Location

Melbourne is the capital city of the state of Victoria (one of the country’s southern states and is home to approximately 3 million Australians.

Victoria is blessed with an extraordinary array of quintessentially Australian geographic regions and visitors attractions. Visitors to Victoria have a unique opportunity to visit famous geographical locations such as the Great Ocean Road (Helicopters available) in addition to the states’ natural beauty and pristine rainforests. Visitors also have the opportunity to attend some famous Victorian sporting events in summer such as the Melbourne Cup, Boxing Day cricket test and the formula 1 grand prix.

Melbourne is renowned as one the world’s most liveable and cultural cities. Melbourne has a vibrant cosmopolitan atmosphere, home to many of the countries finest restaurants and bars, whilst retaining the casual elegance that truly reflects the Australian way of life.

For weather and other local facts and events, see: http://www.rendezvoushotels.com/melbourne_city/

Conference Center

Rendezvous Hotel Melbourne

Rendezvous Hotel Melbourne in the heart of the business district, this superbly appointed hotel fronts onto Flinders Street, just across the road from the historic Flinders Street Railway Station. Directly across the Yarra River are the shopping and entertainment precincts of Southbank, the Crown Casino and the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre

The hotel is conveniently located close to the city's major sporting venues, Telstra Dome, Melbourne Cricket Ground and Rod Laver Arena.

Built in 1913 as the Commercial Travellers Club, this heritage-listed building has been meticulously restored to its original splendour. Guests can experience a piece of Melbourne history whilst enjoying an ideal location close to all attractions.

The wonderful building combines all the character and elegance of the early 20th Century. With the first class comforts and facilities of today.

The Rendezvous Hotel Melbourne is a 4.5 star hotel and offers various standards of accommodation for the traveller: Economy, Deluxe, Commerce, Club and Suite. Each room is priced accordingly and all guests are able to enjoy the first class services and facilities that The Rendezvous Hotel Melbourne has to offer. This includes 24-hour reception and concierge, use of the restaurant and bar, 24-hour room service, money exchange facilities and use of the Business Centre.

DIRECTIONS

o http://www.rendezvoushotels.com/melbourne_city/location.aspx
o http://www.melbourne-airport.com.au/to_from_airport/
o From Melbourne Airport to Rendez Vous Hotel

TRANSPORTATION

ACCOMMODATIONS

Rendezvous Hotel Melbourne
328 Flinders Street
Melbourne, VIC 85251, Australia
Phone: +61 3 9250-1888
Fax: +61 3 9250-1877
E-mail: res@melbourne.rendezvous.com.au

Accommodation is available for a discounted rate as follows:

Deluxe Room only AUS$155 per night
Commerce Room only AUS$176 per night

Breakfast is available for an additional AUS$24.50 per person.

For Bookings (email mentioning IGS2007 for discounted rates)
https://reservations.ihotelier.com/onescreen.cfm?hotelid=6610&languageid=11


CONFERENCE LOCATION

Dress Code: Casual business attire

The conference will be held in the Ballroom of the Rendez Vous Hotel. It is on the ground floor of the Rendez Vous Hotel 328 Flinders Street Melbourne. The hotel is within walking distance of a number of other hotels in this area.

http://book.hotel.com.au/SearchResults.asp?id=3

The Kingsgate is one of the cheaper alternatives for those prepared to walk a few blocks.
The preferred audiovisual means are: Powerpoint, and overhead transparencies. Please, e-mail your ppt file to jim.phillips@med.monash.edu.au before the conference.

The following audiovisual means will be provided:
o Podium
o Speaker stand
o Microphone
o PC Laptop, MS Powerpoint, CD/DVD, floppy disk, zip drive, USB and XVGA (1024 x 768 pixels), with scroll-wheel mouse, or bring your own PC laptop.

