Venue and Destination

Venue

The Royal on the Park is a magnificent 4.5 star hotel that offers unsurpassed luxury and an impeccable standard of personal service, in the very heart of Brisbane.

Perfectly located, the recently refurbished Royal on the Park is a unique place to simply indulge, rest, or to do business. You'll find the look is elegant and contemporary, whilst the service is absolutely legendary. Guests can soak-up the spectacular views to the Botanic Gardens from the comfort of our well appointed guestrooms. Naturally, Reception and Room Service are at your call 24 hours a day. Car parking and Valet parking are available, and a daily newspaper is complimentary. In fact, when you're a guest at our hotel the personal attention is endless.

For delightful views of the Gardens, enquire about our Executive and Spa Suites. They feature separate living areas and very spacious bedrooms.

Destination

The City of Brisbane
Brisbane has a genuinely friendly atmosphere and the people have long taken pride in welcoming visitors from all over Australia and around the world to enjoy what Brisbanites enjoy all year around. The beautiful Brisbane River is a central feature throughout the city and its surrounds, with the waterway well utilised. The city centre is compact and contained within a single bend of the river. Brisbane is a modern, rapidly growing city with about 1 million inhabitants. It is situated on the Eastern coast of Australia at latitude 27°S (c.f. Miami, Taipei, Canary Islands 26°N; Sao Paolo 27°S).

You can get to know Brisbane and gather all of the information you could ever need to plan your visit by visiting the following Internet sites:

www.aboutbrisbane.com
A website dedicated to delegates who are planning to meet in Brisbane

www.travelau.com.au
A "virtual tour" of Brisbane and many other destinations in Queensland

www.brisbane.qld.gov.au
Official site of the Brisbane City Council. Information on living in Brisbane, parks and gardens, transport and more.

www.brisbane247.com
Details on entertainment, concerts, events, bars and sporting events D updated regularly.

www.tq.com.au
The official site of Tourism Queensland. Check the "destinations" section for details on every region in Queensland with great holiday and travel tips.

www.australia.com
The official site of the Australian Tourist Commission. This huge site gives images and information on destinations and attractions throughout Australia.

TRAVEL TO BRISBANE

Access to Brisbane is available through the Brisbane International Airport and also via International airports in Cairns, the Gold Coast and Sydney. Regular domestic air connections to Brisbane are available from all major Australian cities and major regional centres.

AIRPORT/HOTEL TRANSFERS

Air Train
The AirTrain costs $11.00 one way to the central city and departs regularly from 5.30am to 8.30pm from Stations within Brisbane Airport Domestic and International Terminals. For further information go to www.airtrain.com.au

Taxi
Transfers by taxi from Brisbane airport to the city centre take approximately 25 minutes and cost approximately $25.

Coach/Bus
Coachtrans operates a shuttle service every half hour between Brisbane airport and Roma Street bus station adjacent to the city centre. The service runs every 30 minutes from 5.00am to 8.30pm and costs approximately $12 one way.

Car Rental
Major car rental companies have offices located at the Domestic terminal at Brisbane Airport. To drive in Australia you must have a current drivers license.

VISITOR INFORMATION

Brisbane is conveniently located for travellers wishing to explore Queensland and the rest of Australia. Trips can be planned to the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Fraser Island, or further afield to the Great Barrier Reef, Ayers Rock or Sydney. For further information please go to http://www.ourbrisbane.com/

Dining and Entertainment
Brisbane provides visitors with a wide variety of tourist attractions, and a range of restaurants (including Australian, European, Middle-Eastern, American, Asian) reflecting Australia's multicultural society. Alfresco dining along the riverfront; silver service in five star hotels and fine dining restaurants; the flavours of ethnic cuisines; and the atmosphere of bustling brasseries and restaurants - Brisbane offers delegates a feast of dining options. South Bank, within walking distance of the conference venue, has a choice of approximately twenty food outlets with everything from cafes and take-away restaurants to romantic restaurants overlooking the river and skyline. Close to the city centre the suburbs of New Farm, Paddington, Petrie Terrace, Spring Hill, Milton and West End provide a mix of restaurants, some in converted Queenslander cottages. Fortitude Valley is home to Brisbane's Chinatown with a wide range of Asian food including Vietnamese, Chinese, Thai, Singaporean, Korean, Japanese and Malaysian.

Many of the restaurants are 'BYO' as well as licensed to sell alcohol. In 'BYO' restaurants, you are free to 'bring your own' alcohol with a small charge for corkage sometimes applied.

Brisbane is located in an outstanding setting with Moreton Bay and offshore islands to the east, sandy surfing beaches to the north and south, and some of the state's most scenic national parks nearby. The city is situated about 80 kms north of the Gold Coast with its famous surf beaches, night clubs, theme parks etc., and a similar distance south of the equally spectacular beaches of the Sunshine Coast.

Brisbane's theatre, opera and major musicals are among the program of international and local productions to be enjoyed at the Performing Arts Complex at the Cultural Centre. Lovers of classical music can experience the magnificent sounds of the Queensland Philharmonic and Symphony Orchestras in the Complex's state-of-the-art Concert Hall. Brisbane also has one of the finest art galleries and museums in Australia. All these facilities are located within a short walk from the venue for Common Ground.

