Transportation and Visa Information

Travel Advisory - SARS
At this writing, there have been no confirmed cases of SARS found in Queensland/Brisbane, Australia, where the ISMB 2003 Conference will be held. The World Health Organisation (http://www.who.int/csr/sars/en/index.html) reports that there have been five probable cases of SARS in Australia, all of whom had recovered by May 2003. Travel advisories for several countries and regions have been removed or lessened.

For current information please consult:
http://www.health.gov.au/sars.htm (the Australian Government's dedicated SARS web site; note particularly the daily media releases on this site, which give information on airport screening procedures)
http://www.dfat.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/TravelBulletins/Severe_Acute_Respiratory_Syndrome (contains travel advisories from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade)
http://www.nohsc.gov.au/OHSInformation/SARS/default.asp (Occupational Health and Safety information)
http://www.who.int/csr/sars/en/ (dedicated SARS web site of the World Health Organisation)

Visas to Australia
Please visit the Department of Immigration & Multicultural & Indigenous Affairs web site for detailed information.

Getting to Brisbane
Air Travel
Corporate Travel Management (CTM) has been appointed the official travel agency for the 11th International Conference on Intelligent Systems for Molecular Biology. CTM offers special flexible/changeable conference airfares at up to 40% discount in economy class on Qantas services (for fares within Australia only) or the best Internet or published airfares available on Qantas and Virgin Blue Airlines. Early booking is advised.

To ensure the BEST possible airfare available, ALL delegates are urged to contact CTM on TOLLFREE: 1800 630 866 or Email: groups@travelctm.com and quote the Conference Code ISMB2003 when making their travel booking. An on-line booking form is also available from http://www.travelctm.com/ismb03.htm.

Conference Fare: Qantas is proud to offer their support to the Conference with a special discount of up to 40% off the FULL economy fare (exc taxes). The conference fare is flexible and fully refundable with no cancellation fee up until 72 hours prior to departure (for fares within Australia only). Discount fares: Delegates may prefer to take advantage of the best Internet or published airfares. Promotional fares are often more affordable than the conference fare. However, they do have conditions attached. Most are non-refundable if cancelled. Travel insurance is strongly recommended.

CTM will advise the best fare availability and conditions of purchase at the time of making your booking.

Special Airfares for Students and Faculty Available
Visit "Student Universe" for special airfare discounts http://www.studentuniverse.com/.

Ambassador Travel: Special Tours
While attending the conference you may like to take the opportunity to discover more of our amazing continent. Ambassador Travel have designed recommended tour packages for various cities and areas of Australia which can be combined to complete your stay. Explore the colours of the outback, the excitement of the cities and a range of natural wonders you won't find anywhere else.

Airport Transfers
Brisbane’s international and domestic airports are around 20km north east of the CBD, a 15 to 20 minute drive. The location of Brisbane Airport offers rapid access to the Sunshine Coast in the north and the Gold Coast in the south.

Buses connect the CBD and airports. A single transfer is around $9 or $15 return on Coachtrans which departs the airports and Roma Street Transit Centre (CBD) every 30 minutes. All major city hotels are serviced on request. Launched in May 2001, the new Airtrain system links both airports with the CBD (departing every 15 minutes) and the Gold Coast (departing every 30 minutes) via rail. Train fare from the airports to Brisbane CBD is $9, and under $20 to the Gold Coast. The taxi fare from Brisbane Airport to the city centre is approximately $23.

Getting Around Brisbane
Getting around Brisbane is fun and exciting… from a hot air balloon, roller blades or walking, to a ghost tour!

Car Rental
Brisbane is pleased to offer the following rental rates to all conference participants. The price is in Australian Dollars and does not include insurance. The car/van can be picked up at the Brisbane International/Domestic Airport. Car rentals require a valid Australian driver’s license or a valid International driver’s license. Unleaded fuel is priced approximately at Au $0.86 per litre. All prices are subject to change.

Budget Rent-A-Car

Hertz Australia

Europcar

Thrifty Car Rental

Avis Rent A Car

Cab/Taxi
Two main cab companies service Brisbane – Black and White Cabs and Yellow Cabs.

Contact Numbers
Black and White Cabs phone 13 1008
Yellow Cabs phone 13 1924
Bus, ferry and train information is available from the Brisbane City Council Information Centres at the Queen Street Bus Station and City Plaza in Adelaide Street. For further information and route maps visit the Trans Info web site at http://www.transinfo.qld.gov.au.

Bus
The central Queen Street Bus Station is located downstairs in the Myer Centre, Queen Street. Buses service all parts of Brisbane regularly. Fares are calculated on the number of zones crossed and there are five zones. Zone 1 is the city centre. A great way to see the city is on a City Sights Tour. Tours leave every 40 minutes from Post Office Square, Queen Street, and cost $18 for adults and $12 for children or concession card holders. The City Nights Tour departs Post Office square at 6.30pm every evening and takes in Brisbane by night. Both tours also include unlimited bus, CityCat and City Ferry travel for the tour day.

CityCats and Ferries
Brisbane’s famed CityCats cruise the Brisbane River at 27 knots, from Brett’s Wharf at Hamilton to the University of Queensland at St Lucia. A round trip from Brett’s Wharf to St Lucia takes about two hours. The CityCats depart every 30 minutes between 5.50am and 10.30pm. Services operate every 20 minutes during peak times. The City Ferry operates as an inner city and cross-river service at various points along the river.

Train
The main city stations are Central, at the top of Edward Street in the CBD, Roma Street, at the Roma Street Transit Centre, South Brisbane at South Bank and Brunswick Street at Fortitude Valley. All areas of greater Brisbane re serviced by Citytrain, for more information on services and fares click on the above link.

Driving in Australia
International Travellers
A bona-fide overseas visitor may drive in Australia if they hold a valid overseas drivers licence and providing they are licensed for the class of vehicle they will be driving. Licences must be carried at all times when in control of a vehicle. If the driver’s licence is not in the English language then a translation must be carried along with the permit. An International Drivers Permit is not sufficient by itself and must be accompanied by a valid drivers permit. For further information either visit the relevant State Road and Transport Authority on arrival and/or visit the web site listed at http://www.transport.qld.gov.au/qt/driver.nsf/index/licence_changes#sixth.