GREAT BARRIER REEF
Did you know that Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef is the only place where two World Heritage areas meet ? And if you ’ re looking for a natural delegate booster for your next conference or event , the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics Rainforest will inspire great moments , fresh from nature ’ s playground .
You ’ ll find the Great Barrier Reef is so multifaceted and there ’ s bound to be an ideal way to add it to your event agenda . Delegates can enjoy downtime simply swimming and being on the water . Switch gears to educational and they can learn about the largest coral reef system in the world from marine biologists and master reef guides . Level up to getting stuck-in and volunteer your delegate ’ s time for some conservation activities .
The Wet Tropics Rainforest isn ’ t the understudy to the Reef in any way , however – rather a co-star of the region , worthy of its headline status . The world ’ s oldest rainforest is as spectacular as its inhabitants ; flora and fauna descriptions full of superlatives , filling a spot on any type of event agenda with ease .
Status that ’ s well-deserved Sheer beauty , as well as astonishing biodiversity , helped earn the Great Barrier Reef its World Heritage status . The ecosystem contains the largest collection ( more than 2,500 ) of coral reefs on the planet . It ’ s home to 400 types of coral , 900 islands , 1,500 species of fish and 4,000 types of mollusc . Six of the world ’ s seven species of sea turtles and 40 % of the anemone species also call the reef home . Great indeed .
Fun in the sun , learning , and contributing Departing daily on scheduled services or private charters from Cairns and Port Douglas , there are a variety of tours offering diving , snorkelling , sailing , cruising , scenic helitours , semi-submersibles , glass bottom boats , underwater scooters , and island-hopping , all showcasing one of the world ’ s greatest natural treasures .
The newest reef experience connects delegates to sea country Onboard Dreamtime Dive & Snorkel Indigenous rangers recount the Dreamtime stories of traditional custodians to help delegates gain a deeper cultural understanding of this diverse ecosystem . A day on Dreamtime includes an indigenous welcome and acknowledgment , experiencing the Great Barrier Reef creation story , and visiting two premium outer reef sites .
What ’ s better than visiting the Great Barrier Reef for the day ? Sliding into the Great Barrier Reef ! Sunlover Reef Cruises boasts the only waterslide on the reef . Their eco-certified tours whisks delegates away to Moore Reef and provides four hours of reef time to explore this underwater wonderland . Delegates can keep their hair dry and event-ready with the Seawalker Helmet diving .
Reef Magic unveiled their brand-new reef pontoon earlier this year ; the first new pontoon on the Great Barrier Reef in over a decade .
At 1003sqm , the new pontoon is one of the biggest , but with a daily capacity of 250 delegates there ’ s plenty of room to spread out . Adding to a delegate ’ s traditional day on the reef , the pontoon has a fully functioning scientific lab for reef research and projects .
Contrary to popular belief , visiting the Great Barrier Reef is one of the single best ways delegates can help in its conservation . Every visitor to the reef pays an Environmental Management Charge which contributes to the day-to-day management of the marine park and funding research to improve its long-term resilience , winning it the title of world ’ s best managed reef .
Delegates can also contribute by volunteering . Reef Restoration Foundation created the first Great Barrier Reef coral nursery at Fitzroy Island . They grow coral on frames and then replant them on nearby reefs , accelerating the growth process enabling reefs to recover from bleaching and cyclone damage faster . The idea that delegates can actively contribute to reef health is a massive delegate booster .
A rainforest as elite as the reef Did you know the Wet Tropics is the only place on the planet where you ’ ll find the world ’ s smallest and tallest cycads living alongside the world ’ s most diverse assemblage of ancient and relict flowering plants ? It ’ s a haven for Australia ’ s greatest number of animal species in one place – 80 of which can ’ t be found anywhere else on the planet – and at 300 million plus years in the making , it ’ s still evolving .
Recognised as the oldest tropical rainforest on the planet and the largest in Australia , the Wet Tropics Rainforest offers endless experiences for any group size . Its spectacular scenery , plant diversity and unique wildlife are guaranteed to leave delegates speechless .
Winter Issue 2022 | Executive PA 27