Choosing a Christmas function venue in Rotorua​

Christmas is just around the corner, and with 2021 drawing to a close, many workplaces are thinking of how to celebrate the year that’s been, or perhaps how to kick off 2022 in style. There’s no shortage of epic places to host the ultimate Christmas party in Rotorua for teams of all sizes. Planning your end-of-year function doesn’t have to be a stressful task – our pointers below take the hassle out of the planning, whilst making sure you dot your I’s and cross your T’s.

Firstly, it’s useful to know your group size – do you have a small team or a larger organisation; and will your team also invite their partners or children? Having an idea of numbers early on will be useful for the remainder of your planning.  The next step is choosing a location – with such a diverse variety of eateries, attractions, and venues across Rotorua, make a shortlist of options that cater to your group size, fit within your budget, but also provide a fun and enjoyable atmosphere for the whole team. Will you opt for a relaxed meal out, or amplify your event with some exhilarating activities? We think choosing a venue with a unique point of difference will make this year’s Christmas party the most memorable yet!

As part of this decision, an important consideration is whether you’d prefer an indoor or outdoor venue. During the warm summer months, and with daylight savings in full swing, a twilight outdoor soirée can be a great way to really escape from the office. Off Road NZ’s Native Bush Camp venue, set amongst stunning native bush, makes for a perfect all-weather solution – offering a fully-covered dining and socialising space for groups of up to 120, as well as an iconic campfire to enjoy when the sun goes down.

Why stop at just one venue – perhaps you’ll package it all together into the ultimate Christmas party, with an adrenalin-filled activity, a group dinner, followed by drinks and socialising. If the night might go on into the early hours, having access to nearby hotels and accommodation will be handy.

It wouldn’t be a proper party without great food and drink! Decide whether you’ll bring your own snacks and beverages, or opt for the ease of a fully-catered option, and allow Rotorua’s top local caterers to put on nibbles, a light meal, or a full-blown feast for your team to enjoy.

It’s important to factor in transportation to your planning – will your guests self-drive or will you organise a coach or taxi? If it’s the former, ensuring your venue has ample parking will be crucial. Or be sure to book your bus charter in advance if you go with that option.

Now one of the final choices to make is ‘when’! Having flexibility with your dates is handy – Friday nights in December are some of the most popular dates for corporate events and are often booked out early. Mix it up and have a mid-week celebration or treat the team to a day off and make the most of a full day of activities, rather than just in the evening. At Off Road NZ, our range of activities can be flexibly tailored to start or round off your day – get set for plenty of laughs, screams and adrenalin-filled antics as your team hit the pedals on our 4WD Jimnys, 4×4 trucks and race karts - and for added fun you can even test the team’s skills with Claybird Shooting, Archery or Team Building challenges.

Our top tip – recognising that your team is unique and diverse, it’s important to have a variety of activities on offer. Some of the team may be ready for a full-on adventure, ready to jump straight from the PowerPoint to powering through the forest on a 4WD or 4×4! However, chances are that some just want to simply kick back and relax, with drinks and chats aplenty. Therefore, choosing a venue and plan that provides something for everyone is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. At Off Road NZ, we pride ourselves on offering a range of activities in one easily accessible location, with differing levels of adrenaline to suit a wide variety of guests.

We hope the above has helped kickstart your event planning. Here at Off Road NZ, we love to host groups of all sizes, and can easily work to your budget and individual needs. Get in touch for a bespoke arrangement that will reward your staff in a fun, laidback and thrilling atmosphere. Combine any of our activity packages with great catering, music or entertainment for a party your team will never forget!

With Christmas just around the corner (where has the time gone!), chances are you’re thinking about finding that perfect gift for your team. Have you considered the gift of an experience? Swap the traditional gift under the Christmas tree for an action-packed ride through our magnificent native trees!  Our gift vouchers are perfect to reward your staff or treat your clients after quite the bumpy year. We’ve also got the option to choose your own voucher value, allowing your lucky recipients to customise their very own Off Road NZ experience. Our vouchers are valid for 12 months, so there’s plenty of flexibility in these uncertain times.