The Whitsundays
Wonderful Business Events
WHITSUNDAYS INCENTIVE PLANNER
WELCOME
The core of any successful incentive program is that it must be motivating, and few things motivate as powerfully as travel experiences. The anticipation of a well-designed, experience based incentive itinerary motivates and drives behaviour like no other. Travel has long been a powerful motivator of staff performance, customer loyalty and brand awareness, which in turn becomes an indispensable tool to your company’s profitability. A well designed and executed incentive trip can be the experience of a lifetime and a long term motivator.
Australia is world renowned as a magical, exotic and desirable destination and nowhere in Australia delivers on this like the Whitsundays. As one of the most naturally enticing destinations in the world and home to spectacular natural icons including the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef, Heart Reef and Whitehaven Beach, The Whitsundays can offer your staff or clients a unique experience with memories to treasure. A travel reward is unique as it is experiential and therefore remembered long after participants have departed.
W E L C O M E
1
The Whitsundays
LOCATION, ACCESS
& CLIMATE
The 74 Islands of the Whitsundays form the largest group of islands on Australia’s coastline. Centrally located on the Queensland coast of Australia just over 1,100 kms north of Brisbane and approximately 600 kms south of Cairns, the Whitsundays is easily accessible by road, rail, air and water!
With the convenience of two airports and direct flights from east coast major cities in Australia, delegates can arrive in the region by lunchtime ready for your Business Event. The Whitsundays are located just over an hour’s flight from both Brisbane and Cairns, just over two hour’s from Sydney and three hour’s from Melbourne providing a convenient, tropical option for both domestic and international incentive programs.
The region embraces both the coastal townships surrounding Airlie Beach, Bowen and Proserpine together with the islands, reef and atolls of this part of the Great Barrier Reef. Once you have arrived in the Whitsundays, it is just a simple transfer between the islands and coast. Your initial experience of the Whitsundays is set to impress, with connecting ferries and buses offering a spectacular scenic introduction. The following table indicates the most suitable airport to utilise, and suggested mode of transport to arrive at your destination.
2
L O C A T I O N A C C E S S C L I M A T E Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbounre WHITSUNDAY COAST HAMILTON ISLANDClimate
Situated on the same latitude as Rio de Janeiro and Tahiti, the Whitsundays enjoys a tropical climate, with daily temperatures varying little from month to month.
The days are warm year round and evenings are sultry in summer, cooler in winter but requiring only a light jacket or sweater. Water temperatures remain a welcoming 25˚C all year round.
Access
L O C A T I O N A C C E S S C L I M A T E
3
RESORT INTOFLY
MODE OF TRANSPORT DURATION OF TRIP FROM ARRIVAL POINT
(in minutes) Ferry Bus/Car
Island
Daydream Island Resort & Spa
HTI
30 mins PPP
60 mins Hamilton Island HTI 0 mins PPP
60 mins Hayman Island HTI
55 mins PPP
80 minsPalm Bay Resort, Long Island
HTI
30 mins PPP
50 mins Whitsunday Coast Airlie Beach PPP
35 mins HTI
60 mins Bowen PPP
50 mins HTI
120 mins Proserpine PPP
15 mins HTI
80 minsMonth Jan Feb Mar April May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
°C 31 30 29 28 26 24 23 25 26 28 31 31
4
I S L A N D R E S O R T SI S L A N D R E S O R T S
5
Sample Itinerary DAY ONE
• On arrival at Great Barrier Reef Airport, guests will be greeted by our staff and escorted to our luxurious yacht for the cruise to One&Only Hayman Island. Guests will be personally escorted to their accommodation for an afternoon of relaxation or to enjoy the many activities available on the island including One&Only Spa, Island Escapades, scenic seaplane or helicopter flights and beachfront watersports.
• Welcome Dinner: Seafood Extravaganza on Hayman Beach.
