The best conferences don’t just happen – they happen in a setting. At ES Concierge, we have hand picked regional stays where the venue works as hard as the agenda. From Bendooley Estate’s vineyard charm, The Lane Retreat’s quiet Hunter Valley privacy, Osborne House with its heritage grandeur and Ardour Lilianfels perched above the Blue Mountains escarpment.
Each one turns downtime into part of the event. Read on for what sets them apart.
Bendooley Estate, located in the Southern Highlands between Sydney and Canberra, offers a refined setting for conferences, corporate retreats, and business offsites.
The Shed accommodates up to 60 guests, featuring flexible layouts, presentation technology, and high speed Wi-Fi, with Half and Full Day delegate packages ideal for meetings and workshops.
The Stables, with its own private entrance, hosts up to 200 guests for larger conferences and corporate events, offering flexible setups and in house AV.
Teams of up to 22 can stay on site in beautifully appointed cottages and suites, with access to a pool, tennis court, BBQ areas, billiard room, private bar, restaurant, and cellar door.
Seasonal, locally sourced menus are tailored to every event, from working lunches to fine dining and garden BBQs.
Curated experiences include yoga by the lake, wine tastings, tennis, and BBQs, plus offsite options like horse riding, golf, and bushwalking, creating a productive, memorable retreat.
Osborn House, located in Bundanoon in the Southern Highlands, offers a refined and private setting for corporate retreats and small executive gatherings. Less than two hours from Sydney and Canberra, the heritage listed 1892 property sits on a secluded knoll bordering Morton National park, offering teams a true escape from the everyday.
With just 27 suites and forest lodges, Osborn House lends itself to exclusive, whole property buyouts, ideal for boards, leadership teams and small corporate groups seeking privacy and focus away from the office.
The property offers conferencing facilities alongside its accommodation, supported by free high speed Wi-Fi throughout, making it suited to strategy sessions, offsites and executive meetings.
Beyond the boardroom, teams can recharge across two restaurants, George’s and Fire Kitchen, a 25m heated pool, sauna, steam room, gym, day spa and tennis court, all set within landscaped gardens.
Surrounding activities such as bushwalking, horse riding and truffle hunting, along with nearby wineries, add further options for team building and downtime during a retreat.
The Lane Retreat, in Pokolbin in the Hunter Valley, is just two hours from Sydney and one hour from Newcastle Airport, offering an ideal setting for corporate retreats, meetings and conferences amid Australia’s original wine country.
The property features 60 premium studio retreats with king or twin beds, private outdoor decks, kitchenettes and views over the Broken Back Range or Bimbadgen vineyards, with daily gourmet breakfast included.
Event spaces are versatile and can be combined or customised, including Palmers Lane, a flexible indoor venue with outdoor gazebo and lawn area, The Wine Shed at Emma’s Cottage, offering a rustic, wine inspired setting for workshops and celebrations, and the Private Meeting Room at Bimbadgen Estate, an intimate, professionally equipped space suited to board meetings and focused sessions.
Dining options include the award winning Esca Bimbadgen restaurant, the casual Bimbadgen Pizzeria, two cellar doors, and private dining rooms, all showcasing local Hunter Valley produce and wine.
Additional facilities include an outdoor pool, onsite shuttle service, complimentary parking and an onsite pantry.
Curated experiences include winery tours, wine blending, yoga and meditation, team building, massages, and golf days, giving teams the option to build a full retreat program around their event.
Lilianfels Blue Mountains Resort & Spa, in Katoomba, is just 90 minutes from Sydney and sits in the heart of the World Heritage listed Blue Mountains, moments from Echo Point and the Three Sisters.
The resort offers four modern meeting rooms, including a pillarless function room called Banksia for up to 120 guests theatre style, plus breakout rooms for smaller meetings and board retreats. Each space features state of the art AV, including wide format projection screens, ceiling mounted projectors, and premium sound systems, with sweeping views of the Jamison Valley.
Outdoor events can be held in the courtyard, Oak Lawn, or Pine Forest, set against escarpment views and bushland surrounds.
Delegates can enjoy Day Delegate Packages with full catering, alongside resort facilities including indoor and outdoor pools, a day spa, tennis court, and billiard room. Dining options include the hatted Darley’s restaurant and Miss Lilian.
A dedicated events team and onsite team building options, drawing on the surrounding national park, round out the offering for conferences, offsites, and corporate retreats.
Escape to Jackalope, a luxury winery hotel on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula. Vineyard-view rooms, infinity pool, spa, hatted dining and an unforgettable experience.
With a striking property that houses every stay, work and dining need, Jackalope is your destination to inject a new mindset into your team. Whether it’s for a day conference, a corporate retreat or exclusive property takeover, Jackalope is your first choice.
The on-property event spaces can be configured to suit any meeting need, with the ability to combine indoor and outdoor spaces that overlook the vineyard and hotel grounds. These spaces are fitted with custom-made, contemporary furniture alongside the AV equipment, Wi-Fi capabilities and smart interactive displays.
Design your culinary journey with all dishes made by awarded chefs from Doot Doot Doot. From canapes to full scale multi-course dining, upgrade your experience with our signature add-ons, including oysters, private wine tasting, champagne tower and more.
When the day’s event comes to an end, find solace in the world-class accommodation made to re-energise. The property features 45 luxury guests rooms and suites.
Perched above the Piccadilly Valley in the Adelaide Hills, Sequoia Lodge offers an exclusive setting for corporate retreats, executive offsites and incentive escapes. Home to just 14 luxury suites, the adults-only lodge provides an intimate environment where teams can step away from the office to reconnect, collaborate and reset in complete privacy.
Designed with wellbeing and personalised service at its core, Sequoia Lodge pairs contemporary luxury with one of South Australia’s most picturesque landscapes. Guests have access to a range of curated experiences, from guided nature walks and wellness activities to wine tastings and bespoke local adventures. The lodge also offers exclusive access to the premium facilities at neighbouring Mount Lofty Estate, including its renowned dining experiences at Hardy’s Verandah Restaurant, day spa and expansive grounds.
Less than 30 minutes from Adelaide’s CBD, Sequoia Lodge strikes the perfect balance between accessibility and seclusion. Whether hosting leadership strategy sessions, rewarding top performers or bringing teams together for a memorable retreat, it offers a sophisticated destination where productivity and relaxation go hand in hand.
Montara Safari Lodge is Australia’s only luxury safari-style lodge, offering a conference and retreat experience unlike anywhere else in the country. Located just over an hour from Melbourne, the property features beautifully appointed safari-inspired suites and spacious lodge accommodation, blending contemporary comfort with panoramic views across the wildlife reserve.
Dining is centred around the Lodge Restaurant and Kutjera, showcasing seasonal local produce in a refined yet relaxed setting, while Pool Bar provides the perfect space for evening drinks, networking and informal gatherings. Conference groups can also enjoy tailored catering, private dining experiences and outdoor dining options.
Designed with corporate groups in mind, Montara offers purpose-built meeting and conference spaces equipped with modern AV technology, flexible room configurations and plenty of natural light. Whether hosting a board meeting, leadership retreat or multi-day conference, the venue provides a productive environment balanced by its peaceful natural surroundings.
Beyond the meeting room, Montara offers a range of memorable team experiences, including guided safari tours through the open-range reserve, up-close wildlife encounters, behind-the-scenes keeper experiences, walking trails and opportunities to unwind around the property. Combining premium accommodation, exceptional dining and immersive activities, Montara Safari Lodge is an ideal destination for executive retreats, leadership off-sites and incentive groups looking for something truly different.