OFFICIAL CONFERENCE DINNER

The dinner will be held at Arinjti in Federation Square (www.arintji.com.au). Included in cost of registration, BUT reservations must be made in advance for accompanying persons

WELCOME RECEPTION AND REGISTRATION

Foyer of the Rendezvous Hotel, Melbourne - Sunday, November 11, 2007.




Tours

PENGUIN CRUISE (http://www.penguinwaters.com.au/newslides.html)


This boat cruise departs at dusk on a 2 hour cruise down the Yarra river. The cruise views the city lights and Melbourne’s penguin colony. The colony of fairy penguins is located 4km from the Yarra river in Melbourne’s Port Phillip Bay.

Food and drink are included in the price of the cruise Informative tour operators supply environmental research background. Costs - $55 per person includes meal and drinks. Departure point is just across the river from the conference venue. If you wish to attend, please indicate on the registration form or the online payment form.

TWELVE APOSTLES Tour organised for IGS2007 (Preregistration required)

http://www.greatoceanrd.org.au/highlights/apostles/



The ocean along the 55 kilometres of the Port Campbell National Park has eroded the cliffs to create caves, arches and rock islands. The Twelve Apostles, are some of the amazing natural rock formations in this area. Others include the Bay of Islands and the Bay of Martyrs.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bay_of_Islands_Coastal_Park

Air tours are available. See http://gorhelis.com

Click for current weather at the 12 Apostles: http://www.travelvictoria.com.au/portcampbell/weather/

OTWAY FLY


The Otway Fly is a walk along the treetops in Victorian rainforest. It is the longest and tallest elevated walk of its kind in the world. It varies between 20-37 metres in height and is over 600 metres in length.

For the thrill seeker a 45 metre high lookout is ascended via a spiral stairway through the under story to emerge amongst the crowns of the giants of the forest, whilst the springboard cantilever bounces precariously high over picturesque Young’s Creek.

The walk is a 1.9 kilometres round walk starting from the Visitor Centre and takes approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour to complete.

The Otway Fly is about 3 hours drive from Melbourne.

For more information, visit
http://www.otwayfly.com/
-Or -
http://www.visitvictoria.com/displayObject.cfm/objectid.BF31DA69-2F8B-49F2-BAFB03C0977A305E/vvt.vhtml


MORE PLACES OF INTEREST IN VICTORIA

Royal Exhibition Building
http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/worldheritage/sites/royal/index.html

Aboriginal Heritage
http://www.visitvictoria.com/displayObject.cfm/ObjectID.0005D00B-6199-1A72-B0C880C476A901A1/vvt.vhtml

The Melbourne Cricket Ground
http://www.mcg.org.au/

Lygon Street
http://www.lygonst.com/

Williamstown
http://williamstowninfo.com.au/

Saint Kilda
http://www.melbourne.com.au/stkilda.htm

Acland Street
http://www.aclandstreet.com.au/

Healesville Santuary
http://www.zoo.org.au/healesville/

Sherbrooke Forest
http://home.vicnet.net.au/~donvrac/

Yarra Valley Wineries
http://www.yarravalleywine.com/

Volcanoes
http://www.volcanoesdiscoverytrail.com/

Gold Mine Tours
http://www.central-deborah.com/index.shtml

Sovereign Hill
http://www.sovereignhill.com.au/

Tower Hill
http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/1park_display.cfm?park=200

The Grampians
http://www.thegrampians.com.au/

The Beaches
http://www.visitvictoria.com/displayObject.cfm/ObjectID.00091F76-FC2F-1A5C-BC6180C476A90000/vvt.vhtml

Cape Schank
http://www.lighthouse.net.au/lIGhtS/VIC/Cape%20Schanck/Cape%20Schank%20Light.htm

Wilsons Promontory
http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/1park_display.cfm?park=217

Philip Island
http://www.penguins.org.au/

Lake Mungo in NSW
http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/parks.nsf/ParkContent/N0049?Opendocument&ParkKey=N0049&Type=xo