Meet a planner

You recently attended the Australia Next showcase. Why is Australia appealing for incentive groups?   

Australia is incredibly appealing for incentive groups. It delivers a high impact experience from the journey itself to the moment you arrive! What I love is that the incentive traveller can move from diverse cities such as Melbourne / Narrm and Sydney / Warrane to breathtaking beaches and oceans to rainforests rich in culture and nature. The instant connection guests make with the country impacts throughout the whole itinerary and the variety allows you to create an experience of a lifetime for your group.

What was a highlight during the Melbourne program?   

A highlight for me was visiting the Pt. Leo Estate and taking part in a group art activity. Painting the surrounding landscape in watercolours brought out the creativity of the group as well as lots of laughter which brought the group together in a relaxing way. This was followed by an incredible lunch, paired with Pt. Leo wines and locally produced food. The combination of art, landscape and good food captured what the region does best whilst providing the group with an immersive experience. 

Tell us about a dining experience that you would want to book again or include in a program?   

The foodie tour in Melbourne is a definite must-do experience whilst in the city, we made four stops around the city and enjoyed cuisines from around the world from Melbourne’s finest! My favourite was Lucy Liu restaurant with its Asian fusion cuisine and creative cocktails! Great for a group as the sharing concept works well.

What was a uniquely cultural experience that you enjoyed? 

During our time in Port Douglas, we visited the Janbal Gallery and met with Binna Swindley who curated a 2-hour Aboriginal art workshop. His passion and storytelling of the Indigenous culture was inspiring and heart-warming, the stories from his ancestors and Indigenous people were humbling and educational.  

As a group we created a wonderful collage of Indigenous art and learnt the meaning of the colours and shapes that were used to communicate between the Indigenous groups. This was a great way to support the local community but also to understand it and I would highly recommend this experience whilst in Port Douglas.

We continued on to visit the World Heritage area of Mossman Gorge. It was a special moment, starting with a ceremony to the ancestors to keep us safe whilst we walked through the rainforest to explore nature and beauty. Learning how the Indigenous people live alongside nature whilst stopping at spots to take pictures and enjoy the sounds and smells of the rainforest was such a privilege.

Was there a wellness experience you would book for a group? 

We spent a morning at the Mornington Peninsula which gave a sense of escape from the city and only an hour’s drive from Melbourne. Peninsula Hot Springs surprised me with its beautiful landscape and carefully thought out journey through the springs which offered a variety of wellness experiences. It was great to slow the pace and enjoy the outdoors in this unique setting and should be a must for any incentive group looking to include wellbeing and authenticity in their program.

Tell us about a highlight from your time in Cairns and Port Douglas?  

Visiting the Great Barrier Reef was a highlight of the program and an absolute must-do from Port Douglas or Cairns. Leaving Port Douglas to travel by boat out to the Great Barrier Reef to the Quicksilver Angingcourt Reef Platform was full of high energy and anticipation - knowing we were about to experience a bucket list moment for many of us in the group. Getting ready to dive as a group creates so many moments of laughter and excitement! Seeing the coral and marine life up close really makes you understand why the Great Barrier Reef is protected and such a special part of the world.  

We genuinely didn’t think the experience could get any better, until we were told that the helicopter waiting on the sea helipad would be our transfer to Cairns. Flying over the reef was surreal –  from the air you truly see the scale of it – the colour, the patterns and its sheer vastness. It left us lost for words.   

It was the ultimate bucket list experience and a perfect example of why Australia delivers such powerful incentive experiences.

Was there a surprise and delight moment you loved and would like to share?  

On our first day in Cairns, we arrived at Thala Beach Resort for an incredible tour of the facilities followed by a lunch in the treetops. Once we had finished, we thought we would be transferring to Port Douglas by bus but to our surprise an entourage of trikes was waiting for us to take us to our hotel. Helmets on and off we went driving through the beautiful tropical landscape and sharing laughter with your trike buddy was just a great way to transfer and bring fun to what is usually just another transfer!

What was an experience in Cairns/Port Douglas that you would want to do again?

We ended our program with lunch at Nu Nu in Palm Cove, near Cairns. This was the ultimate beach dining experience with lots of wow factor moments. Our private dining table was set on the beach, metres away from the ocean and was the dining table of dreams!  The owner of Nu Nu, Nick, designed our lunch and talked us through the local ingredients and the story of Nu Nu!  The food was outstanding; the setting was paradise and our group had all had the best incentive experience of all time! Of course I want to do it again!

How many days is the ideal time for incentive groups to explore Australia? 

Once groups arrive, I would suggest a full 5-6 days to move around and experience a city, the rainforests, the coastal towns and wonders of the world like the Great Barrier Reef.

What would you say to clients who are thinking about hosting an incentive program in Australia? 

Don’t be put off by the long journey from the Northern Hemisphere! If your budget can stretch to premium or business class it's part of the excitement. We flew Singapore Airlines and the service and food was one of the best I had experienced.  

If you really want to give your group a lifetime experience full of bucket list moments, then Australia should be top of the list!  I can’t wait to go back and explore more of the country and that’s what a successful incentive does, leaves you wanting more!