Useful Information

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The central business district is 10km north of the International Airport and takes approximately 20 minutes to reach by car. A taxi costs approximately A$30.

• Train – Trains run approximately 6-8 times per hour and the duration from the Airport to Town Hall station is 13 minutes. The cost of a single ticket is A$12.80. For further information please visit: AirportLink
• Bus - The green and gold AIRPORT EXPRESS bus provides a fast, comfortable connection between the International Terminals and the City. Route 300 picks up passengers for Sydney City. The service operates daily, from approximately 5am to 11pm. Ticket price is A$7.00 one way. Note: this service is not recommended for those with large amounts of luggage.
• Hotel buses – The Kingsford Smith Transport / Sydney Airporter service operates to all places of accommodation, such as hotels, bed & breakfasts and backpackers, in the Kings Cross, City and Darling Harbour areas. If you wish to book this service call Phone +61 2 9666 9988, Fax +61 2 9666 7099, Email: airporter@kst.com.au. Cost: Adult one-way A$8.00. Frequency: every twenty – thirty minutes.

Alternatively, the Conference Managers are able to assist with transport arrangements.

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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.

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

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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".

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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.

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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.

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The official language for the Conference is English.

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Sydney’s Central Business District is serviced by trains, buses, taxis, monorail and light rail services. To gather information on Sydney buses and trains please call the Transport Info line on 131500 or alternatively click here to be directed to their website. For information on Sydney’s monorail and Metrorail click here to be directed to the website.

Taxis: Taxis in Sydney operate under 2 pricing structures. From 6.00am to 10.00pm the standard fare applies. On the left hand side of the taxi meter, above the word ‘rate’ you should see the number 1. From 10.00pm to 6.00am, a 20% night tariff applies. During these times the meter should be set on rate 2. Please check the meter is set correctly when you begin your journey. Taxi rates are reasonable by international standards.

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All travellers to Australia, other than those holding New Zealand passports, require a valid entry visa prior to travel to Australia. For many nationalities 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 or airline for further details.

We strongly recommend you additionally check the latest information on the Australian Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs website.

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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 ‘Quarantine and Export’ information on the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry website, which you can access by visiting www.daff.gov.au.

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Shops in Sydney are open from 9.00am to 5.30pm during the week with late night shopping on Thursday evenings. On Saturday, the majority of shops open from 9.00am to 4.00pm. On Sunday shops are open from 10.00am to 4.00pm.

The Queen Victoria Building was a purpose built shopping centre opened in 1898 celebrating Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee. Today the QVB is one of the most stunning examples of Victorian architecture in Sydney. The Centre now houses a superb collection of 190 designer label and specialty stores and excellent eateries.

The Strand Arcade was opened in 1892 and today houses some of Australia's top designer labels, jewellers, boutiques and beauty salons.

David Jones is Sydney's oldest department store and one of the world's only department stores still trading under its original name. After refurbishing the George Street store in 1877, David Jones boasted the city's first hydraulic lift and now stocked furniture and furnishings. Today the store still stands by its founder's original commitment, to sell "the best and most exclusive goods" and to carry "a stock that embraces the everyday wants of mankind at large."

At the southern end of Pitt Street Mall you will find Centrepoint Tower which houses over 130 specialty stores and forms the foyer to the 305 metre high AMP tower.

Paddington is renowned for its fashionable lifestyle, boutiques and specialty shopping - follow Oxford Street all the way to Woollahra for young designers, home wares, accessories and good bookshops. Paddington also has Sydney's largest selection of Antique, second hand and new bookstores specialising in the fields of literature, classics, the arts, juvenilia, travel, private press, limited editions and Australiana. Berkelouw Books, Bibliophile Books, and Ariel just to name a few.

The Rocks area has little streets with shops full of Australiana - great for souvenir hunting. The Rocks Market held each Saturday and Sunday specialises in arts and crafts.

Double Bay is Sydney`s ultrachic shopping centre. This exclusive suburb located on the harbour is famous for its cosmopolitan cafe society, designer shopping and European ambience. This upmarket village atmosphere features a good choice of fashion, shoe and accessory shops, bookshops and homewares. Hat lovers will enjoy shops such as Jane Lambert.

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Sydney Aquarium “Australia’s #1 Attraction”
The Sydney Aquarium contains the largest collection of Australian aquatic life with over 11,500 animals! Take a journey through one of the most spectacular aquariums in the world and explore Australia's rich and diverse waterways, marine ecosystems and unique aquatic environments.
For more information click here: Sydney Aquarium - Welcome

Sydney Tower Sky Walk
Dare to step out over the edge with Sydney's newest and highest outdoor attraction! Enjoy 360-degree open air views of Sydney from the roof of Sydney Tower, a breath-taking 260 metres above the city. Harnessed onto a moving, glass-floored viewing platform that extends out over the edge, you can view the city beneath your feet and landmarks like the Sydney Harbour Bridge from a whole new perspective. For more information click here: Skywalk – Climb Sydney Tower For The Ideal Tourist View of Sydney

Taronga Zoo
Taronga is the “zoo with a view”, located on the shores of Sydney Harbour, just 12 minutes from the city by ferry. More than 2,000 animals live here in settings as similar as possible to their original habitat. Follow a trail at your own pace or join a behind-the-scenes tour. Take the gondola ride to the top of the zoo for great views over the zoo, harbour and city. For more information click here: Taronga and Western Plains Zoos

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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.

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MASCC/ISOO Supportive Care in Cancer International Symposium
June 26-28, 2008
Houston, Texas, USA

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September is Spring in Australia. Average daily maximum and minimum temperatures at this time of year are 25 and 16 degrees C (66 and 46 degrees F) respectively. Please visit the Bureau of Meteorology for daily weather forecasts in Sydney.