Travelling to/from Tamborine Mountain Glades (formerly Cedar Creek Lodges)
The conference venue is located 70-80 km from from both the Brisbane and Gold Coast international airports, approximately half-way between the two cities and a ~1 - 1.5 hour drive from either airport. Google and Apple Maps are accurate in this part of the world and give reliable information about public transport options and travel times.
To aid participants in reaching and leaving the venue, the organisers will contact participants ahead of the conference to request knowledge of their arrival/departure times to Brisbane/Gold Coast airports to help coordinate the necessary ground transport detailed below:
For Brisbane Airport:
On arrival, attendees can get the train direct from the airport to Helensvale train station. The trains operate on a tag-on/tag-off system using your debit/credit card. From Helensvale station, the organisers will pre-arrange taxis/ground transport to drive the approximately 40 minute trip. The cost of the ground transport has already been included in the registration costs.
For Gold Coast Airport:
On arrival, attendees can get either a bus or other ground transport to Varsity Lakes train station. From here, it is 3 stops to Helensvale train station to Helensvale train station. The trains operate on a tag-on/tag-off system using either a goCard (https://translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/go-card) or your debit/credit card, however buses currently only use goCard (although a roll-out for debit/credit card is underway) . From Helensvale station, the organisers will pre-arrange taxis/ground transport to drive the approximately 40 minute trip. The cost of the ground transport has already been included in the registration costs.
Driving:
Some participants may wish to hire a car and drive themselves. There should be ample parking at the venue. In this case, please familiarise yourself with the road rules in Queensland (they vary slightly from state to state) and check your driving license is valid to be used in Australia. Please note that car hire may be expensive given the length of the conference.
Visas
Visitors to Australia typically enter under three types of visa:
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eVisitor (subclass 651). Available for members of most European countries. Free. Can be applied for online.
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Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601). Available for eligible passport holders, including the USA, Canada, Japan, South Korea. May cost up to 20 AUD = 14 USD. Can be applied for online, or via an app.
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Visitor Visa (subclass 600). Available for all nationalities. Costs 150 AUD = 105 USD. Can be applied for online.
For these visas, the processing time may vary based on your home country, and in rare cases visitors may be required to undertake health examinations or provide police certificates. We strongly recommend participants apply for their visa as soon as possible in case of delays.
What else to do/before after the conference
Given the length of the trip to Australia for most participants, we would strongly encourage attendees to stay for a while before or after the meeting. We would be very happy to host collaborative visits at the University of Queensland in Brisbane. Otherwise, Australia has some truly unique and breath-taking scenery, tourist attractions and cities, so here we provide some examples of things people could do within Queensland or further afield:
- Visit the Sunshine Coast:
- The Sunshine coast extends for 1.5 - 3 hours drive north of Brisbane and includes some of the best beaches in the world, nature parks and walks around the Glasshouse mountains and popular tourist locations such as the Australia Zoo (made famous by Australian icon Steve Irwin). Perfect for a long week-end or more.
- Stay around Gold Coast or further south:
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The Gold Coast is a city 70km south of Brisbane with frequent train connections between the two. It is the most popular tourist destination in Queensland, and also famed for its beaches, nightlife, theme parks. From here one can drive south across the New South Wales border to visit popular countryside and seaside towns such as Byron Bay.
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- Stay for a week or two in Sydney:
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Although there are multiple international flight paths to Brisbane, many flights can also be booked that transfer in Sydney and then take a short domestic hop to Brisbane. This presents a good opportunity for participants to spend some time visiting Australia’s most iconic city and landmarks including the Sydney Opera House, Harbor Bridge and Blue Mountains.
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- See the Great Barrier Reef:
- The Great Barrier Reef is one of the most stunning natural wonders in the world, and a must see for anyone interested in diving! The southern tip can be reached from near Bundaberg (about a 4-hour drive north of Brisbane), but the main part of the reef is better accessed by taking a short flight and staying in the cities of Townsville or Cairns.
