2024 International Zooplankton Production Symposium - General-Information

Useful information

1. Australian plugs and voltage
	220-240 V Australian electricity runs on 220-240 V and 50 Hz.
2. Tipping (gratuities)
Tipping is generally not expected in Australia. Some restaurants and pubs have tipping jars, but they're not commonly used. If you have particularly good service and/or are out to dine with a large group then you might choose to leave a tip. 10% or rounding up to the nearest $10 would be reasonable.
3. SIM cards
https://www.airalo.com/ is very good for eSIMS Optus (https://www.optus.com.au/) offers physical as well as e-sim cards for tourists in Optus stores all around Australia and they have some standard tourist plans e.g 5 GB data + unlimited calls/sms for 7 days = $12 AUD
4. Credit cards and currency
	Paying by credit card is extremely common. VISA and Mastercard are accepted everywhere. American Express (AMEX) is much less common and many places will not accept it (high fees). Australian currency is in dollars and cents and is the only currency accepted. We stopped using 1 and 2 cents coins many years ago, so prices will be rounded up or down to the nearest 5 cents. And, yes, our money is colourful and plastic!
5. Goods and Services tax (GST)
Goods and services tax (GST) is a broad-based tax of 10% on most goods, services and other items sold or consumed in Australia. Most prices will have GST included already. Your receipt will tell you how much the GST portion was.
6. Tourist Refund Scheme (TRS)
The TRS allows overseas visitors to claim a refund (subject to certain conditions) of the goods and services tax (GST) and Wine Equalisation Tax (WET) paid on goods bought in Australian currency and then taken out of Australia. To lodge a claim, visit the TRS counter at your port of departure with the required documentation (receipt from cash register should be sufficient) and the goods you intend to claim a GST refund for.
7. Driving and car rental
	In Australia we drive on the left side of the road. Also, central Hobart has several one-way major roads. Please take extra care when crossing the road if you’re used to driving on the right. If you’re hiring a car for post-conference touring be aware that Tasmania roads can be hilly and narrow in some regions. Also car rentals are much cheaper from Hobart City than from the airport. Please be mindful of wildlife on our roads at night. Most of our fauna are nocturnal and will come out to feed around dusk to dawn. Unfortunately, ‘road kill’ is a common problem in Tasmania because of large populations of some marsupials such as brushtail possums, pademelons, wallabies.
8. Getting around Hobart
The bus operates seven days a week but may have limited service during weekends and public holidays. A Green card for the bus can be easily obtained from the metro shop in the town centre. Alternatively, cash is also accepted. Remember to signal the bus if you want to get on and be at the stop at least 5 mins early; buses can be a bit ahead of schedule. Of course, there are also E-scooters (please wear the helmet) and Uber.
9. Quarantine at the Border
Australia in general has strict biosecurity laws and Tasmania has additional biosecurity requirements, so make sure not to bring any restricted items: see link below. Don’t be surprised if a sniffer dog checks out your luggage at Hobart airport. Don’t worry, the dogs are polite and will sit near your bag if they think there is a ‘problem’. https://nre.tas.gov.au/biosecurity-tasmania/biosecurity/travellers-guide-to-tasmanian-biosecurity-what-you-can-and-cant-bring-into-tasmania
10. Weather
Tasmania is an island with a maritime climate. The weather can change quite quickly and can be very different in the central wilderness areas compared to the coast. Jackets and/or fleeces will always be useful. Bureau of Meterology: http://www.bom.gov.au/tas/forecasts/hobart.shtml A good site for getting coastal conditions (tides, swell, wind, etc.) https://www.willyweather.com.au/