Social Activities in Brisbane and immediate surrounds
Brisbane offers delegates a modern, dynamic and sophisticated city, as well as access to spectacular natural attractions. Social programs and activities for accompanying persons can be arranged. Activities you might wish to consider include:

• a visit to South Bank Parklands where you can experience Brisbane's subtropical outdoor lifestyle,
• meeting some of our unique furry friends such as the koala and kangaroo: Brisbane is Australia's 'Koala Capital' with the largest free koala population in the world,
• a visit to nearby rainforest regions; sample fresh fruit and vegetables straight from the lush pastures, enjoy afternoon tea in a quaint village or climb the dramatic volcanic plugs of the Glasshouse Mountains that are shrouded in Aboriginal legend. Mt Glorious and Mt Nebo are among the nearest mountains to Brisbane, forming part of the massive 26,500 hectare reserve of Brisbane Forest Park. South of Brisbane, the Lamington Plateau is home to Australia's first National Park and is a popular destination for bushwalkers. Its subtropical rainforest is home to rare species of birds including the Albert River Lyrebird.
• a cruise on the gentle Brisbane River or Moreton Bay, or a daytrip to one of the Bay islands.
• a night at the Performing Arts Complex - enjoy the ballet, listen to one of our world class Queensland orchestras, or watch a display by the world's oldest cultural group, the Australian Aboriginal people,
• sampling our truly international cuisine, incorporating foods from many of the 98 countries whose people have adopted Australia as their home,
• a night of excitement at Brisbane's European style Casino
• a relaxing trip on board a paddle steamer as it eases its way serenely along the Brisbane River with the skyline offering a beautiful backdrop to a perfect picture.
• a day soaking up the brilliant Queensland sunshine on the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast beaches - two of the most popular tourist destinations in Australia and each only an hour drive away from Brisbane.

Touring in Queensland and Australia
Highlights of Queensland include

• World Heritage listed Fraser Island: the largest sand island in the world and home to hundreds of species of native animals and birds. Only 3.5 hours drive from Brisbane, Fraser Island is a truly unique experience.
• Far North Queensland: home of the Great Barrier Reef with its islands, reefs and lush rainforests.
• Whitsunday Passage: more than seventy islands surrounded by turquoise sea. Many of the islands are uninhabited, but some have resorts ranging from simple, budget accommodation to grand five star luxury.
• Outback Queensland: visit dry lakes and freshwater gorges or stay on an outback working sheep station

Australian highlights
Visit Australia's national capital, and enjoy a stroll around Parliament House. See the famous wine producing regions of the Hunter Valley, Barossa Valley or Margaret River; visit Sydney and its stunning harbour - see the Sydney Harbour Bridge and world-famous Sydney Opera House; visit Australia's Northern Territory and the World Heritage listed national parks, tropical coastline, lush wildlife and Ayers Rock, or go panning for gold in the gold fields of Western Australia.

Tipping
While tipping isn't expected in Brisbane restaurants, tips of approximately 10% are often left in appreciation of good service. Taxi drivers will not expect a tip. Visitors should tip only at their own discretion.

Shopping
Major department stores, such as Myer and David Jones, provide services in some branches including multi-lingual staff to assist international visitors. Assisted shopping, currency exchange, mail order and parcel forwarding are also available. In the city centre, shopping hours are 9:00-17:30 Monday-Thursday; 9:00-21:00 Friday; 9:00-16:00 Saturday and 10:30-16:00 Sunday. Shops are generally closed on Sundays in the suburbs.

Brisbane's city centre is compact and easy to get around making it ideal for shopping. The city's shopping district centres around Queen Street Mall, with more than 500 shops, boutiques, major department stores and arcades.

Shopping takes on a new dimension on the weekends with open air arts and crafts markets. The largest and most colourful are those at South Bank Parklands and on the riverside terraces of Eagle Street, both of which are near the conference venue.

Brisbane has some of the best and least expensive duty free shopping in the world with duty free shops in the city centre and in the Departure Lounge of the International Airport.

Money and Credit Cards
The Australian currency is decimal with dollars and cents. Current exchange rates can be calculated at http://cnnfn.com/markets/currencies/index.html. Major international credit and charge cards such as Visa, American Express and Mastercard are widely accepted at retail outlets in Brisbane. Bankcard and EFTPOS facilities are also offered at many stores. Travellers cheques in Australian and US dollars are also widely accepted and can be cashed at banks, airports and major hotels.

Electricity/Voltage
The electrical current in Australia is 240 volts, AC 50Hz. The Australian three pin power outlet is different from that in other countries so you will need an adaptor socket. If your appliances are not 240 volts you will need a voltage converter. Universal outlets for 240V or 110 V appliances are sometimes available in leading hotels.

Time Zones
There are three time zones in Australia: Eastern Standard Time (EST) which operates in Queensland, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Victoria and Tasmania; Central Standard Time (CST) in South Australia and Northern Territory; and Western Standard Time (WST) in Western Australia. CST is one half hour behind EST, while WST is two hours behind EST.

Telephones
The cost of a local phone call is AUS$0.40. Phonecards for use in public payphones to make local, long distance and international calls are available from a number of retail outlets. Phones which accept credit cards are less widely available but can be found at international and domestic airports, central city locations and hotels.

Travel Insurance
All delegates and accompanying persons are urged to arrange travel insurance to cover fares, accommodation costs, congress registration fees, health and medical cover and personal injury. Insurances should be organised prior to your departure.

Climate
Brisbane is located in the subtropics and enjoys a superb climate year round. October is the middle of spring in Brisbane: days are typically dry and sunny with approximately 8.5 hours of sunshine a day; and the nights are mild. October temperatures typically reach 27- 29°C (77-85°F) during the day and fall to approximately 17-19°C (59-68°F) at night. If you plan to travel to southern Australia additional warm clothing may be required. Those travelling north will experience a progressively warmer climate where lighter clothing will be required.