April

See for yourself - the Great Barrier Reef is alive and well

Coral, curiosity, culture and chartering form the underlying themes for the 2019 Super Yacht Group Great Barrier Reef familiarisation tour, an event which brings international delegates together each year to experience the best of Far North Queensland tourism and hospitality.

Scheduled for seven days in May, the famiI will showcase Cairns and the region as a premier super yacht destination with such inclusions as staying on board luxurious vessels both in the Cairns Marlin Marina (Camper & Nicholsons MY Spirit) and at sea (Fraser Yachts MY Sahana); visiting the indigenous cultural centre, Tjapukai; getting up close and personal with the Great Barrier Reef through guided snorkelling and diving tours with local marine biologists and scientists; touring the Port Douglas regions, Crystalbrook Superyacht Marina, and in between, attending cocktail parties and being wined and dined at the pick of local eating establishments. A new partnership with Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef will present new opportunities to this niche market to become a part of the important research and preservation of the reef for future generations. The trip will also offer us a unique occasion to work with Citizens piloting a major new Reef research project, utilising the vessels whilst they are on the Reef.

The famil then takes guests to Hamilton Island and Abell Point Marina for their final two days, to experience the magic of the Whitsundays.

From luxury island resorts, to heli-flights over the iconic Heart Reef and island hopping onboard a superyacht, the delegates will immerse themselves in the charter potential of Whitsunday region of the Great Barrier Reef. Kate Purdie, general manager Abell Point Marina explains “We are delighted to once again partner with our colleagues in the north to showcase the diversity and range of experiences available to superyachts cruising the vast Great Barrier Reef region. Through this form of industry collaboration, we are able to provide our international delegates with a truly unique Australian experience.”

“We want to build on the growing reputation this event is gaining and ensure the right messages are getting out there – that our Reef is in good health and that there are many ways to get involved in the conservation and preservation of this incredible natural wonder,” SYGGBR Manager Joanne Drake said.

“We will be taking delegates to some of the beautiful outer reef coral displays, and importantly they will have access to leading marine specialists who will satisfy their curiosity about the future of the Reef.

“Another important aspect of the tour will be to increase the cultural awareness of our visitors and provide a taste of the unique indigenous experience we have to offer here.”

Promotion of the local super yacht charter industry and the ability for international (foreign flagged) vessels to home port in Cairns – which is a customs clearance port – will also feature heavily during the Famil.

“Since the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s decision in August 2017 to overturn legislative barriers that prevented superyachts from cruising here, many new anchorages have opened up,” SYGGBR Chairperson, Carrie Carter said.

“And Cairns is very close to nearby hotspot, PNG, where charter is allowed and becoming extremely popular. We are already experiencing a number of super yachts homeporting here right now.”

Delegates will be able to inspect some of the best yachts available for charter, see first-hand the excellent yachting infrastructure in both refit and new build facilities, and meet with local super yacht owners to gain further understanding of the benefits of chartering in the region.

Invited delegates this year are:

Julia Zaltzman – Media – Freelance Writer /Editor, Robb Report, Frasers,  Luxury Market Magazine Writer.

Christelle Holler – Managing Director, Yacht / UHNW Consultant – Tahiti Private Expeditions, Director International Superyacht Society

Cynthia Rasch – GM Port Denarau Marina, Fiji

Suzy Mercien-Ferol – Co-Founder / Director Touring Treasures – High End DMC

Michael Schueler – 70M Superyacht Captain – USA

Ingrid Sellarulo – Tourism Australia

“This year we have been approached by more and more local super yachts and sponsors wanting to come on board and be involved in this huge event which is gaining more and more international momentum every year with its global reach,” mentions Joanne Drake, Manager of the SYGGBR.

“The familiarisation tour is a really cooperative event, with so many people in the local tourism industry joining forces and working together to show off the unique aspects of our region both on land and at sea and making it a bucket-list essential for superyachts around the world.”

By Super Yacht Group Great Barrier Reef

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