Conference Planning Essentials

All international visitors to Australia will need a visa to enter the country unless they are a citizen of Australia or New Zealand. As an event owner, you can find information and guidance on visa options via the International Event Coordinator Network (IECN) – a free service provided by the Australian Department of Home Affairs for organisers of events hosted in Australia that involve international visitors. It provides information on visa options and application processes for speakers, performers, competitors and attendees. 

Find more information and register your event with the IECN here

Sydney Airport is the largest airport in Australia, with direct flights from nearly 30 countries, including all major cities in Asia Pacific. In late 2026, a second international airport with 24-hour services will begin operation: Western Sydney Airport.  

Sydney Airport is only 8km from the Sydney Central Business District (CBD).  

By train, the Airport Link takes around 13 minutes to get you to the CBD and costs around AUD$20 one way, depending on your final stop. Trains run approximately every 10 minutes. To use the service you can either purchase an Opal Card – the smartcard ticketing system used for travel on public transport in Sydney – or tap on and off using your Amex, Visa or Mastercard. 

Taxis and rideshare services are available at the airport and take around 20 minutes to get you to the CBD and cost about AUD$45-55 one way. There are taxi ranks at each of the terminals, which are signposted. You will need to arrange with your rideshare service to be collected from a designated priority pick up area.

Find more information on the Sydney Airport website 

Public transport

Sydney has an accessible and affordable public transport system that includes buses, trains, trams and ferries. You can plan your journeys with Transport NSW’s online Trip Planner or by downloading its Opal Travel app. 

Public transport in Sydney uses a smartcard ticketing system, Opal. You can get Opal cards over the counter in retail outlets including convenience stores or newsagents. The cards are free, but there is a minimum top-up value of AUD$20 for adult cards. You can also use contactless payment methods, including debit cards, credit cards, or a linked device. 

Walking

Sydney is a city perfect for walking: it is scenic, compact, and enjoys a good climate year-round. Walking accounts for over 90% of all trips in the city centre and many of the city’s venues are within walking distance of central hotels, so you may find you and your delegates prefer to travel on foot while you are in town. You can find information and maps on walking in the city at the City of Sydney Visitor Information Centre. 

Cycling 

Cycling is a popular way to get around in Sydney. The City of Sydney provides information on cycling in the city, including bike hire, cycleways and downloadable maps. 

Taxis and rideshare 

There are several taxi and rideshare options in Sydney. You can find further information on the Transport NSW website, including in relation to accessibility, fares and charges, safe travel and your rights and responsibilities.    

If your program will include satellite meetings, field trips or delegate experiences beyond the city, there are plenty of venue options within easy distance of Sydney. The state of New South Wales (NSW) offers you and your delegates the opportunity to experience some of the world’s best wines, quality restaurants, stunning beaches and World Heritage wilderness, while you are here.

Visit Meet in Regional NSW for ideas, information and inspiration! 

The Australian currency is the dollar (AUD), which comes in notes ($5, $10, $20, $50 and $100) and coins (5, 10, 20 and 50 cents, and $1 and $2). Currency exchange services are available at the airport, in the city centre and at most banks and Australia Post offices. 

Major credit cards are widely accepted in Australia, though do note that Diners Club is not often accepted. Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) can be easily found throughout the city and accept most common cards, including UnionPay.

Most goods and services sold in Australia are subject to a Goods and Services Tax (GST). This is a 10% tax collected from end consumers by registered service providers, who then pass on the tax to the Australian Government.  

Conference registration fees collected from delegates are considered taxable supply. If you are an overseas business and anticipate revenue from your event to exceed AUD$75,000, you will be required to register for GST. If your organisation is not-for-profit, registering for GST is optional on revenue up to AUD$150,000. When you register for GST, your organisation will be required to pay GST to the Australian Taxation Office, however, you will also be able to claim GST credits. 

If you are a non-resident organisation you may choose to appoint a Professional Conference Organiser (PCO) to manage the GST obligations related to registration revenue from your event. The PCO will then be responsible for collecting GST on taxable supply and may claim GST credits available to your organisation. 

The audit, tax and consulting firm RSM or a similar tax consulting firm to provide customised consulting services for a fee. 

Goods & Services Tax on purchases 

In Australia, a Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 10% is included in the purchase price of almost all consumer goods and services. However, tax-free shopping is available at Sydney International Airport; and the Australian Government provides a Tourist Refund Scheme, which allows international travellers to claim tax refunds for some goods.  

Access is vital to ensure diversity, equity and inclusion. In Australia, the rights of people with disability are protected by the Disability Discrimination Act (1992), which ensures access to public premises, goods and services and facilities. In 2022, Sydney was voted among the 10 most accessible cities in the world by people with disability.  

The City of Sydney also provided inclusive and accessible event guidelines, which provide frameworks to help event owners understand key access and inclusion considerations, identify best practices and ensure positive outcomes.  

English is the official language in Australia. However, Sydney is home to a truly multicultural population and more than 250 languages are spoken here, with more than 1.2 million residents speaking a language other than English.  

If you require interpretation services to help you during the planning stages of your event, the NSW Government provides interpreting services through Multicultural NSW. 

If you want to provide language interpretation during your event – including sign language – Congress Australia can support. 

Sydney has a sunny climate year-round, with mild winters and warm summers.  

The local time zone in Sydney is Australian Eastern Standard Time, which is generally UTC+10. Between October and April, we observe daylight savings and operate on Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT), which is generally UTC+11.