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.

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.