Australia in 8D

From the fiery red sand of Uluru to the glassy turquoise waters of the Great Barrier Reef, and the deep greens of the Daintree Rainforest, Australia’s landscapes span the full colour spectrum. The 8D Audio Escape videos put you in the middle of some of Australia’s most iconic destinations and are themed by colour – blue, red, magenta, green, black and white – to evoke a range of feelings and emotions.

Blue: A moment of joy for groups

According to colour psychology, blue calls to mind feelings of calmness or serenity. From the deep blue ocean, and the contrasting blue skies and red desert, the calming nature of blue landscapes leave groups feeling peaceful, tranquil, and secure.

Business events highlights in blue

Dive into the blue world of the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland: The 2,300km (1,430 miles) Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef system in the world and groups have the opportunity to swim, snorkel, dive or sail this living masterpiece. Charter a boat for up to 400 people from Cairns and spend the day on Quicksilver Cruises’ private pontoon at Agincourt Reef - home to over 16 different dive sites, making it a popular destination for divers and snorkelers.  From the spacious activity platform, you can snorkel, dive and helmet walk in an underwater world filled with a kaleidoscope of colour.

Spot whales in the deep blue seas of Queensland: Hervey Bay, a two-hour drive north from Noosa, is the whale-watching capital of the world. Between July and November each year, up to 25,000 humpback whales cruise along the Queensland coast and many visit the calm waters around Hervey Bay. Groups can travel by helicopter from their accommodation on the Sunshine Coast to Fraser Island, off the coast of Hervey Bay, to spot whales from the sky. On land, groups can explore the world’s largest sand island in its blue waters by swimming at Eli Creek or taking a dip in the natural jacuzzi of the Champagne Pools on the eastern tip of the island.

Red: A moment of escape for adventure lovers

Red is one of the most stimulating colours, known to be associated with feelings of excitement and increased energy. From the fiery red earth of the Red Centre, to the vast outback, blistering sunsets, and ruby red merlots, to be surrounded by red allows groups to experience the power of a destination, and the passion of the people.

Business events highlights in red

Experience Australia’s ochre landscape in the Northern Territory’s Red Centre: The colours used by Aboriginal ochre painters are unique and come straight out of the Australian earth, made from the warm colours of iron oxides. Groups can further their knowledge of the local Aboriginal communities of the Red Centre on the Cave Hill day tour with SEIT Outback Australia. This eight-hour round trip in a four-wheel drive includes a hike to the top of Cave Hill. If you prefer something closer to base, book SEIT’s Bush Tucker tour. Up to 150 people can join this one- to three-hour tour led by a local Aboriginal guide and interpreter.

Witness the warm tones of sunset as you soar over, or sail across King George River, The Kimberley: Not accessible by car, to experience the best of the river and falls at sunset try a luxury Kimberley cruise with Great Escape Cruises, or scenic flight with Aviair to explore the red gorges, ancient sandstone cliffs, plunging waterfalls and the Buccaneer Archipelago, a paradise of hundreds of tiny islands and secluded beaches. The river itself is culturally significant to the local Balanggarra people to whom the falls are the male and female Wunkurr (Rainbow Serpents).

Dine under the canopy of the desert night at Uluru, Northern Territory: Sounds of Silence is a four-hour dining experience, for up to 300 guests seated, served on a viewing platform overlooking the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. After one of Australia’s most spectacular sunsets, groups dine as a storyteller shares the tales told in the stars above. Then visit Bruce Munro’s Field of Light, crafted from 50,000 solar-powered stems crowned with glass spheres.

Wander through the red wine vines in the Barossa, South Australia: The Barossa is one of the world’s great wine growing regions, with more than 150 wineries and 80 cellar doors. Just a 1.5 hour drive from Adelaide City Centre, the Barossa is home to the biggest names in Australian wine, including world-renowned Penfolds, Henschke Cellars, Wolf Blass and Jacob's Creek; along with a host of emerging boutique and artisan winemakers producing the next generation of Australian wines. Groups can stroll through the vines of one of the country's oldest wineries, Seppeltsfield, the only winery in the world to release a 100-year-old single vintage wine each year. Here, groups will enjoy a fortified wine and canapé tasting, or sample a vintage tawny from their year of their birth, straight from the barrel.

