Top 5 Queenstown venues with a difference for your next corporate event or team retreat
If you’re looking for a venue to make your 2023 corporate event the best yet, you’re in the right place! Whether you’re an event planner, business owner or office manager, we’ve compiled five of the finest locations in Queenstown to host a function like no other. With spectacular views, state-of-the-art facilities and a few special touches thrown in, these are much more than your standard restaurant or conference room.
iFLY Queenstown
Take your event to new heights and celebrate your workplace ‘high-flyers’ with iFLY Queenstown! Centrally located on Brecon St, iFLY is well kitted-out to host groups of all sizes. From brief meetings in the boardroom through to exclusives hire of the entire complex, it’s a venue that inspires blue-sky thinking and conquering new frontiers.
Get down to business in the conference rooms before getting up in the air with freefall flights in the giant wind tunnel. It’s an ideal spot for a welcome function, incentive or team-bonding experience – you might even get the chance to ‘toss the boss’ into the tunnel! Add in catering and entertainment, and it’s an event everyone will be talking about long after you’ve returned to the office.
Kawarau Bungy Centre
Queenstown is the home of adventure – and the bungy jump has certainly catapulted our reputation as an innovative, out-of-the box thinking nation. Host your event where it all began, at AJ Hackett’s Kawarau Bungy Centre, for a truly inspiring brainstorming session. Once the mahi is done, it’s time for a few (or all!) of the team to take the ultimate leap of faith with a 43m-high bungy or a 130m-long Zipride – who will take out the award for the best style?
Perfect for evening gatherings like celebratory parties and gala dinners; the 200-capacity centre and two viewing decks provide the ultimate wow factor. Consider adding on a Corporate Wellbeing experience – featuring workshops on teamwork, resilience, and self-belief; or how to identify, pause and reset stress through breathing and mindset exercises – important topics as workplaces navigate uncertain times ahead.
TSS Earnslaw and Walter Peak
The vintage steamship TSS Earnslaw is a quintessential Queenstown icon. Built in 1912 and sailing across Lake Wakatipu daily, corporate events of all sizes are well-catered for, from casual breakfasts through to classy cocktail evenings (and everything in between). Exclusive charters are available as well.
Cruise over to Walter Peak for a function surrounded by alpine scenery, heritage charm, rural character, and friendly hospitality. Unwind with colleagues in the ballroom, terrace, or library, before retreating to the Colonel’s Homestead Restaurant – serving up gourmet BBQ cuisine that celebrates the flavours of the Otago high country.
Skyline Gondola
With panoramic views across Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu and the surrounding mountains, the beauty of Skyline’s backdrop makes for an unforgettable business event. A picturesque gondola ride up the hill sets the scene for a magnificent conference or cocktail night, with four flexible and functional spaces available for groups. Add on thrilling luge rides for some team building, before feasting on their renowned menus. From the extravagant and elegant, to a simple and low-key session – it’s all on offer here.
Gibbston Valley Winery
Core to the Central Otago wine region lies Gibbston Valley, oozing with ambience, tranquillity, and charm. Venues include the oak barrel-lined Wine Cave (well-suited for elegant gala dinners), a warm and rustic Winery Restaurant, or the sunny outdoor courtyard area with views of the Kawarau River.
Ideal for executive retreats, incentives, or corporate dinners, between 10-80 delegates can be hosted on site. Mix and mingle among the vines before settling down for a signature culinary experience where organic and sustainable produce is matched with premium wines that celebrate the local area.
Add on rural experiences like bike tours and helicopter rides, or embark on a winery tour or pampering package to soak up the serenity and truly switch off from the daily grind.
