South To Adventure

Stretching from the Illawarra Escarpment, south of Sydney, to the Victorian border, the South Coast Area matures with a range of exciting conference options.

Follow this link to conference venues in the >> South Coast, NSW >> Far South Coast, NSW.

The South Coast's most stylish corporate retreat may well be Greenhill at Figtree. Formerly an exclusive estate for BHP executives, it has been transformed into a 4.5-star guesthouse and conference centre and it's already hosted a swag of illustrious guests including Queen Elizabeth II, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, Prime Ministers Howard, Whitlam and Menzies plus an assortment of Governor-Generals, ambassadors and diplomats.

Built in 1935, the historic Art Deco property features two massive houses set atop a hill cloaked in lush gardens and huge figs on the edge of Wollongong. The main house on the four-hectare property is Greenhill, a beautifully restored seven-bedroom residence boasting sweeping verandahs, towering ceilings, an elegant dining room and a huge 70-year-old boardroom table.

The second house, Hillside, has 10 bedrooms, grand hallways and a 100-year-old billiard table around which cigar-smoking BHP chiefs would gather.

Tourism Wollongong's General Manager, Greg Binskin, prefigured an elegant property such as Greenhill at Figtree as a way of attracting upmarket conference groups.

Steely Determination

"Together with our great new beachside restaurants and cafes, adventure activities and natural scenery, such properties are helping to draw to Wollongong new legions of visitors who tell us they are surprised at the quality and diversity of experiences here, so close to home," Mr Binskin said.

Another great new attraction in the Illawarra and one perfect for corporate events is the $6 million Science Centre. An initiative of Wollongong University, it's a fun, hands-on adventure in the world of science and a showcase for Australia's technological advances.

For corporate entertaining, there's the new beachside Five Islands Brewing Company, owned by former Steelers league star Michael Bolt. Named after the five islands it overlooks, the brewery has quickly become one of the most popular bars in Wollongong and is believed to be the only micro-brewery in Australia producing more than 10 beers.

It's located next to the 6000-seat WIN Entertainment Centre and can hold 350 people in the restaurant, outdoor ocean-view terrace and the busy Sixth Island Bar. Amongst the Five Islands' brewing menu are such evocative beers as Dapto Draught, Bulli Black and the Czech-style Pig Dog Pilsner.

Downing A Few Pints

All the beers are free of chemicals, preservatives and added sugar and are fed directly to the bar's taps from the restaurant's 12-hectolitre brew-house.

Further south, near Batemans Bay, Murramarang Ecotourism Resort has reported strong business from the private and public sectors. Set in the pristine Murramarang National Park, the Resort has a total of 92 accommodation suites and bungalows in a variety of standards with many overlooking Beagle Bay.

There are three conference rooms - The Norfolk Room, The Palm Room and The Grevillea Room - and the Chelluanna Restaurant caters for breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as organising full function menus and poolside barbecues. Murramarang has on-site coordinators to assist with teambuilding activities.

Also in Batemans Bay is the Coachhouse Marina Resort with three conference rooms catering for up to 260 people. The Coachhouse's Sea Breeze Conference Room is a separate venue overlooking the Clyde River where delegates can take morning and afternoon teas on the wide verandah. A permanent marquee for 260 people theatre-style or 200 for banquets is often utilised for product launches and trade displays.