind of the accuracy, adequacy, reliability, or completeness of the data and accepts no liability for any loss or damage of any kind suffered as a result of the use of or reliance on the data. Individual experiences may vary.
3 Disclaimer: Survey results are sourced from a survey conducted by Ideally Group Limited involving 800 individuals from all Australian States and Territories between 12/03/2026 and 13/03/2026. Results have not been independently verified by Youi and may not be representative of the general population. Individual experiences may vary. Data percentages have been rounded. As a result, the sum of the individual numbers may not always add up to 100%. Also, some questions allowed respondents to select multiple answers, with the data reflecting the percentage of respondents who selected each response. Some labels are shortened for readability. Use a laptop or desktop to view the full category and group label.
