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1 Spectacular events in Cairns.
2 Draft designs for the Cairns
Convention Centre expansion.
3 Fresh produce in North
Queensland. 4 Crystalbrook
Collection bringing new 5-star
accommodation to Cairns.
the final touches being added ahead of its
expected early September opening. It’s a
particularly interesting project, considering
the last aquarium to open in Australia was
nearly 20 years ago. Cairns Aquarium general
manager Julie Cullen says it’s also one of the
region’s most significant tourism infrastructure
investments in more than 10 years.
“Typically the tourism investment happens
out on the reef but the land-based
investment has been relatively slow over the
last 10 years,” she says.
The aquarium is expected to welcome
more than 700,000 visitors through
its doors each year, adding significant
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economic benefit to the region.
“It will increase the length of stay in Cairns
because it will give people something
different to do, and it will complement the
other activities that are already out on the
reef and in the rainforest,” says Cullen.
The aquarium will boast a number of
event spaces, including onsite restaurant
AquaLuna with capacity for up to 300 guests
cocktail style, which Cullen says will bring a
whole new dining experience to Cairns.
“We’ll definitely establish a new benchmark
by having a 70,000 litre shark tank in the
middle of the main restaurant,” she says.
Events can also be hosted in the Ocean
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Room, which boasts 360 degree views of
tropical fish and sharks, or the River Room
that has a seven-metre viewing panel into
the River Monsters exhibit. Not only can
guests dine amongst the sea creatures, they
can even take a guided tour of the aquarium
as part of their event.
“Groups can take a complete guided tour
through the aquarium or we can do a behind
the scenes tour and show you how the
aquarium actually works, we can even take
you into the turtle rehabilitation area,” says
Cullen. “Depending on how much time you
want to spend and how interested you are,
there’s all sorts of levels of engagement that
you can have.”
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