Away From It All

With its delicious mix of history and untouched nature, meeting in the Island State
can be like travelling to another world.

Imagine a place where nature is at its most beautiful, the cities are quiet and restrained, history has been retained and cherished, and the lifestyle is relaxed. Conference groups come to Tasmania for all those things and more. Tasmania is an island state of barely more than 68,000 square kilometres but packs a lot of unique experiences into its very small space.

Tasmania is easily accessed, with regular air services between such cities as Hobart, Launceston, Burnie and Devonport to Sydney and Melbourne. Conferences to Tasmania have a high spouse or companion component and, increasingly, delegates are taking advantage of the car ferry services from Melbourne aboard the Spirit of Tasmania I and II to bring their own transport. The recently introduced Spirit of Tasmania III operates 3 times a week between Sydney and Devonport.

Hobart is the focus of many large conferences, while Launceston is also popular. The highway between the 2 cities provides a great glimpse of Tasmania’s historical character. Convict built architectural heritage abounds and the National Trust of Tasmania has numerous attractions open for inspection by the public. Many historic buildings have also been restored and utilised for hotels and function venues.

Find conference & function venues in >> Tasmania

LEISURE TRAVELS

Yet when the conference program is over, and delegates are setting out to explore Tasmania, it’s often the wilderness that they want to experience. The “wild” West Coast is especially popular. The township of Strahan was founded in 1877, although a penal settlement had existed on nearby Sarah Island from 1822 until 1834. Strahan is now a comfortable stopping point for tourists with much to entice conference groups.

The Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, placed on the World Heritage register in 1982, has a number of comfortable lodges and resorts nearby. The truly hardy can trek the entire 85 kilometre Overland Track; or the shorter trips into the park give a glimpse of the wilderness as it has existed for thousands of years, while having all the creature comforts close by.

Fine food and wine are another celebrated aspect of Tasmania. Local produce, including abundant seafood, cheese, and wines are readily available. A gala dinner in a winery close to Hobart is a popular option for conference groups.

ACTIVITIES GALORE

Teambuilding and soft-adventure activities utilise Tasmania’s amazing natural beauty and untouched scenery to its fullest. Rafting, sea kayaking, sailing, fishing and golf are just some of the activities on offer.

There’s much that can only be done in Tasmania, a whole host of special venues and experiences make the island state a truly unique destination. Tasmania has built its reputation on nature and the arts, nurtured by its isolation, climate and relaxed attitudes that has won accolades from conference planners around the world.

Such events as the 17th Australian Geological Convention in February, AusWIND in July and the VETnetwork Australia 2004 National Conference in November point to the continuing popularity of Tasmania as a meetings destination.

TRAINING TO MEET

Federal Hotels and Resorts is one of the state’s most successful operators. The pioneer of casino-resort developments in Australia, Federal opened the Wrest Point Casino in Hobart in 1973, consolidated its growth with the Country Club Resort and Villas in Launceston and has expanded into Tasmania’s less developed areas with such products as the Strahan Village and Freycinet Lodge.

Conference groups wanting to experience the true majestic nature of Tasmania’s world-famous wilderness need look no further than Federal’s unique West Coast Wilderness Railway, which celebrated its first year back in operation with the launch of a new Premier Class carriage.

The 43 kilometre railway runs daily services between Queenstown and Strahan, with the full return journey taking 6 hours or a one-way service is available. The railway began service in the 1890s to haul copper from the Queenstown mines to waiting ships but closed in 1963 when road transport became more economical.

OLD-TIME ELEGANCE

Since it resumed operations in late 2002, more than 60,000 people have taken the ride through pristine Tasmanian rainforest largely closed to the outside world for almost 40 years.

Carriages are based on the original Mt Lyell “O” cars, with solid timber frames and panelling, clerestory roofs, arched windows and brass luggage racks and are hauled by an original Mt Lyell steam train on one leg of the trip and an original diesel locomotive on the other – covering 2 distinct “eras” in the history of the line.

