Currency
Decimal currency is used in Australia - units are dollars and cents. Current exchange rates can be obtained from your bank. All major credit cards are widely accepted in Australia . The exchange rates as at September 2009 are: 1AUD=0.85 USD, 1AUD=0.59 Euros, 1AUD=0.52GBP

Banks
Banks in Australia are open from 0930 to 1600 Monday to Thursday and 0930 to 1700 on Fridays. Banks are closed all day Saturday and Sunday. Exchange facilities are available at the airport and most major hotels. Automatic teller (ATMs) facilities are available at a wide variety of outlets.

Language
English is spoken throughout Australia and is the official language for the congress. On your registration, please indicate if you will need interpreting services at the Congress and for what language. Limited Interpreting services may be provided subject to demand.

Time
Local Sydney time during September is - Greenwich Mean Time plus 10 hours.

Electricity
The electrical supply is 240 volts, 50Hz. The connection for appliances is a flat 3-pin plug of unique design. Most hotels provide 110 volt outlets for shavers.

Climate
In Sydney, September begins our spring season and you can look forward to temperatures of approximately 20°C (68°F) during the daytime and 10°C (50°F) in the evening.

Shopping
Shops open from 0900 to 1730 during the week with late night shopping on Thursdays to 2100. On Saturdays and Sunday most shops are open between 0900 and 1600. Sydney is considered an excellent duty-free port for travellers.

Travel and Health Insurance
We strongly recommend that you take out insurance policies to cover medical and travel expenses. If necessary, consult your travel agent.

Wheelchair access or other mobility disability access during the Congress
When you register, please notify the secretariat of any mobility disabilities you have so that any venue access challenges can be addressed.

Taxes
A Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 10% applies to all consumer goods and is included in retail prices.

Tipping
Tipping is not the general custom in Australia and service charges are not added to accounts by hotels and restaurants. However, you may tip hotel porters and food and drink waiters in restaurants (up to 10% of the bill) for special service. At any time, tipping is your choice.

Eating Out
Sydney ’s multicultural population is reflected in the wide variety of excellent restaurants offering a diversity of cuisine from around the world. Bistros, restaurants and cafes offer varied menus, prices and décor. Local seafood delicacies are recommended and include Sydney Rock Oysters, King Prawns, Queensland Mud Crabs, Balmain Bugs and Barramundi. These are delicious when accompanied by Australian wines, many of which have won major international awards.

http://www.tablesonline.com.au/
http://www.bestrestaurants.com.au/
http://www.eatability.com.au/au/sydney/

HUPO2010 Co-chairs "Boomerang" Restaurants - you'll want to go back there

Doyles (Watsons Bay)
www.doyles.com.au
Australia's first seafood restaurant - opened 1885 - family owned and operated for over 5 generations - both indoor and outdoor dining located on the foreshore of Watsons Bay overlooking the magnificent panorama of Sydney Harbour - internationally famous Mecca for Sydneysiders and tourists alike - stunning range of fresh seafood for lunch and dinner, 7 days a week. Best at sunset in September. Try Ocean King Prawns in the bar area then eat your mains and deserts later in the beachside restaurant.
11 Marine Parade, Watson’s Bay, Sydney
Ph: (02) 9337 2007 (02) 9337 2007
Email: beach@doyles.com.au
Open 7 days, Lunch 12pm - 3pm, Dinner 6pm-9pm
Go there by ferry (up until 6.15pm), water taxi or road taxi

Spice I Am
www.spiceiam.com
Excellent value BYO “hole in the wall” for students and adventurous groups alike - noisy fun spicy original Puket-style Thai – featured on the Oprah show – one in a million Thai food experience outside Thailand – ask for the HUPO2010 specials and discount !
90 Wentworth Ave. Surry Hills Sydney 2010 (near Central railway station)
Trading Hours: Tuesday – Sunday Lunch: 11:30 AM - 3:30 PM Dinner: 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM
No bookings

Captain Torres
www.capitantorres.com.au
Excellent value noisy and fun Spanish tapas and paella bar
Licensed and BYO
73 Liverpool St Sydney, NSW 2000
Tel: (02) 9264-5574 (02) 9264-5574
Email: kashunholdings@yahoo.com.au (Bookings via email are only accepted Monday - Thursday, depending on availability. We do not accept bookings for the weekends via email - Please call the restaurant directly.)

Harbour kitchen bar: Park Hyatt
harbourkitchen.com.au
World’s most sensational view of the Sydney Opera House along with good food. Cafe section (moderately priced) as well as more expensive but still well-priced restaurant. Modern Australian cuisine.
In Circular Quay / Rocks precinct.

