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.
An exciting lineup is being planned by the organising committee including a couple of field trips to the Daintree, Working on Country and plant photography workshops, and Rainforest Plant ID workshops before and after the conference!
Registrations and the Call for Abstracts will open in February 2026!
Draft Program
Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd – Pre-conference Rainforest Plant ID Workshop at the Daintree Rainforest Observatory.
Monday 24th – Welcome Reception at Hemmingway’s Brewery 5-7pm.
Tuesday 25th, Wednesday 26th and Thursday 27th – All day presentations and workshops at Port Douglas Community Hall.
Wednesday 26th – Conference Dinner, venue TBC.
Friday 28th – Field Trips, both full and half day.
Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th – Post-conference Rainforest Plant ID Workshop, venue TBC
Accommodation
Receive a 10% APCC15 discount on five Eco Certified Mantra hotels within walking distance of the conference venue and reduce your environmental footprint!
Choose from Mantra Portsea, Mantra Aqueous, Mantra Heritage, Mantra in the Village and Mantra on the Inlet.
Click on this link then choose one of the five hotels, then enter stay details for up to four nights from 24th August and number of guests. Then click on “Other special rates and promo code”, choose “Promo code” from the drop down menu and enter APCC15, then hit Search and your Special Offer rates will show up!
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:
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