Travel
+ Accommodation
Planning Your Trip
RMIT University is conveniently located in Melbourne CBD with a broad range of hotels and serviced apartments to choose from. Those that are closest to the University are listed below.
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Note: Please contact the accommodation providers directly for availability, reservations. Many of the hotels are offering discounted rates to ServDes.2020 attendees. Please contact info@servdes.org with a confirmation of your on-site registration and we can provide you with the discount code closer to the date.
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Eco-friendly ($250+)
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Mid-range ($200+)
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Economy ($200>)
Jasper Boutique Hotel
IBIS Melbourne Hotel and Apartments
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Melbourne also has a variety of circular economy options for accommodation, below are links to some providers.
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Airbnb, Trusted Housesitters, House Sitters, Home for exchange
Many travellers need a visa to enter Australia. The visa type you need will depend on the passport you hold, the purpose of your trip and how long you intend to stay. To help you work out what visa is best for you, the Australian Department of Home Affairs has developed an online questionnaire.
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Here is an overview of Visa options for people travelling for business.
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Updates to Australia's immigration and border arrangements during the COVID-19 outbreak here.
Certain food, plant material and animal products from overseas could introduce serious pests and di​seases into Australia, devastating our valuable agriculture and tourism industries and unique environment.
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Before you bring or mail goods to Australia for your use or the use of family and friends, check that those goods are allowed into Australia. For detailed import conditions for all goods visit the Australian Border Force website.
Australia's national currency is Australian Dollars (AUD), which comes in denominations of AU$5, AU$10, AU$20, AU$50 and AU$100 notes. Coins come in 5, 10, 20 and 50 cent and one and two dollar denominations.
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VISA or MasterCard can be used anywhere credit cards are accepted. PayWave is a popular payment method.
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American Express and Diners Club are accepted at major supermarket and department store chains and many tourist destinations. A good tip is to carry multiple credit cards and a little cash. Merchants may impose credit card surcharges in some places.
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Traveller's cheques are not widely accepted in Australia.
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Australia has a Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 10 per cent. You may be able to claim a refund for the GST paid on goods if you have spent AU$300 or more with a single business, no more than 60 days before departing Australia. Tourist Refund Scheme facilities are located in the departure area of international terminals.
Australia is divided into three separate time zones: Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST), Australian Central Standard Time (ACST), and Australian Western Standard Time (AWST).
Melbourne, where the conference will be held, is located in the Australian Eastern Standard Time Zone (AEST), which is equal to Coordinated Universal Time plus 11 hours (UTC +11) during the conference in February 2021.
Australia's seasons are at opposite times to those in the northern hemisphere. See here for timely weather updates. Early February in Melbourne ranges from hot to very hot, 15 to 30+ degrees centigrade. This means it is advisable to pack summer clothing including hats, sunglasses, sunscreens, water bottle, but also long-sleeve shirts to protect against sun exposure and chilly air-conditioned venues. White many call February ‘summer’, it is Kooyang / Biderap (Dry Season) and Luk (Eel Season) according to the seven seasons of the Kulin calendar.
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You may need an adapter in order to plug your appliances into the power sockets: the adapter required for Australia is Type 1 Australia plug. The plugs in Australia have two flat metal pins, forming an inverted 'V' shape, and occasionally a third pin in the centre. The electrical current in Australia is 220-240 volts, AC 50Hz.
The international dialling code for Australia is 61.
The outgoing IDD (international direct dialling) code from within Australia is 0011.
The emergency number in Australia is 000.
Mobile phone network coverage is available across Australia, however, coverage may be limited in some remote areas.
Post offices are open from 9 am-5 pm, Monday to Friday, with some city post offices open on Saturday morning. Travellers can arrange to collect mail at post offices throughout Australia. For more information and to find your closest Australia Post Office, see here.
Arriving in the country
If you are an international visitor, please note there might be two airports that show up when you search for a flight ticket, Tullamarine airport (MEL) and Avalon Airport (AVV). Tullamarine Airport (MEL) is closer to Melbourne city, Avalon airport is in another city. SIM cards can be purchased at the airport.
For visitors flying into Melbourne International Airport, there is a bus connection service that connects the airport to Melbourne CBD with ongoing connections to individual hotels. For timetables, and pre-ticket sales go to SkyBus. There are other options such as Uber, Taxi, Pickup service that you can choose.
SkyBus goes from Melbourne Tullamarine Airport to Southern Cross Station
AU$19.75 one way
AU$39.50 return fare
AU$36.50 return fare (online only)
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There is a shop selling SIM cards at Melbourne Airport:
Optus: At the international Arrivals. Facing the exit from customs, slightly to the right
You can also buy SIM cards at any supermarket or convenience store
Traveling in Melbourne
Map of Melbourne CBD and transport
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Melbourne is an easy city to navigate due to its small geographic size, flat terrain and grid-like layout. Trams are widely used across the city, with a Free Tram zone located across the CBD. Please note that the Free Tram Zone does not extend to the RMIT city campus. Trains and Buses are also options to take for travel in Melbourne.
To travel on public transport, a Myki travel card needs to be purchased. These are available from convenience stores including 7 Eleven.
For more information, Myki card purchasing and usage, and maps, please refer to the Public Transport Victoria site.
Tram
Metro
Myki
Discover the rare and beautiful plants at Royal Botanic Garden, and you can learn about the land with an indigenous guide doing an Aboriginal Heritage Walk.
Melbourne boasts a rich and intriguing history that effortlessly combines with the more modern aspects of the city, a perfect playground for adventurers and wildlife lovers, foodies and road trippers.
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To discover the city, you may go to
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Shopping at markets is a great way to dive into a culture when you're traveling. The bustling market scene has always been alive in Melbourne. If markets are one of your favourite things to do in your trip, then take a look at our best markets Melbourne has to offer here.
The city is often referred to as the coffee capital of Australia due to its extensive café and restaurant culture. We recommend you bring our Keepcup with you and enjoy the coffee.
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Kinfolk Café exists to create an inclusive community by offering a training program for people facing marginalization who might need an opportunity.
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Tradeblock Café run by students of Victorian College for the Deaf, serving high-quality coffee and food.
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Melbourne is also a deeply multicultural city which means that you can eat great food from all over the world. To experience Melbourne's mix of cultures in its myriad restaurants here.
Hotels and restaurants do not add service charges to your bill, and tipping is always your choice. In upmarket restaurants, it is common to leave a tip to waiters of 10 per cent of the bill for good service.
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In Australia, cars, trams, bikes and other vehicles travel on the left-hand side of the road of bidirectional traffic. When crossing the road, look to your right first then left to check incoming traffic. Same rules apply when you are making turns when driving. The steering wheel of an Australian car is on the right-hand side.
