Three full nights. A private estate. Great food, great wine, and nowhere to rush off to. Here's exactly what to expect from the moment you arrive.
The estate opens Friday evening. Drop your bags, find your room, and meet your housemates. Once everyone has arrived we sit down together for the welcome meal — a long-table dinner designed to break the ice without any effort on your part.
Great food, flowing wine, and thirty people who are all in exactly the same situation as you. By the time dessert comes around, you'll have forgotten you didn't know anyone three hours ago.
Saturday morning we offer a group brunch at 11am — the unhurried kind where conversations from last night pick up where they left off. After that, the day is yours.
We organise an optional group activity — typically a winery visit or something more active depending on the season and the group's energy. You're welcome to join or go your own way. The Hunter Valley is on your doorstep — dozens of cellar doors, restaurants and scenic spots all within 20 minutes.
Saturday evening brings the second group dinner. By now the dynamic has completely changed — you're not meeting strangers, you're sharing a meal with people you actually like.
Sunday brunch at 11am. Another optional group activity for those who want it. Plenty of space to do nothing at all — a book, the pool, a long coffee on the verandah.
Sunday dinner is at your own cost — explore the local restaurants with new friends, or simply wind down at the venue. There's no pressure to be anywhere. That's the whole point of having three nights.
The retreat concludes Monday morning at 10am. Numbers are exchanged, plans are made, and people head home genuinely glad they came.
Drinks are BYO throughout — bring your favourite wines and share them around. Water and soft drinks are available at the venue.
Our motto is Freedom First. You decide the pace of your weekend. Nothing is compulsory — ever. Here are some of the ways people typically spend their time.
While we handle all the logistics, we invite everyone to pitch in a little — whether it's helping prep a salad or setting the long table for dinner. It's often where the best conversations start.
This is not a resort. It's a house full of interesting people who've chosen to be there. That distinction matters more than it sounds.
85% of guests arrive knowing absolutely nobody. By Sunday, most of them are making plans to catch up back in the city.
If joining a weekend full of strangers feels like a stretch, you're welcome to bring one single friend — provided they are the opposite gender to you. They'll need to register separately.
That said — the vast majority of guests come alone and wouldn't have it any other way. The shared experience of not knowing anyone is a big part of what makes it work.
12–15 February 2027 · Abernethy Hotel · Hunter Valley, NSW · From $600