Your inspiration to plan the ultimate end-of-year celebration
Rebel Boat Charter
Can you believe it’s already that time of year? As holiday preparations kick into gear and Santa fine-tunes his sleigh, the buzz of Christmas party planning is in the air.
Let's be honest: we've all been to that one Christmas party that was, well, a dud. Thankfully, however, the Shire is packed with venues up for hosting an end-of-year celebration that's actually good. Whether you're celebrating with friends, coworkers, or family, if you're fresh out of ideas about how to send the year out with a bang, here's our guide to Christmas Party ideas worth getting around. You’re welcome!
15 Christmas Party Ideas In The Sutherland Shire
All Aboard REBEL Charters
Looking to take your Christmas party up a notch? Meet REBEL, a 40ft luxury boat available for private charter on the Port Hacking. With room for up to nine guests and your very own skipper, spend the afternoon sipping drinks on deck, swimming off the back and enjoying catering from local favourite Pippis Cronulla. There's even a bathroom, shower and bed on board! Docked at Calico Marina, REBEL can arrange pick-up from anywhere on the Hacking, including your own jetty.
A Padel Party At Kick Padel Club
A Christmas party with a side of padel? We're listening. At Kick Padel Club in Taren Point, you can trade the usual end-of-year drinks for a few games on the court before heading upstairs to the bar for a well-earned round. With an onsite café, licensed bar and function area overlooking the action, it's got everything you need to make an afternoon of it. You can even book the function space privately, so the whole crew can celebrate without having to move on to venue number two.
Plan A Brewery Hop
Tucked away in warehouses and off the main drag, the Shire's brewery scene is well worth exploring, especially when there's a Christmas party to plan. Make an afternoon of it and hop between local favourites like Sunday Road, Slim Pickin’s, Hairyman and Shark Island. Each has its own signature spin on a good brew and a laid-back atmosphere that's made for catching up over a beer or two. Throw in some food truck eats and you've got yourself a pretty good way to wrap up the working year.
Pottery And Sip
The hardworking among us have spent the year getting our hands dirty to get the job done – so why not continue the trend? Set in a bright and breezy, uber-cool warehouse, Part Time Ceramics in Caringbah is a pretty good place to get creative this Christmas. Book yourself and your friends in for one of their many workshops, or take it private and have the place to yourselves. Just don’t forget to bring the bubbles!
Set Sail With Luxe Hire
For a more laid-back affair, how does an afternoon cruising the Port Hacking with your favourite people sound? Luxe Hire lets you hire your very own pontoon boat, with room for up to 12 guests and the freedom to cruise around at your own pace. Choose from a half-day, full-day or sunset session, organise catering from local favourite HAM Cronulla and BYO drinks. The best part? You can captain the boat yourself, with no boating licence required when operating within the permitted speed limit. Now that's our kind of summer arvo!
Lunch & Drinks At Meadow
What’s cooler than rounding up the crew for a long lunch at one of the Shire’s best openings of 2026? Meadow’s bistro and bar brings a touch of French flair to your end-of-year celebrations, with a share-style menu, elevated cocktails and vinyl-led tunes setting the mood. Order the Vodka Pasta, get a few plates for the table and settle in for an afternoon of lunch, drinks and end-of-year catch-ups. Scout Tip: Meadow’s Boozy Bistro bottomless option is well worth a look.
Make It From Scratch At Pino’s
For the foodies in the group, a pasta-making masterclass at Pino's is one worth getting around. Set against terracotta hues and warm mood lighting, this Cronulla favourite invites you into the kitchen to learn the art of traditional Pasta Ripiena, guided by the chefs themselves. The hands-on class finishes with a delicious three-course meal, making it a Christmas party that's equal parts learning and eating. And we're definitely here for the latter!
A Lazy Arvo At Lawn Bowls
Leave your shoes at home and bring your competitive spirit – there’s nothing better than a sunny, lazy afternoon spent on the green with a beer in hand. You’ll be pleased to know that there are no less than seven (yes, seven) lawn bowl venues in the Shire, so there's no shortage of places to gather your mates for a little barefoot bowling. A few friendly games, cold drinks and plenty of banter? That's a Christmas party sorted. Read our full guide here.
Settle The Office Rivalry At The Picklr
Time to find out who's all talk in the office! If you've yet to jump on the pickleball bandwagon, consider this your chance to see what all the fuss is about. The Picklr Cronulla is home to premium indoor courts dedicated to the sport, which combines elements of tennis, badminton and ping pong. It's easy enough for first-timers to get involved, but competitive enough to bring out a few unexpected rivalries. And with drinks available on site, there's only one question left: who's buying the first round?
An Italian Cooking Fiesta At Salt Meats Cheese
If the group chat can't agree on where to eat, why not make the food yourselves? At Salt Meats Cheese in Cronulla, private Italian cooking classes are on the menu, with everything from handmade pizza and gnocchi to ravioli and fresh pasta. Fancy a cocktail with your cooking? Try the Arancini & Aperol Affair or Spaghetti & Spritz Soiree for a little of both. Once the hard work is done, sit down and tuck into your creations, with optional bottomless drinks packages to keep the festivities going. Bellissimo!
Enjoy A Bottomless Session
What’s not to love about free-flowing drinks? Not a lot. In the Shire, we’re spoilt for choice when it comes to bottomless sessions, from long lunches fuelled by Aperol to afternoons spent sipping sangria and rosé. Truly, there are too many to list here, but luckily for you, we made a whole separate guide for those looking to while away the hours with great food and a glass that rarely stays empty.
Indulge In A Luxe Skin Experience At Skin Street
Who said Christmas parties have to involve dinner and drinks? If you're after something a little different this year, Skin Street is one to have on your radar. Set within a beautifully designed waterfront property in Kangaroo Point, this chic clinic offers a skin experience unlike anything else in the Shire. Think champagne on arrival, stunning water views and time to unwind with HydraFacials and personalised skin treatments. With plenty of treatment rooms to accommodate your group, it's a rather luxe way to finish the year.
Get Personal With A Jewellery-Making Workshop
A Christmas party where everyone leaves with a gift? Yes please. Sol Studio by Native Sol brings fully hosted jewellery-making workshops straight to you, so all you need to do is gather your favourite people, pour the bubbles and get creating. Think personalised initial bead necklaces, bracelets and earrings, made with high-quality gold PVD-plated materials designed to last. The result? A few hours of creativity, plenty of catching up and a custom piece of jewellery that beats your average Secret Santa gift.
Sunset Drinks At Cronulla Sailing Club
Sunsets, sea breezes and a few celebratory drinks. Sounds like a pretty good Christmas party to us! Open during the warmer months, Cronulla Sailing Club is one of those spots that makes you appreciate living in the Shire. With sweeping water views, live music and some seriously good sunsets, it's an easy choice for a relaxed end-of-year catch-up. The Club is open for dinner (and drinks) on Fridays only – but who doesn’t love a pre-weekend party?
Cocktail Making At Las Chica’s
Going out for a celebratory Christmas cocktail is all well and good, but what if you could have some fun making and shaking yourself? Here's a little secret: Shire icon Las Chica’s offers fuss-free cocktail-making classes. Learn the tricks behind their signature cocktails, shake up a few of your own and enjoy a cheese platter while you're at it. It’s $79pp for two cocktails and $95 for three, and you can book online here.