Travel and accommodation
Venue
The conference will be held at UTS in the Aerial Function Centre, located within UTS Building 10 on Level 7, 235 Jones Street, Ultimo.
The closest station is Central Station (it takes about 10 minutes to walk to Building 10 from the Central Station platforms). There are also bus stops located close to Building 10 on both sides of Broadway.
Visa requirements
To enter Australia for conference attendance, citizens of certain countries must hold a valid visa. The most common visa options for those travelling to Australia to participate in a conference are:
- Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) (subclass 601) – visa for a 12-month period that allows to stay up to three months each time you enter Australia. Cost-free (20AUD service charge for an online application).
- eVisitor (subclass 651) - visa for a 12-month period that allows to stay up to three months each time you enter Australia. Cost-free.
- Visitor visa (subclass 600) in the Business Visitor stream –up to three months stay and the visa cost is 140AUD
To explore visa options for visiting, please visit the Department of Home Affairs and this list of visa types. The processing time ranges according to the type of visa, however you are expected to allow up to six weeks for your visa to be processed. There are specific variations depending on your citizenship, which is why planning the application for a visa ahead is recommended.
If you require an invitation letter for your visa application, please send us an email at icj2020@uts.edu.au. The invitation letter is provided only after your registration and payment for participation.
Getting to Sydney
Sydney is the capital city of New South Wales and is Australia’s largest city. It is located on the eastern coast of Australia.
By plane
Travelling by plane to Sydney is reasonably simple to both national and international visitors. Sydney airport is located 8km south of Sydney commercial and business district (CBD). The city center can be reached by:
Train: Airport Link is Sydney’s Airport Train which connects the airport with the city. To travel, you will need to purchase a single trip Opal ticket easily found at Sydney Airport Domestic Station or Sydney Airport International Station or use your contactless Mastercard/Visa/AMEX cards. The price for a one-way ticket is $18.70 AUD and the trip takes around 10 minutes.
Taxi: A Sydney airport taxi ride into the city takes around 20 minutes and costs around $45-$55AUD. Australia’s national taxi booking phone number is 131 008.
Uber: You can use your Uber’s app to be picked up from Sydney’s airport domestic and international terminals. The price ranges between $30 to $50 AUD.
By car
If you are planning to drive, Sydney is accessible from several major motorways. The Roads and Trips website provides you with everything you need to know about motorways and Sydney’s tolls.
By bus
Greyhound operates nationally and runs services in all states and territories. Murrays offers connecting buses between Canberra, Melbourne, Gold Coast, Brisbane and Sydney.
Getting around the city
Getting around the city and the UTS City Campus is easy and accessible by public transport, including train, light rail and bus. Information on timetables and routes can be found on the Transport NSW website. To travel, you need to purchase an electronic Opal card and top on and top off at the start and end of your travel.
Accommodation
To offer a comfortable and enjoyable experience to conference attendees, a number of accommodation options that suit different tastes and budgets are available.
High-range
Discounted accommodation has been arranged at the Mercure Sydney, near the conference venue. The hotel has offered a 10% discount off for the period of 26-29 May inclusive (valid for bookings till 28 April 2020). To take advantage of the discount, email (H2073@accor.com) or call (+61 2 9217 6797) the hotel and quote the rate code of UTS0520.
Other hotels close to the venue:
The Old Clare Hotel (across the road from UTS).
Dulcis Domus Serviced Apartments (across the road from UTS).
Mid-range
Rendezvous Hotel Sydney Central (about a 7 minute walk to the venue).
Adina Apartment Hotel Sydney (close to Central Station).
Vulcan Hotel (about a 7 minute walk to the venue).
Budget options
Wake Up! Sydney (hostel, about a 10 minute walk to the venue).
Sydney Railway Square YHA (at Central Station).
Many other options are available in Sydney depending on whether you wish to stay close to the venue. There are hotels in the city centre (near Town Hall Station), at Circular Quay or The Rocks (close to the Harbour) or in Newtown or Glebe (areas with a lot of character). Most are easily accessible via public transport.
Sydney highlights
Sydney is one of Australia’s most dynamic and multicultural cities. It has a vibrant cultural and social life that boasts diverse activities to everyone’s liking. Visitors are spoiled by a juxtaposed architecture of new and old, a number of stunning beaches, walks with spectacular views of the city and its coastline, cultural events and festivals and unique cuisine that adapts and blends flavours from different corners of the world.
Sydney Harbour
Sydney Harbour is one of the first stopping points on every visitor’s list. It hosts some of the most iconic attractions of the city and mainly Sydney Opera House, Harbour Bridge and The Rocks.
Sydney Opera House is one of the greatest landmarks in Australia. It astonishes with its expressionist shell shape, water’s edge position and plenty of performances that present national and international artists on its stage. To discover what makes this building special, you can attend one of its entertainment events, take a guided tour, dine with spectacular views or just stroll around and view the building from different angles.
Opposite the Opera House is the Harbour Bridge, the largest steel arch bridge in the world. The bridge can be crossed across its eastern side through a pedestrian walkway, climbed for 360-degree views of the Sydney Harbour or viewed while taking a ride on a ferry. A classic spot to view both the Opera House and the Bridge is Mrs. MacQuarie’s Chair situated in the Royal Botanic Garden, a 15 minutes’ walk from Opera House.
At the foot of the bridge is situated the oldest neighbourhood of Sydney, The Rocks. Walk on cobblestone streets to explore its history, Sydney’s oldest pubs, galleries, unique dining experiences and artisan markets.
Sydney walks
Walking is one of the best ways to see Sydney’s attractions. You can choose from a range of coastal, bay, bush and urban walks.
Bondi to Coogee is an urban coastal walk that connects two of the most famous surfing beaches in Sydney. The walk features panoramic ocean views, cliffs, beaches, bays, rock pools, picnic grounds and lots of cafes. It is a 6km walk.
The Federation Cliff Walk is a 5km walk which features Tasman Sea and harbour views, beautiful parklands, sandstone cliffs and a lighthouse.
Another harbour view walk is Manly to Spit Bridge. It is a 10km walk that will lead you through the Northern beaches and offer stunning views of the Sydney Harbour, golden beaches, bushland and Aboriginal rock carvings.
For more walks, please visit this website.
Sydney cultural and foodie experiences
Sydney offers an extensive range of cultural and foodie experiences. Visit:
Surry Hills, the inner stylish suburb that invites you to explore creative and global restaurants, trendy pubs, wine rooms, boutiques, markets and galleries.
Newtown, the inner west bohemian neighbourhood known for its street art, entertainment events, vintage shops, indie bookshops and a sheer number of pubs, craft breweries, restaurants and cafes of diverse cuisines;
Darling Harbour, the recreational harbour that boasts a waterfront promenade, a zoo and aquarium, museums, fashion retailers and eat and drink places with spectacular views.
