IPELS 2007: Workshop Venue & Travel
IPELS 2007 is being held at the Novotel Palm Cove Resort
near Cairns in tropical north Queensland, Australia. The Novotel Palm Cove Resort, just north of Cairns, is situated in an unspoilt tropical paradise where lush tropical rainforest meets the aqua blue waters of the Coral Sea.
With a backdrop of beautiful tropical landscaping and majestic melaleucas trees set alongside the water’s edge, it is possible to while away the day over a lazy lunch overlooking the calm, tropical waters or stroll along the beach that earned the award for Australia’s Cleanest Beach in 2003.
A short stroll from the Resort will take you to the palm fringed beachside village of Palm Cove. Palm Cove is a spa and dining paradise dotted with outdoor cafés, restaurants, bars, boutiques and convenience shops. The relaxed coastal village exudes an elegant atmosphere while fulfiling the requirements of your holiday wishlist.
Location
The Novotel Palm Cove Resort is located 25km from Cairns on the edge of the Coral Sea in north Queensland. Being in the tropics, the weather in August is mild and warm with an average minimum temperature of 18 deg C and and average maximum temperature of 28 deg C - perfect weather for a swim in the ocean or a trip out to the Great Barrier Reef. Wearing a hat, sunscreen and sunglasses at all times when outdoors is recommended as one can get sunburnt very quickly, even when the weather is cloudy.
Accommodation
All workshop attendees must arrange their own accommodation. Since August is the high season please book your accommodation as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. As of the 24th May accommodation is no longer available at the conference venue, the Novotel Palm Cove Resort. If required the resort can be contact directly by email, via palmcove@rockfordhotels.com.au
, by phone +61 7 4059 1234 or by fax +61 7 4059 1297.
The Novotel has recommended their sister property, Esplanade Apartments, located just 800 meters from the Novotel Palm Cove Resort and the IPELS 2007 venue. One bedroom appartments suitable for two people are being offered for $179 per night. The Esplanade Apartments are located next to the Grand Mercure Rockford Resort and are managed by the Grand Mecure. Bookings can be made at http://www.palmcove-apartments.com.au/
. Please note on your booking that you are with the IPELS 2007 Workshop at the Novotel Palm Cove Resort and that you have been offered the special rate of $179 per night.
Alternative Palm Cove accommodation options may be found by visiting http://www.palmcove.net/
and clicking on the accommodation link on the left hand side of the page.
Visas
Citizens having passports from certain countries need a visa to enter Australia. An official guide to Australian visas can be found at the Australian Government's Visa & Immigration
website. Depending on your current country of passport, you are encouraged to apply for the appropriate visa at least 6 weeks before your departure for Australia. If you require assistance to obtain your visa, please contact the Workshop Sectariat as soon as possible. For example, visitors from certain countries (China, etc) require an invitation letter from the workshop organisers in order to obtain a visa to enter Australia.
Travel - Air
Cairns International Airport is located 2 and 1/2 hours by plane north of Brisbane. Several flights a day arrive in Cairns from Australia's major capital cities on the east coast - Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. Qantas, Jetstar or Virgin Blue all offer direct flights to Cairns from these major cities. Some airlines also fly direct to Cairns from Nagoya, Narita, Fukuoka and Osaka (Qantas), Auckland (Air New Zealand), Singapore (Qantas) and Hong Kong (Cathay Pacific & Qantas
).
Travel - Transfers to Novotel Palm Cove Resort
A shuttle bus from Cairns International Airport goes to the Novotel Palm Cove Resort. It costs $AU13 per person one way and must be booked in advance. To arrange this contact groups@rockfordhotels.com.au or call +61 7 4059 1234 and provide your flight number and date and time of arrival. To secure the discounted rate you must mention you are attending IPELS 2007. Catching a taxi is between $AUS40 and $AUS50. Alternatively hire cars are available at Cairns International Airport - details are available at the Cairns Accommodation & Travel
website.
Quarantine - Nature made Australia unique - Quarantine keeps it that way
Being an island nation, Australia has very strict quarantine laws compared to other countries around the world. Quarantine helps protect Australia. Food, plant material and animal products from overseas - including many common souvenirs - could introduce some of the world's most serious pests and diseases into Australia, devastating our valuable agriculture and tourism industries and unique environment. You must declare for inspection all food, plant material and animal products on arrival in Australia to ensure they are free of pests and diseases.
All luggage is screened by quarantine officers, detector dog teams or x-ray machines. Not everything is prohibited, but you must declare all quarantine items on your Incoming Passenger Card on arrival in Australia. It is a legal document, and if you don’t declare or dispose of quarantine items—or if you make a false declaration—you are breaking the law and could face a $AUS220 on-the-spot fine or prosecution.
Before please read over Australian Quarantine's very useful website, What can't I take into Australia?
, for more details about Australia's quarantine laws.
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