DAY TWO
• Breakfast at leisure at Azure Restaurant followed by an exclusive cruise to the spectacular Great Barrier Reef on board ‘Seaflight’. On arrival at Knuckle Reef
Lagoon, guests will have a private pontoon to explore the underworld of the reef and swim in the beautiful blue waters. Guests can also enjoy scenic helicopter flights over the reef including spectacular Heart Reef.
• Gala Dinner: Dinner in the Enchanted Forest
DAY THREE
• Breakfast at leisure in Azure Restaurant before being transferred to the airport for departure
ONE&ONLY HAYMAN ISLAND
One&Only Hayman Island, Australia’s most awarded private island, presents astonishing natural beauty, restorative peace, action-packed activity and indulgent culinary experiences. One&Only Hayman Island offers a front-row seat to the Great Barrier Reef and a world of leisure and adventure. Following a multi-million dollar renovation, the resort will be re-launched as One&Only Hayman Island in July 2014.
This island resort is a unique destination for rewarding high achievers, individuals or groups. Incentive participants can enjoy the best of leisure resort living, indulge in the finest cuisine, be pampered with beauty and natural therapy treatments, experience all the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef or simply relax on Hayman Beach.
I S L A N D R E S O R T S
7
QUALIA
Sample Itinerary DAY ONE
• Guests arrive at the Great Barrier Reef airport and are greeted by a qualia host for their exclusive VIP transfer to qualia. The afternoon is spent sailing the waters of the Whitsundays on board ‘On the Edge’ stopping off at world famous Whitehaven Beach for a swim and snorkel.
• Gala Dinner: ‘qualia by Moonlight on Pebble Beach’
DAY TWO
• Breakfast in the Long Pavilion before a day at leisure to take part in some of the wonderful experiences qualia offers, including a treatment at Spa qualia,
Whitsunday Islands beach drop off’s, a scenic flight, or a round of golf at the 18-hole championship Hamilton Island Golf Club.
• Gala Dinner - Dinner on your own private island - Dent Island.
DAY THREE
• Breakfast at leisure in the Long Pavilion before being transferred to the airport for departure.
Accessible by direct flights from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Cairns, qualia is located on the secluded northern-most tip of Hamilton Island. 60 elegant and private guest pavilions are nestled amongst 30 acres of tropical landscaped gardens. With exclusive facilities including Spa qualia, two restaurants and two pools, qualia is the perfect reward for your discerning executives.
www.qualia.com.au
www.hamiltonisland.com.au
The term ‘qualia’ (pronounced kwah-lee-ah) is of Latin derivative and used predominately by philosophers to refer to a collection of sensory experiences. It is a term that is hard to define, however perfectly fits the true essence of this resort.
qualia’s distinctive style, combined with its sun-drenched location and intuitive service, makes it a luxurious resort of world-class standards. It’s a truly special place where everything has been meticulously considered to relax the mind and completely spoil the senses.
I S L A N D R E S O R T S
9
DAYDREAM ISLAND
RESORT AND SPA
There is something special about taking your event to a tropical island in the Whitsundays. It’s not just an island but a totally unique experience. Daydream Island Resort and Spa is an incentive retreat in the true sense. From the moment you arrive, the magic of Daydream Island will envelope you.
The 4.5 resort offers 296 beautifully appointed rooms offering comprehensive resort facilities that are complimented by sparkling bays, secluded beaches and an array of pampering treatments or adventurous activities that combine to stimulate and reward.
www.daydreamisland.com
Sample Itinerary DAY ONE
• Arrive Great Barrier Reef Airport and transfer by luxury catamaran to Daydream Island • Enjoy a welcome lunch at the island’s signature restaurant Mermaids situated directly on the foreshore of the pristine Whitsunday passage
• Spend the afternoon indulging your senses at the Rejuvenation Spa or explore the area by air with a scenic helicopter or seaplane ride
• Watch the sunset over the Coral Sea and Whitsundays Island before enjoying a beach Dinner under the stars
DAY TWO
• Enjoy a private charter cruise to either the Outer Great Barrier Reef or Whitehaven Beach and experience some of the most amazing ‘Wonders of the World’
• Take in another Whitsunday sunset on the deck of Lovers Cove and enjoy an amazing seaside gala dinner in a spectacular location
DAY THREE
1 0
I S L A N D R E S O R T SPALM BAY RESORT -
LONG ISLAND
Palm Bay Resort offers the unique opportunity to have exclusive sole use of an island resort in the heart of the Whitsundays. With its selection of 23 beautiful Balinese inspired villas on a private cove accessible only by small boat or seaplane, Palm Bay offers a unique and intimate canvas to relax and unwind.