Magenta: A moment of freedom

As magenta is a rarely occurring colour in nature, finding environments soaked in the purple pink tones allow for a rare and intriguing experience*. Australia is home to some of the most magnificent sunsets, that allow this hue to invoke a delicate balance of soothing mystery to ensure any incentive itinerary is unforgettable.

Business events highlights in magenta

Fly over the Great Ocean Road, Victoria for an otherworldly sunrise: The Great Ocean Road is one of the world’s most scenic coastal drives, along the south-west coast of Victoria. It begins a 90-minute drive from Melbourne's city centre and spans 400 kilometres (249 miles) from the town of Torquay to Nelson on the South Australian border. Groups can take a scenic flight with 12 Apostles Helicopters to see the Bay of Islands, London Bridge or the entire Shipwreck Coast all the way to Australia's oldest lighthouse at Cape Otway.

Enjoy a sunset camel ride to a flushing sunset backdrop in Broome, Western Australia: The major gateway to the rugged beauty of the Kimberley region is the outback beach town of Broome, famous for its 22-kilometre (14-mile) long Cable Beach, and the daily camel trains that trail along it at sunset. Red Sun Camel’s sunset tour is a relaxing and informative experience that combines the white sands of Cable Beach with the blushed sunset over the Indian Ocean.

Green: A moment of relaxation for nature lovers

Incentives to green environments help revitalise high performers. Research shows that the colour green allows people to feel refreshed, healthy and tranquil. Groups can immerse themselves in a green getaway in the depth of Australia’s rainforests or as they explore remote island paradises.

Business events highlights in green

Witness the otherworldly spectrum of green in the Daintree Rainforest, Queensland: The ancient ferns, emerald green vines and lush canopy of the World Heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest offers plenty for groups, including a Dreamtime Walk with an Indigenous guide in Mossman Gorge, 20 minutes’ drive from Port Douglas or cruises down the Daintree River, further afield (45 minutes’ drive from Port Douglas). And a two-hour drive north of Cairns, or about an hour north of Port Douglas, at the Daintree Discovery Centre groups will learn all about the origins of the ancient rainforest before heading out onto the series of aerial walkways and viewing platforms connected to the centre.

Spot one of Australia’s cutest animals in the deep green brush of Rottnest Island, Western Australia: Rottnest Island is 18-kilometres (11 miles) off the coast of Perth, known globally as the home of one of the cutest and most photogenic animal in the world, the quokka. Rottnest Express departs daily from three locations across Perth, providing tours that showcase the best that the island has to offer. Groups of up to 485 guests can learn about the culture and history of the island, take in one of the many walking trails, get up close to the colonies of fur seals and have a selfie with a quokka.

Tiptoe through Floriade at Canberra’s community-led floral festival: In 2020 Floriade has been reimagined, with the annual spring celebration moving from its traditional home in Commonwealth Park to bloom across Canberra. One million bulbs and annuals will create a tulip trail through the ACT’s suburbs and city, ready for exploration by visitors. With floral plantings by the Floriade horticulture team and over 90 Canberra community groups, this year’s festival allows the community to connect safely while public health restrictions are in place. 

Chase waterfalls in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales: Just a 1.5 hour drive from Sydney city centre, the Blue Mountains is home to magnificent waterfalls. Govetts Leap is one of the tallest falls in the Blue Mountains region, dropping 180 metres in a single drop that overlooks the Grose Valley. There are two lookouts for the waterfall, one of which, the Govetts Leap descent, allows adventure seekers to walk down a steep 1.2 kilometre track to the base of the falls. After exploring waterfalls, groups can head to the Hydro Majestic for high tea or enjoy an overnight stay at the luxury Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley.

Black: A moment of inspiration for creatives

Black absorbs all light in the colour spectrum and is associated with the water element in Feng Shui which evokes power, mystery and calm. Groups can immerse themselves in Australia's expansive night skies, and hidden museum rooms to fuel their creative inspiration. 

