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Travel Information

Visa Requirements

All travellers to Australia must have a valid visa before boarding their plane. Participants require either a Short Validity Business Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) or a Business Visitor stream Visa. Conference participants who are not eligible to apply for an ETA need to request a "Letter of Invitation" from the LOC to supplement their application. If you need a Visa, please complete the online form or contact your Australian Embassy/Consulate. A complete list of Australian Embassies and Consulates worldwide can be found at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website. Please ensure that all necessary visa/eVisitor applications have been been made prior to arrival in Australia.

Australia has a strict quarantine policy regarding the importation of meat and plant products, so please try and avoid bringing items containing these products, as heavy fines are issued to travelers importing them.

Astroinformatics 2013: Knowledge from Data is also registered with the International Event Coordinator Network (IECN) of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) in Australia. Please mention this when you apply for your visa. The factsheet here also contains useful information about the different visas available to you.

At the Airport

Sydney Airport (also known as Kingsford-Smith Airport; IATA:SYD) is Sydney's Domestic and International Airport. It is located 13 km south of the City Center and 32 km from Marsfield Lecture Theater. At the transportation page of their website you can find all the information for travelling from and to the airport.

By Taxi

Taxi fares can be found at the Transport for New South Wales website. You can calculate taxi fares using the Taxi Fare Calculator.

By Train

The Airport and East Hills Train Line stops at both the Domestic and International Terminals and provides a fast link to the City Center. Special Fares apply and a single adult ticket from the Airport to the City Center costs $16.70 (AUD), while a single adult ticket to Epping or Macquarie University costs $17.30 (AUD). More fares (including return ticket prices and multi-pass tickets) can be found at the Fare Calculator.

Public Transport to Marsfield

There is no train station very close to the venue but there are a number of buses that connect Marsfield with the City Center and the nearest train stations (Epping or Macquarie University are both 5-10 minutes away by bus).

By Train

The Northern Line (Red Line on all public transport maps and on the map shown below) is the line serving the stations closer to the venue (Epping and Macquarie University). It is a circular line, starting from Hornsby, moving south to Epping and Macquarie University, then to Chatswood and south to the City Center, east to Strathfield and back to Epping where it terminates and closes the loop.

The Newcastle and Central Coast line trains (Silver Line) also stop at Epping station. They are limited-stop and faster services between Epping and the Central Station. Trains run approximately every 15 min from 5:00 am to midnight, although Friday and Saturday services run until later.

The NSW CityRail website has a Trip planner and a Timetable Search. A map of Sydney's train network can be found here.

By Bus

From Macquarie Centre to CASS

Number From - To Board at Alight at
140 Manly to Epping (Limited Stops) Macquarie Centre Stand D Epping Rd near Vimiera Rd
288 City Centre to Epping Macquarie Centre Stand D Epping Rd near Vimiera Rd
290 City Centre to Epping Macquarie Centre Stand D Epping Rd near Vimiera Rd
292 City Centre to Marsfield Macquarie Centre Stand D Vimiera Rd near Epping Rd
295 Macquarie Ctr to North Epping Macquarie Centre Stand D Epping Rd near Vimiera Rd
630 Macquarie Park to Blacktown Macquarie Centre Stand E Epping Rd near Vimiera Rd
M54 Macquarie Park to Parramatta Macquarie Centre Stand A Epping Rd near Vimiera Rd

From CASS To Macquarie Centre:

Number From - To Board at Alight at
140 Epping to Manly (Limited Stops) Epping Rd near Vimiera Rd Macquarie Centre Stand C
288 Epping to City Center Epping Rd near Vimiera Rd Macquarie Centre Stand C
290 Epping to City Centre Epping Rd near Vimiera Rd Macquarie Centre Stand C
292 Marsfield to City Centre Epping Rd near Vimiera Rd Macquarie Centre Stand C
295 North Epping to Macquarie Ctr Epping Rd near Vimiera Rd Herring Rd near Waterloo Rd
630 Blacktown to Macquarie Park Epping Rd near Vimiera Rd Macquarie Centre Stand E
M54 Parramatta to Macquarie Park Epping Rd near Vimiera Rd Macquarie Centre Stand C

From Epping Station To CASS:

