Behind the scenes on our team meet up in Melbourne
February 2025 brought Leatherback Travel’s Australian team mates together from all of our sister brands (Fencox, Patch Adventures, Camino Women and Magnificent Rail) for our annual two-day Australian Team Meet Up in Melbourne.
When Mat (our co-founder), asked me (Lou), if I’d like to arrange this years’ catch up I was chuffed, but truthfully…. a little terrified! I mean, organising a ‘group adventure’ for a ‘group of adventure travel specialists’ wasn’t going to be easy by any stretch of the imagination. Talk about pressure!
When I joined the company in 2022, there were just four of us at our first ever team catchup; Mat, Rebeca (his wife and co-founder), our Head Trip Designer, Lisa and myself. Now, three years later, our Aussie team has hit 18 incredible unicorns.
I was really going to have to think outside of the box and pull a rabbit out of my hat to impress this lot!
What could I come up with that was manageable for a large group, memorable, high on the fun factor, and wouldn’t melt Mat’s credit card?
Luckily, this wasn’t my first rodeo! When it comes to arranging trips, I’ve learned a thing or two during my time.
As the team are so used to knowing our trips like the back of their hands, I decided first that, for this adventure – a little mystery was required!
‘Secret squirrels’ style, I set about plotting the activities, revealing only the dates and arrival time so the team could book their flights. The rest I would unveil in real time spanning our 48-hour catchup. They’re a curious bunch I tell you, and I knew the suspense would drive everyone wild.
Leatherback Travel Masterclass Lesson No. 1 – build excitement. Tick!
The next order of business was finding accommodation for everyone. For a big city accustomed to hosting world-class events and a gazillion choices for hotels, you’d think this would have been easy.
But, NO!
American country singer superstar, Luke Combs and his stampede of fans were also in town for his sold-out shows at Marvel Stadium.
‘Sorry, Luke! You’re not going to be the only singer in town this weekend!’ I hummed to myself and got googling.
Luck struck and I chanced upon the brand new 5-star hotel ‘Melbourne Place’.
This would do nicely!
With our fully remote team flying in from all different states, Day One activities would be light.
But “What to do for Day Two?”, I wondered.
Nothing like a little healthy competition I decided. Something that requires teamwork, problem solving skills and speed. Google and I conspired again…
With activities and our farewell dinner venue now locked and loaded there was one final box to tick. It was the perfect opportunity for us to give Mat a present – not only as a gesture to say ‘thank-you’ for the meet up, but to celebrate his recent milestone birthday too.
As frequent travellers with a fistful of boarding passes in hand already for 2025, I gave Rebeca a call and suggested an Apple Watch might be useful for his travels.
Her response?
“Do you guys really want to give Mat the ability to send you more messages?”
Hmmm, she had a point.
“How about an experience-based gift that he’ll never forget?’ she suggested.
A lightbulb flickered on in my head. I hung up and pinged a message to the team with an idea.
‘Love it, count us in! But best wishes at your new job, Lou!’ came the collective response, followed by a flood of ‘unicorn’ and ‘rolling-on the-floor’ laughing emojis.
That was all the encouragement I needed. This was going to be a gift that Mat would definitely never forget…
Leatherback Travel Masterclass Lesson No. 2 – include little surprises along the way. Tick!
Finally, the morning of our big event had arrived! Excited messages lit up the team WhatsApp chat with the interstate crews posting photos of themselves departing various airports.
Check-ins at the hotel went like clockwork and each time the elevator doors opened on Level 18, “Ooohs!’ and ‘Ahhhhs!’’ flowed across the terrace, like the wine into their glasses.
For the next two hours that beautiful terrace was bathed in welcoming hugs and the happy chatter of my wonderful crew catching up, and in some instances meeting each other in person for the very first time.
Day One was a smash!
I was over the moon that the team loved their accommodation. Melbourne Place is one of THE best hotels I’ve ever dealt with. It was the perfect fit for us!
Leatherback Travel Masterclass Lesson No. 3 – include accommodation that WOWS. Tick!
As the team wandered off into Melbourne’s laneways for ‘dinner at leisure’, I gave them strict instructions to meet the following morning at 9am sharp, and to bring their game faces. Day Two was going to be ‘on like Donkey Kong’…
With everyone assembled on time (note: nobody wants to be ‘that person’ who’s late on a group adventure!), I split them into two teams, handing each a list of instructions.
Their challenge…a foot race to find four iconic statues and share proof by posting photos in the team WhatsApp chat. Here’s how that went down…
I think you can agree from the grins on these faces that everyone thoroughly enjoyed this challenge. Even random strangers!
Leatherback Travel Masterclass Lesson No. 4 – include super fun activities! Tick!
Knowing the first activity would end right as the team’s tummies were starting to rumble, I planned the footrace to finish just in time for lunch at the Docklands. But we weren’t destined for a restaurant. Oh, no, no, no!
Today, they would be served donuts. Donuts by the sea!
Aqua Donuts, actually.
With an onboard barbecue and a karaoke machine.
(Next time you’re in Melbourne, you seriously have to do this with a group of friends!)
I handed each team bags filled with drinks and supplies I had prepared for a ‘build/burn your own burger’ cooking experience (that’s A LOT of onion cutting for 18 people by the way!) and for the next two hours we drifted around the harbour, belting our lungs out in our big orange donuts with Marvel Stadium looming in the background.
Sure, Luke Combs might do a cracking cover version of Tracy Chapman’s hit song ‘Fast Car’, but it was nothing compared to the performance we put on for the passing flock of seagulls as we rocked out 80’s new wave smash ‘I Ran (So Far Away!)’.
Residents in nearby skyrises reported windows breaking, which may or may not be attributed to allowing Mat a turn on the microphone. Investigations continue…
Leatherback Travel Masterclass Lesson No. 5 – include unique cooking experiences. Tick!
Safely back on shore, it was time to take this adventure underground with a test of wits, in a race against time inside an escape room at TRAPT!
Three teams locked in three rooms with a parchment of hand scrawled clues and the tick, tick, tock of the clock, counting down the moments to our freedom…and our demise.
Leatherback Travel Masterclass Lesson No. 5 – add some thrill factor. Tick!
Sometime later, after paying a handsome ransom for the release of the Patch Adventures crew, we were seated in the beautiful atrium of the Captain Melville pub for our farewell dinner. The moment had arrived. Time to call Mat up to present him with his gift…
Taking centre stage, he rather gingerly reached into the bag and pulled out his gift certificate for…
A 15,000ft skydive and a rainbow-coloured unicorn onesie to do it in!
As the crew all cheered and a big (nervous!) grin lit up his face, two things crossed my mind….
Firstly, I felt SO glad I had accepted the invitation to organise this team adventure. Sure, there were little moments where things didn’t go to plan (as is the nature of travel) but looking around at all my team-mate’s happy faces, it reminded me that the team and I all LOVE what we do…creating incredible adventure travel experiences and lifelong memories.
And..finally!
I’ve been wanting to throw Mat out of a plane for years!
Leatherback Travel Masterclass No. 6 – make memories for life. Tick!
P.S. Somewhere hidden in this blog is the name of a famous 80’s band – can you spot it?