General Information

Airport and Transport

Taxis are readily available at Sydney Airport, and the journey to the city's CBD takes 15-20 minutes (longer during peak hours) and an additional 30 minutes from CBD to Manly. The Airport Link rail service runs from approximately 5am until midnight, seven days a week, between the Domestic and International Terminals and all City Circle railway stations. For more information, call +61 2 8337 8417 or visit www.airportlink.com.au.

The Conference does not provide any transfers from the airport to the conference venue or hotels. All delegates must make their own transport arrangements from the airport.

Transport Options

There are a number of ways to travel to the MSC2015 conference venues. Some of these are listed below, the Secretariat strongly recommends that delegates visit the website of each venue and looks at the online reviews before booking.

Shuttle Bus

Taxi

Most convenient but most expensive ($90 ~ $100 plus $4.10 airport toll)
http://www.sydneyairport.com.au/go/by-taxi.aspx

Train + ferry or Train + bus: takes a longer time (70 min to 90 min) and less expensive ($17.10 or $21.70 via Opal Card) .

Banking/Currency

Australia's currency consists of coins of five, 10, 20 and 50 cent and one and two dollar denomination; and notes of five, 10, 20, 50 and 100 dollar denomination.

Foreign exchange facilities are available at banks, hotels and airports. All major credit cards including Mastercard, Visa, American Express and Diners Club are accepted at most restaurants and shops.

Current exchange rates can be obtained from your bank. All major credit cards are widely accepted in Australia. www.xe.com.

Business Hours

Banks are open from 0930 to 1600 Monday to Thursday, 0930 to 1700 on Fridays and are closed on Saturday and Sunday. General office and post offices are open 0900 to 1700 Monday - Friday.

Climate and Clothing

September is the start of Spring in Sydney and the weather is cool to warm and generally sunny.

Throughout September the average daytime temperature in Sydney is around 19°C (66°F) where as the average minimum average temperatures tend to hover around 11°C (52°F).

The average amount of sunshine per day that Sydney should enjoy in September is 8 hours.

We recommend delegates do bring warmer clothing for the Conference evenings.

Eating Out

Sydney is a multi-cultural city and a wide range of cuisine is available throughout its many restaurants.

Electricity

The electrical current is 240/250V, AC 50Hz and has a unique flat three-pin connection therefore you will need an adaptor. Most hotels provide 110 volt outlets for shavers.

Goods and Services Tax (GST) / Tourist Refund Scheme (TRS)

Australia has a taxation system incorporating the Goods & Services Tax (GST). All prices quoted are inclusive of 10% GST, unless otherwise specified.

The TRS enables you to claim a refund, subject to certain conditions, of the goods and services tax (GST) and wine equalisation tax (WET) that you pay on goods you buy in Australia.

To claim a refund you must:

Spend $300 (GST inclusive) or more in the one store and get a single tax invoice
Buy goods no more than 30 days before departure
Wear or carry the goods on board the aircraft or ship and present them along with your original tax invoice, passport and international boarding pass to a Customs Officer at a TRS facility
Claims at airports are only available up to 30 minutes prior to the scheduled departure of your flight.

The refund only applies to goods you take with you as hand luggage or wear onto the aircraft when you leave Australia. It does not apply to services or goods consumed or partly consumed in Australia, such as wine, chocolate or perfume. However, unlike other tourist shopping schemes, most of the goods, such as clothing and cameras, can be used in Australia before departure.

The TRS is open to all overseas visitors and Australian residents.

The GST refund is calculated by dividing the total amount of the purchase by 11. The WET refund is 14.5 percent of the price paid for wine. For example, if you buy goods for a GST-inclusive price of $660 you will receive a refund of $60. If the $660 is made up of a camera ($460) and wine ($200), you will receive a total refund of $89 (total GST refund of $60 plus $29 WET refund on the wine).

Insurance

It is strongly recommended that at the time you register for the Conference and book your travel you take out an insurance policy. The policy should include loss of fees/deposit through cancellation of your participation in the Conference, or through cancellation of the Conference, loss of international/domestic air fares through cancellation for any reason, loss of tour monies through cancellation for any reason including airline or related services strikes within Australia, failure to utilise tours or pre booked arrangements due to airline delay, Force Majeure or any other reason, medical expenses (including sickness and accident cover), loss or damage to personal property, additional expenses and repatriation should travel arrangements have to be altered. The Conference Managers cannot take any responsibility for any participant failing to arrange their own insurance. This insurance is to be purchased in your country of origin.

Language

English is spoken in Australia and is the official language for the Conference.

Mobile Phones

Australia operates on a digital network therefore analogue mobile phones are unable to be used.

Privacy

Australia has strict laws which are designed to protect the right of the individual to privacy of their information. The Conference Secretariat complies with all this legislation and any Information collected in respect of proposed participation in any aspect of the Conference will be only used for the purposes of planning and conduct of the Conference.

Provision is made in the registration form for delegates to choose whether they wish for their details to be included in a 'List of Participants' of attendees.

Quarantine

Australia is free from many plant and animal diseases prevalent in other countries. Very strict quarantine rules apply to the import of animals and plants, which cannot be brought into the country without prior application. Animal and plant products are also restricted.

For more information see the 'Information for International Travellers' on the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) website, which you can access by visiting http://www.affa.gov.au.

Shopping

Shops open from 9:00am to 5:30pm during the week with late night shopping on Thursdays to 9:00pm. On Saturdays and Sunday shops are open between 9:00am and 4:00pm.

Time

Local Sydney time during September is – Greenwich Mean Time plus 11 hours.

Tipping

Tipping is not the general custom in Australia and is usually not as widespread or regulated in Australia as it is in other parts of the world. Tipping is your prerogative, a reward for service.

Visa Information

Click here for detailed information.