Cairns Convention Exhibition Centre Cairns Australia
The Cairns Convention & Exhibition Centre was built in June 1997 to cater to international and national business meetings, trade shows, exhibitions and other large conferences and events being held in the Cairns city region. Only two years later, a $28.5 million extension was completed to enable Australia’s national basketball league to hold matches inside the Cairns Convention & Exhibition Centre.
The Cairns Taipans Basketball Team is Cairns only national sporting team and is widely supported by the local community. This major extension turned the Cairns Convention & Exhibition Centre into one of the most flexible conference centres of its size in the world and Australia's first purpose built international standard convention facility outside a major capital city that can easily cater for meetings, functions, sporting events and conferences from 12 to 5000 delegates with 4,560 sqm of exhibition space to play with.
If you are attending a major conference or exhibition at the Cairns Convention Centre ask about our Group Discounts on Conference Accommodation Rates and other delegates discounts for Cairns tours and attractions.
Call the Conference Accommodation and Convention department direct on 1300 780 806
The Cairns Convention & Exhibition Centre has the Ground floor Exhibition level known as level one which offers good meeting room space that is set aside as individual conference rooms numbered one to six that can accommodate twelve to sixty delegates, an executive boardroom, administration reception area, media room, Professional Conference Organizers office, a delegate registration desk and committee room.
The Great Hall on this level caters to 2330 theatre style and Hall Two holds up to 5000 delegate’s theatre style. Access to level one is via Wharf Street to the south or Grafton Street to the east. The Cairns Convention & Exhibition Centre is also wheelchair accessible with ramps and elevators. Underground parking is also available from the western side on Sheridan Street.
| Room Type | Conference Rooms | Meeting Rooms | Great Hall - A,B,C & D | Outdoor Plaza | Hall 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rooms | 6 | 9 | 2330 Theatre Style | 1200 Cocktail Style | 5000 Theatre Style |
| Rooms | 20 - 60 Theatre Style | 30 - 360 Theatre Style | 500 - 520 Theatre Style | 900 Banquet Style | 630 Classroom Style |
| Rooms | 12 - 40 Classroom Style | 32 - 184 Classroom Style | 210 - 730 Classroom Style | 1080 Banquet Style | |
| Rooms | 50 - 260 Banquet Style | 300 - 1300 Banquet Style | 108 Booths 3x2.4m |
Cairns Convention Centre Mezzanine Level offers Meeting Rooms one to eight that caters for thirty two delegates to 360 delegate’s theatre style. Four rooms A, B, C, D, and the Great Hall caters to 210 classroom style to 2330 theatre
Cairns Convention & Exhibition Centre is Australia's first environmentally built major public building
The Cairns Convention & Exhibition Centre construction team carefully orchestrated the design, and functionality of the Convention Centre to fit in with the iconic pristine natural Cairns surrounding that the region is known for worldwide.
- Rain water storage 50% saving
- Flow restrictors 25% saving
- Solar hot water 30% saving
- Shading devices 5% saving
- Air conditioning units are environmentally safe as they do not use chlorofluorocarbons for refrigeration
- The Cairns Convention & Exhibition Centre has won many awards for its energy and resource conservation features
From 1996 onwards the Cairns Convention & Exhibition Centre has consistently been winning multiple awards year after year thus helping to keep the business worlds spotlight on Cairns. Some of these awards are for Conference Catering, Tourism Design, Building, Environmental, Architectural and Steel and more.
The most celebrated award was in 2004 when the Cairns Convention & Exhibition Centre was elated to win the coveted AIPC Worlds Best Congress Centre award. The AIPC is the International Association of Congress Centres and is the premier industry association for professional convention and exhibition centre manager’s world wide. This was the year the Cairns Convention & Exhibition Centre was the most talked about venue in the world as it was voted as the number one “Worlds Best” Conference facility of its generation competing against all nations.
