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About Melbourne
Melbourne is a large cosmopolitan city easily reached by air from other continents.
Melbourne, in Southern Australia, in the state of Victoria, is one of the most livable cities in the world. The whole metropolis of about 3.5 million people spreads out around Port Phillip Bay, which offers an excellent harbour for commercial shipping and good conditions for small boat sailing. The city itself, laid out on a grid pattern, combines architecture from the late nineteenth century with the modern period and skyscrapers of the 1990s.
The city winds along the Yarra River whose banks has become a popular venue for entertainment and recreation. Parks surround the central area, and a series of linked parks, served by bicycle paths, has been preserved along the Yarra extending from the rural landscapes and vineyards of the East right into the inner city. Bicycles can be hired from several locations. There is a range of attractions in the city and inner suburbs including the Royal Botanic Gardens, an excellent art gallery, new museums and concert hall, the best and most culturally diverse restaurants in Australia, cafes, pubs and shopping streets, fringe art groups, and a major zoo.
The metropolis is served by an efficient and extensive public transport system comprising trains, trams and buses. Surrounding the city are the old gold mining towns and wine growing districts, the rugged and beautiful Grampian mountains in the West, the alpine peaks of the Great Dividing Range in the East and the sub-alpine peaks of the Dandenong Ranges with forests and fern-tree gullies. The Winter weather in Melbourne in July can be alternatively cool and sunny with an average maximum of 15 degrees Celsius and overnight minimum of 5 degrees Celsius.
Visit these sites for more information about Melbourne:
www.australia.com
www.melbourne.org
Travelling to Melbourne
Melbourne International Airport (Tullamarine), located about 20 kilometres (12 miles) from the centre of Melbourne, has direct scheduled connections to may cities in the world and regular flights from Europe, Asia and the USA.
Public Transport
The Carlton Crest Hotel is approximately 40 minutes from Melbourne International Airport (Tullamarine). A taxi fare from the airport to the hotel is AUD $40 - 45 (approx.). An airport bus (Skybus) to the City of Melbourne can be taken from the airport at a cost of $12 but a taxi ride from the bus terminal to the hotel costs another $10 - 15. You may wish to take a tram from the bus terminal to the hotel.
The Carlton Crest Hotel is three kilometres from the city of Melbourne and can easily be reached by trams bearing the names 'Armadale' Number 6, 'St. Kilda Beach' Number 16 or 64 or 'St. Kilda' Number 3 along Swanston Street which then becomes St. Kilda Road. Alight at stop number 27 on the corner of St. Kilda Road and High Street. The Carlton Crest Hotel is a short walk East from this tram stop. Tram tickets can be purchased from a machine on board.
Major car rental companies operate from Melbourne International Airport and depots throughout the city.
V/Line offer discounted fares for country travellers. For more information visit:
www.vline.vic.gov.au/fares.html
Banks
Banks in Australia are open from 0930 - 1600 Monday to Thursday and from 0930 - 1700 on Fridays.
Most banks are closed weekends and public holidays. Automatic Teller Machines are open 24 hours and are located throughout the city. Facilities for exchange of currency are available at the airport, the hotels and banks.
Car Rental
Cars can be rented in Australia from local or international companies. Average cost per day for a medium sized car is A$70. All cars are right hand drive.
Credit Cards
Credit cards are widely accepted. Commonly recognised cards include Visa, MasterCard and the local Bankcard. These are the only cards accepted at the Conference.
Currency Exchange
Decimal currency is used in Australia (AUD) and currency units are dollars and cents. Australian notes are: $100, $50, $20, $10, $5. Coins are: $2, $1, 50 cents, 20c, 10, 5c.
Disabled Facilities
If you require disabled facilities, please notify the secretariat by indicating on your registration form.
Disclaimer
In the event of industrial disruptions, the Conference Organisers cannot be held responsible for any losses incurred by delegates. The program is correct at the time of printing, but the organisers reserve the right to alter the program if and as is deemed necessary.
Electricity
The electrical supply is 240 volts, 50 Hz. The connection for appliances is a flat 3-pin plug. Most city hotels provide 110 volts for shavers.
Health
Vaccinations are not required unless you have come from a yellow fever infected country zone within six days prior to your arrival. You do not need any other health certificate to enter Australia. Australia has a high standard of hygiene and doctors and dentists are highly trained and hospitals well equipped. In the event of illness, hotel staff can arrange a doctor for you.
Insurance
It is strongly recommended that delegates take out adequate travel and health insurance prior to commencement of travel. Further information can be obtained from your travel agent.
Internet Access
The conference will have eight terminals in the Exhibition area for delegates to access their email. Delegates staying at the Conference hotel will also be able to access their email with their own laptop from their room.
The following internet cafes are close to the Conference hotel:
Café
Wired
363 Clarendon St. South Melbourne
phone: 9686-9555 |
Cyber Net Café
Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn
phone: 9818-1288
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The Kennel Café
123 Acland St. St. Kilda
phone: 9534-7655 |
Internet Café St. Kilda
9 Grey St. St. Kilda
phone: 9534-2666 |
Liability
The Organising Committee and or Conference Organiser shall not be held liable for personal accidents or losses or damage to private property of registered delegates of the Conference. Delegates should make their own arrangements with respect to personal insurance.
Limit on Numbers
Attendance at some sessions, social events and tours will be restricted in numbers. It is strongly recommended that you book for these functions with your registration to avoid disappointment. Preference will be given in sequence as registrations are received.
Parking
Parking is available free of charge to delegates staying as guests of the Carlton Crest Hotel. Parking otherwise costs
$7.20 per day or $11.00 for valet service In order
for hotel guests, staying at the hotel to obtain free parking, each guest
must validate their parking ticket with the concierge or reception desk
otherwise they will be charged for parking. For anyone parking in the
Carlton Crest Hotel for more than 24 hours, you can pay a max. of $7.20 by
having your parking ticket validated by the concierge or reception desk.
Quarantine
Australia is free from many plant and animal diseases prevalent in other countries. Very strict quarantine rules apply to the importation of animals and plants that cannot be brought into the country without prior application. Animal and plant products are also very restricted.
Tipping
Tipping is not as widespread or regulated in Australia as it is in other parts of the world. Tipping is your prerogative, a reward for service. It is customary to tip hotel porters, and a gratuity of about 10% is usual in restaurants if good service is received. NO service charge is added to hotel or restaurant bills.
Travel
For international passengers, we suggest that you try to allow yourself at least one day in which to adjust to the time difference and relax after your flight, before the Conference commences.
Vaccinations
A current valid international certificate of inoculation against cholera and yellow fever is required if you as a passenger come from or travel through infected areas. Consult your airline in this regard.
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