Getting There

Airport and Car Rental

Cairns Airport has an international and domestic terminal and is located approximately 7kms from the Cairns CBD. For more information please visit the Cairns International Airport website. There are a number of car rental companies that operate within the airport terminals. They have staffed reception desks during all arrival times. Car rental companies can also be found in the CBD. There is further information regarding car rental companies on the Cairns Airport website.

Local Transport Information

Taxis

Free taxi telephones are located in the arrival halls and the taxi ranks of both the International and Domestic Terminals. Black & White Taxi ranks are located immediately outside the International and Domestic Terminals. The taxi fare to Cairns CBD ranges from $15 - $20 depending on destination point. Taxis are also available from the main taxi rank in the City Place or along the Esplanade and in front of the reef Casino.

Bus Services

Australia Coach and Sun Palm Express operate airport shuttle bus services to hotels, city centre, Northern Beaches, Palm Cove, Port Douglas and Cape Tribulation. Both companies pick up immediately in front of the arrivals area at both terminals and both operate an information desk within the terminal, which if not staffed, have direct-dial telephone. Public buses run from City Place and service areas all over Cairns. Buses also service the northern beaches. ($10 to CBD/Hotels)

Passports and Visas

On 23 March 2013, the department implemented changes to the types of visas available to persons wishing to travel to Australia to attend, participate at, or compete in events being held in Australia.

Under Australia’s universal visa system, all visitors to Australia must have a valid visa to travel to and enter Australia (other than New Zealand passport holders who will normally be granted a Special Category visa on arrival, provided they meet health and character requirements; and permanent residents of Norfolk Island who may be granted a Permanent Resident of Norfolk Island visa on arrival).  For more information, see the fact sheet: 

www.border.gov.au/about/corporate/information/fact-sheets/47temporary-residence

There are many visa options available to people wishing to visit Australia. The appropriate visa option will depend, amongst other things, on the person’s purpose for visiting Australia. You may wish to use the Visa Finder to help determine which visa you require.

Click here for the new visa fact sheet, effective from 1 July 2013.  This fact sheet includes information about the visa options available for those who are travelling to Australia as business visitors, including the new arrangements in place for online applications for the Visitor (Subclass 600) visa and the Temporary Work (Short Stay Activity) visa (subclass 400). For the purposes of attending this event, you may wish to consider applying for one of these visas, based on your role at the event.

Please note that only certain passport holders are eligible to apply for these visas online.

If your sole reason for coming to Australia is to attend this Symposium, please apply for the

eVisitor (subclass 651) business stream visa, at http://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/Trav/Visa-1/651-

For any other circumstances, please view the below VISAS:

ETA (Subclass 601) visa http://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/Trav/Visa-1/601-

Visitor (Subclass 600) business stream visa http://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/Trav/Visa-1/600-

Temporary Work (Short Stay Activity) visa (subclass 400) www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visa-1/400-

Attendees, speakers and exhibitors that will be working, performing or otherwise be paid to contribute at the event may be eligible for the following visa options:

Temporary Activity (subclass 408) (Invited Participant) visa - http://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/Trav/Visa-1/408- and http://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/Trav/Visa-1/408-?modal=/Visas/supporting/Pages/408/Invited-participant-in-an-event.aspx

Please note that a letter of support from an Australian organisation is a legislative requirement for the Temporary Activity (subclass 408) (Invited Participant) visa.

Temporary Work (subclass 400) (Short Stay Specialist) visa.  For more information see: http://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/Trav/Visa-1/400-

IMPORTANT:

We recommend that applicants applying for a paper-based visa lodge their application at least 6-8 weeks before their intended travel date to Australia. All travellers to Australia must have a valid visa before boarding their plane. Travelers to Australia cannot apply for a visa on arrival.