Considering Cairns at that time had a population of around only 100,000 + people and it was located in regional northern Australia this was an award that was really sensational and still talked about today especially when you think of the other convention centres worldwide that Cairns had to compete against.
Ranked number four in 2002 and 2003 ranked as the best in 2004 and finishing as one of the worlds top three in 2005 and 2008 is such a great achievement for a regional city.
The Cairns Convention & Exhibition Centre was awarded an environmental Bronze Green Globe in 2009.
Cairns is an ideal conference destination due to its central location within the Asia-Pacific supported by almost 100 weekly international flights flying directly to the Cairns International Airport. With the deregulation of the airlines opening up further opportunities in the southern connection states in the south the potential of increasing business to the Cairns region is very positive.
Hotel Accommodation near Cairns Convention Exhibition Centre
Centrally located in the Cairns central business district, the Cairns Convention & Exhibtion Centre is walking distance from a wide range of Cairns hotels and apartment complexes. These hotels and apartments range from the budget study group dorm style of accommodation to the luxury five star hotels with all the trimmings so you can be sure to find something to suit all conference and convention centre participants’ budgets.
Looking for the best available accommodation rates and pre - post tours from Cairns to Port Douglas for your conference group then call our Cairns Conference Planning office on 07 4059 5959
Our company Cairns Conferences Incentives and Accommodation Specialists also works with Professional Conference and Event Organizers to ensure their event runs to the high expectations of their clientele. Please give us a call to discuss how we can help you to ensure your next event or conference is a major success.
Cairns Convention Exhibition Centre Venue Options
The Great Hall
Cairns Convention Centre Great Hall Dressed for Awards
The Great Hall has a maximum capacity of 2300 delegates or 1720 square meters of flat floor space. It can be divided into four individual quadrants for up to 500 delegates in each. When used as a Trade Exhibition centre, The Great Hall can hold up to 120 booths. This large space can be reconfigured to suit conferences, seminars, exhibitions, performances, dinners, sporting events and more.
The Second Hall
The 2nd Hall has a maximum capacity of 5000 delegates or 1470 square meters of flat floor space. This is an ideal place for concerts with a 5000-strong seated audience.
Meeting Rooms
There are seven individual meeting rooms that can seat between 230 and 360 delegates in theatre style.
If you'd like to know more about the meeting and functions capabilities contact the Cairns Convention Centre.
Cairns Environmentally Friendly Convention & Exhibition Centre
The Cairns Convention Centre is also the first environmentally designed major public building in Australia. Every aspect of its architecture is designed to minimize impact on the Tropical North Queensland environment. The roof captures tropical downpours and channels the rainwater directly into storage tanks. This water is then used to water the gardens around the Cairns Convention Centre during the dry months, reducing the use of town water by 50%. Flow restrictors on all water outlets in the building result in further water consumption savings. The expected water saving is 25% of total water needs.
Hot water in the Cairns Convention Centre is provided in part by solar hot water heaters. These heaters provide 30% of the hot water. Shading devices on the eastern side of the building follow the angle of the sun during the day, and reduce energy consumption by the air-conditioners by 5%. The air-conditioning at the Cairns Convention Centre does not use damaging chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) as its refrigeration agent. This reduces the impact on the earth’s atmosphere.
