Tropical North Queensland prepares to welcome athletes

May is the month of Masters in Tropical North Queensland as the region is set to welcome athletes competing in three key sporting championships.

The Masters Trans-Tasman Challenge from 13-17 May brings 34 hockey teams from across Australia and New Zealand to Cairns for the first time. The UCI Masters Mountain Bike World Championships returns for the second year from 14 to 18 May, bringing hundreds of riders from around the world. And the biennial Great Barrier Reef Masters Games are back from 29 May to 1 June with 24 sports and an anticipated 2,500 athletes.

“Tropical North Queensland is recognised as a prime location for sporting events, especially for masters athletes who look forward to catching up with old friends for some rest and relaxation after the event,” Tourism Tropical North Queensland chief executive officer, Mark Olsen, said.

These three events alone are predicted to bring 41,500 visitor nights to Tropical North Queensland.

Sporting events are very popular with interstate athletes and the number of international competitors is also growing thanks to the appeal of Tropical North Queensland for an active holiday exploring our dual World Heritage areas.

Surveys at the 2024 UCI Masters Mountain Bike World Championships showed overseas masters participants stayed an average of 8.6 nights so they could enjoy and soak up our tropical lifestyle with 43.9 per ent from interstate and 28.6 per cent from overseas.

“This helps to grow visitation in the shoulder season by giving first-time travellers a reason to come to Tropical North Queensland outside the peak winter season, helping tourism to support one in five jobs year-round,” Olsen said.

The UCI Masters Mountain Bike World Championships, the Masters Trans-Tasman Challenge, and the Great Barrier Reef Masters Games will bring thousands of athletes and supporters to the region, delivering a major economic boost to local businesses, Cairns Mayor, Amy Eden, said.

From hotels and restaurants to tourism operators and retailers, the entire community will benefit from the influx of visitors. These events reinforce Cairns’ reputation as a world-class sports tourism destination and help to sustain local jobs by attracting visitors outside the peak season. 

“With competitors travelling from across Australia and overseas, we are showcasing our incredible natural landscapes, warm hospitality, and top-tier sporting facilities to a global audience,” Eden said.

“We look forward to welcoming every athlete and supporter to experience the best of Cairns – on and off the field.”

It marks the first time in six years that the Trans-Tasman Masters returns to Australian soil, and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome hundreds of athletes across 34 teams, Hockey Australia chief events officer, Simon Butterly, said.

“The fierce rivalry between Australia and New Zealand will come alive across five days in the stunning setting of Tropical North Queensland, igniting an event well-known for its celebration of community, camaraderie, and the enduring spirit of sport.”