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About
Canberra
Canberra, one of the most well planned cities in the
world, is dedicated to the arts and recreation, as well
as advancing the political and intellectual progress
of the nation. Home to four universities and numerous
parks and public spaces, Canberra provides an ideal
venue for the conference.
Located between the Australian Alps and Sydney, this
small city blends city life with country charms.
It is too late for skiing or snowboarding in Australian Alps, but you can go for whale watching in Sydney during a weekend or there are plenty things to in Canberra itself. Check the list below.
Things to do and see in Canberra
Visit our many scenic attractions including the lookouts
on Red Hill, Black Mountain and Mount Ainslie, explore
the nature walks and parks along our waterways or the
paths and bikeways through the city and its surroundings
or take in some of the nationally significant attractions
Canberra has to offer such as:
The seventy eight embassies and high commissions
that call Canberra home make it a truly cosmopolitan
city and have given rise to a diverse abundance of contemporary
restaurants covering a wide range of styles and cuisines.
Visit the Canberra Tourism website to learn more about
what is on offer and to help you plan other activities
for your visit.
Travel Information
Train
Canberra is linked by the rail network to all major
cities and services are provided by Countrylink. The
Melbourne-Canberra train/bus services departs Melbourne
daily and whilst it is an eight and a half hour journey,
it would provide a good opportunity for delegates to
catch up on work and enjoy the Australian countryside
while travelling.
The Sydney-Canberra train departs daily and is about
a four-hour journey. For more information you can check
the website: www.countrylink.nsw.gov.au.
Coach
Murrays Australia may be able to assist on a case-by-case
basis and can be contacted on 13 2251 or you can check
the website: www.murrays.com.au.
Driving
Canberra is a pleasant three and half hour drive from
Sydney and a comfortable eight hour drive from Melbourne.
Airport
Canberra airport is approximately a fifteen-minute taxi
drive to the city (approx. $25.00 fare).
Airport Shuttle Bus
DBL Deane’s Buslines runs an airport shuttle between
the city and the airport. Known as the Airliner, this
bus service operates between Canberra city and Canberra
airport, approximately every hour. This service operates
between the Civic Interchange (Cnr. Alinga Street and
Northbourne Ave—Bay 6) and the airport.
Airport to City - Services depart the airport from 7.15am
to 6.00pm.
City to Airport -Services depart the city (Platform
6) from 7.30am to 6.30pm. Telephone enquiries: (02)
6299 3722 Website: www.deanesbuslines.com.au
ACTION Buses (Canberra bus service)
Action Buses stop outside the Conference venue daily.
For information on times and bus numbers ACTION Buses
can be contacted on 131 710 or at www.action.act.gov.au.
Optional Tours
There are many half and whole day tours that can be
taken to enjoy the sights of Canberra and surrounding
areas, including the wineries of the Hunter
Valley.
Tour Ideas - link
If you plan to spend more time in Australia, there are
many options including the Great
Barrier Reef and the Whitsunday
Islands off the Queensland Coast, the Daintree
Rainforest in far North Queensland, Uluru
in Central Australia, or Kakadu
in the Northern Territory.
Credit Cards
Visa, MasterCard and Bankcard are widely accepted. American
Express and Diners Club are accepted at many hotels
and some restaurants.
Customs & Quarantine
Quarantine and wildlife regulations and other restrictions
may also apply to certain
goods. A customs entry for customs clearance may
be required if the goods carried are valued over A$250.
We recommend you check the Australian Customs Service
web page - link
GST – Goods and Services Tax
All goods and services transacted in Australia attract
a Goods and Services Tax of 10%. By law this tax is
included in all displayed prices – so the price
you see is the price you pay.
Visitors to Australia can claim back the GST paid on
any purchase of at least A$300 from the one store. This
is done at the airport at the time of departure. You
need proof of purchase (normal receipt) that shows the
suppliers ABN (Australian Business Number), that GST
was paid on the goods, and how much the GST was. To work out GST part of the purchase you can use GST Calculator.
Media
Weather - link
In December the climate in Canberra is temperate and
mild. Average maximum for December is 25C and the average
minimum is 12C. Bring a jacket and light sweater for
the cool evenings.
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