A Country Escape, and Four Other End-of-Year Celebration Ideas (That Aren’t the Pub or Lawn Bowls)

We’ve all been to year-end break-ups that feel a bit cookie-cutter. Say, beer and parmies at the pub or the same old round of mini golf. Needless to say, there’s room for improvement when it comes to planning an EOY celebration for your co-workers or friends.

Here are five engaging ideas to get you started, with improvisation strongly encouraged. After all, each year is its own unique story – so finish it off with something equally special.

A country celebration at Saddles Barn

An escape from the city – especially in the glorious summer weather – can never go wrong. If you’re itching to get out there, you can’t do any better than Saddles Mount White , a gorgeous dining destination that’s only a 45-minute drive from Sydney. Besides its acclaimed restaurant and bakehouse, the site is home to an excitingly versatile event space called Saddles Barn. With freedom to plan any kind of gathering, it’s a popular spot for weddings and corporate events – with serious untapped potential for end-of-year parties. There’s full catering with pizzas, canapes and a cocktail station, spaces both indoors and outdoors to switch things up, a caravan area, bus transfer organised directly with the venue and other customisable touches. If you can’t get a booking for this year, the precinct’s Grand Saddles Lodge will also be opening in mid-2026 as one more accommodation option, set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Central Coast.

Movie trivia at an actual cinema

We’ve all been to pub trivia nights, which are fun but pretty standard fare. Why not put a fresh spin on brain-tickling competition with a movie-specific version? Plenty of indie cinemas host weekly or monthly trivia, which gets you out of the too-familiar pub setting and in close proximity to popcorn and choc tops. Don’t worry if some people in your group are total cinephiles and some aren’t: the best movie trivia nights cater to all genres and levels of expertise, so rom-com and superhero fans can compete on even footing with arthouse and French New Wave obsessives. Movie trivia often involves fun interactive elements too, and cinema passes are often up for grabs. If you’re stuck for a location, there are plenty of movie trivia games online and in board game form instead.

Sunset drinks on a rooftop (or beach)

You don’t always need a regimented activity to farewell the year with colleagues or friends – just book an appropriately sized space at your favourite rooftop bar and toast the sunset (and each other) in style. You can’t really go wrong with fresh cocktails, shareable bites and casual conversation, plus some booze-free options too. Given the time of year, you could even hit a beach bar and stake out some prime real estate with a great view of the surf.

Karaoke with private booths

Karaoke is always a go-to choice for a fun night out with mates. But watching a long procession of strangers sing – and competing with them for your own turn at the mic – isn’t always worth the time and effort involved. When you’re gathering for a special year-end send-off, you want to be able to cheer each other on as everyone in the group gets to sing their heart out. That’s why karaoke booths are the best bet: they ensure privacy and cosiness while your group gets to choose only the songs they actually want to hear (and sing). Most venues with private booths serve drinks directly to them, so you won’t even have to keep breaking the flow to refill your glass at the bar.

Scavenger hunt (outside the office)

It might sound a bit silly, but a well-organised scavenger hunt can foster some crucial team-building – or just added bonding amongst close friends. If you are doing it with workmates, make sure to get out of your office or workspace. That’ll ensure the activity is the reset it should be, and turn whatever location you choose into an essential part of the experience. You could pick a local park or other green space, or a set of inner-city laneways. Either way, pairs or teams can race each other to see who can tick every quirky item off their list first. Think of it as a more flexible version of the usual escape room visit – here you get to pick a setting and literally choose your own adventure.

This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with Saddles Mount White. Reach out to the team for bookings and more information.