Airport and Transport

Brisbane Airport

The International and Domestic Airports are located approximately twenty minutes (15km) by taxi and twenty-two minutes by Airtrain from the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. Taxis, trains, hire cars and buses all operate from the Airports.

Taxi

Taxi ranks are conveniently located at both the International and Domestic Terminals. The Domestic Terminal rank is situated at the front of the airport, whilst the International Terminal rank can be found at the northern end of Arrivals on level 2. A taxi costs approximately A$33 from the Airports to the City.

Airtrain Service

Airtrain is the fastest, cheapest and most reliable way to travel from Brisbane Airport to the centre of Brisbane and return. Save on a taxi fare, whilst reducing your carbon footprint. Airtrain services run every 15 minutes in peak hours, and every 30 minutes outside of these hours - the express, air-conditioned journey takes only 20 minutes. All Airtrain timetables are available on their website.

The airport stations are located directly outside the Domestic and International terminals and connect with 5 Brisbane CBD stations covering the majority of downtown Brisbane.

Delegates to the 34th Australian Dental Congress will receive a discounted price of $15.00 return, normally $28.00. In order to take advantage of this special price, you must present a copy of the Conference letter to use as a voucher to exchange for tickets upon arrival. Please download a copy here.

Airtrain wishes you a successful Congress in Brisbane and thanks you for helping reduce your carbon footprint. Each return Airtrain ticket purchased represents a saving of 0.8 kg of exhaust creating carbon emissions.

For more information visit www.airtrain.com.au.

Car Hire

Within the terminals there are agents for Avis, Budget, Hertz, Thrifty (Provide ADA Discount), Europcar and Redspot. Car rental customer service desks are located in the Domestic Airport on ground level and at the International Airport on level 2.

Bus Service

Coachtrans offers direct transfers between Brisbane Airports and the City Centre, departing every thirty minutes. Bookings can be made directly through http://www.coachtrans.com.au/default.aspx and the cost is A$15.00 per person.

Banking/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

The weather in Brisbane is comfortable and sub-tropical. The city of Brisbane enjoys a very enviable climate of brilliant hot summers and clear mild winters. These enticing attributes ensure that Brisbane is idyllic for visitors all year round.

March-April in Brisbane is Autumn, with temperatures ranging from 16 to 26 degrees Celsius.

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.

Dining

South Bank is recognised as Brisbane’s art, cultural and entertainment precinct, offering an epicentre of fine food which features an extensive array of restaurants, cafes and bars. Boasting cuisines from across the world to accompany our renowned Australian wines, South Bank is sure to impress.

Within a few minutes’ walk from South Bank is the suburb of West End. A cosmopolitan styled entertainment strip situated amongst the City’s cultural hub, which offers complete access to a selection of exceptional bar and dining venues to suit all needs.

“BYO” restaurants, an abbreviation for “bring your own”, are amongst the vast selection and enable you to take your own wine and beer to help keep that liquor bill down. 

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.

Language

The official language for the Congress is English.

Car Parking

Car Parking is available at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre at a maximum cost of $21.00 per day.

Privacy

Australia introduced the Privacy Amendment (Private Sector) Act 2000 in 2001. The Congress 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 Congress will be only used for the purposes of planning and conduct of the Congress 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 Congress 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 Congress. Individuals are also entitled to access the information held by written application to the Congress 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 Traveller’s on the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) website, which you can access by visiting: http://www.affa.gov.au.

Shopping

Shopping hours in the CBD are usually from 0900 to 1700 hours Monday through Thursday, with late night shopping on Friday from 0900 to 2100 hours. Saturday shopping generally trades from 0900 to 1700 hours and Sunday's from 1000 to 1600 hours.

Time

Brisbane is 10 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.

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.

Visa Application - International Delegates

All visitors to Australia must have a valid passport and visa to travel to and enter the country (New Zealand passport holders and permanent residents of Norfolk Island may be subject to visa exceptions upon arrival). Visitors travelling to Australia for business purposes, such as a Conference or Seminar, are required to apply for a business visa. This application must be submitted early (6-8 weeks prior to travel) to ensure that all details are confirmed prior to your departure. Please note, the type of passport which you hold will determine whether you can apply online, or if you need to lodge a paper-based application.

In order to apply online, the passport holder must be from an eVisitor eligible country. Please refer to http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/tourist/evisitor for further information regarding eVisitor eligibility. Eligible passport holders also qualify for an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA). You can apply for an ETA online www.eta.immi.gov.au or have one arranged for you through a travel agent, airline office, specialist service provider or overseas Australian visa office. Further information on ETAs can be found at http://www.immi.gov.au/e_visa/eta.htm.

All remaining passport holders must lodge a paper-based application for a Business (Short Stay) visa (subclass 456). Information relating to this visa is available at www.immi.gov.au/skilled/business/456/. Please note a visa application charge of $AUD105 will be required when applying for this visa.

For further information on the International Event Coordinator Network (IECN), please visit www.immi.gov.au/visitors/event-organisers-participants.

Australian Visa Application Supporting Documentation

Delegates applying for a non-ETA visa may present their paid confirmation letter to an Australian visa office to support their application. No other letters will be issued for this purpose. As a Conference delegate, you are not guaranteed to be granted a visa.