About Melbourne

About Melbourne, Victoria - World's Most Livable City

The City of Melbourne has developed an impressive range of environmental policies and practices to create a more sustainable and liveable Melbourne.

Melbourne prides itself on being a great city. It's hardly surprising, with its spectacular combination of old and new architecture, elegant streetscapes, ethnic communities and lavish parks and gardens. Add Australia's best eating, an excellent transit system and a packed events calendar boasting sporting spectaculars and exuberant events, and you have all the ingredients for one of the most enlightened and liveable cities in the world.

Australia's second-largest city and capital of the state of Victoria, Melbourne has a lively passion for eating and drinking, which is reflected in thousands of restaurants serving up gastronomic experiences from around the world.

What's more, everywhere you look you'll find an array of fashionable cafés, where you can enjoy Melbourne's fantastic coffee culture to the full.

Known as the "Garden City", Melbourne is renowned for its culture, festivals, gardens, wide boulevards and sporting events. It is a vibrant and cosmopolitan city that is host to a multitude of international sporting events including the Australian Open Tennis Grand Slam, International One Day and Test Cricket matches at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) and the world famous Melbourne Cup.

Melbourne was recently voted "the world's most liveable city" and is a modern, progressive city.

Visiting Melbourne
For tourism information about Melbourne visit the website www.thatsmelbourne.com.au.

Things to See and Do in Melbourne
The central business district of Melbourne is based around the delta of the Yarra River at the top of a large bay. The city area contains some of Australia's finest parks, gardens and historic buildings, all within walking distance. Melbourne is also Australia's entertainment, sporting and cultural capital. Nearly every cuisine is represented in the many hundreds of Melbourne's very reasonably-priced restaurants and cafes.

Places of interest include:

Melbourne Zoo, recognised as one of the world's best.
The observation deck of the Rialto (southern hemisphere's tallest building) for a bird's-eye view.
The sporting precinct which includes the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), scene of the Melbourne 1956 Olympics and still one of the world's great stadiums, as well as Rod Laver arena (venue of the Australian Tennis Open).
Many waterfront promenades and cafes along the Yarra River or docklands precinct.
Some of the finest examples of historic gothic architecture (used as backdrops in many major movies).

Public Transport in Melbourne
The Melbourne Central Business District (CBD and its suburbs) are one of a few cities in the world that has a low cost electric tram network, as well as an underground train system. There is a free-of-charge historic tram that runs regularly around the perimeter of the Melbourne CBD. This free historic tram is designed for visitors to Melbourne and has high-quality maps and tour guides on board - a most recommended means of getting around the Melbourne CBD.

The city and suburbs is also well-serviced by taxis and buses or, for something a little different, catch a water taxi along Melbourne's famous Yarra River and docklands area. One of the reasons that Melbourne is regarded as one of the world's safest and most livable cities it is quite safe to walk and travel around Melbourne, day and night.

Melbourne is well serviced by trains, trams, buses and taxis both in the city and surrounding suburbs. For more information about the transport network, go to Metlink www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au

Airport and Transport
Melbourne is easy to access and even easier to get around. The city provides around 530 international flights a week. Linked to other major Australian centres by air, interstate rail, major highways (car and coach) and ferry (Tasmania only), Melbourne 's location within the country's population epicenter makes it a preferred place to visit for most Australians.

Melbourne Airport is the gateway to southern Australia , with around 530 international flights operating every week to and from major destinations.
23 international carriers operate direct at Melbourne , including Qantas, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Malaysian, Thai and British Airways.

The central business district is 30 minutes from the Airport. A taxi costs approximately A$30.00. A regular airport to city bus service (Skybus) departs the airport every 30 minutes for A$8.50.

Melbourne 's Metlink ticketing system allows multiple journeys using the complete Metlink transport network. Tickets are know as Metcards and provide flexible travel on trains, trams and buses. Check maps located at stations, tram stops and on transport to match your ticket to your journey. Melbourne can also provide Delegate Passes on its transport network which can be supplemented by coach shuttle services if required. Much of Melbourne 's tram and rail fleet will be either replaced or refurbished in time for the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games. The $700 million Southern Cross Station (formerly Spencer Street Station) now nearing completion will provide a major transport hub for interstate and metropolitan trains and the Airport Shuttle (Skybus). For further information visit: www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au

Banking and Currency
Decimal currency is used in Australia with the dollar as the basic unit (100 cents = $1) Notes come in $100, $50, $20, $10, and $5. Coins come in 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, $1 and $2 denominations.

