Nanostructures for Electronics Energy and Environment NanoE3

Couran Cove

23-28 September 2007

Travel

Couran Cove is situated on South Stradbroke Island, 40 minutes by ferry from the coast, and about 70 Km south from Brisbane, the capital city of Queensland.

With the islands of the Great Barrier Reef, sun-kissed beaches, lush rainforests and rugged Outback…Queensland offers something for everyone. Please have a look to the Queensland tourism website:

http://www.queenslandholidays.com.au/experiences/experiences.cfm

FLIGHTS

Brisbane is third largest cities in Australia with about a population of 1.8 millions. The airport is served by a number of airlines including Singapore, Malaysia, Emirates, JAL, Qantas. The flight from Italy last about 24 hours, including one or two stops.

For the Italian invited speakers it is possible to obtain discounted tickets through the Italian Embassy, sponsor of the conference.Please contact us before booking.

WATER TRANSFER TO THE RESORT

All delegates need to book on the Resorts own Fast Cat Water Transfers from Hope Harbour Terminal ferry service to get to the island. The trip takes approximately 30 minutes.  The return fee for delegates is included in your registration and you simply need to nominate the ferry you wish to travel on. We will contact all delegates closer to the meeting to confirm your ferry booking to allow you time to complete your travel plans. If you are bringing partners are children, you will need to book their ferry transfer as well and this can also be done online from the registration page.

GETTING TO HOPE HARBOUR TERMINAL

By taxi

It takes approximately 45 minutes from Gold Coast Airport (Coolangatta) and 50 minutes from Brisbane Airport to get to Hope Harbour Departure Terminal by taxi. Couran Cove Resort Island coaches and limousine are available at both airports to transfer to Hope Harbour.  Refer to http://www.couran-cove.com.au/resort for schedules and costs. There is also a wide range of airport and limousine transfers available at both airports.

By Car - John Lund Drive, Hope Harbour(map)
Secure outdoor parking is provided for all guest cars at the Hope Harbour Departure Terminal at a nominal cost per day.

By Bus-   A bus service operates to Hope Harbour from both airports http://www.con-x-ion.com/

By train

Couran Cove Island Resort's Hope Harbour Departure Terminal is just a short taxi ride from Coomera Station. The Gold Coast Airtrain from Brisbane airport costs under $20 and bookings can be made online at http://www.airtrain.com.au/

For current train time tables and pricing please contact Trans Info on 13 12 30 or http://qroti.com/tvm/.

Visa information

For event participants, the appropriate visa is a Business (Short Stay) visa, even if some tourism activities are planned for part of the stay in Australia. It is called a 456 visa if it is issued as a label into a passport (fee of $A65 payable). The 456 visa can be applied for at an Australian diplomatic office overseas.
It can also be issued as a 977 visa if it is issued electronically as an ETA (external link - will open in a new window), that is, no label (no fee payable). At post discretion, one or more visits each of up to 3 months can be made on the 456 visa within 12 months of its grant. The 977 visa allows a single visit only for up to 3 months within 12 months of grant.

Electronic Travel Authority (ETA)

All travellers to Australia, other than Australian and New Zealand citizens, are legally required to hold a valid visa to travel to Australia.
Australia's Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) system is the world's most advanced and streamlined travel authorisation system. A recent innovative enhancement to ETA arrangements allows a traveller to apply for an ETA over the Internet (external link - will open in a new window) .
The ETA is an electronically-stored authority for travel to Australia for a short-term tourist or business entry. It replaces the visa label or stamp in a passport and removes the need for application forms.
ETAs are issued within seconds of being requested through computer links between the Department, travel agents, airlines and specialist service providers around the world.

ETA Eligibility

You can only apply for an ETA while you are outside of Australia. You also must hold an ETA-eligible passport. Italy is one of the eligible countries. If you have another passport please check the table at the ETA website.

Further informations

Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affair's INTERNET SITE: www.immi.gov.au
Available on DIMIA’s Internet website is a wealth of helpful information about Australian missions overseas, how to apply for visas and further information on ETAs, Customs clearance, Quarantine regulations, health issues, arrival and departure and more.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT PARTICIPANTS APPLY FOR THEIR VISAS WELL IN ADVANCE OF ANTICIPATED TRAVEL

Currency

Australian dollar exchange rate is about 0.6 Euro. All major credit cards are accepted in Australia.