With a private reception venue, beach pavilion, media room, day-spa, tennis, pool and water activities, Palm Bay Resort also lends itself as an ideal destination for special events. If you are looking for a resort that focuses on wellness, Palm Bay offers a series of daily activities, classes and workshops as well as catered health, corporate coaching, leadership and wellbeing specialists.
Palm Bay is the perfect boutique option for small groups looking for tranquility and complete privacy in the Whitsunday Passage.
W H I T S U N D A Y C O A S T
1 1
WHITSUNDAY COAST
CORAL SEA RESORT
Cora Sea Resort in Airlie Beach is perched on the absolute water’s edge with ocean views to the north, east and west. It’s an ideal venue in a stunning location on the Whitsunday Coast, overlooking the beautiful Coral Sea. Coral Sea Resort has 77 rooms, including hotel suites, superior apartments and luxury penthouses.
The central location of this resort gives you easy access to the Whitsunday Islands and Great Barrier Reef. Just a short stroll via the seaside boardwalk will find you at Airlie Beach village; a relaxed coastal village with a collection of eclectic shops and variety of beachside cafes and restaurants. With stunning gardens surrounding the 25 metre pool, a private jetty and award winning oceanfront restaurant, Coral Sea Resort is an ideal coastal resort for your next incentive.
1 2
W H I T S U N D A Y C O A S TPEPPERS
AIRLIE BEACH
Peppers Airlie Beach is a self-rated 5 star apartment resort offering stylish and elegant accommodation in Airlie Beach, the gateway to the Whitsunday islands. With a desirable northerly aspect, wide balconies and majestic water views, intelligent design has been utilised to enhance the tropical lifestyle that North Queensland is envied for. From the vantage of its elevated location overlooking the Coral Sea, Peppers Airlie Beach offers 102 luxuriously appointed one, two and three bedroom apartments. Tides Restaurant & Bar boasts a magnificent view of the Whitsunday Passage setting the perfect atmosphere for indulging in an exceptional fine dining experience.
www.peppers.com.au/airlie-beach
at HOTEL GROUP
With five properties located in Airlie Beach, at Hotel Group provide a variety of luxury apartment style accommodation for your incentive group. Across the group there are 170 fully self-contained apartments, penthouses and boutique style accommodation in 4, 4.5 and 5 star options. at Marina Shores resort is the newest property within the group and is positioned in a prestigious oceanfront location in Airlie Beach. The resort consists of 50 luxurious fully self-contained apartments with views overlooking Abell Point Marina, the Coral Sea and the Whitsunday Islands.
W H I T S U N D A Y C O A S T
1 3
ACTIVITIES
CRUISE WHITSUNDAYS
Award winning Cruise Whitsundays is an experienced marine tourism operator offering a range of day cruises, island resort connections as well as tailor-made activities for incentive groups. Cruises visit the Great Barrier Reef, where vessels can be chartered and itineraries customised including scenic helicopter flights over Heart Reef, on board massages, scuba diving for first time or experienced diving. You can hire the Great Barrier Reef pontoon for private use through the day, overnight for a Reefsleep experience, or for a special event. Similarly, private charters to breathtaking Whitehaven Beach give several hours of private time at this world famous icon including the spectacular swirling sands of Hill Inlet. Or you may wish to charter a vessel for a sunset cruise around your Whitsunday island resort. With a large range of vessels to choose from the options are only limited by your imagination.
