The thrill of the new

The former Port Botany has been transformed into the playground precinct of Barangaroo place for events and festivals. Picture / BARANGAROO DELIVERY AUTHORITY

Sydney’s booming and is the perfect place for your next business incentive or event. By Ewan McDonald.

There's always a thrill in discovering something new - a little restaurant tucked down a side street, a glam rooftop bar or a revamped hotel that just screams style.

Even more so when these gems are only a three-hour flight away. As more and more New Zealand organisations are finding, Sydney's landscape is changing - and the new hotspots have a range of venues that are perfect for business events planners to incorporate into their incentive program.

THE STREETS OF BARANGAROO

On the harbour shores at the western edge of Sydney's CBD, the former Port Botany has been transformed into the new living, working and playground precinct of Barangaroo. Planned and built over more than a decade, the city's new, 21st century western face has 6ha of walks and parks as well as a unique portfolio of event spaces set against the natural beauty of the waterfront. At Barangaroo Reserve, Nawi Cove boasts a foreshore amphitheatre that can accommodate up to 2500 people; the tree-lined Stargazer Lawn and Walumil Lawns can each cater for up to 3000 people, with stunning, up-close views of the Harbour Bridge. Indoor venues include the Cutaway, an expansive, below-ground space for larger-scale gatherings of up to 5000. It's ideal for corporate functions and gala dinners. Next door there's a smaller space, the Waranara Room, with internal views to the Cutaway and coveted views over Nawi Cove.

Barangaroo also has a range of foodie venues available, including the highly anticipated Barangaroo House from world-acclaimed Australian chef and restaurateur Matt Moran, opening in December. Green by look - the innovative design resembles with three stacked bowls of salad - and by nature, given Moran's sustainable credentials, this will be the flagship of the recently formed Solotel Group. A merger of Moran's five restaurants with other venues and an events company, it will guarantee corporate guests a truly Australian gourmet experience.

DARLING HARBOUR

Opening next month, Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour is the precinct's first five-star hotel and features 590 luxury rooms over 35 storeys. The property features nine flexible spaces for small board meetings, a ballroom which can host up to 450 people in banquet-style configuration, and a Champagne Bar which is perfect for pre-dinner drinks. The hotel is also located in close proximity to a truly unique venue, Australian National Maritime Museum, which has 12 venue options ranging from the 210-seat theatre to the stunning Waterfront Room (300 guests for cocktails, 190 for banquet). The wow factor? How about a banquet or cocktails on the helipad of the Australian Navy destroyer, HMAS Vampire; cocktails for 70 on the quarterdeck of the meticulous replica of the Endeavour - or dinner for 12 in Captain Cook's Great Cabin?

HARBOURSIDE DEVELOPMENTS

If planning well ahead, why not consider an event in one of Australia's iconic structures? The Sydney Opera House is getting an AUD202 million upgrade, as well as a new function centre. With construction expected to start next year, the flexible, all-weather centre will feature floor-to-ceiling windows to make the most of those harbour views. It will accommodate up to 500 for cocktail functions or 190 seated.
Meanwhile, Four Seasons Hotel Sydney has unveiled its refurbished Grand Ballroom with a new cinema-style LED screen for cost-effective visual, theming and transformative opportunities for events. The pillarless space seats up to 550 banquet-style and can be divided into two smaller ballrooms.

CHIPPENDALE

On the southern edge of the CBD, Chippendale has become a happening area of converted warehouses and boasts a cutting-edge creative scene. The shops and eateries of sleek Central Park Mall, and the contemporary galleries around Abercrombie St are popular attractions, while Kensington St has cool cafes and Asian eateries.

Stretched across two heritage-listed buildings, the Old Clare Hotel is a 62-room boutique lodge with two restaurants, two bars and a meeting room accommodating up to 16. While the large carved wooden boardroom table harks back to the hotel's heritage, the mod cons are all up-to-date for the grandest of multimedia presentations. The hotel promises anything from pop-up markets to tastings over inspiring talks, to art exhibitions and live music - perfect for creating customised events.

Fancy staging a street festival for your team? The whole of Spice Alley, an open-air courtyard serving up hawker-style food from around the globe, can be taken over for a function. Located adjacent to the Old Clare Hotel, Spice Alley also has three upstairs rooms adorned with Asian street art that can accommodate smaller groups between 10 and 25 people for a fun yet informal dining experience.

Other venues located close by include the Private Kitchen, a naturally lit indoor space with a large wrap-around balcony and modern industrial interior which hosts a variety of internationally renowned chefs; the Eastside Grill (American style, Japanese menu); Olio (Italian); Mekong (East Asian fusion).

Capacities vary, but the venues can cater for up to 120 people.