What’s new in NT

Australia’s Northern Territory (NT) is a fast-evolving incentives destination where visiting delegates can leave a legacy and engage with an ancient aboriginal culture dating back more than 65,000 years. Key NT incentives destinations include the tropical capital of Darwin and World-Heritage listed Kakadu, Australia’s largest National Park. Further south, the desert landscapes of Central Australia include the outback town of Alice Springs and in the heart of the country, natural icons Uluru (Ayers Rock) and Kata Tjuta (The Olgas). The NT boasts three dedicated convention centres – in Darwin, Alice Springs and at Uluru. On the Waterfront A major redevelopment of the Darwin Waterfront Precinct is underway and includes a new Momentus Hotels & Resorts which will integrate with the Darwin Convention Centre and offer 236 rooms when it opens at the end of 2026. Adjacent to the Darwin Convention Centre, a new, multi-million-dollar Larrakia Cultural Centre is also being developed. The Northern Territory Art Gallery, a key component of Darwin’s new A$145m Civic and State Square Precinct, is also under construction and business events groups will be able to use it for special events once it is completed next year. Heli-foraging experience A new heli-foraging and gin-making experience will soon fly guests over spectacular landscapes to Finniss River Lodge, a 50,000-acre outback cattle station and luxury lodge. An all-terrain buggy or airboat then takes visitors foraging for native botanicals such as quinine and turkey bush. And there is a real working cattle station experience to be had at Bullo River Station, a member of the Luxury Lodges of Australia collection. Set on 400,000 privately-owned acres 800km south-west of Darwin, the property is home to kangaroos, wallabies, dingoes, fish and crocodiles. Experiences on offer include river cruising, swimming in natural waterholes, stargazing, fishing and ancient rock art viewing. National aboriginal art gallery The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Gallery of Australia (ATSIAGA) is under construction in Alice Springs and will include a top floor event space and a four-level atrium. Voyages Ayers Rock Resort New Indigenous-inspired, culturally immersive experiences were launched in early August at Voyages Ayers Rock Resort at Uluru. Sunrise Journeys is an early morning cultural and sensory immersion experience featuring artwork created by the Anangu, traditional landowners of the region, while Ayers Rock Resort experiences include drone show and cultural storytelling experience, Wintjiri Wiru, the spectacular Field of Light Uluru and award-winning dining experiences, Sounds of Silence and Tali Wiru. New aviation connections Singapore Airlines is operating daily services between Singapore and Darwin International Airport, and Qantas will launch a direct international service from Darwin to Singapore five times a week from late March 2025. These flights provide one-stop access to destinations across Southeast Asia, as well as Europe via Qantas partner airlines. Virgin Australia operates new direct flights from Melbourne and Brisbane to Uluru, and Qantas operates flights between Sydney and Uluru five days a week and a daily Cairns-Uluru service. Government support funding The Northern Territory Business Events Support Fund (NTBESF) offers assistance to organisers of qualified business events, with grants available from A$100 per delegate to A$200 per delegate, depending on time of year and other conditions may apply. Authentic cultural interaction and engagement, iconic landscapes, inspiring nature-based activities and outstanding local cuisine, combined with destination support, now present a compelling proposition for incentive planners considering NT.