The 15th Australasian Plant Conservation Conference (APCC15) will be held at the Port Douglas Community Hall in the Queensland Wet Tropics from 24-28 August 2026.

With the overall theme ‘Plant Conservation: Culture, Collaboration and Change’ APCC15 will explore these three spheres of native plant recovery through rainforest restoration partnerships, collaborations with Traditional Owner groups, impacts of climate change induced natural disasters, management of threatened species and communities, and biosecurity threats such as Myrtle Rust.

Sponsorship opportunities now available!

Your organisation is invited to partner with APCC15 and be a part of this premier event in North Queensland! The conference provides an excellent opportunity to promote the profile of your organisation, including your involvement in plant conservation, to representatives from government, academia, community groups and private organisations across Australia.

Click on our Partnership Prospectus below to discover the wide range of options available:

Getting to Port Douglas

You can fly direct to Cairns Airport non-stop from Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Newcastle, Proserpine, Sydney and Townsville.

Several companies offer shuttle services between Port Douglas and Cairns Airport, providing both shared and private transfer options. Shared shuttles are typically less expensive, while private transfers offer more personalised service and convenience. Companies like SR Coaches, Excellence Coaches, and Cairns Port Douglas Shuttle offer these services.

Shared Shuttle Services:

• Cairns Airport to Port Douglas: Shared shuttle prices can range from $57 to $65 per person, one way, depending on the company.
• Port Douglas to Cairns Airport: Similar pricing applies for transfers in the opposite direction.
• Exemplar Coaches and Limousines: Offers seat-in-coach airport transfers.
• Cairns Airport Shuttle Bus: Operates a daily shuttle service.

Private Shuttle Services:

• Port Douglas Transfers: Offers private transfers from Cairns Airport/City to Port Douglas for 1-3 passengers for $230 or 4-7 passengers for $260.
• Exemplar Coaches and Limousines: Provides private transfers in sedans or people movers.
• Excellence Coaches: Offers private transfers on 5-7 seater vehicles.

Schedules: Some shuttle services have fixed schedules, so it’s important to check their websites or contact them for specific times.

Bookings: It’s generally recommended to book your shuttle in advance, especially for larger groups or if traveling during peak season.

Luggage: Check with the specific shuttle service about luggage allowance and storage.

Airport Transfers: Some shuttles provide meet and greet services at the airport, where a driver will be waiting with a sign bearing your name.

Where to stay and things to to

See accommodation and info on things to do in the area on the Port Douglas Daintree tourism website.

Thank you to our confirmed APCC15 partners:

   Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment

Stay tuned here for the latest updates, follow us on Facebook, or subscribe to our E-newsletter.

Meanwhile, you can view presentations from our last conference held in Toowoomba and watch delegate reactions and closing thoughts here.

APCC15 organising committee:

Bob Makinson – Australian Network for Plant Conservation

Jo Lynch – Australian Network for Plant Conservation

Richie Southerton – Australian Network for Plant Conservation

Paul Donatiu – Australian Network for Plant Conservation & Queensland Threatened Plant Network

Darren Crayn – Australian Tropical Herbarium / JCU

John Hodgon – Carpentaria Land Council Aboriginal Corporation

Marine Deliens – Rainforest Rescue

Ellen Weber – Wet Tropics Management Authority

Cadel Boyce – Cairns Botanic Gardens

Teghan Collingwood – Queensland Herbarium & Biodiversity Science DETSI

Nick Cuff & Caroline Chong – Northern Territory Herbarium