Chancellor Inns, Hotels and Resorts, part of the Grand Hotels International chain, has purchased the former Doherty-owned Launceston Internation-al, bringing to 8 the number of properties operated in Tasmania. Now known as the Hotel Grand Chancellor Launceston, it has 158 guest-rooms and 7 suites as well as extensive conference facilities. There are 11 highly flexible meetings and function rooms including the 592 square metre main conference room, which can seat up to 900
people theatre style or 485 for banquets. The Grand Ballroom accommodates 320 people theatre style or 200 for banquets.

SUITING GROUPS

The Hotel Grand Chancellor Hobart has Tasmania’s largest purpose-built event and convention facilities. The Federation Concert Hall and Convention Centre was developed by the Hotel Grand Chancellor Hobart with assistance from the Commonwealth Government, the Tasmanian Government and the Hobart City Council. The Federation Ballroom can seat up to 1,650 people theatre style or 1,000 for banquets, while the Grand Ballroom seats up to 750 theatre style or 450 for banquets. A range of smaller rooms are also available.

In addition, the former Westcoaster Motor Inn at Queenstown is now the Chancellor Inn Queenstown. It is well located for conference groups to Strahan or the Westcoast Wilderness Railway, and has 60 spacious guestrooms.

The Henry Jones Art Hotel is Australia’s first and only art hotel. Located on Hobart’s historic waterfront, it encompasses a row of warehouses and a former jam factory which have been elegantly transformed into a highly-fashionable hotel showcasing Tasmania’s rich artistic heritage. More than 250 original works of art, many of which are for sale, are arranged throughout the complex.

The hotel celebrates the contribution of pioneer entrepreneur Henry Jones, who began work in a jam factory at the age of 12 and developed a business empire spanning jam, fruit, timber, mining and shipping. His IXL brand, now an Australian icon, dates from about 1895 and derives from his personal motto: “I excel, in all the products I make”.

ART WORKS

The Henry Jones Art Hotel has 50 very modern suites, some themed in such ways as the Peking, Calcutta and Oriental Suites.

Meetings and function space at The Henry Jones is as distinctive as the hotel itself. The Jones & Co Room is the historic heart of the complex, a stylish space with richly finished timbers and exposed beams. The Atrium is an enclosed three storey glass and timber structure, and is one of the largest glass atriums in the Southern Hemisphere. It is perfect for cocktail receptions and product launches for more than 300 guests or can be configured to theatre style seating for 180 people.

The Steam Packet is The Henry Jones’ signature restaurant hosting theatre style events or banquets for up to 120 people. The Art Installation Room showcases new and established Tasmanian artists, musicians and poets, with theatre style seating, cocktail functions or banquets for 20 people. The IXL Long Bar, now one of the hippest places in Hobart, features a fascinating work of art formed from back-lit, glass-encased tins of IXL products. It can accommodate theatre style events, cocktails or banquets for up to 20 people.

CELLAR PLEASURES

Tasmania is celebrated for its fine wines and some of the state’s best-known wineries are available for meetings and functions. Meadowbank Estate Winery is set on 10 hectares in the picturesque Coal River Valley, just 15 minutes from the Hobart city centre.

Tasmania’s oldest commercial vineyard, Moorilla Estate, aside from its excellent wines, has a very unusual venue for meetings or functions. The Museum of Antiquities displays such impressive pieces as Roman mosiacs from circa 300AD, pre-Columbian ceramics from circa 200-1500AD, and one of the finest private coin collections in Australia.

The Museum Reception Centre can seat 200 people theatre style, 250 for cocktails or 120 for banquets. The Moorilla vineyard restaurant can take up to 100 people theatre style or serve up a delicious banquet for 80 people. Marquees for up to 1,000 people can be set up in the grounds of the vineyard.

For small corporate retreats, executive think tanks or simply to escape in the aftermath of a harrowing conference program, Moorilla has a number of self-contained apartments. Air-conditioned and with all modern conveniences, the apartments are notable for their stunning granite and glass bathrooms with spa baths. Each apartment has a private wine cellar featuring over 60 wines from Moorilla and St Matthias.