Hobart
Major Airport
Small Airport (light aircraft only)
Train Line
Welcome to the wonderful Whitsundays With breathtaking scenery, pristine waters, a tropical climate and easy access to world class meetings infrastructure and activities, the Whitsundays is one of the world’s most aspirational destinations for memorable business events and incentives. Centrally located in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef on the Queensland coast, the Whitsundays stretches from the O’Connell River in the South, west to the historic town of Collinsville and north to Bowen, and is home to spectacular natural icons including World Heritage Great Barrier Reef, Heart Reef and Whitehaven Beach. The jewel in the crown is the 74 Islands of the Whitsundays, and together with the lively mainland township of Airlie Beach ensures the Whitsundays are perfectly suited for Business Events of 10 to 1000 delegates. We look forward to sharing our extraordinary region with you.
Easy Access The Whitsunday Coast Airport, the mainland gateway to the Whitsundays, is conveniently located 30 minutes from Airlie Beach and 12 kilometres south of Proserpine. Hamilton Island Airport is located in the heart of the Whitsundays and provides access to Hamilton Island Resort, several island destinations and Airlie Beach. Qantas, Virgin Australia, Jetstar and Tiger Airways offer direct flights daily from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Cairns to Hamilton Island Airport (HTI) or Whitsunday Coast Airport (PPP).
Flight Times Hamilton Island Airport (HTI)
Whitsunday Coast Airport (PPP)
1 ½ hours
1 ½ hours
Sydney
2 hours
2 hours 40 mins
Melbourne
3 hours
3 hours
1 ½ hours
Not available
Brisbane
Cairns
Transfers from Hamilton Island or the Port of Airlie (Airlie Beach) are available to island resorts by fast ferry, luxury cruiser, helicopter or seaplane. Airlie Beach, located on the mainland, is serviced by buses, hire cars and taxis from Whitsunday Coast Airport, or by ferry from Hamilton Island. Everything is within easy reach.
The Perfect Climate for Business The Whitsundays enjoys a tropical climate of hot summers, warm winters and bright spring and autumn days. Average daily temperatures range from 23 degrees in the winter months to 30 degrees in the summer.
Conference with Confidence Venues and Accommodation
The Whitsundays offers more than 6000 accommodation rooms and meeting spaces suitable for business events of up to 1000 delegates. From world class luxury island resorts, stylish 4 and 5 star full service hotels, eco retreats through to 3 and 4 star apartments, the Whitsundays has something to meet a wide range of meeting and incentive requirements. To ensure your business event runs seamlessly, meeting venues are supported by a range of professional local services, including audio visual suppliers, exhibition hire companies, event stylists, photographers and more. The Whitsundays boasts the best of contemporary Australian and international cuisines, with fresh local produce starring on menus. When the meeting day ends there is a multitude of outdoor entertaining and dining locations – poolside, beachside, private jetty, palm lined lawn area, perhaps a sunset or dinner cruise, or even dine on a golf course. Whatever your needs, they can be met in the Whitsundays. Unleash the potential of your team with some of these unique meeting options. Conference on a permanently moored pontoon on the Great Barrier Reef –a meeting space with a view! Presentations can be made at an outdoor cinema under the moonlight, several overlook the beautiful Coral Sea. Have your CEO arrive by a helicopter landing on the beach right outside the conference room. Small or VIP meetings may be held on a luxury power boat cruising between island resorts, overlooking Whitehaven Beach, in a marina amongst yachts, on a tall ship, or a multi-million dollar super yacht. Book out an entire island resort and theme the island in keeping with your brand and meeting objectives. Host a gala event to be remembered – tables and chairs beachside, waiters dressed as scuba divers, fresh local seafood, all overlooking the islands and Coral Sea.
Venues at a Glance Venue
Accomm rooms
Meeting rooms
Meeting capacity
Banquet capacity
Website
At Hotel Group (5 properties)
170
2
50
n/a
athotelgroup.com.au
Bowen PCYC
-
2
250
150
pcyc.org.au/bowen
Coral Sea Resort
77
2
200
130
coralsearesort.com
Daydream Island Resort & Spa
296
5
300
240
daydreamisland.com
Hamilton Island & Qualia
800
13
1000
800
hamiltonisland.com.au qualia.com.au
One&Only Hayman Island
160
4
300
200
hayman.oneandonlyresorts.com
Palm Bay Resort
23
1
25
50
palmbayresort.com.au
Peppers Airlie Beach
102
3
110
100
peppers.com.au/airlie-beach
Proserpine Entertainment Centre
-
2
1000
500
proserpineentertainment.com.au
Whitsunday PCYC
-
2
500
300
pcyc.org.au/whitsundays
Whitsundays Art and Cultural Centre (WACC)
-
4
350
350
thewacc.com.au
Events Why not time your Business Event to coincide with one of the many events held each year in the Whitsundays? Some of the most popular include Audi Hamilton Island Race Week, Airlie Beach Race Week, Airlie Beach Festival of Music, Whitsunday Reef Festival, Bowen Off Shore Power Boat Races, Bowen River Rodeo and more. whitsundaysbusinessevents.com.au
Wonderful Whitsundays Incentives and Activities The Whitsundays delivers wow factor like no other, and offers delegates the chance to experience activities they may have only dreamt of.