Doorae Korean BBQ Restaurant
209 Clarence St Sydney NSW 2000
(02) 9290 1004
Excellent Korean and Korean BBQ, 7 or 8 minutes walk from Darling Harbour. Very reasonably priced.

Sepia Restaurant
www.sepiarestaurant.com.au
Bit of a splurge. Very highly reviewed restaurant, French inspired. Outstanding wine list. Degustation restaurant if you’re feeling flush.
In Darling Harbour precinct.

Wharf Restaurant
www.wharfrestaurant.com.au
In a historic large wharf, with great views across to the harbour bridge and North Sydney. Great modern Australian food in an unusual setting. Moderately priced.
In Hickson Bay theatre precinct.

Redoak Beer Cafe
www.redoak.com.au
Designer Australian beer from their own microbrewery and high class pub-style food. Very popular. Reasonably priced.
10 minutes from Darling Harbour.

Emperors Garden
www.emperorsgarden.com.au
Situated in the heart of Sydney’s Chinatown this restaurant is well frequented by Sydney's local Chinese community. It is the place to go for authentic Yum Cha and Peking Duck. Don't be scared to try the chicken feet!!
96-100 Hay St, Haymarket, Sydney, 2000
Ph: (02) 9211 2135
Fax (02) 9123 4567
Open daily 8am-1am; Licensed, BYO, Corkage $3 person

Bayside Lounge
www.scec.com.au
With a spectacular alfresco dining area overlooking Darling Harbour and the city skyline, the Bayside Lounge is the perfect place to recharge over a quiet coffee, have a great lunch, catch up on emails and the latest news, or simply escape from a busy day.
Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre
To book your table phone 02 9282 5916 or email baysidelounge@scec.com.au

Dress Code
For the Congress Opening Ceremony, we recommend “smart casual” - for men a jacket is recommended. The Congress Dinner will also be smart casual and a jacket is suggested for the cooler evening.

Mobile Phones
Analogue mobile or cell phones cannot be used as Australia operates on a digital network. Mobile phones can be readily hired at Sydney Airport or telecommunication outlets.

Transport from the Airport
The Conference does not provide any transfers from the airport to Congress Hotels. All delegates must make their own transport arrangements from the airport. There is an abundance of taxis that can be engaged at ranks at Sydney Airport . The taxi ride from the airport to the Sydney CBD can take between 15-20 minutes and is approximately AUD$25. The Airport Link rail service runs from approximately 5am until Midnight , seven days a week, to and from the Domestic and International Terminals and all City Circle railway stations. A return fare from the Sydney International Airport to Town Hall station is $23.40. For more information on current costs, call +61 2 8337 8417 or visit www.airportlink.com.au.

Public Transport around Sydney
Sydney’s public transport network allows easy travel around the city. There are direct trains from the city to many state-wide destinations, as well as buses and ferries from Circular Quay. There is an abundance of taxis that can be hailed from the street, or engaged at ranks throughout Sydney city. All public transport timetables, fare and route information is readily available on the State's transport website, www.131500.info

The Appropriate Visa for Delegates
As a general rule, all visitors to Australia (other than citizens of New Zealand travelling on a New Zealand passport) require a visa to enter Australia . Overseas visitors seeking to attend, or participate in, a Congress or event in Australia should, in most cases, apply for a short stay business visitor visa (subclass 456). You must apply for your visa early (we suggest that you apply two months prior to your departure), to ensure that details are confirmed prior to your departure for the congress. Prior to registration, please check with your airline, travel agent or nearest Australian Consulate, as immigration laws are very strict. Information about this important requirement can also be found on the Australian Government website at http://www.immi.gov.au/

Some participants will be able to obtain an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA). You can apply for an ETA via the Internet www.eta.immi.gov.au or through a travel agent, an airline office or a specialist service provider to arrange an ETA on your behalf.

ETA eligible Countries

• Andorra
• Luxembourg
• Austria
• Malaysia
• Belgium
• Malta
• Brunei
• Monaco
• Canada
• The Netherlands
• Chinese Taipei *
• Norway
• Denmark
• Portugal
• Finland
• San Marino , Republic of
• France
• Singapore
• Germany
• Spain
• Greece
• Sweden
• Hong Kong
• Switzerland
• Iceland
• UK - British Citizen or
• Ireland
• UK - British National (Overseas)**
• Italy
• USA
• Japan
• Vatican City
• Korea , Republic of
• Liechtenstein

*Holders of passports of Chinese Taipei can only be processed for an ETA if resident in and applying in Chinese Taipei.

** Holders of UK passports, which indicate their nationality to be British National (Overseas) can only be processed for an ETA if resident in and applying in Hong Kong . Non-ETA countries Non-ETA country delegates need to lodge a subclass '456' visa application at the nearest Australian Mission overseas. The application form (also number 456) can be downloaded from the website www.immi.gov.au