Cairns & Great Barrier Reef is a place where events don’t just happen, they come alive in ways delegates remember long after they’ve flown home. From rainforest bungees to reef‑side dining, the region turns every moment into an experience that feels bigger, brighter and a little bit wild. In this A–Z guide you will find 26 shortcuts to the adventures, flavours and venues that make TNQ a unique experience for delegates.
Cairns Adventure Group
Cairns Adventure Group
Rainforeststation Nature Park
Rainforeststation Nature Park
Ochre Catering
Ochre Catering
NQ Exhibitions
NQ Exhibitions
A is for adrenaline that courses through 140 delegates white water rafting on the river with Cairns Adventure Group. Go one step further and challenge your CEO to jump the beach with Skydive Cairns or take off from a rainforest bungee platform with !
B is for boomerangs that come back around (or not!) when you learn how to throw one at Rainforestation Nature Park in Kuranda! Small and large groups can learn this age-old skill during a visit to the park during the day or as part of an exclusive use evening dinner event.
C is for catering Tropical North Queensland style! Host an event offsite with Ochre Catering or NuNu and introduce delegates to unique tropical flavours including Davidson plum, finger lime, wattleseed and the freshest seafood available – straight off the boat!
D is for down time taking in some much-needed wellness at Crystalbrook Collections Eleme Spa or Pullman Cairns Internationals Vie Spa.
E is for exhibition spaces that draw in the crowds at the award-winning Cairns Convention Centre, supported by NQ Exhibitions’ and Clique Events world-class service and sustainable exhibition solutions coupled with the conference support expertise of Wallfly who will bring your event to life!
NuNu low food miles
NuNu low food miles
Down Under Tours
Down Under Tours
The Tanks
The Tanks
Hartley's Crocodile Adventures
Hartley's Crocodile Adventures
F is for fresh food and produce from within a three-hour radius. It’s all about low food miles and climate calories in Cairns & Great Barrier Reef and walking the walk of our region’s commitment to Sustainability and Conservation.
G is for guided tours and transfers for intimate incentives of 20 through to a congress of 2,000, Down Under Tours can take any event where they need to go, catering to all size groups, great and small.
H is for historic venues that are repurposed for purpose and tell stories of the region. Think a World War II oil tank, refurbished sugar wharf, converted timber mill or multi generation cane farm for an epic gala event, or the exclusivity of an historic building turned Art Gallery for an intimate leadership dinner.
I is for islands and barefoot luxury exploring the palm fringed sands and blue lagoon of Fitzroy Island, a snorkelling and guided cultural walk on the emerald isle – Green Island or for something truly off grid – a private adventure to the untouched and uninhabited Frankland Islands with Entrada.
J is for jumping crocodiles at the famous Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures Crocodile Attack show! Take over the park at night and enjoy private lagoon cruises learning about these prehistoric reptiles. Delegates can even try kangaroo or crocodile as they wander through the park – anyone game?
Thala Beach Nature Reserve
Thala Beach Nature Reserve
Mexicairns
Mexicairns
Rocco
Rocco
Birdworld Kuranda
Birdworld Kuranda
K is for Kuranda Village and exploring wildlife attractions including the Kuranda Koala Gardens, Birdworld Kuranda and the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary. Delegates can shop up a storm at the Heritage and Original Markets.
L is for luxury accommodation for small incentive groups at Silky Oaks Lodge nestled in the rainforest or Thala Beach Nature Reserve perched high on the headland overlooking a private beach.
M is for Mexican inspired cuisine, fun and games at Cairns’ only competitive social venue, Mexicairns. Challenge up to 700 delegates to battle it out throughout your event on old school games including Shuffleboard, Tenpin bowling, darts, table tennis and pool while enjoying mutli frozen margaritas on tap!
N is for night-time exploration and after dark fun! If delegates have forgotten an essential souvenir for family, they can hit the city Night Markets! Wind down and connect with colleagues in hidden laneway bar Three Wolves, or on the rooftop overlooking the ocean at Rocco before taking to the dancefloor at Bar36.
O is for oceanarium and the weird and wonderful flora and fauna of Tropical North Queensland. Take delegates on a private twilight adventure through the Cairns Aquarium before arriving in the Oceanarium for a welcome reception underwater!
Quicksilver
Quicksilver
Skyrail Rainforest Cableway
Skyrail Rainforest Cableway
Flames of the Forest
Flames of the Forest
Salt House
Salt House
P is for private dining with a tropical vibe at Salt House, an expansive waterfront venue perched on the Cairns Marina with a luxury Moet private dining room for up to 20. Larger events can enjoy fine-dining artistry at the award-winning Chef-Hatted Tamarind Restaurant, located within the Pullman Reef Hotel Casino, or the tastes of Harrison’s Restaurant by Spencer Patrick at the Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort in Port Douglas.
Q is for quiet serenity as delegates cruise back from a day of adventure on a Great Barrier Reef outer reef activity. Whether heading back to Port Douglas on board Quicksilver or to Cairns on Reef Magic, delegates will lean in to the memory of their transformational experience when they took in the vibrant colours of coral and fish of this world heritage marvel.
R is for rainforest dinners under towering trees at Flames of the Forest. This unique outdoor venue features a majestic black silk marquee rainforest ballroom with sparkling fairy lights and the benefit of no noise restrictions, curfews or mobile phone reception!
S is for soaring over the oldest living rainforest on earth (roughly 80 to 125 millions years older than the Amazon!) in a glass gondola with Skyrail Rainforest Cableway where delegates can take in a guided walk along the boardwalk to marvel and the magnificence of the Barron Falls before jumping on board the Heritage Kuranda Scenic Rail for a Gold Class return to Cairns complete with wine and cheese.
T is for transformational experiences with traditional owners that will guide delegates along a cultural journey of bush foods and medicine while sharing ancient stories. Learn from the rainforest people of Mossman Gorge on a Dreamtime walk, coastal clans on a Mandingalbay country experience, sea rangers on Dreamtime Dive or a mangrove and traditional hunting adventure with Walkabout Cultural Adventures.
Cairns City
Cairns City
Spirt of Cairns
Spirt of Cairns
Kur Cow Barnwell Farm
Kur Cow Barnwell Farm
Port Douglas Events & Hire
Port Douglas Events & Hire
U is for uninterrupted views of Cairns city and Trinity Inlet as delegates cruise with tropical breezes on board Spirit of Cairns for a welcome with difference
V is for VIP access to the club lounge at Hilton Cairns or the bustling Marina from the Horizon Club at Shangri-la the Marina Cairns – the perfect perk!
W is for water sliding onto the Great Barrier Reef with Sunlover Cruises at their Moore Reef Platform. The platform takes 335 delegates for a day of snorkelling, diving, helmet diving, semi-submersible adventures and the only waterslide on the reef!
X is for Xceptional destination management services by Managing Australian Destinations and special events by Port Douglas Events & Hire in Cairns, Palm Cove, Port Douglas or even Cape York! From the reef to the rainforest, breakfast to dinner, teambuilding to CSR, they’ve got your event covered.
Y is for Yee haw on horse-back by real Aussie cowboys and cowgirls as delegates arrive at KUR-Cow Barnwell Farm, to participate in real farm-life activities, including horse riding, ATVs and the favourite tractor-driven haybale ride.
Z is for Zero emissions with Tropic Wings state-of-the-art, fully electric coaches with luxury interiors, seating up to 50 delegates for stylish transfers around Cairns, the Atherton Tablelands, Port Douglas and beyond.
Business Events Cairns & Great Barrier Reef is a complimentary service offering support to meeting and event planners looking to bring a business event to our breathtaking location in Australia.