Number From - To Board at Alight at
140 Epping to Manly (Limited Stops) Cambridge Str near Epping Stn Epping Rd near Vimiera Rd
288 Epping to City Centre Cambridge Str near Epping Stn Epping Rd near Vimiera Rd
290 Epping to City Centre Cambridge Str near Epping Stn Epping Rd near Vimiera Rd
295 North Epping to Macquarie Ctr Cambridge Str near Epping Stn Epping Rd near Vimiera Rd
630 Blacktown to Macquarie Park Beecroft Rd near Epping Stn Epping Rd near Vimiera Rd
M54 Parramatta to Macquarie Park Beecroft Rd near Epping Stn Epping Rd near Vimiera Rd

From CASS To Epping Station:

Number From - To Board at Alight at
140 Manly to Epping (Limited Stops) Epping Rd near Vimiera Rd Cambridge Str near Oxford Str
288 City Centre to Epping Epping Rd near Vimiera Rd Cambridge Str near Oxford Str
290 City Center to Epping Epping Rd near Vimiera Rd Cambridge Str near Oxford Str
295 Macquarie Ctr to North Epping Vimiera Rd near Epping Rd Cambridge Str near Oxford Str
630 Macquarie Park to Blacktown Epping Rd near Vimiera Rd Beecroft Rd near Epping Stn
M54 Macquarie Park to Parramatta Epping Rd near Vimiera Rd Beecroft Rd near Epping Stn

Timetables and route maps for buses can be found at the Sydney Buses website.

Bus Stop Maps

The following maps are from the areas around CASS, Epping Station and Macquarie University Station (Macquarie Centre), showing the relevant bus stops. Click on each link for a larger version of the maps. If you click on any of the bus stops, its name will appear. The names correspond to the stops in the above tables and the buses that stop at each of them are also included in these maps.

View bus stops around CASS.
View bus stops around Macquarie Center in a larger map.
View bus stop around Epping Station in a larger map.

Tickets

Details on the ticket for buses, trains, ferries and available passes can be found here.

Accommodation Information

Participants will need to organise and book their own accommodation for this conference. We have provided a list of good local accommodation below, but other options are available. A map showing the locations of these hotels and CASS can be found here. Please book your accommodation by phone, email or via the internet for your preferred hotel, with the details given below.

Both the Stamford Hotel and MGSM Executive Hotel have a courtesy bus service that will be available to bring participants to and from CASS each morning and afternoon.

If you're still unsure about how to get to the conference venus, please ask your hotel reception.

If you wish to stay closer to the CBD, websites such as Wotif or Hotels.com (set to the Australian site) often have specials or cheap rates for certain hotels. You will have to organise your own transport to CASS if you choose to stay in the city.

Stamford Hotels and Resorts

Corner Epping and Herring Roads
North Ryde, NSW 2113
Telephone: +61-2 9888 1077
Facsimile: +61-2 9805 0655
Website: http://www.stamford.com.au/sgnr
Email: reservations@snr.stamford.com.au

MGSM Executive Hotel

99 Talavera Road
Macquarie Park
NSW AUSTRALIA 2113
Telephone: +61-2-9850-9300
Facsimile: +61-2-9850-6090
Website: http://www.conferences.mgsm.com.au/
Email: reception.hotel@mgsm.edu.au

Travelodge Macquarie North Ryde Hotel

81 Talavera Road, North Ryde NSW 2113
Reservations: 1300 886 886
Telephone: +61 2 8874 5200
Facsimile: +61 2 8874 5300
Website: http://www.travelodge.com.au/travelodge-macquarie-north-ryde-hotel/home
Email: macquarie@travelodge.com.au

For a cheaper option, participants might consider:

Dunmore Lang College

They currently have 10+ ensuite rooms available for $115 per night including breakfast or $88 per night for a "standard room" with shared bathroom
Dunmore Lang College
130-134 Herring Road
North Ryde
Telephone: +61 (02) 9856 1000
Website: http://www.dunmorelangcollege.nsw.edu.au/page/Conferences__Accommodation/Short_Term_Accommodation/
Email: info@dlc.nsw.edu.au

The Ranch

Herring Road
North Ryde NSW 2122
+61-2-9887-2411
Website: theranch.com.au