Best of Kuranda | Rainforestation Wildlife Park, Aboriginal Culture & Skyrail | TW | R1BS
- Departs From: Cairns
- Duration:
9.5 hours (approx)
Whilst on your Kuranda tour learn how to throw a Boomerang from an aboriginal guide Our Kuranda tour has quite a number of upgrade options such as having your photo taken cuddling a koala, barbeque lunch, and more. A simply must do Cairns tour is a ride on the Skyrail Gondola over the rainforest canopy down from Kuranda Village and we have the choice of Train or Skyrail in this Cairns tour Enjoy an amphibius army duck tour thru the Kuranda rainforest to see the nature and its native Australian animals
Great Barrier Reef Tours | Cairns | Small Group | 2 Reef Sites
- Departs From: Reef Fleet Terminal Cairns
- Duration:
9 hours (approx)
One of the most popular small group Great Barrier Reef tours from Cairns. With so many fantastic reef sites to choose from, the experienced skipper and crew will show you the best of the best on the day! On our small luxury reef trip from Cairns guests may snorkel or try an introductory scuba dive whilst out on the reef. We visit 2 different reef sites every day. This vessel is not only eco-friendly but also does Vegan Fridays! If you like to stay healthy on your holidays be sure to pick your travel day to suit your style. If you are a bit nervous about trying a first dive this is the boat for you! Enjoy a FREE 10 minute in water scuba demonstration on the outer reef.
Cairns Great Barrier Reef Tour | Sand Cay Experience | Michaelmas Cay
- Departs From: Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal
- Duration:
8.5 hours (approx)
Great Barrier Reef Tours Cairns. Cruising to Michaelmas Sand Cay a solitary sand cay in the middle of the Great Barrier Reef, spend a day snorkelling and diving . Instant book on line or call 1300 761 612 The most popular luxury day tour from Cairns. Enjoy a leisurely day on board this luxury sailing catamaran visiting the unique location of Michaelmas Cay where you can do activities as you like. Snorkelling, viewing the ocean depths in a semi-submersible submarine tour, trying a scuba diving lesson, taking a walk to see the huge amount of migratory birds nesting on the cay or just relaxing and soaking up the sun on this gorgeous little oasis in the middle of the reef. Perfect Cairns reef tour for non-swimmers and families as you can wade slowly into the water from the beach.
Cairns Liveaboard Dive Trips | 3 Day 2 Night Dive Luxury Dive Expeditions | PROD
- Departs From: Cairns, Cairns Beaches
- Duration:
Vessel departs 7:00am on Day 1 - Returns 3:30pm Day 3
An amazing 11 dives (or snorkel sites), including two night dives. The great diversity of the marine life you will see will make this an experience of a lifetime. With so much underwater action, why not hire a digital underwater camera for your trip. Then it’s an easy matter of taking a selfie as you dive. You might be lucky to take a selfie and get photo bombed by a passing turtle! 16 exclusive reef sites are available whilst onboard this luxury custom built dive vessel. Enjoy 4 amazing Outer Great Barrier Reef locations!
Superyacht Charters | Great Barrier Reef | Port Douglas - Cairns
- Departs From: Port Douglas
- Duration:
4 hours minimum
Our superyacht has in water toys such as high powered jet ski, tender boats for fishing and water skiing and for scuba divers we can arrange a dive master and equipment She is one of the most luxurious private charter boats available on Australia's Great Barrier Reef and she is all yours for your special private charter in the Whitsundays or Cairns At night you can soak in the Jacuzzi hot tub on the top deck as you look over the Great Barrier Reef Superyacht at 115 foot or 35 metres with luxury accommodation available for up to 8 guests for extended cruising on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia
Rydges Plaza Cairns
1 Bedrooms 
1 Bathrooms 
Restaurant 
Pool 
Wireless Internet 
Disabled Access 
24hr Reception 
Cable Tv/Austar 
Bar 
Room Service 
Daily Servicing 
Family Friendly 
Free WiFi 
Pullman Cairns International Hotel
Carparks 
Fitness Centre 
Wedding Venue 
Elevator 
Day Spa 
Heated Pool 
Breakfast Offer 
Hilton Hotel Cairns
Internet Access 
Resort Shop 
Free Night Offer 
Piermonde Apartments Cairns
BBQ Facilities 
Park Regis City Quays Apartments Cairns
Weekly Servicing 
Shangri-La Hotel The Marina Cairns
Beauty/Hairdresser 
Ocean Views 
Mantra Esplanade Cairns Resort
Free Car Parking 