Business events highlights in black

Delve into the elegance and mystery of the art scene in Melbourne, Victoria: The centre of Melbourne is threaded with cobbled laneways, which have become a mecca for coffee shops, cafés and unique shopping boutiques. The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) is Australia’s oldest gallery (founded in 1861) and hosts an exciting range of international and local exhibitions and events, and a collection of more than 70,000 works. Visit the Australian Centre for the Moving Image to immerse yourself in the world of film, television and digital culture or the Heide Museum of Modern Art at Bulleen for an insight into Australian artists. In the evening, groups can catch a performance at one of Melbourne's many theatres, which host everything from musicals to comedy and cabaret.

Watch the march of the penguins along pebbles on Phillip Island, Victoria: Phillip Island offers groups the chance to see incredible Australian wildlife in spectacular landscapes. The Koala Conservation Centre and Churchill Island Heritage Farm are just two of the island's unique attractions suitable for business events. As the sun starts to set, one of the area's most popular events, the Penguin Parade allows groups to catch a glimpse of the island's native little penguins. Watch as they wattle back ashore after a day of fishing before the sky turns dark. With over 32,000 little penguins living on the island, there’s a good chance of spotting a few. For the best view of the penguins as they waddle along the beach, book the underground viewing venue, which can accommodate 70 people.

Experience the serenity of the dark waters of Jim Jim Falls, Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory: Brimming with waterfalls, wetlands and ancient Aboriginal culture, Kakadu National Park is not to be missed. Located about two hours from Darwin, Kakadu offers the opportunity to cruise through billabongs full of wildlife and view ancient rock art. Adventurous groups can take a rough and rugged 4WD track to get to Jim Jim Falls and Twin Falls, or take a private tour with Kakadu Tourism. The falls really thunder in the wet season (November to May) when the only way you can see them is on a scenic flight with Katherine Aviation, but during the dry season (June to October) you can hop your way across super-sized boulders to the plunge pool at the base of the falls.

Sit back with a long-black as you watch the Rosny flow in Tasmania: The privately owned Mona (Museum of Old and New Art) is a short scenic ferry ride from Hobart. Much of its collection is underground, with staircases, tunnels and towers making it feel like Alice in Wonderland’s rabbit hole. MONA can accommodate up to 450 people for a cocktail function. For another unique experience, head across the river to Rosny on the eastern shore and take in contemporary and performing arts in the 1800s stone Rosny Barn.

White: A moment of calm for minimalists

Experiencing a white environment allows groups to embark on a blank slate, symbolising a new beginning or fresh start. Groups can experience a fresh start across Australia from the sails of Sydney Opera House to the white sands of Whitehaven Beach.  

Business events highlights in white

Take a leisurely float in the undisturbed waters of Fraser Island, Queensland: No visit to Fraser Island is complete without a long leisurely float in the beautiful blue waters of Lake McKenzie, a perched lake fed only by rainwater, encircled by pure white sand. Lake Wabby, at the edge of the Hammerstone Sandblow, is the deepest lake on the island and when the sun shines it's hard to resist plunging into its cool, emerald depths.  Groups can visit the eco-friendly Kingfisher Bay Resort where they can stay overnight after dinner prepared using local and Indigineous ingredients.

Take in Sydney’s vast vistas in New South Wales: Groups can visit Sydney Harbour to watch the white sails of the Sydney Opera House glisten beside the harbour. Elsewhere in Sydney, take in the view of Bondi Beach from Icebergs Dining Room and Bar or spend a night at Taronga Zoo’s new Wildlife Retreat and wake up to one of the world’s greatest views. Arrange a guided tour through the lush Royal Botanical Gardens to learn about the use of plants, taste bush foods and try your hand at an art class.

Squish your toes in the white sand of Whitehaven Beach: People travel from all over the world to see the white sands of Whitehaven Beach. The sand is 98 percent silica, and so white that it can appear surreal. It is on the uninhabited Whitsunday Island, and only accessible by seaplane, helicopter or boat. Groups can access the beach by luxury yacht, high-speed catamaran, helicopter or seaplane from the mainland or nearby islands including Hamilton and Daydream Islands. Visit Whitehaven Beach as part of a Queensland incentive at the new InterContinental Hayman Island Resort which opened last year after a multi-million dollar redevelopment. Hayman can be hired exclusively and groups have access to Whitehaven Beach and the Great Barrier Reef.