Some teams want cocktails and music. Others would choose a long lunch, an outdoor BBQ or an early finish every time.
There’s no standard formula for a great end-of-year event. Look at what your team enjoys, how they connect and what would get them excited to attend. Their preferences will point you towards the right celebration.
See which team type sounds like yours.
1. The More the Merrier Team
Turn up the music. This team wants festive drinks, good conversation and plenty of reasons to stay a little longer.
Oaks Gold Coast Hotel has two options for groups of 10 to 100: a one-hour Cocktail Soirée and a Festive Three-Hour Experience. Festive sliders, a Christmas playlist and Santa hats come included. Add a photobooth or 360 video booth and capture a few memories.
At Oaks Wellington Hotel, Festive After 5 pairs five canapés with one cocktail and a two-hour beverage package. Close the laptops and catch up properly.
2. The Foodie Team
For this team, the menu is the event. Buffet, plated or family-style? Go big on choice, dress things up or pass the platters around.
At Oaks Toowoomba Hotel, All The Trimmings caters for up to 250 guests with glazed Christmas ham, roast turkey, a shared dessert table and a three-hour premium beverage package.
Oaks Darwin Elan Hotel serves a buffet with mains, sides and desserts, while Jingle & Mingle features a three-course alternate-drop menu. Both packages include five-hour room hire, festive décor and Christmas crackers.
Come hungry. That part’s important.
3. The Open-Air Team
Take the party outside. Across 150 acres of private Snowy Mountains bushland, this team gets the change of scenery they’re looking for.
Oaks Lake Crackenback Resort hosts its Festive Picnic for 20 to 150 guests, with picnic tables and a customisable BBQ menu. Seafood, beef fillets, grazing boards and mini desserts are available as upgrades. Add giant Connect 4, giant Jenga or cornhole toss when a little friendly competition sounds like a good idea.
4. The Home Before Midnight Team
All the celebration. None of the midnight commute.
Brunches, lunches and daytime events slip easily into busy calendars. They’re relaxed, social and leave the evening free.
The Festive Bottomless Brunch at Oaks Port Douglas Resort serves a festive spread, mimosas and mulled wine cocktails for groups of 30 or more. Add a festive scavenger hunt or Christmas quiz for a little friendly competition.
The Seasonal Lunch at Oaks Lake Crackenback Resort serves groups of 15 to 90, with sparkling wine on arrival and a family-style meal of one protein, two sides and dessert. Daylight, good food and home at a sensible hour. Hard to argue with that.
5. The Work First, Celebrate After Team
This team likes a plan. They’ve got decisions to make, updates to share and one last agenda item to clear before the year wraps up.
Combining a meeting with a celebration works well for teams travelling from different locations or wrapping up the year together. The productive part still happens, but there’s something better waiting at the end.
The Festive Meeting at Oaks Wellington Hotel caters for 20 to 90 guests and starts at $90* per person. It includes room hire, meeting tools, morning tea, a working lunch buffet and afternoon tea. Choose one treat with each break, including mini pavlovas, gingerbread slices, fruit or smoothie shots.
Finish with a post event celebration or add a little fun between agenda items. Either way, spreadsheets are better with mini pavlovas.
6. The Out-of-Office Team
Make the event worth the journey.
For teams arriving from different cities, the right venue needs more than an event room. Transport, parking, dining and accommodation all matter.
Oaks spans city, coastal and regional destinations across Australia and New Zealand. At Oaks Port Douglas Resort, nine function spaces host up to 260 guests, with Four Mile Beach 400 metres away. Oaks Lake Crackenback Resort sits across 150 acres of private bushland, while Oaks Darwin Elan Hotel hosts up to 419 guests in the city’s CBD.
Many venues combine event spaces, dining and accommodation in one place. This team doesn’t mind travelling when the destination delivers.
Found the one? Let’s make it happen.
You’ll find Oaks venues and festive packages across Australia and New Zealand. Choose after-work cocktails, a daytime brunch, an outdoor picnic or a full festive feast. Flexible spaces, seasonal menus and practical inclusions make it easier to find an event that fits your team.
Book and hold your festive event with Oaks by 31 December 2026 for the chance to win a five-night accommodation voucher*.
*Terms & conditions apply.See the website for full details;
www.oakshotels.com/en/festive-event-packages
Company / event details:
Oaks Hotels, Resorts & Suites
Call us on 1300 991 253 or email events@theoaksgroup.com.au
