Why a house, not a conference room
Good team offsites don't often happen in a hotel function room. The useful conversations come over a long brekkie, on a walk along the coast, or around the table after dinner. A whole house gives a small team that kind of shared space. Work in the morning, get outside in the arvo, cook and eat together at night.
Holyday House is a single-level, four-bedroom home in Torquay, about 75–90 minutes' drive from Melbourne and 400m from Whites Beach. It has fibre NBN internet, a dedicated workspace with ethernet, two separate living rooms and a dining table for eight. There's room to work together at the table, then split off into separate rooms for a call or some quiet time. It suits a founding team planning the year, a small department on a strategy day, or a few remote colleagues who want a week in the same place.
We should be upfront about size, though. It's a holiday house, not a conference centre. There are four bedrooms, so four people can each have a room, and up to 8 can stay if some are happy to share. Have a look at the beds below and sort out who's sharing before you book.
Working at the house
Here's what's actually there for a working stay. If your plans hang on something that isn't listed (a screen to present from, a whiteboard, more desks), ask Steve and Karen before you book rather than assuming.
Fibre internet
The house is on fibre NBN with Wi-Fi, which counts when several people are on video calls at once. The dedicated workspace also has an ethernet connection for whoever needs the most reliable link.
Two living rooms
One for the group session, one for breakouts or quiet work. Two separate spaces are what make a house work for a team. You can have two conversations going at once and nobody has to hide in a bedroom.
A dining table for eight
Your workshop table. Laptops out in the morning, cleared for dinner at night. There's an outdoor dining area too, for working outside when the weather's nice.
A 65-inch TV with streaming
Good for the evenings. If you're hoping to present from a laptop, check with the hosts which connections will work before you count on it.
Comfortable year-round
Split-system air conditioning and heating, three wood fires for winter nights (one in each living room and one in the covered outdoor lounge), and the house runs on solar.
If you need a proper meeting room for part of the trip, a small number of coworking and office providers in Torquay have them. Check what's available with them directly. It's a small market and things change.
Sleeping arrangements for a team
There are four bedrooms, and on a work trip that's the number that counts. Most colleagues expect a room of their own, so for a typical offsite think of it as a four-person house. Or up to six, if a couple of people are bringing partners or don't mind sharing.
Master Bedroom 1
1 queen bed, ensuite
Master Bedroom 2
1 queen bed, 1 floor mattress, 1 cot, ensuite
Bedroom 3
1 queen bed
Bedroom 4
2 single beds, 1 floor mattress
Three rooms have queen beds and the fourth has two singles, which works for two colleagues who are fine sharing. Both master bedrooms have an ensuite, and there are 3 bathrooms in total. The maximum is 8 guests.
Things to do as a team
The whole point of coming to the coast is getting out of the house. Torquay has plenty for a group with mixed energy levels, and most of it is within ten minutes of the door.
A surf lesson
The classic Torquay team outing. Local surf schools run beginner group lessons on Front Beach with boards and wetsuits supplied, and nobody needs any experience. Falling off together is half the fun. See our surfing guide. If anyone brings their own board, there's covered storage for boards and wetsuits at the house.
A round of golf
There are several courses within about 20 minutes, from a quick nine at The Sands to 13th Beach Golf Links. Our golf guide has the details.
A walk on the Surf Coast Walk
The trail starts at Whites Beach, 400m from the house. Point Danger to Bells Beach is about 6.5 km along the clifftops. That's a good length for a walking one-on-one, or just to clear your head in the arvo. See the Surf Coast Walk guide.
A brewery or winery afternoon
Blackman's and Bells Beach Brewing are about five minutes away, and there are cellar doors out in the Bellbrae hinterland. Pick a driver, or book a taxi ahead of time. See our breweries guide.
Evenings at the house
Cook together in the full kitchen or fire up the BBQ, then finish in the private hot tub, which is open all year. For the competitive ones there are board games, arcade games, a games console and a basketball ring.
Planning the trip
Bringing a bigger mixed group, or mixing work with families? Our group accommodation guide covers sleeping plans, parking and house rules for groups.
Team retreat FAQ
How many people can come on a team retreat?
There are 4 bedrooms, so four people can each have their own room. Up to 8 guests can stay if some share. The fourth bedroom has two single beds.
Is the internet good enough for video calls?
The house has fibre NBN internet and Wi-Fi, plus a dedicated workspace with ethernet. If your team has unusual bandwidth needs, mention them when you enquire.
Is there a meeting room?
Not a dedicated one. Teams use one of the two living rooms or the dining table for eight. A few coworking providers in Torquay hire out meeting rooms if you need something more formal.
Can we stay midweek?
Yes. Midweek stays are welcome, subject to availability and the minimum stay for your dates, which is anywhere from two to four nights.
What team activities are close by?
Group surf lessons on Front Beach, golf at several courses within about 20 minutes, the Surf Coast Walk from Whites Beach, and breweries about five minutes away.
Can we run a client event at the house?
No. The house rules don't allow parties or events. It's set up for your own team to stay, work and switch off.
Planning a small offsite or a working week on the coast? Send an enquiry with your dates and team size, and Steve and Karen will confirm availability.
Sources
Facts on this page were checked against these sources on 13 October 2026. Opening hours, patrols, rules and closures change — check with the source before you go.
- Surf Coast Walk — Visit Great Ocean Road
- Golf at The Sands — The Sands Torquay
- RACV Torquay Golf Club — RACV
- 13th Beach Golf Links — Visit Geelong Bellarine
- Bells Beach Brewing — Visit Great Ocean Road
- Blackman's Brewery — Blackman's Brewery
- Train and coach timetables — V/Line