Oceans ? 10 - IEEE Sydney

General Information

Currency
Decimal currency is used in Australia - units are dollars and cents. Current exchange rates can be obtained from your bank. All major credit cards are widely accepted in Australia. The exchange rates as at May 2010 are: 1 AUD = 0.83 USD, 1 AUD = 0.66 Euros, 1 AUD = 0.57 GBP.

Banks
Banks in Australia are open from 0930 to 1600 Monday to Thursday and 0930 to 1700 on Fridays. Banks are closed all day Saturday and Sunday. Exchange facilities are available at the airport and most major hotels. Automatic teller (ATMs) facilities are available at a wide variety of outlets.

Language
English is spoken throughout Australia and is the official language for the conference.

Time
Local Sydney time during May is - Greenwich Mean Time plus 10 hours.

Electricity
The electrical supply is 240 volts, 50Hz. The connection for appliances is a flat 3-pin plug of unique design. Most hotels provide 110 volt outlets for shavers.

Climate
In Sydney, May ends our Autumn season and you can expect temperatures of approximately 11°C - 20°C (52°F - 67°F).

Shopping
Shops open from 0900 to 1730 during the week with late night shopping on Thursdays to 2100. On Saturdays and Sunday most shops are open between 0900 and 1600. Sydney is considered an excellent duty-free port for travellers.

Travel and Health Insurance
We strongly recommend that you take out insurance policies to cover medical and travel expenses. If necessary, consult your travel agent.

Wheelchair access or other mobility disability access during the Conference
When you register, please notify the secretariat of any mobility disabilities you have so that any venue access challenges can be addressed.

Taxes
A Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 10% applies to all consumer goods and is included in retail prices.

Tipping
Tipping is not the general custom in Australia and service charges are not added to accounts by hotels and restaurants. However, you may tip hotel porters and food and drink waiters in restaurants (up to 10% of the bill) for special service. At any time, tipping is your choice.

Eating Out
Sydney’s multicultural population is reflected in the wide variety of excellent restaurants offering a diversity of cuisine from around the world. Bistros, restaurants and cafes offer varied menus, prices and décor. Local seafood delicacies are recommended and include Sydney Rock Oysters, King Prawns, Queensland Mud Crabs, Balmain Bugs and Barramundi. These are delicious when accompanied by Australian wines, many of which have won major international awards.

Dress Code
For the conference we recommend “smart casual” attire.

Mobile Phones
Analogue mobile or cell phones cannot be used as Australia operates on a digital network. Mobile phones can be readily hired at Sydney Airport or telecommunication outlets.

Transport from the Airport
The Conference does not provide any transfers from the airport to Congress Hotels. All delegates must make their own transport arrangements from the airport. There is an abundance of taxis that can be engaged at ranks at Sydney Airport. The taxi ride from the airport to the Sydney CBD can take between 15-20 minutes. The Airport Link rail service runs from approximately 5am until Midnight, seven days a week, to and from the Domestic and International Terminals and all City Circle railway stations. For more information, call +61 2 8337 8417 or visit www.airportlink.com.au.

Public Transport around Sydney
Sydney’s public transport network allows easy travel around the city. There are direct trains from the city to many state-wide destinations, as well as buses and ferries from Circular Quay. There is an abundance of taxis that can be hailed from the street, or engaged at ranks throughout Sydney city. All public transport timetables, fare and route information is readily available on the State's transport website, www.131500.info

The Appropriate Visa for Delegates
As a general rule, all visitors to Australia (other than citizens of New Zealand travelling on a New Zealand passport) require a visa to enter Australia. Overseas visitors seeking to attend, or participate in, a Congress or event in Australia should, in most cases, apply for a short stay business visitor visa (subclass 456). You must apply for your visa early (we suggest that you apply two months prior to your departure), to ensure that details are confirmed prior to your departure for the congress. Prior to registration, please check with your airline, travel agent or nearest Australian Consulate, as immigration laws are very strict. Information about this important requirement can also be found on the Australian Government website at http://www.immi.gov.au/visawizard/.

Some participants will be able to obtain an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA). You can apply for an ETA via the Internet www.eta.immi.gov.au or through a travel agent, an airline office or a specialist service provider to arrange an ETA on your behalf.

ETA eligible countries:

Andorra	Malaysia
Austria	Malta
Belgium	Monaco
Brunei	The Netherlands
Canada	Norway
Denmark	Portugal
Finland	San Marino
France	Singapore
Germany	South Korea
Greece	Spain
Hong Kong*	Sweden
Iceland	Switzerland
Ireland	Taiwan**
Italy	UK - British Citizen
Japan	UK - British National (Overseas)
Liechtenstein	USA
Luxembourg	Vatican City

* A Hong Kong Document of Identity (HKDI) cannot be used to apply for an ETA. Residents of Hong Kong require a citizen passport to apply for this visa.

**Holders of Taiwan passports can only be processed for an ETA if residing and applying in Taiwan.

Non-ETA countries: Non-ETA country delegates need to lodge a subclass '456' visa application at the nearest Australian Mission overseas. The application form (also number 456) can be downloaded from the website