Incentive itineraries which venture into the beauty of the Australian landscape
Once your incentive delegates have soaked up a little of Australia’s dynamic capital cities, switch things up by taking a small group to a luxury lodge amongst the vines, in the outback or overlooking Australia’s vast nature reserves.
The Louise
The Louise, Barossa Valley, South Australia © John Montesi
The Barossa Valley in South Australia is known around the world for the wine the region produces, including Penfolds and Seppeltsfield. After a few days in Adelaide – think yoga on the roof of Adelaide Oval, going behind the scenes of the Adelaide Central Markets and exclusive dining experiences amongst the greenery of Adelaide Botanic Garden – take your delegates to The Louise, a stylish hilltop retreat perfectly positioned for delegates to take in all that the Barossa Valley has to offer. The Louise features 15 well-appointed suites including spa bathtubs and rainforest showers, a complimentary mini bar, and a private terrace with a view of the region’s vineyards. The whole complex can be exclusively booked out for an incentive group.
“We love to customise the very best Barossa experience to meet the exact needs of our guests,” says Emma Welling, Director of Sales and Marketing for The Louise.
“That can mean anything from beautiful welcome gifts to unforgettable private dinners and everything in between.”
Appellation at The Louise, Barossa Valley, South Australia © John Montesi
The Louise prides itself on being a luxury culinary retreat and there are two restaurants on-site — at the award-winning Appellation restaurant, South Australia’s quality produce is given the fine dining treatment and the accompanying wine list has more than 400 bottles to choose from, while the Three75 bar + kitchen serves up casual, comforting fare.
Naturally, many of the unique experiences that The Louise offers revolves around food and wine.
Having two dining venues on-site means that we can be extremely creative. The Barossa is also naturally collegiate in nature so collaborative meals with other local chefs or farmers is not unusual for us.
The team can also arrange a gourmet picnic breakfast with kangaroos at the Kaiserstuhl Conservation Park located nearby, or a tour and gin tasting masterclass at the neighbouring gin distillery, Seppeltsfield Road Distillers.
“Another wonderful interactive experience is the natural perfume making class at local skincare company Vasse Virgin. Located in the restored vinegar house on the historical Seppeltsfield Wines property, this experience is a true sensory indulgence that sparks memory and allows for guests to take their creations home and continue to remember their fantastic Barossa experience,” says Welling.
El Questro
El Questro Homestead, Chamberlain River, Kununurra, Western Australia © Tourism Western Australia
Have an event on the pitch of Optus Stadium in Perth, dinner at acclaimed rooftop restaurant Wildflower and explore Perth’s cityscape with an Indigenous guide before taking your group north into Western Australia’s ruggedly beautiful wilderness.
El Questro in the Kimberley, one of the oldest wilderness regions in the world, allows incentive delegates to experience the rugged beauty of outback Western Australia while staying in a luxury oasis. There are three accommodation venues located in different areas within the property’s 700,000 acres (284,000 hectares) , one of which is the El Questro Homestead that offers a five-star experience from its location on a cliff overlooking the Chamberlain River.
Known for its stunning views, world-class service, gourmet meals and outdoor bathtubs, the El Questro Homestead caters to small groups wanting that exclusive escape away from the crowds and the troubles of the outside world.
El Questro Homestead, El Questro Wilderness Park, Western Australia © Timothy Burgess
The team can put together an itinerary to showcase the breath-taking wilderness of Kimberley region, including a cruise along Chamberlain River, a helicopter ride over the property, exclusive use of the Zebedee Thermal Springs, sunset drinks with incredible views and guided walking tours at some of the gorges in the area.
This may sound strange, but my favourite is drinks and canapés on the Emma Gorge Resort airstrip. I love seeing the Cockburn Range constantly change colour as you’re looking down the Gibb River Road, watching the sun set.
If you are staying at the Homestead, cliffside dining is a spectacular experience. Watching the fish, turtles and sometimes crocodiles swim in the Chamberlain Gorge below while enjoying the high-end service, food and wine is a real treat.
Saffire Freycinet
Freycinet Marine Oyster Farm at Saffire Freycinet, Coles Bay, Tasmania © Tourism Australia
After sampling the renowned local distillery scene and taking in the thought-provoking art at the unconventional Museum of Old and New Art, showcase Tasmania’s incredible landscapes by taking your delegates to Saffire Freycinet, located on the doorstep of the Freycinet National Park, an area famous for its mountain range, beautiful beaches and bays and varied birdlife. Known for its stunning architectural design inspired by the surrounding sea, Saffire Freycinet has 20 suites that all have views of Great Oyster Bay and the Hazards Mountains.
“We can organise a fully tailored itinerary of experiences and events for incentive groups, including private beach cocktail parties in the national park, accessible by a cruise, or scenic helicopter arrivals from our airport lounge in Hobart,” says Ross Boobyer, General Manager at Saffire Freycinet.
Saffire Freycinet, Coles Bay, Tasmania © Saffire Freycinet
The luxury lodge has an open-range enclosure of Tasmanian devils for delegates to get acquainted with the state’s native marsupials and can arrange a visit to Freycinet Marine Oyster Farm, where delegates can put on a pair of waders to stand knee-deep in the water and savour oysters direct from the sea—an experience exclusive to Saffire Freycinet’s guests.
We can also organise sunset canapes at the devil enclosure, to watch Tasmanian devils in their natural habitat, feeding and playing when they are most active.
And as a welcome or goodbye gift, the team can source pots of honey from a neighbouring beekeeper or bottles of sparkling wine produced in the region, so delegates can continue to enjoy a taste of Tasmania when they go home.
Published: 12 January 2021