Highlights
The Great Barrier Reef The Whitsundays is located within easy reach of World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef, one of the seven natural wonders of the world. With 2900 reefs, 300 coral cays, 1500 species of fish, plus turtles, whales, dolphins and birds, the Reef is a must-do experience. Many cruise operators provide great options to the Reef for business events groups, offering exclusive use vessels, gourmet luncheons and snorkelling equipment. Many also include a marine biologist, providing insight into this underwater wonderland.
Heart Reef Heart Reef is a beautiful composition of coral naturally formed into the shape of a heart and is best experienced by helicopter or seaplane. A flight over Heart Reef is an iconic Whitsunday incentive experience and one delegates will never forget.
Wonderful Group Activities Options for teambuilding, a fun interactive full or half day activity injects diversity and interest to a conference program. As well as a trip to the Reef or Whitehaven Beach, consider a corporate sailing regatta, stand up paddle boarding, a treasure hunt or beach Olympics. Perhaps a friendly or competitive hit of golf among colleagues, a scenic helicopter flight, or pampering in an award winning day spa may be more in keeping with your event. Talk to Whitsundays Business Events about the ideal choice for your delegates.
Wonderful Incentive Ideas A great incentive is unique, experiential and remembered long after participants have departed. Spend a day exploring the Reef and then enjoy dinner under the stars before sleeping in swags and waking to sunrise over the Great Barrier Reef. All aboard a 20 metre catamaran to relax and enjoy some of the best snorkelling sites on the Great Barrier Reef. Cruise the Whitsundays on a luxury motor cruiser or yacht. The Whitsundays offers some of the best protected sailing waters in the world.
Whitehaven Beach
Don’t miss an incredible helicopter or seaplane flight for a bird’s eye view over the extraordinary Whitsundays.
Whitehaven Beach is continuously ranked one of the top ten beaches in the world. The famous clear blue waters and pristine silica sand stretches seven kilometres along Whitsunday Island. A popular half day option for groups is to include a gourmet BBQ luncheon and beach activities.
A Whitsundays sunset is really something to behold, and a sunset cocktail cruise is the perfect way to start a great evening. Enjoy a private dinner cruise with your own on-board 5 star chef.
One&Only Hayman Island
Tantalise the tastebuds with fresh local produce and enjoy a privately hosted Chef’s Table, a beachside dinner under the stars or a private cooking class.
Activities at a Glance Contact Whitsundays Business Events for details
2-3 Hours
Half Day
Full Day
Maximum Numbers
On and under the water Deep Sea Fishing
20
Great Barrier Reef Cruise – Large Vessel
470
Great Barrier Reef Cruise – Large Catamaran
70
Luxury Cruises – Private Vessels
30
Kayaking and Canoeing
30 Enquire
Eco Barge Clean Seas Activity Reef Sleep Experience
2 days
9
Sailing Regatta
60
Scuba Diving
150
Snorkelling
470
Sail and Snorkel
58
Sunset Cocktail Cruise
90
Evening Dinner Cruise
46-75
Whale Watching (July-Oct) Whitehaven Beach Cruise, Hill Inlet Tour
Enquire 300
On land Aboriginal Cultural Experience
300
Australian Animal Experience
Enquire
Beach Olympics Farm and Produce Tours Golf Tournament – Hamilton Island Golf Course
300 15 120
Airlie Beach Markets (Sat am)
Unlimited
National Parks Guided Walks
20
Open Air/Roof Top Cinema
200
Rum Tasting Experience
10
Segway Tours
8
Spa Treatments Yoga Classes Study Tours – Agriculture/Mining/Marine Sciences Themed Events and Teambuilding Activities
Enquire 50 Enquire 1000
In the air Helicopter Flights and Tours Scenic Flights/Tiger Moths/Sea Planes
15 Enquire
Business Events Suppliers at a Glance Airlie Beach Music P: +61 7 4946 4433 www.beachmusic.com.au At Hotel Group P: +61 7 4948 4301 www.athotelgroup.com.au AV Partners - Whitsundays P: +61 7 4946 9878 www.avpartners.com Bowen PCYC P: +61 7 4786 1383 www.pcyc.org.au/Bowen Brooke Miles Photography P: +61 (0)419 941 162 www.brookemiles.com.au Coral Sea Resort P: +61 7 4964 1300 www.coralsearesort.com Clean Seas Eco Barge P: +61 7 4946 5198 www.ecobargecleanseas.org.au Cruise Whitsundays P: +61 7 4846 7036 www.cruisewhitsundays.com Daydream Island Resort & Spa P: +61 7 3259 2359 www.daydreamisland.com Explore Group P: +61 7 4946 9664 www.exploregroup.net
