Business Events Sydney has rounded up some of the best new ideas for corporate and incentives and post-conference activities. From native wildlife experiences and star gazing to immersive dining and high-tech entertainment, there are plenty of new options for groups to choose from…

URBNSURF Sydney

Sydney’s first wave park URBNSURF Sydney is set to open in autumn 2024. Construction of the A$75 million project is in the final stages, with an array of wave lagoons, eateries and events spaces spread across the 3.6-hectare (8.9 acre) site at Sydney Olympic Park in Sydney’s west. A large-scale event space capable of accommodating up to 2,000 guests overlooks the lagoon, alongside a range of other spaces including a Surf Academy and private cabanas.

URBNSURF Sydney will be home to a 150-seat restaurant, RAFI by Applejack Hospitality, which will dish up responsibly sourced seafood, vegetables, and grass-fed beef and lamb from the charcoal grill and offers an adjoining multi-purpose event space seating up to 60 guests.

Nura Diya at Taronga Zoo

Taronga Zoo has a new native wildlife experience. Nura Diya, which means ‘This Country’ in Sydney First Language, is a brand-new A$16 million precinct allowing visitors to gain a deeper understanding of the connection between First Nations Cultures and Country by experiencing Australia’s iconic wildlife – including koalas, dingoes, wallabies, and kangaroos – up close.

Nura Diya is home to 23 unique Australian species, approximately 270 individual animals, and a special Night Walk experience – nguwing nura – featuring nocturnal animals like the greater bilby, yellow-bellied glider, Western quoll and spinifex hopping mouse.

VIP Curator’s Tour at Sydney Cricket Ground

Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) has a new exclusive behind-the-scenes tour for cricket lovers. The SCG’s VIP Curator’s Tour allows groups of up to 10 guests to walk in the shoes of their favourite cricketer as they make the journey from the players’ dressing room onto the field of play and to the centre wicket.

Hear from an SCG curator to find out what’s involved in preparing world-class pitches used and made famous by the likes of Sir Donald Bradman, Ellyse Perry and Steve Waugh. This 100-minute guided walking tour includes entry into the SCG Museum and a copy of the book ‘100 Tests: A Century of Test Match Cricket at the Sydney Cricket Ground’ by Philip Derriman for each guest.

Astronomy at The Calyx

Situated within the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, The Calyx is offering a new experience for groups: Astronomy at the Calyx. Over a glass of wine, discover the secrets of the night sky with resident First Nations astronomer Jake Ferguson and distinguished Astrophysicist Dr Ángel Lopez -Sanchez.

Guests view the night sky through powerful telescopes from the Northern Sydney Astronomical Society, then venue then venture outside to hear a First Nations perspective on the stars and the use of the night sky. This experience is available on set dates in March, April, June and October 2024, but also on request for private groups of up to 100 guests.

Midden by Mark Olive

Midden by Mark Olive is a new culinary experience at Sydney Opera House, with celebrated First Nations Australian chef and Bundjalung man Mark Olive at the helm. The name is a nod to the area’s rich history of edible resources, with oyster shells discarded by the First Nations people forming ‘middens’ around Sydney Harbour.

Drawing on his Indigenous Australian heritage, Olive has created a produce-focused menu championing native Australian ingredients, from wattle seed and bush honey to saltbush and succulents. The new restaurant will be operated by Doltone Hospitality Group and can be booked for seated private events of up to 100 guests.

Sydney’s New Immersive Big Top at Luna Park Sydney

Luna Park’s Big Top has undergone a A$15 million transformation and is now a permanent, 3,000 sqm immersive experience venue. The venue now offers new world-first, Australian-made technology that combines visual and audio projections to create a captivating spectacle featuring hologram technology and motion-activated screens. ‘Dream Circus’ is a thrilling narrative-based show that can be booked exclusively for groups of approximately 300 guests, or alternatively, different ‘event states’ (for example jungle, seaside and underwater) can be employed as immersive backdrops for corporate, private and exclusive events of up to 1,200 guests standing or 600 banquet-style.

Watersedge Immersive Dining Studio

Housed in the historic Campbell’s Stores in The Rocks, event venue Watersedge is offering a new immersive dining experience. The Watersedge Immersive Dining Studio is a multi-sensory culinary experience harnessing sight, sound and taste.

A collaboration between the venue and SixthSense Experiences, the concept combines high-quality projections, storytelling and premium dining to create an experiential dining experience that deepens connections with guests. Available until 30 April 2024, for minimum 60 guests seated and 80 cocktail-style.