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Entertainment
Leave room for out-of-the-box team building activities
Arcade: B. Lucky & Sons
Tips for the ultimate team building day in Melbourne
Managers, team leaders and executive assistants rejoice - we’ve compiled the best team building activities, conference rooms and events spaces in Melbourne to jumpstart your team’s comradery, celebrate wins and take performance to the next level in FY23.
As Melbourne comes back to life and businesses balance working from home versus the office, corporate leaders need to rethink how their team members interact with each other and celebrate wins. Think outside the box this year with events large and small to keep your teams connected and performing at a high level. Here are the best event spaces, conference rooms and teambuilding activities across Melbourne to revive workplace relationships, stimulate creative thought and acknowledge a job well done.
How to organise the ultimate team building day in Melbourne
Book out a memorable location that’s fit for purpose
If your teambuilding day includes a training, planning, brainstorming or workshopping session, you need to book a comfortable, well-equipped and memorable location to get the most out of your team. Depending on your needs, look out for features like data projectors, retractable screens, wireless high-speed Internet access and dedicated events teams.
“Think about what you want to achieve on the day,” advised Emma Kinch, Senior Sales Manager of Clubs & Events at the RACV City Club. “A large Town Hall meeting or gala event such as an EOFY party warrants a big, regal space like the Club Pavilion or L17 Function Room. If you want to thank staff for their hard work over the year and celebrate team achievements on smaller scale, you want something stylish or decadent – try the wood-panelled, chandelier-ceiling Tarrant Room.”
For full-on corporate teambuilding days like FY23 planning, product knowledge training, or extensive brainstorm sessions, choose multi-functional rooms so that you can form break-out groups, rotate teams between activities, or provide a relaxing break area.
“If you’re not sure, leave it to the experts,” advised Kinch. “The RACV City Club at 501 Bourke Street has over a hundred years of experience in hosting team building events.”
The RACV City Club's L17 Function Room features outdoor terraces overlooking Melbourne. Image: Lucas Allen
Keep spirits high with tasty treats
A healthy team lunch, dinner or drinks (that also caters to the growing trend of non-alcoholic drinking) is essential for keeping your staff happy and energised. It also serves as a great way to naturally break up longer planning, reviewing or brainstorming sessions.
“One top dining pick this season is Sojourn: a bold, blue and beautiful new pop-up restaurant on Little Collins Street. Sojourn allows you to watch passers-by while enjoying drinks and dishes from Victoria’s top producers, winemakers, brewers and distillers, with an emphasis on ethical, eco-friendly dining,” Kinch said.
When your work is done for the day, congratulate your team and say thank you with a booking at one of Melbourne’s best cocktail bars. You could even enjoy a tailored wine cellar experience at the City Club: an intimate 20 seat setting with succulent tasting plates paired with wines by an esteemed onsite sommelier.
The Wine Cellar houses many rare wines for your team to experience. Image: Lucas Allen
Leave room for out-of-the-box team building activities
Whether it’s Christmas in July, the EOFY party, or a back-to-the-office catch up, Melbourne’s CBD and surrounds have plenty of great teambuilding activities. These events can also serve as a ‘thanks’ to your team, acknowledging their hard work. After your conference has finished for the day, head out to a fun activity.
“Ending a teambuilding day on a fun note is essential,” said Kinch. “It helps your staff develop new skills, engage in a bit of friendly competition, have a laugh, and hone their teamwork and communication.”
Escape room: Trapt
If you’ve enjoyed a relaxing team day at the Club, shake things up with an escape room. These interactive rooms can demonstrate how well your team works under pressure – all while having fun. Trapt is only a few minutes’ walk from the RACV City Club and includes a speakeasy-style underground bar with signature cocktails themed to their rooms. If you have a larger team, book a ‘versus’ room at Trapt so that your team can split in two and race each other to escape. Want a leg up? Check out our guide on beating Melbourne’s escape rooms in minimal time.
Snooker masterclass: Billiards Room
The RACV City Club’s Billiards Room is host to eight masterfully crafted and superbly maintained cue sports tables. Book in a snooker or billiards masterclass with resident professional Robby Foldvari, a Triple World Champion, to seriously up your team’s game.
Robbie Foldvari is RACV City Club Billiards Room's resident expert. Image: RACV
Mini golf: Holey Moley
Hidden away on a nearby Melbourne laneway, Holey Moley has 27 mini golf holes, delicious cocktails and bar snacks, and even some karaoke rooms. It’s like a crossover between a nightclub and a traditional mini golf course, with lots of blacklights, fun music and funny themed holes (think Forrest Gump, The Grudge or Pacman).
Bowling: Strike
Roll over to Strike at Melbourne Central for a fun game of ten-pin bowling. For an extra treat, add on a round of laser tag or augmented darts: traditional darts with interactive games projected directly onto the dartboard. You can even book packages that provide bar drinks and tasty finger food like stone-baked pizzas or cheese steak sliders.
Private cinema: Theatrette
Perfect for movie buffs, the Theatrette is a hidden gem inside the RACV City Club that offers luxury cinema packages with 31 lounge seats. You can access movie hire, beverages, eight canapés, a popcorn machine, and an assortment of Choc Tops all in one handy corporate package.
Catching a movie in a theatrette is a fun way to end a teambuilding day. Image: Lucas Allen
Arcade: B. Lucky & Sons
No need to bust out your pockets of change at B. Lucky & Sons: this classic arcade bar in Melbourne Central uses game cards that you can top up and keep for next time. Enjoy retro and modern arcade games, ticket prizes and a cocktail bar. You can even book out reserved areas, food packages and more for work parties.
Cruise on the Yarra: Go Boat
If the weather’s looking sunny, hire some electric picnic boats and sail the Yarra River. Cruise towards Docklands or Herring Island, hire an esky and Bluetooth speaker, and set up a grazing board. With no boating license required, it’s just the thing after a stressful week or a busy year.
The very best piece of workplace event planning is to book early. Event spaces fill up quickly, especially around the middle and end of the year. “Give us a call to start planning,” said Kinch. “It takes a lot of the back-and-forth out of trying to organise an event. We’re experienced event designers, and we love to see our clients having fun.”
