WGFTFB26 travel information
Block your calendars and initiate necessary travel requests with your employer
Cairns is a city in the state of Queensland, Australia
Useful information about visiting Cairns including weather, getting around, and sights is available (Travel info)
The Cairns Airport is only 6 km from the city
The meeting agenda and key dates for meeting preparations and contributions will be circulated as the meeting approaches
Venue
The WGFTFB26 meeting venue is the Crystalbrook Riley hotel located in Cairns, Queensland, Australia. The meeting is scheduled for May 11-15, 2026.
Cairns is a tropical city located in Far North Queensland, Australia, and is known for its natural beauty, laid-back atmosphere, and proximity to world-famous attractions. It has a population of approximately 150, 000 people and is the gateway to two UNESCO World Heritage sites, the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest.
The traditional owners of the land upon which Cairns is located are the Yidinji and Djabugay people.
Hotels
The preferred hotel and meeting venue is the Crystalbrook Riley hotel located at 131-141 Esplanade, Cairns.
Attendees can get a discounted Stay Only room rate at the Crystalbrook Riley by entering the promo code THECROWD when booking a room on their website, or click the links below. The rates are applied for 3 days pre/post the meeting, and bookings are cancellable up to 4 pm the day before arrival. Prepayment is now not required. Please note that this rate does not include breakfast.
Crystalbrook Riley | 2026ICES-FAO | 11-15 May 2026 | $365 – BOOK NOW
Crystalbrook Bailey | 2026ICES-FAO | 11-15 May 2026 | $295 – BOOK NOW
There are numerous other hotels within walking distance of the Crystalbrook Riley if you would like to stay elsewhere. Click on each hotel name for details. Accommodation in Cairns can also be found on Airbnb.
| Budget friendly hotels (Less than AUD$150/night) | Distance from venue |
| Comfort Inn Cairns City | 1.0 km |
| The Abbott Boutique Hotel | 0.9 km |
| Mid-range hotels (AUD$150-250/night) | |
| Oaks Cairns Hotel | 0.7 km |
| Mantra Esplanade Cairns | 0.8 km |
| Double Tree by Hilton | 0.3 km |
| Cairns Plaza Hotel | 0.2 km |
| Novatel Cairns Oasis Resort | 0.5 km |
| Crystalbrook Bailey | 0.5 km |
| Cairns Harbourside Hotel | 1.1 km |
| Premium (More than AUD$250/night) | |
| Crystalbrook Flynn | 0.6 km |
| Hilton Cairns | 1.1 km |
| Pullman Cairns International | 1.0 km |
Getting around
The city of Cairns is flat and very walkable. The Crystalbrook Riley offers complimentary bicycles for up to 4 hours including a helmet and lock and the Cairns Harbourside Hotel offers E-scooters for hire.
Transport options
Transport options between the airport and hotels, and to get around the city, include shuttle bus, taxis, and Uber.
Cairns climate
Cairns has a tropical climate and May coincides with the approach of the dry season. The average daily temperature in May is around 24oC, with maximum daily temperatures rarely exceeding 27oC and overnight lows rarely falling below 21oC. Bring your swimmers! The esplanade a short distance from the hotel has a nice (and safe) swimming area, as does most hotels.
Dangerous animals
First time travellers to Australia are often anxious about potential encounters with our variety of dangerous animals. It is worth noting that most animal-related fatalities in Australia are from domesticated horses, cows, and dogs, and an encounter with dangerous wildlife is rare unless visiting a wildlife park or zoo.
Similarly, the likelihood of encountering dangerous plants in this region is also rare unless you have a habit of eating unknown plants or are making your own track through the bush!
Most Australian’s rarely encounter these animals and plants.