One&Only Hayman Island (Head Office) P: +61 2 9308 0500 www.hayman.oneandonlyresorts.com Palm Bay Resort P: 1300 655 126 www.palmbayresort.com.au Peppers Airlie Beach P: +61 7 4962 5100 www.peppers.com.au/airlie-beach Proserpine Entertainment Centre P: +61 7 4945 2312 www.proserpineentertainment.com.au Qantas Conferences P: 13 26 24 www.qantas.com.au The Palm House P: +61 7 4948 5444 www.thepalmhouse.com.au Whitsunday PCYC P: +61 7 4948 1144 www.pcyc.org.au/Whitsunday Whitsunday Regional Council P: +61 7 4945 0200 www.whitsunday.qld.gov.au Whitsundays Art and Cultural Centre P: +61 7 4946 4444 www.thewacc.com.au
Hamilton Island (Head Office) P: +61 2 9433 3333 www.hamiltonisland.com.au
Whitsundays Business Events P: +61 (0)439 545 339 www.whitsundaysbusinessevents.com.au
Hamilton Island Airport Information P: +61 7 4946 8620 www.hamiltonisland.com.au/airport
Whitsundays Coast Airport P: +61 7 4945 0200 www.whitsunday.qld.gov.au
Mabuhay Luxury Cruiser P: +61 (0)457 774 382 rf-1@hotmail.com
Heli-Taxi P: 1300 668 716 www.helitaxi.com.au
Ocean Dynamics Luxury Cruisers and Jet Skis P: +61 (0)400 744 850 www.oceandynamics.com.au
Whitsundays Region Visitor Information P: +61 7 4945 3967 www.tourismwhitsundays.com.au
Here to Help Whitsundays Business Events is the official Convention Bureau for the region, and offers a range of complimentary services to meeting and event planners. From sourcing of quotes to providing advice on offsite dinner locations and much more, the bureau is here to ensure your event experience is hassle free. Our services include: Advice on venues, accommodation, transport, attractions and activities. Sourcing of proposals on your behalf and the preparation of formal bid submissions. Ideas for social programs and accompanying persons programs. Pre and post touring options. Delegate boosting collateral including images, maps, brochures and more.
Familiarisations Each year Whitsundays Business Events runs fully hosted familiarisations of the region for qualified business events decision makers to experience first-hand the best of Whitsundays Business Events products. Please register your interest on our website. www.whitsundaysbusinessevents.com.au
Head OfďŹ ce
Whitsundays Business Events Unit 1/5 Carlo Drive, Cannonvale Queensland Australia 4802 Phone: 07 4948 5900 / 0439 545 339 Email: business@wmdl.com.au
whitsundaysbusinessevents.com.au facebook.com/WhitsundaysBusinessEvents twitter.com/whitsundaysbe A division of Whitsundays Marketing and Development Ltd.
Fairy Reef
N
Net Reef
Cairns WHITSUNDAYS
Oublier Reef Knuckle Reef
Townsville
Brisbane
Line Reef Hook Reef
Bowen
Elizabeth Reef Hardy Reef
Bait Reef Hayman Island
Black Reef
Hydeaway Bay P a c if
Dingo Beach
Hook Island
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Whitsunday Island
Daydream Island
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South Molle Island
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Airlie Beach
Shute Harbour
Peter Faust Dam
Long Island Proserpine
Great Barrier Reef Airport Hamilton Island
Cedar Creek Falls
Pr o se
Whitehaven Beach
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Con
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Lindeman Island
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Whitsunday Coast Airport
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Laguna Whitsundays Brampton Island Mackay
Midge Point
DISCLAIMER: Information provided is designed to support meeting planners in gaining a wider knowledge of the Whitsundays region and assist in making their business event choices. While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information in this guide no responsibility can be accepted by Whitsundays Marketing and Development Ltd or the publisher for errors, changes or omissions. Material published is subject to copyright and may not be reproduced, copied or transmitted in any form without the prior written consent of Whitsundays Marketing and Development Ltd.