Darwin Boat Show at the Convention Centre or Marrara? : Fishing Polls

Matt Flynn

I have just come back from packing up the FISH FINDER/FFF/NTMAG stall at Darwin Boat Show.

I enjoyed the show and the Convention Centre is a magnificent venue.

But some visitors told me they liked the show better when it was an outdoors venue (most of it outdoors) at Marrara.

I was told they liked it better because every business to do with outdoors was there - cars, boats, caravans, campers etc. Plus there was more food variety, more space and entry via a gold coin donation.

In contrast the Convention Centre show is cool, modern, mostly indoors and by the sea.

I am told Marrara was also cheaper for exhibitors.

So, should Darwin Boat Show be at the Convention Centre or Marrara?

slapper1 · **Barrabucks points on hand:** Locked **Bank:** Locked

marrara was better more room for sure
i was told that an indoor exhibit at the convention centre costs $40.000 per dealer
was a bit disapionting this year not many exhibits at all just the usal boat dealers ,nothing new just the same as last year
would like to see more outdoor stuff , camping, 4wd gear, more tackle displays new cars . bikes / quads etc maybe even a hunting display would be good
may if it was back at marrara there might be more exhibits or even at the show grounds
also very limited car parking at the convention centre
dont get me wrong the convention centre is a great venue , it would be even better if it had boats on the water for more boat displays / tests on the water for the boat show let people see how the boats perform on the water not how they look on the trailer

2rods

Marrara hands down....... more room and a better atmosphere IMHO....

There was more to see at the older shows (like the big fish tank 1 year).. and yes the whole family could go and you didn't need a second morgage to get in.

nomad

G’day Matt
Good to catch up with you.
I was very disappointed with the show. It was really tiny compared to others. I walked around for a while trying to find the rest of it.
Not one boat in the water. No test drives etc etc
Take Newcastle for example, around the same population as Darwin but about 5 times bigger with heaps more exhibits.

I've not been to the Marrara show so I can't comment but the rain would have caused hassles outdoors

A_Nomad

I havent been to the convention centre, only from people telling me it isnt worth the money to get in.
All i have spoken to have said Marrara or evan the show grounds.
I think alot more outdoor stuff would appeal to a bigger audience as well

andrew.south

Marrara for sure..gold coin entry not a rip off like the Convention centre $10 entry :fubird:

, much bigger venue, central location to every one not just handy to those that live at the Water Front Complex... :cheers:

shaynes_god

It was a bit disapointing this year not much there really but they did say it was a boat show. Maybe they need an outdoor leisure show, which has the lot boating, fishing camping 4X4 displays and guns etc. Seems to me that sort of thing would appeal more. The thing i really dislike about the convention centre was the parking a bigger venue is always going to be better.

nomad

youre right. the shows that i talked about are leisure type ones not just boating.

double haul

Marra hands down. I only went to have a look at the choas cat but it wasnt there.

Matt Flynn

I have bumped this topic back up because the boat show organisers will read it ... if you have a preference for either venue this is a good place to let it be known.

Blinky

Marrara for sure...........if they're not going to utilise the water take it back to Marrara I say!
What sort of boat show has a waterfront venue and not have boats in the water, test drives etc etc !!!!!!!!!

Rug

The show grounds sounds like the best place. Same space as Mararra but with much more parking.

freon

exhibits getting less each year and entry fee going up
not worth $10 take it back to Marrara I love the convention centre
but they dont have to pay for it in a couple of years
cheers

secretspot

Slighty off topic. Down here in Adelaide, the boat show was moved from the big open Wayville Showgrounds, to the smaller Adelaide Convention Center. More expensive with a lot less boats.

balou

Marrrara is diffinitely a better venue for a boat and leaisure show because of it size and ease of parking.. I'll be happy to pay $10 if there were more exibitors, more food vendors, more clinics and demonstrations.

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