​As one of the creepiest, spookiest, and darkest nights of the year approaches, it’s time to dust off those witch’s hats, pull out your vampire fangs, and of course get ready for some scary surprises. Over at Manly’s Q Station, Halloween is one of their biggest celebrations of the year and is when the site truly comes to life – with paranormal activity that is. 
 
If 150 years history of misfortune, untimely deaths, and over 572 gravestones wasn’t unsettling enough, Q Station is about to get even spookier for this year’s Halloween festivities. They’ll be celebrating their status as one of Australia’s most haunted sites with four spine shuddering Halloween tours; Family Fright Night, Halloween Scream, their famous Ghostly Encounters, and the ultimate Spirit Investigator tour.
 
Family Fright Night

Looking for a spooky family night out? Live out your Addams Family dream by bringing the whole family to Family Fright Night. Designed for families and groups with children between 5 – 14 years old, the whole family can be entertained with a 90 minute tour with lots of fun stories and scary moments. The family are also encouraged to dress up in their Halloween best!
 
Child: $32
Adult: $40
​Concession: $32
  
Halloween Scream

Leave the little ones at home for Halloween Scream night which is open for ages 15+ (under 18s must be accompanied by a parent or guardian). You’ll be taken along for a 90-minute tour through Q Station’s creepiest buildings including the infamous shower block, haunted hospital & the dreaded morgue.  To help take you back to Q Stations historic days, expect your guide to be in full character and be prepared for some startling surprises during the tour!
Adult: $40
 
 Ghostly Encounters

Q Station’s most famous tours, their 2.5 hour Ghost Encounters is sure to be extra eerie on Halloween night. Perfect for those who love a good story and want to learn more about the tragic quarantine station history and the hundreds of bodies that have been buried there over time. You’re sure to feel the paranormal restlessness as you walk the same steps of those who have long passed.

Adult: $49 ($55 Saturdays)
Concession: $44 ($49 Saturdays)
 
Spirit Investigator

Do you take your Halloween seriously? Consider yourself a paranormal enthusiast? Then Q Station’s Spirit Investigate is the tour for you. Over 4 hours you’ll investigate the paranormal presences that call Q Station home and you’ll even have the chance to try out some of the latest ghost hunting equipment! This one is for adults only so under 18s will have to stay at home.

Adult: $125
 
Q Station are also running group packages on Monday, 28th, Tuesday, 29th and Wednesday 30th October.  Get a group of 15 people together for a night of fun and book either Halloween tour during this period. Enquire about packages available with the Boilerhouse Restaurant.

Halloween Scream group price for $550 (min. 15 people) or Family Fright Night group price for $450 (13 children and 2 adults).

Book now online or book directly by calling 9466 1551, alternatively email h8773-cr5@accor.com
 
So, if you aren’t scared of a few ghosts, spirits and mysteries, then make sure to book your place for one of Q Station’s Halloween tours! One of the most popular Halloween activities to do in the Sydney region!
 
As well as our Halloween focused packages, Q Station also runs Ghostly Tours all throughout the year, so you don’t even need to wait for October to get spooked! Check out the Ghost Tours packages page here.

The festive season is only a few months away and the office Christmas party is an event that is most looked forward to… That is, unless you are the person tasked to plan it!

Planning the perfect Christmas party can put the organiser under a lot of pressure, especially if the event is being used as an added incentive to have the team push through the busy time of the year.  Many event planners are more interested in thinking about the best Christmas party ideas and how to make it a bigger and better event this year, however the importance of venue selection for an event is key in ensuring a successful event as venues can book out quickly this time of year and the theme of the event will come down to what you can do with the chosen space – once you have decided.

Organisation is key in creating the best office Christmas party and we have put together 8 important factors to consider when choosing the right venue for your Christmas party.

•  Budget

This is one of the most important things you need to establish before you can start planning your event.  There is no point booking out a ballroom, locking away entertainment and theming if you don’t have any money left over for food and drinks!  If you have already planned the event in the past, you many have an idea of what you can spend, however it’s important to sit down with whoever is signing the cheque at the end of the night before you spend valuable time choosing your venue and planning the perfect event.  Being flexible and organised can also help you save on your budget with many venues offering early booking discounts or lower priced packages for mid-week and lunchtime bookings.