1 4
A C T I V I T I E SEXPLORE –
HAMILTON ISLAND
Based on Hamilton Island – Explore offers a variety of day cruises throughout the Whitsunday Islands. With three stylish, yet very different vessels catering for groups of up to 100, our professional crew have a wealth of local knowledge, experience and passion providing access to some of the best snorkelling & diving sites around the Islands and on the Great Barrier Reef.
From sailing the Whitsundays, to snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef, and sunset dinner cruises with delectable cuisine, our unique experiences in amazing places are not be missed when visiting the Whitsundays.
A C T I V I T I E S
1 5
OCEAN RAFTING
Multi award winning Ocean Rafting offers exciting touring options for groups visiting the Whitsundays. With a total of four vessels, the fleet can offer flexible private charter options for groups from 10 to 110 people. Each tour offers an exhilarating ride to Whitehaven Beach, pristine snorkelling reefs and guided National Parks walks. The semi rigid inflatable vessels are super-fast, allowing guests to experience a fun ride, adventure and education amongst the beauty of the Whitsundays. Ocean Rafting can recommend suggested itineraries and can tailor-make the day to suit the group’s requirements. Tours
include a Buffet style lunch on Whitehaven Beach, guided walks, snorkelling equipment and tuition, sunsuit, accommodation or island pick up, soft drinks and water. Ocean Rafting has the fastest boats in the Whitsundays, which means more time to explore and enjoy the beautiful Whitsunday islands and fringing reefs.
www.oceanrafting.com.au
WHITSUNDAY JETSKI
TOURS
Whitsunday Jetski Tours is an exciting adventure operator providing a unique Whitsunday experience offering guided jetski tours from Airlie Beach to the Whitsunday Islands. There is the option of a soft adventure tour around Pioneer Bay or the thrill of jet skiing across to Daydream Island and the surrounding islands. With up to 10 jetskis (or 16 people) per tour, both tours have become a popular activity for groups wanting a personal adventure, riding their own Sea-doo jetski into the world heritage Whitsunday Island Marine Park. Tours and itineraries can be tailored and
modified to suit any group’s requirements, with the option to create back to back touring options for larger groups. Touring the Whitsunday Islands on a jetski offers an unforgettable experience, from the sheer adventure to the natural scenery, offering the ultimate reward or incentive.
1 6
A C T I V I T I E SJETPACK
ADVENTURES
The latest futuristic adrenalin activity available in the Whitsundays – jetpacking! Jetpack Adventures can put on an amazing aerial acrobatic demonstration to wow your guests and then it is their turn to experience the latest craze! After some short training, your guests will be taking off, flying, turning and hovering over the waters of the Whitsundays in a matter of minutes.
www.jetpackadventures.com.au
SUNSAIL
If you’re looking for an activity to stimulate or reward your team then sailing the Whitsunday Islands with Sunsail is sure to satisfy. Whether it's a floating business meeting on board a luxurious catamaran, a group of employees on a teambuilding week with the Sailing School or a day's sailing regatta complete with course markers and skippers to show you the ropes, Sunsail has a wide variety of exciting options to ensure your next incentive trip offers something a little out of the ordinary.
www.sunsail.com.au
Whitsundays Business Events look forward to assisting you with your next incentive program in the Whitsundays.
We would like to thank Tourism and Events Queensland for their support in producing this publication and acknowledge local photographers Justin Heitman (front cover, back cover, inside back cover & page 10 seaplane), Justin Blank (Inside front cover)
and Brooke Miles for their contribution of images.
DISCLAIMER The Whitsundays Incentive Planner is provided as a complimentary guide to support incentive 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 & Development Ltd or the publisher for errors, changes or omissions. Material published in the Whitsundays Incentive Planner is subject to copyright and may not be reproduced, copied or transmitted in any form without the prior written consent of Whitsundays Marketing & Development Ltd..
The Whitsundays
Wonderful Business Events
CONTACT:
Leanne Zeid, Business Events Manager
P: 61 2 9484 4875 M: 61 439545339
W: www.whitsundaysbusinessevents.com.au
A division of Whitsundays Marketing & Development Ltd
Supported by
