Conference locations
- BCEC – Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre (main venue)
Entrance is at 133 Grey Street, South Bank, QLD 4101
The conference is on the Plaza Level
GPS: -27.47632,153.01989 - QCAD – Griffith University’s Queensland College of Art & Design (workshops)
South Bank campus, 226 Grey Street, South Bank, QLD 4101
Grey Street Gallery entrance
GPS: -27.48188,153.02392 - QUT – Queensland University of Technology (workshops)
Two locations in Kelvin Grove. See individual workshop texts for directions.
Visas
If you are coming from anywhere other than Australia or New Zealand, you will need a visa in advance. Please read our article:
Accommodation
By world standards, Brisbane is a fairly inexpensive city for accommodation, and the Convention Centre (main conference) and Griffith University’s Queensland College of Art & Design (workshops) are three blocks apart from each other downtown. There are many nearby accommodation options, both hotels and AirBNB. (Note: all prices given are including taxes and fees.)
With AirBNB you can find many full apartments within walking distance (5–30 min), in the range of $80–150 USD ($120–225 AUD) per night.
The Novotel Brisbane South Bank is a 4-star hotel with 4.4 on Google and essentially across the street from the Convention Centre, about $150 USD/night ($225 AUD) during the conference. The Mantra South Bank Brisbane is another 4-star hotel with 4.2 on Google at the same price, also very close. Parkview Apartments is about $90/night USD ($120 AUD) all in, nominally a 4-star hotel, with 3.9 stars on Google.
TIP: Search on “backpacker” in hotels for local places that are more like hostels or 2-star hotels, which can be as inexpensive as $40-55 USD ($60–80 AUD).
Food
The two blocks of Grey Street and Little Stanley Street, just south of the Convention Centre, between it and the university, and the area towards the river from there, are absolutely packed with restaurants.
Dinner only: Bacchus in the Rydges South Bank hotel is a well-regarded if very expensive (4.5, $$$$) “modern Australian” restaurant.
Little Stanley St: Ma Pa Me (4.5, $$) for regional food from around the Pacific; Gnocchi Gnocchi Brothers (4.5, $$) for Italian gnocchi, desserts and wine; Sage Yellowfin (4.3, $) for modern Australian seafood closest to the Convention Centre; Mucho Mexicano (4.2, $$), Zeus Street Greek (4.2, $$), Brooklyn Depot (4.2, $$)
Grey St: Ahmet’s Turkish (4.3, $$)
Even closer to workshops: Siam South Bank (4.5, $$)
Just across the Victoria Bridge are many more restaurants. Note especially The Social Restaurant & Bar (4.3), Kadoya Japanese Restaurant (casual, 4.4, $), Miss Demeanour Restaurant, Bar & Live Music (4.7, $$), Pochana (for Thai, 4.3, $$), Black Fire (Spanish bistro, 4.4, $$), Olive & Angelo (Italian pizza & pasta, 4.4, $$), The Walnut (modern Australian, 4.5, $$)
Power Adapters
Australia uses a “Type I” power adapter, shared with New Zealand, Argentina and China. The power is 230–240 V / 50 Hz. Devices that run on 110 V therefore require a compatible adapter — computers and phone chargers are fine, but your hair dryer or beard trimmer may not be.
Special Note for 16″ MacBook Pro Users: The 16″ M1, M2 or M3 MacBook Pro (2021–) require 145W to charge. Many power outlets on planes and some multi-country power adapters cannot provide 145W, so your computer may be unable to charge. Check your adapters, and charge up before boarding! We recommend the Apple World Travel Adapter Kit.