• Dates

If you already have the perfect venue in mind – well done you – you may be foiled by venue availability on the date you have selected.  If you can, try to have at least 3 alternative date options which you can choose from which will give you a little more flexibility when selecting a venue.   If you can, make certain the event date you are selecting doesn’t clash with busy periods in the office or any important deadlines, this way you can ensure a better turn out on the day.
While you may be tempted to leave your Christmas party to the last week of work before holidays when everyone is truly in the Christmas spirit, be conscious that many families are quick to take off on holidays and booking your party too close to Christmas Day may also affect your RSVPs. If you’re really struggling to pick a date for your party, try setting up an online poll or survey which you can then email to your office and let the majority decide on the date for you!

Once you’ve picked your date be sure to send out a save the date so your team have the party marked in the calendar. Once you’ve finalized more details you can then send an official invitation.

• Know your team   

This is often the most overlooked element of planning a Christmas party, yet it’s crucial in ensuring that the event is one that will have people excited about.  While you can’t always please everyone – especially when you have larger teams –it’s good idea to understand the office demographic and overall workplace culture.  Think about age groups, family commitments, and the different morales between departments; understanding these considerations will help you pick both the perfect venue and time for your Christmas party.

If you’re office is generally a younger crowd they will want a venue that will allow them to continue the party well into the night, whereas a more family orientated workplace will appreciate a day time activity or early evening get together. And if you’re bringing together different departments who don’t often socialise or work together think about including an activity or theme to act as an icebreaker.

Putting an idea’s box’ in the team lunch area where people can make suggestions or vote on themes or activities is a great way to make them feel involved in the process and build excitement for your event.

• Style and Theme

Deciding on the style and theme of the event is key to choosing the right venue for your party.  If you have a larger team, a cocktail event will make it easy for staff to mingle rather than stay seated at the one table. Whereas smaller teams are normally better suited to sit down dinners or a more casual afternoon barbeque with team building games.  Again take into account your team culture and demographics – while cocktail parties are especially great for younger teams, older demographics will appreciate a more quiet and comfortable venue.

Once you know your style of event you can then start thinking about theming your chosen venue. For fun and casual parties a dress or costume theme is a great way to create some excitement in the lead up to the occasion with team members discussing what they will be wearing and an opportunity for departments to compete in order to “out do” other departments – make certain you allow plenty of time for invitations to go out however so they have plenty of time to work on their outfits.

For more formal or sit down events, put some thought in to the room decorations or place settings. These little touches can make the whole night feel just that little bit more special.

• Flexible Function Spaces and Packages

Having an idea of the number of guests and your event space requirements when selecting a venue for an event, will make the whole process a lot easier.  If you have your heart set on a venue, make sure that they have flexible function space options to suit the number of guests as it becomes costly to theme and fill out a large venue if you have smaller numbers.  Likewise squeezing 80 people in a space more ideal for 60 won’t have your guests enjoying themselves on the night.  If you are looking at an indoor event, are there out door options for guests wanting a little fresh air. On the other hand if you’re hosting an outdoor event, is there a wet-weather back up plan?

Flexible packages are also important, look at the inclusions they offer and whether there are enough options to cater for all dietary requirements.  Quality food & beverage are important elements in a successful event so having the flexibility to upgrade certain elements of a package is ideal.

• Location

When selecting a venue it’s important to mix things up -after all having a similar venue each year can be a little boring! If you held last year’s event in a function room in the city, try hosting this year’s party outdoors complete with fairy lights in the trees and an informal set up under the stars allowing guests to mingle and watch the sunset.

But while you might be tempted by a totally unique venue in the suburbs or out of the city, you need to take into account that your team are going to be travelling from all sides of town and will need an easy journey home. If you have selected a venue that isn’t close to pubic transport or is a little outside of town think about arranging a bus to transport staff to a central location where they can easily catch a taxi home.

• Inclusions

When choosing the right venue, it’s important to find out what inclusions they offer as part of their package.  The venue hire might seem like a good price however if you are having to hire your own tables, dance floor, basic theming and lighting it can add up quickly!

It’s important to understand what’s on the table.  Set up a simple venue requirements spreadsheet with your short-listed venues side by side with all the important elements listed with a dollar value beside it – this will help you understand which venue best suits your budget and help you leverage a deal at the venue sitting at number 1!

