Functions & outings suggestions

Things to consider when planning your function:

· Think of parking availability at the time of night or day plus the time of year. Xmas is horrendous when you plan a function that is located in the Salamanca/Docks area. Invitees can spend up to ½ hour driving round in circles looking for a parking spot. And forget trying to call a taxi after the function in that area round Xmas!
· Think of flexibility for your plans of what you would like to happen on the night – ie do you just want to sit down next to someone you know (& possibly work with already, so see & eat with them daily already – why pay $’s to do that?), eat a meal, then go home?
· Do you want to include an organized activity, such as Karaoke or Quiz or games or competition of some kind after or before or during the meal? If it’s an Xmas function, do you want to do a Father Xmas gift-giving ceremony? Is there allowance for it, both noise-wise and flexibility-wise?
· Do you want to have access to the venue prior to the function - to tizzy it up & personalise it for your function? Add a lucky door prize number to the bottom of a chair or something? Add some table decorations? Joke things?
· The number of people you are expecting will dictate many of those things and how do-able they are.
· Outside activities should be discouraged as you are way too reliant on good weather, and we all know about Tassie weather! However, something like a boat cruise is fine cos you are still under cover whilst being outside.

Xmas ideas:

For a straight meal look at the following venue options:

Maypole Hotel great food, medium prices, good parking, reasonably central for most people
Lenah Valley Hall hire a caterer. I know some great ones. Do what you want, when you want, the way you want
Cornelian Bay Boathouse – great venue, great food, great staff, book the whole restaurant early for a weeknight function
The Duke crap parking but closer to the city, so more options. Reasonable food which you can pre-book.
Botanical Gardens Reasonable food, great venue, good parking
Rydges Good parking, good smorgasbord food, good venue
Le Provencal Good parking, great food, South Hobart
Prince of Wales Great food, medium prices, not good parking but not too bad either.


For places that are great but further out of town – good for an outing after hours –

Home Hill Winery, Ranelagh, Great food, beautiful venue, great service, 25 mins drive out of city
Coal River Vineyard, Richmond Rd, Great food, beautiful venue, 25 mins the other way from Home Hill!
Meadowbank Winery, Richmond Rd, Ditto as for Coal River
Barilla Bay, Cambridge, Great food, lovely restaurant, you can include a tour of their oyster farm in a visit there. 25 mins from town
Peppermint Bay, Woodbridge, Fabulous food, great venue, ¾ hour drive from city but worth it
Pecora Café, Woodbridge, Part of Grandvewe sheep farm. You can watch the sheep being milked (round 4.00 pm), food at café is SUBLIME .