The Darwin Convention Centre is the centrepiece of the Darwin City Waterfront, a 25-hectare lifestyle precinct which when completed will have waterfront promenades, a wave lagoon, wharf apartments, hotels, al fresco restaurants, retail outlets, wide open parklands, a cruise terminal and beach.
Bookings for the new facility are already strong with 29 major conventions and two exhibitions confirmed, as well as numerous banquets, gala events and regional meetings secured.
According to general manager, Malu Barrios, international and national meetings alone will bring more than 20,000 convention delegates and their families to Darwin.
“The opening of the centre means meeting planners will have an exciting new venue option in Australia’s Northern Territory,” Ms Barrios says.
“Conference organisers are continually impressed by its waterfront location and the scope of the entire Darwin Waterfront development. The centre will put Darwin city firmly on the local and global map as a top destination for meetings and conferences.”
The Darwin Convention Centre offers a 1500-seat tiered auditorium, exhibition halls with the capacity to hold up to 225 exhibition booths or 4200 delegates theatre-style, and a host of other spaces.
The centre has been described as “the missing link” of the city’s business and leisure infrastructure jigsaw. Its impact is already being felt in Darwin, with Qantas recently announcing an increase of more than 1500 seats per week into Darwin. Qantas now offers 68 return services per week to seven major cities within Australia.
According to chief executive of the National Insurance Brokers Association, Noel Petterson, Darwin is Australia’s best kept secret. The NIBA is holding its 26th annual convention at the Darwin Convention Centre in September this year, and expects to attract more than 600 delegates.
“It’s an exciting city in a unique part of the country, and we can’t wait to get there,” he said recently.
ABOVE: Darwin Convention Centre.
INSET: SKYCITY Lawns, Property Council of Australia Congress 2007.
Courtesy of Tourism NT.
The last time I came to Darwin was only to then jump on another plane and head straight to Kakadu. Fast forward five years and I join the NTCB for a PCO educational where I discovered there are now more reasons than ever before to head to this exciting and attractive destination.
Moments from touchdown and no sooner had we boarded our coach organised by Grand Touring Transportation than we were smack bang in Darwin’s city centre at the Crowne Plaza Hotel and taken to our very spacious rooms to quickly freshen up. A great feature of our hotel is its central location in the heart of the city and a short stroll to cafes, bars and restaurants.
One restaurant in particular, was the much talked about Hanuman. The restaurant is repeatedly recognised in catering and food awards, and is headed by renowned chef Jimmy Shu, with the
menu ranging from Thai to Indian with a stop-off in Malaysia. We all enjoyed a seriously good food feast here, which came in seemingly endless quantities.
After an enjoyable breakfast in the Crowne Plaza we ventured out on a morning tour to explore Darwin’s surrounds. First stop was the multi award-winning Territory Wildlife Park nestled in 400 hectares of natural bushland and only a 45 minute drive south of Darwin. The park showcases the wildlife of Northern Australia and it was here we experienced a unique up-close encounter with some of Australia’s Top End wildlife in their natural habitats.
Highlights were feeding the barramundi in the billabong and watching the amazing display of free-flying birds of prey who were flying surprisingly close to us. We even had an opportunity to fly one ourselves! Of course no trip to the Top End is complete without a close encounter with a CROC. Yep, there I was, face to face with a 3.6m giant ferocious saltie called Graeme aka Cruncher, and if it wasn’t for the 40mm glass panel between me and his underwater enclosure, he would’ve happily had me for breakfast.
We then enjoyed a progressive lunch hosted by InterContinental Hotels starting with a delicious main course in the Crowne Plaza’s majestic foyer and then onto the Holiday Inn to indulge in desserts and coffees. The Crowne Plaza has just completed a multi-million dollar 235-room refurbishment that should put a smile on any event planner’s dial.
Afterwards we all visited and admired the Mbantua Fine Art Gallery, which is located in the Holiday Inn Esplanade. It was then onto the Darwin Entertainment Centre which adjoins the Holiday Inn Esplanade and offers a range of flexible rooms and first-class technical facilities. Their Playhouse can seat up to1000.
Down to the new Darwin Waterfront development and donning hardhats and fluoro vests we scoured the construction site for a bird’s eye view of the major centerpiece of this vibrant waterfront - the world-class Darwin Convention Centre which will be completed at the end of June 2008 (see page 138 for further details).
Back to the hotel and time for a quick shower we then met in the lobby. We arrived at dusk to Pee Wee’s at the Point nestled among the tropical lush forest for our dinner hosted by the Darwin Convention Centre. Here we were greeted with mango daiquiris which we drank as we gazed over the bay to the Darwin skyline which was still dazzling by the light of the full moon.
Our final breakfast was at Skycity Darwin followed by a site inspection of their accommodation rooms and conference facilities as well as the pool and outside area which have proven popular for events.
Our stay was brief but unforgettable. With a myriad of memorable experiences on offer for C & I groups, Darwin is definitely the destination for serious business in a vibrant and attractive location.
 
Whether the opening of the Darwin Convention Centre has been responsible for a spate of new venues coming on line, we aren’t 100 per cent sure. Whatever the cause, it’s all good news for the Northern Territory’s “Top End”.
Just opened (May 2008) is the $29 million Crocosaurus Cove. Set over 5000 square metres, Crocosaurus Cove will give visitors an insight into the Northern Territory’s saltwater crocodiles, with seven enormous crocodiles on display in specially designed tanks. The facility will be not only a great tourism destination but will have space well suited to cocktail events with a difference.
The Crowne Plaza Darwin has just completed a $4 million refurbishment. The 235-room CBD hotel offers deluxe accommodation and state-of-the-art work spaces for business travellers. The refurbishment has really lifted the quality of the already popular property.
Dugong Beach Resort celebrates its first 12 months in operation next month (July). Located on Groote Eylandt on the Gulf of Carpentaria, it is just a 30 minute flight from Darwin. The $18 million resort is situated directly on the coastline on approximately 25 hectares, and offers bungalows, business suites, a fishing village, restaurant and bar, and conference facilities.
Another new property is the Mantra Pandanas which opened in April this year. The Mantra Pandanas has 330 studio, one and two bedroom apartments and conference facilities, and is located right in the heart of the central business district.
The Darwin Airport Inn opens next month (July) and will add another 164 rooms to Darwin’s bed inventory. This new property is expected to be four-and-a-half stars and a sister property to the Darwin Airport Resort.
New in February 2009 will be the Medina and Vibe properties, located in the Darwin City Waterfront precinct.
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