Venues like ours include a dedicated functions coordinator who will be with you every step of the way, assisting you with your planning and helping to ensure your event runs smoothly.

• Team Activities

Keeping the team engaged during a Christmas party is an important element to ensuring a successful event, so it’s a good idea to see if your short-listed venues have any activities or entertainment on offer to liven up the event.  Look for team building activities that get departments who normally don’t mix, to start talking and laughing together – our popular “Outbreak!” program is perfect for this, which sees your entire company quarantined at the Q Station, and you need to work together in groups to collect vaccine to survive!  If it’s an afternoon event you can treat your colleagues to a casual beachside afternoon of kayaks, stand up paddleboards and giant games, or scare them silly as they take part in one of our famous Ghost tours.
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If you are looking for the perfect venue for your next Christmas event, then look no further than Q Station.  We have stunning views overlooking the Sydney Harbour, an array of outdoor spaces and dedicated function rooms and our 2019 Christmas Party packages offer exquisite food and beverage selections that they entire team will enjoy!

History buffs and paranormal enthusiasts, if you aren’t scared of a few ghosts, spirits and mysteries then book yourself in to one of Sydney’s famous ghost tours.  Ghost tours are a great way to learn about Sydney’s dark history and a chance to visit important historical sites where ghost tours are full of stories, adventures, and some spooky encounters.
 
Here are a couple of our favourite ghost tours in Sydney that will have you keeping the light on at night.
 
Q Station
 
Reputed to be one of Australia’s most haunted sites, Q Station on Manly’s North Head has been operating ghost tours since the early 1990’s and have number of tours available depending on your scare level. From the 1830’s right up to 1984, migrants and crew arriving by ship to Sydney with suspected contagious disease were forced into quarantine at Q Station. Their ghost tours will take you through the historic buildings, burial grounds and empty pathways where stories of ghosts and paranormal occurrences have entwined throughout its history.
 
For those wanting to go beyond the typical history and ghost lore tour, make sure to sign up for their Extreme Ghost Tour. Psychics and mediums will guide you through the tour while undertaking experiments to encourage paranormal activity.
 
If that still isn’t enough supernatural activity for you, then head along to their Spirit Investigator tour. On this tour you get to try out the latest ghost hunting equipment and carry out experiments yourself to communicate with the spirits.
 
Finally for those who really like an adventure Q Station also offers a ‘Spirit Searching Sleepover’. When you’ve finished the Spirit Investigator Tour (and you’ve conjured up the station’s spirits), you’ll then be lead to your room for the night… that’s right you’ll be sleeping over with your new spirit friends.
 
Q Station also takes group bookings for all of their ghost tours, so you can also drag along all of your supernatural loving friends. 
  
Cockatoo Island
 
Cockatoo Island in Sydney Harbour was once an island prison known for housing re-offending convicts. After closing the prison, Cockatoo Island was transformed into a working shipyard for more than a century and is now full of stories of untimely deaths and paranormal sightings. Tours will guide you through the convict workshops and gaol, coffin like prison cells, the grain silos, Dog Leg Tunnel and Biloela House. Visitors have reported feeling gusts of air, smells of tobacco, and even sites of ghostly figures.
 
St Bartholomews Church
 
When you think of a haunted place a church and cemetery is sure to come to mind. Dating back to 1841, St Bartholomews Church and Cemetery is home to the stories and graves of many early settlers including explorer William Lawson. The tour guides visitors through the Churches’ long history and recounts the stories of the many lives that are now buried within the cemetery. If you are lucky you may even encounter their famous troublesome ghost, with many tour participants claiming to have experience extreme nausea and being unable to move when approaching his tombstone.
 
 The Rocks
 
An iconic part of Sydney’s history, The Rocks was home to convicts from as early as 1788, which means there are loads of stories of crimes, murders and mysteries.  Offering two tours which cover different routes and stories, you’ll visit Cadman’s Cottage, Australia’s oldest home, Susannah Place where someone was found buried in the cellar, and Observatory Hill where the old Signal Master’s spirit is set to reside.  The tour will also take you to many ‘off limit’ locations and see you walking through dark alleyways only lit by lanterns. This is one of those tours that is sure to send goose bumps up your back.
 
So, whether you’re a Sydney local wanting to explore your own city a little bit, or a visitor who isn’t afraid of a few ghosts, make sure to check out the after dark side of Sydney.