Unconventional Outings to Round Up the Crew for Something Different

# Why pick something different If your group is bored of brunch and bar-hopping, pick an outing that makes everyone do something together. The point is shared activity: a short, contained experience that changes the usual dynamic of ordering drinks and sitting around.

The guide presents nine curated outings across Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. Each entry pairs an active experience with nearby hospitality or a ready-made setting for social time after the activity.

• Brisbane: BY.ARTISANS operates a craft distillery with an attached bar, so a gin-blending workshop can finish with tasting flights and sharing plates in the same venue. This keeps the group together without a venue swap.
• Melbourne: A walking tour of the CBD's art-deco buildings (starts at 220 Collins Street) covers the 1934 building boom and the city's eccentric facades, aimed at those who enjoy architectural detail on a morning stroll.

• Tour is a lantern-lit walk through laneways that tells convict-era stories, and it concludes at The Doss House — once the city's first convict hospital — for candlelit cocktails and canapés.
• Sydney (near-CBD): Centennial Parklands Equestrian Centre offers trail rides through the park that accept complete beginners, making it an accessible outdoor option.
• Mornington Peninsula: Enchanted Adventure Garden has a multi-level treetop obstacle course with rope bridges, a Tarzan swing and ziplines up to ten metres above the trees for groups wanting more physical challenge.

# How these outings change the social dynamic All suggestions remove the default script of ordering and waiting. Instead, they create a short shared narrative — learning to blend gin, shaping clay, spotting details on a walk, completing a course as a group. That shared narrative becomes the conversation starter for afters.

# Who these activities suit

• Mixed-experience friend groups: Many options accept beginners (pottery studios, equestrian trail rides, some distillery workshops).
• Groups wanting a single-venue flow: BY.ARTISANS combines workshop and tasting in one place.
• Active groups: Treetop obstacle courses and equestrian rides add physical elements.
• Small groups wanting low-commitment outings: Walking tours and two-hour classes fit a single afternoon or morning.

# Practical takeaways for planning

• Match activity intensity to the group. If anyone is unsure of their fitness or comfort level, pick beginner-friendly options like introductory pottery or guided architecture walks.
• Check whether the activity includes hospitality on-site (example: BY.ARTISANS) versus nearby places to gather afterwards.
• For outdoor activities (equine trail rides, treetop course), confirm weather policies and any age or weight restrictions.

# Final note The list is presented as inspiration for weekend plans that replace the default "drinks then dinner" routine with short, memorable experiences that naturally generate conversation and shared memories.