CMW Issue 132 132 | Page 49

Regional report

What ’ s new in NT

AUSTRALIA ’ S NORTHERN TERRITORY ( NT ) IS A FAST-EVOLVING INCENTIVES DESTINATION WHERE VISITING DELEGATES CAN LEAVE A LEGACY AND ENGAGE WITH AN ANCIENT ABORIGINAL CULTURE DATING BACK MORE THAN 65,000 YEARS .

K ey NT incentives destinations include the tropical capital of Darwin and World-Heritage listed Kakadu , Australia ’ s largest National Park . Further south , the desert landscapes of Central Australia include the outback town of Alice Springs and in the heart of the country , natural icons Uluru ( Ayers Rock ) and Kata Tjuta ( The Olgas ).

The NT boasts three dedicated convention centres – in Darwin , Alice Springs and at Uluru .
On the Waterfront A major redevelopment of the Darwin Waterfront Precinct is underway and includes a new Momentus Hotels & Resorts which will integrate with the Darwin Convention Centre and offer 236 rooms when it opens at the end of 2026 .
Adjacent to the Darwin Convention Centre , a new , multi-million-dollar Larrakia Cultural Centre is also being developed .
The Northern Territory Art Gallery , a key component of Darwin ’ s new A $ 145m Civic and State Square Precinct , is also under construction and business events groups will be able to use it for special events once it is completed next year .
Heli-foraging experience A new heli-foraging and gin-making experience will soon fly guests over spectacular landscapes to Finniss River Lodge , a 50,000-acre outback cattle station and luxury lodge . An all-terrain buggy or airboat then takes visitors foraging for native botanicals such as quinine and turkey bush .
And there is a real working cattle station experience to be had at Bullo River Station , a member of the Luxury Lodges of Australia collection . Set on 400,000 privately-owned acres 800km south-west of Darwin , the property is home to kangaroos , wallabies , dingoes , fish and crocodiles .
Experiences on offer include river cruising , swimming in natural waterholes , stargazing , fishing and ancient rock art viewing .
National aboriginal art gallery The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Gallery of Australia ( ATSIAGA ) is under construction in Alice Springs and will include a top floor event space and a four-level atrium .
Below : Darwin Waterfront . Photo credit : Shaana McNaught
Voyages Ayers Rock Resort New Indigenous-inspired , culturally immersive experiences were launched in early August at Voyages Ayers Rock Resort at Uluru .
Sunrise Journeys is an early morning cultural and sensory immersion experience featuring artwork created by the Anangu , traditional landowners of the region , while Ayers Rock Resort experiences include drone show and cultural storytelling experience , Wintjiri Wiru , the spectacular Field of Light Uluru and award-winning dining experiences , Sounds of Silence and Tali Wiru .
New aviation connections Singapore Airlines is operating daily services between Singapore and Darwin International Airport , and Qantas will launch a direct international service from Darwin to Singapore five times a week from late March 2025 . These flights provide one-stop access to destinations across Southeast Asia , as well as Europe via Qantas partner airlines . Virgin Australia operates new direct flights from Melbourne and Brisbane to Uluru , and Qantas operates flights between Sydney and Uluru five days a week and a daily Cairns-Uluru service .
Government support funding The Northern Territory Business Events Support Fund ( NTBESF ) offers assistance to organisers of qualified business events , with grants available from A $ 100 per delegate to A $ 200 per delegate , depending on time of year and other conditions may apply .
Authentic cultural interaction and engagement , iconic landscapes , inspiring nature-based activities and outstanding local cuisine , combined with destination support , now present a compelling proposition for incentive planners considering NT . n
n For further information , visit : www . ntbusinessevents . com . au
ISSUE 132 / CONFERENCE & MEETINGS WORLD / 49