11th Asia Pacific Conference on Giftedness
Situated on a breathtaking harbour, Sydney is one of the world’s most attractive and exciting cities. With its rich mix of colonial and indigenous history, multicultural cuisines and festivals, museums, exhibitions and theatres - Sydney is an experience waiting to happen. Recreation, exploration, adventure and relaxation await you in this city bursting with unique attractions, fine dining, world class accommodation, non-stop shopping and a diverse range of entertainment.
Take the time, either before or after the Conference, to explore this 
beautiful city. Take a spectacular climb to the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, a guided tour behind the scenes of the very famous Opera House, or a visit to The Rocks and other historic sites. Experience the famous Manly and Northern Beaches, the world heritage Blue Mountains, the natural wonders of the scenic Central Coast and wineries of the Hunter Valley.
Planning Your Visit
Sydney Visitor Centres make planning your holiday easy. Located at Darling Harbour or the corner of Argyle and Playfair Streets in The Rocks, they offer one-stop-shop convenience for visitor information, providing comprehensive details on tours and entertainment, in and around Sydney at the time of your visit. They are open from 9.30am to 5.30pm seven days a week except Christmas Day and Good Friday. Useful links are listed at the bottom of this page or if you are interested in some touring options before or after the conference, you can visit the APT Touring website by clicking here.
Sydney shopping
Embark on a world-class shopping experience in Australia’s leading shopping destination, Sydney city. See how old meets new, where local meets international, and enjoy shopping, dining and being entertained.
Sydney dining
Food, glorious food. Sydney city caters for all tastes from international cuisine and fine dining restaurants through to contemporary eateries, pub fare and cheap eats
Arriving in Sydney
The Kingsford Smith Airport is the main international and domestic airport. It is about 10 kilometres (6 miles) south-west of the Central Business District and Sydney Harbour. The central business district is 10km north of the International Airport and takes approximately 20 minutes to reach by car. A taxi costs approximately A$35 plus tolls for a trip between Sydney Domestic Airport and Darling Harbour. A regular airport to city bus service operates from approximately 0600 to 2100 hours (not recommended for those with large amounts of luggage). Any queries please see the Travellers Information Desk at the Airport.
Sydney Airport Train Link
The Domestic rail station is located directly between Sydney T2 and T3 Terminals and is accessible from within the terminals from the arrivals level. Airport Link is a fast and convenient way to reach the centre of Sydney. Trains run approximately every 10 minutes and the journey into the city takes only 13 minutes. To get to the Sydney Convention Centre - disembark at Central Station and join the Metro Light Rail to Convention Station. The Metro Light Rail departs Central station opposite Platform 1 and Convention station is only 4 stops and a 3 minute journey away.
Climate
Sydney enjoys a temperate climate with more than 340 sunny days per year. Visitors in July and August can expect an average of 18 degrees Celsius during the day and around 8 degrees Celsius at night.
Shopping hours
Generally 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday; 9am-9pm, Thursday; 8.30am-4pm, Saturday. Shops in tourist areas may be open on Sundays. Post offices are open from from 9am until 5pm Monday to Friday. Banking and currency Banking hours are generally 9.30am-4pm Monday to Thursday, and 9.30am-5pm Friday, but some banks offer extended hours and some are open on Saturday mornings. Travellers cheques are widely accepted, as are major credit cards Visa, MasterCard, AMEX and Diners Card. Most banks will offer a foreign currency exchange. The Australian currency is dollars and cents. Notes come in denominations of $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100 bills. Coins are 5 cents, 10 cents, 20 cents, 50 cents, $1 and $2.
Health
Sydney, like most parts of Australia, presents no real health risks for foreign visitors. Tap water is good, restaurants and eating places are required by law to maintain a high standard of food preparation, and the city is generally clean. Sun exposure can be a problem for those who are fair-skinned, even in September and October. Swimmers with little experience in the surf should be cautious when swimming at Sydney’s famous surf beaches, Bondi and Manly, and should always swim between the warning flags erected by lifeguards. Travel insurance is recommended.
Entry Requirements
All visitors to Australia need a valid passport and Visa. Applications for Visas can be made through Australian Embassies or Consulates in major cities around the world or in some cases through your travel agent. Ask for a business Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) for Australia.
For information about Australian missions overseas, how to apply for visas and further information on ETAs, Customs clearance, Quarantine regulations, health issues, arrival and departure and more, contact the Australian Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs - www.immi.gov.au/index.htm. You are advised to action your application early.
Other travel essentials
- Time zone: during the conference, Sydney will operate on Australian Eastern Standard Time, which is GMT plus 9 hours
- Electricity voltage: 240
- Units of measure: metric
- Public phones: 40-cent local calls (Sydney metropolitan area)
- Petrol (gas): varies but is generally around $1.30 a litre
- Emergency (police, ambulance and fire) phone 000
For more information about Sydney visit:
- www.131500.com.au/ Train information
- www.airportlink.com.au Airport Rail Link Information
- www.sydneybuses.info/ Bus information
- www.metrotransport.com.au/ Sydney Monorail & Light Rail
- www.visitnsw.com.au Visitor Information
- www.scec.com.au Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre