| General Information |
BRISBANE
Bright sunny days offer a warm welcome to visitors to Brisbane
- the Capital of Queensland - Australia's Sunshine State. Modern,
fresh and vibrant, Brisbane lies in the heart of the subtropics
in South East Queensland - one of Australia's favourite tourism
regions.
The City skyline mixes streamlined glass towers with the character and history of early sandstone buildings. Busy pavement cafes on tree lined streets give a cosmopolitan atmosphere to the city centre while the profusion of parks makes Brisbane an inviting and appealing city to explore. At night the tempo builds with sizzling jazz in the clubs, dancing in the discos, theatre, musicals, concerts and the 24-hour excitement of the Treasury Casino.
Queen Street Mall is the hub for shopping with glittering galleries of designer shops, duty free and opal stores and on the weekends colourful markets fill the terraces of the riverside precincts of Eagle Street and South Bank Parklands. South Bank is also home to some of Brisbane's major attractions including the Cultural Centre's museum and gallery, the parklands with its lagoon pools, gardens and cafes. Meet our unique wildlife at one of several nature reserves or thrill to the sights of Australia's best theme parks nearby.
Brisbane lies at the heart of a myriad of choices for great days in the sun - discovering the beaches and resorts, sailing to the bay and islands, exploring the rainforest hinterland, taking scenic country drives or enjoying the sights and ambience of our subtropical city.
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 $2 denominations. The
Australian dollar is denoted as A$ within this brochure.
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 Card, American Express and Diners Club. Automatic Teller Machines are widespread and readily available 24 hours daily.
BUSINESS HOURS
Banks generally open from 0930-1600 hours Monday -Friday. General
office hours are 0900 - 1700 Monday - Friday. Post Offices operate
these hours. Stamps are available from many hotels as well.
CLIMATE AND CLOTHING
July is winter in Brisbane. The average temperature range is a
maximum of 21 and a minimum of 10 degrees Celsius. Evenings can
be cool, and although this is not the rainy season it is best
to be prepared.
EATING OUT
Bistros, restaurants, cafes and coffee shops offer varied menus,
prices and decor. Local specialities such as seafood and Australian
wines are strongly recommended. At some restaurants you can keep
the liquor bill down by taking your own wine and sometimes 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 most other 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
hotels.
LANGUAGE
The official language for the Congress is English.
PARKING
Parking is available at the Congress Venue for approximately A$6
per day.
PASSPORT AND VISA
A valid passport is required for entry into Australia. All overseas
visitors, except New Zealand passport holders, require a visa
to travel to Australia. Check this matter carefully with your
airline or travel agent as immigration laws are strictly enforced.
QUARANTINE
Australia is free from many exotic plant and animal diseases.
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 including food are also
restricted. Microbial cultures or material derived from them require
prior approval for importation into Australia and must be declared
with the permit to quarantine officials at the airport on arrival.
SHOPPING
Shops in Brisbane open from 0900 to 1730 during the week, with
late night shopping Friday night in the city and Thursday night
in the suburbs. On Saturdays, most shops open from 0900 to 1700.
On Sunday the city is opened 1030 to 1600. Craft markets operate
at Southbank and the Riverside on weekends.
TIME
Brisbane time (Australian Eastern Standard Time, AEST) is 10 hours
ahead of Greenwich Mean Time. In July, Brisbane is 9 hours ahead
of Western Europe and 15-17 hours ahead of the USA and Canada.
TIPPING
Tipping is not as widespread or regulated in Australia as it is
in many other parts of the world. Tipping is at your discretion,
a reward for service. It is customary to tip hotel porters and
a gratuity of about 10% is usual in restaurants if good service
is received. Tips for taxis are regarded as optional.
VACCINATIONS
A current valid international certificate of vaccination against
yellow fever is required if passengers come from, or travel through,
infected areas. Check this and any other specific vaccination
requirements carefully with your airline or travel agent.
SMOKING
Smokers should note that most airline flights into Australia are
smoke free and that smoking is not permitted in airport terminals,
public transport or government buildings, nor in many shopping
centres within Australia. The Brisbane Convention Centre is also
a non-smoking facility.
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