Cairns calling! Where meetings transform into tropical adventures

Our own journey began with a suitably dramatic introduction to some local residents at Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures. Best described as Jurassic Park brought thrillingly to life (without the disaster element, thankfully), the experience saw us glide through a croc-infested lagoon by boat. Watching a crocodile launch itself from the water with astonishing speed to devour a dangling chicken was genuinely awe-inspiring - a moment that will stay with me for some time.

Hartley’s is also home to koalas, snakes, cassowaries and, on our visit, an impossibly cute baby kangaroo. But let’s be honest: it’s the crocs you’re there for, and they absolutely deliver.

Lunch followed at Thala Beach Nature Reserve, a locally owned resort perched on a private headland between Cairns and Port Douglas. Its deluxe eco-accommodation is sensitively positioned across a 145-acre beachfront property, with wildlife walks and stargazing among the experiences on offer. The resort claims to have the best views in Port Douglas - and over a lunch showcasing the tastes of the tropics, it’s hard to argue otherwise.

Post-lunch transport came with a twist: a convoy of revving trikes ready to whisk us to Port Douglas with the wind in our hair and tropical vibes in our souls. Or at least, that was the idea. Anything motorbike-adjacent is rather too much for my sensitive soul, and I was quietly delighted to arrive at the Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort Port Douglas in one piece. The rest of the group, however, emerged euphoric and whooping with joy.

Set directly on Queensland’s iconic Four Mile Beach, the Sheraton Grand Mirage is renowned for its two hectares of palm-fringed, lagoon-style pools. I spent the afternoon floating blissfully in the waters and enjoying the comfort of a private poolside cabana.

For planners, the resort is equally impressive. Spread across 147 hectares of tropical gardens, it offers seven restaurants and bars and 18 flexible indoor and outdoor meeting and event spaces under Marriott’s Green Meetings programme, with the largest catering for up to 1,000 delegates.

The following morning brought a deeply personal cultural experience at Janbal Art Gallery, run by acclaimed Kuku Yalanji Aboriginal artist Brian ‘Binna’ Swindley. A true character, Binna shared the origins of Aboriginal dot painting before inviting us to try it for ourselves. Sharing culture through hands-on creativity was a real highlight – and I was more than a little proud to have made something to take home and put on the living room wall.

Paintbrushes packed away, it was on to nearby Silky Oaks Lodge for lunch. Overlooking the gently flowing Mossman River and neighbouring the World Heritage-listed Daintree National Park, this luxury rainforest retreat is a standout option for smaller incentive groups. Its 40 contemporary treehouses are nestled among the treetops, and stepping into the main restaurant was a genuine wow moment. Dining felt like being suspended in the rainforest canopy, immersed in nature’s theatre.

That afternoon, we finally ventured into the rainforest itself with a Ngadiku Dreamtime Walk at Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre, led by local Indigenous guides. After a traditional smoking ceremony to cleanse and ward off bad spirits, we embarked on a gentle walk through lush, vibrant rainforest. The guide’s storytelling brought the environment to life, weaving together history, culture and cautionary tales – including the reminder that some stinging nettles here can take a decade to recover from.