Close x Meeting Venue – Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre

The Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre, stretching 450 metres along the Yarra River, opened in February 1996 to great acclaim, winning a multitude of awards for its unique design. A great benefit of this venue is that the exhibition and all sessions and posters will be located under the one roof. The Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre (MECC) is located near the Crown Casino and Entertainment Complex. The Complex provides a broad range of restaurants and entertainment facilities.

Just up the river on the south side near St Kilda Road and the Arts Centre, which has various performance spaces for theatre, concerts, opera and ballet, is the South Bank complex, or Southgate, as it is commonly called. This has become a meeting place for all ages. Casual and formal restaurants, wine bars and stylish shops are situated along a paved river frontage. The location is popular for locals and overseas visitors alike.

As a consistent winner of many prestigious 'Awards for Excellence', the Melbourne Exhibition Centre is renowned for providing delegates with the highest standards of personal service and conference facilities under one roof. The Melbourne Exhibition & Convention Centre

Close x Welcome to Melbourne

Melbourne is a city that has something for everyone.  You’ll know that you’re in Melbourne on first sight of the funky laneways, amazing architecture and abundance of parkland.  Look a little closer and you’ll find hundreds of cafes and restaurants and a unique bar scene, just waiting for you to explore.

Dining

Melbourne is the food capital of Australia. City restaurants are known for delicious food at great prices.  This is a city where there are as many styles as there are chefs, with a culinary diversity as rich as anywhere around the globe.

Melbourne also offers exceptional fine dining with restaurants that marry modern Australian cuisine with European and Asian techniques. Head along the Yarra River to Southgate, or a quick tram ride to Docklands, where you can enjoy striking views of the city skyline and the waterfront while you dine.

Bars and Nightlife

Throughout Melbourne’s boulevards and lanes you’ll discover a myriad of places to get together with colleagues and friends.

Once-forgotten warehouses and obscure laneways have emerged as funky new venues while the city overflows with cocktail lounges, vibrant pubs, underground dance dens and live music venues.

Drinks of every style and flavour can be found in Melbourne’s bars and clubs, from European beers to the latest cocktails and everything in between. And of course the city is open all hours, so you’ll always find somewhere to enjoy yourself.

For more information about what to see and do during your stay in Melbourne, visit the Melbourne Visitor Centre at Federation Square or www.thatsmelbourne.com.au.

Close x 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).

For more information on Melbourne and its surrounding regions, please visit the following websites:

Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau (MCVB)
Tourism Victoria
Melbourne Diner's Guide
Melbourne Airport

Close x Visa

All travelers to Australia, other than Australian and New Zealand citizens, are legally required to hold a valid visa to travel to Australia. Please review the following Visa Information Sheet, or alternatively visit The Australian Department of Immigration & Multicultural Affairs

Download Visa Information (PDF File, 36KB)  

Close x Airport

Melbourne Airport is located 20 km or 25 minutes from central Melbourne. A taxi fare is approximately A$45.

A shuttle bus, SkyBus, operates 24 hours a day between the Airport and the city centre. The service runs approximately every 30 minutes at a cost of A$15 one way. Drop off points are located throughout the city centre close to hotels and facilities. For further information, phone: +61 3 9670 7992.

• Skybus Hotel Shuttle service (pick up reservation). Ask your concierge to book, or call: + 61 3 9600 1711. Bookings recommended the day before travel. The service operates 0600 -2200 Mon to Fri and 0730-1830 Sat, Sun and Public holidays.

• Enquiries and administration: Phone: + 61 3 9335 2811

Close x Public Transport

Getting around Melbourne
The Meeting venue is within easy walking distance to most hotels in the Melbourne central business district (CBD). Although it is rapidly expanding, the geographic area of the Melbourne central business district is around 5kms x 5kms.



The Melbourne CBD (and its suburbs) is 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 liveable cities, is because 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 VicTrip or call the following numbers

For metropolitan train, tram and bus information, call Metlink on 131 638

For regional train and coach information and bookings, call Viclink on 136 196

Close x Weather

October is Spring in Australia. Average daily maximum and minimum temperatures at this time of year are 19 and 8 degrees C (66 and 46 degrees F) respectively. Please visit the Bureau of Meteorology for daily weather forecasts in Melbourne.

Close x 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 converter switch.  If not, you will need a voltage converter. Universal outlets for 240V or 110V shavers are usually found in leading hotels.

Close x 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 on this website 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.

Close x 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.

Close x Business Hours

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

Close x 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".

Close x Language

The official language for the Meeting is English.  

Close x Parking

Parking is available at the Meeting venue at varying rates depending on time of day and period of stay. Wilson Car Park is located next to the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre. Access to Wilson Car Park is via Siddeley Street and is open 24 hours, 7 days a week. For information on rates please visit www.wilsonparking.com.au.

Close x Planning Your Travel

Because of time change and jet lag the Organising Committee suggests you consider arriving in Australia by 2 October 2007. This will enable you to relax and familiarise yourself with your hotel and its surrounds before the start of the meeting.

Close x Privacy

Australia introduced the Privacy Amendment (Private Sector) Act 2000 in 2001.  The Meeting 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 Meeting will be used only for the purposes of planning and conduct of the Meeting 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 Meeting 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 Meeting.

Close x 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.  For more information see the ‘Information for International Travellers’ on the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) website, which you can access by visiting www.affa.gov.au.

Close x Shopping    

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

Close x Time

Melbourne is 10 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.

Close x 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.

Close x 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.