Visitors will find Melbourne an exciting city to explore. Modern architecture and design is
juxtaposed with heritage buildings reflecting Australia’s cultural history. But beneath the city’s
impressive façade, lies the true heart and soul of the city; laneways which snake the city grid to
reveal cafes and bars, fashion houses, boutiques, innovative cuisine, galleries, theatres and museums.

Host City
Recommended link: www.visitvictoria.com/melbourne
Melbourne, located on the east coast, is the second largest city in Australia. More than 3.5 million people live in the city, which has been voted The World's Most Liveable City on a number of occasions.
Melbourne has a lively passion for social eating and drinking, which is reflected in the thousands of restaurants serving up gastronomic experiences from around the world. Everywhere you look you will uncover a vast array of fashionable cafes, where you can enjoy Melbourne's existential coffee and cafe culture to the fullest.

Climate and Clothing
With its variable climate, Melbourne is cool in winter (June to August), with temperatures averaging 16°C during the day and 5°C at night. It is recommended that visitors bring clothing suitable for cool days and cold nights.

Restaurants
Recommended link: www.visitvictoria.com/melbdining
Melbourne is a multi-cultural city and a wide range of cuisine is available throughout its many restaurants.

Shopping
Recommended link: www.visitvictoria.com/shopping
Most shops in Melbourne are generally open from 0900 to 1700, Saturday to Wednesday and 0900 to 2100 Thursday and Friday. In all stores and shopping centres major credit cards are accepted and tax-free shopping is possible within the city. Walking is the best way to shop, especially along Melbourne's arcades and laneways. Outside the city centre, visit shopping precincts such as Chapel Street in South Yarra, Acland Street in St Kilda and Brunswick Street in Fitzroy, especially on weekends. Here you'll find everything from retro home wares to funky shops selling cult-in-the-making jewellery. These strips also have many street cafes. Travelling between Melbourne’s suburbs is best done by tram.

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.

Banks
Banks in Australia are open from 0930 to 1600 Monday to Thursday and 0930 to 1700 on Fridays. Most banks are closed on weekends; however, some banks in major cities open for limited hours on Saturday. Currency exchange facilities are available at the airport and most major hotels and city banks and bureaux de change. Automatic teller machines (ATMs) are available at a wide variety of outlets, including the Congress site, and in most city streets.

Electricity
220 - 240V is standard in Australia.

Herbarium visits
Botanists wishing to visit the National Herbarium of Victoria (MEL), or other Australian herbaria, should arrange this well ahead of time. Contact details are on the Congress website.

Internet access
There will be an Internet Café at the Congress venue. Internet access is also widely available to visitors in many hotels and cafés in the city.

Language
English is spoken throughout Australia and is the official language for the Congress

Quarantine
Australia has strict rules about what plant and animal material can be brought into the country, to avoid importing diseases. See http://daff.gov.au/aqis for details.

Smoking
Smoking of tobacco products is banned on public transport and in all publicly accessible buildings, including hotels, restaurants, theatres and the Congress venue.

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

Tipping
Service charges are not added to accounts by hotels and restaurants. You may tip taxi drivers, hotel porters and restaurant wait-staff (up to 10% of the bill) if you wish to acknowledge exceptional service. At any time, tipping is your choice.

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.

Weather
Melbourne is cool in winter (June to August), with temperatures averaging 16°C during the day and 5°C at night. It is recommended that visitors bring clothing suitable for cool days and cold nights. We recommend warm clothing, and attire for possible wet weather.

See the Australian Bureau of Meteorology website (www.bom.gov.au) for further information.

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