Currency exchange facilities are available in most banks, hotels and airports and operate normal business hours. Credit cards are accepted at most restaurants and shops, the most widely used being Mastercard, Visa, American Express and Diners Club.

Business Hours
Banks generally open from 0930 - 1600 hours Monday - Friday. General office hours are 0900 - 1700 Monday - Friday. Post Offices operate these hours, however stamps are often available from hotels.

Climate and Clothing
Melbourne climate is temperate and variable with no great extremes and one of the lowest rainfall levels in Australia.

Generally Australians are informal dressers. We suggest you bring a jacket and tie with you for special occasions. A light jacket is recommended for evenings.

Please refer to the information on the social program for dress at social functions organised as part of the Conference, as some of these may require formal evening dress.

Eating Out
Bistros, restaurants, cafes and coffee shops offer varied menus, prices and decor. Local specialties such as seafood and Australian wines are worth trying. At some restaurants you can keep the liquor bill down by taking your own wine or beer. These are called "BYO" restaurants, an abbreviation for "bring your own".

Electricity
Electrical current is 240/250V, AC 50Hz. The Australian three-pin power outlet is different from that in many countries, so you will need an adaptor. If your appliances are 110V, check if there is a 110/240V switch. If not, you will need a voltage converter. Universal outlets for 240V or 110V shavers are usually found in leading hotels.

Goods & Services Tax (GST) / Tourist Refund Scheme (TRS)
Since 1 July 2000, Australia has adopted a new taxation system incorporating the Goods & Services Tax (GST). All prices quoted in this brochure are inclusive of GST, unless otherwise specified.

As part of this new taxation system, the Australian Government introduced the Tourist Refund Scheme (TRS). The scheme is administered by the Australian Customs Department and took effect on 1 July 2000 . The TRS enables travellers departing Australia to claim a refund of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and Wine Equalisation Tax (WET) paid on goods bought in Australia . The refund applies to goods over the value of A$300 when items are purchased in the same shop within 30 days of your departure from Australia . Should an item be too large to take onto the aircraft as hand luggage you will need to visit the TRS clearing office at the international airport with the item and receipt. The receipt will be stamped TRS sited and at that point you can check the large item in with your luggage. Once you have cleared customs you can collect your refund from the TRS desk by showing your receipt or items purchased. It does not apply to services or goods consumed or partly consumed in Australia , however the goods can be used before departing Australia.

Parking
Car parking is available for speakers and delegates at the Grand Hyatt Melbourne with a 24-hour car park available and valet parking.

Passport and Visa
All travellers to Australia, other than New Zealand , require a valid entry VISA prior to travel to Australia . For many nationalities (29 in total) an Electronic Visa or Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) can be obtained from your travel agent or airline when making your travel arrangements. Please see your travel agent, airline or the Australian Government's Department of immigration website for further details. www.immi.gov.au

Planning your Travel
Because of time change and jet lag the Organising Committee suggests you consider arriving in Australia earlier. This will enable you to relax and familiarise yourself with your hotel and its surrounds before the start of the conference.

Privacy
Australia introduced the Privacy Amendment (Private Sector) Act 2000 in 2001. The Conference Managers comply with such legislation which is designed to protect the right of the individual to privacy of their information. 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 and may also be provided to the organising body or to organisers of future events. It is also usual to produce a ‘Delegate List' of attendees at the Conference and to include the individual's details in such a list. Consent for publication of the individual's information may be withheld when completing the Registration Form for the Conference. Individuals are also entitled to access the info rmation held by written application to the Conference Managers.

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 Travelers' on the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) website, which you can access by visiting http://www.affa.gov.au.

Shopping
Shops open from 0900 to 1730 hours during the week with late night shopping on Thursday and Friday. On Saturdays and Sundays most shops are open from 0900 to 1600 hours.

Note: Daylight saving: from the last Sunday in October to the first Sunday in March, clocks are advanced one hour to optimise light for evening activities.

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 per cent is usual in restaurants if good service is received. Tips for taxis are regarded as optional.

Vaccinations
A current valid international certificate of inoculation against yellow fever is required if passengers come from, or travel through, infected areas. Check this carefully with your airline or travel agent.