ACSW conference transportation details

Note – A two page summary of the information on this page is available here and should be downloaded by all delegates to assist with travel throughout the conference.

The venue for the ACSW conference is the Mt Helen campus of the “The University of Ballarat”. The campus is approximately 10km from the centre of Ballarat and 120km from Tullamarine, Melbourne’s international airport. We anticipate many delegates will make use of local buses, taxis and the special services we have scheduled for the conference.

This document outlines bus and other transportation details under the following headings:

• Getting to Ballarat from Tullamarine

• Assistance at Tullamarine Airport

• Shuttle Bus bookings

• Transportation from the Shuttle Bus office (& Railway Station) to accommodation

• Getting to Ballarat from Avalon Airport

• Rail Transport from Melbourne to Ballarat

• Daily transfers to and from the ACSW conference

• Little’s Bus Service

• Transportation for Sovereign Hill Lodge guests

• Ballarat taxi service

• Davis Bus Lines

• Transportation to conference dinners

• Returning home after the ACSW conference

Getting to Ballarat from Tullamarine (Melbourne’s International Airport)

The two options for transportation from Tullamarine to Ballarat are:

• Hire car

• Airport Shuttle Bus

Hire cars

Cars can be hired from numerous hire companies at the airport. Delegates are advised to ask the hire company representatives for maps and directions to assist with the 120km trip from Tullamarine to Ballarat.

Detailed directions for road trips to Ballarat are contained in the Detailed Directions document.

Airport Shuttle Bus

The ACSW organising committee anticipate most international and some domestic ACSW delegates will get to Ballarat by making use of the shuttle bus service that runs between Tullamarine and the Ballarat railway station (a special price of $A20 one-way has been negotiated for ACSW delegates)

The shuttle bus takes approximately 90 minutes to reach Ballarat. The service departs from the Regional and Suburban bus shelter which is located between the two roads just outside the international terminal. The service terminates at the Ballarat railway station.

Shuttle Bus departure times from Tullamarine Airport are as follows:

Saturday & Sunday

7:30am, 12:30pm, 3:00pm and 7:45pm

Monday to Friday

6:45am, 7:45am, 9:30am, 12:30am, 2:30pm, 5:00pm and 7:15pm

To augment the shuttle service two (2) extra University of Ballarat mini-bus services will run on Monday 29^th January. These buses will depart Tullamarine at 9:00pm and midnight.

Assistance at Tullamarine Airport

On Monday 29^th January and Tuesday 30^th January a “Travel Assistant” (University of Ballarat representative) will be available at Tullamarine to assist ACSW delegates to:

• Locate the next “Shuttle Bus”

• Locate car hire company offices

• Answer travel queries

• Answer queries regarding bus services while at the conference

• Assist with general conference queries

A Travel assistant will be located on the Ground Floor of the Airport terminal just outside the international terminal. (see map above). Look for an “ACSW 2007 Conference” sign. Travel assistants will be wearing a red ACSW 2007 polo shirt.

A travel assistant will be available at the following times:

• Monday 29^th January 2007 8am – 9pm
• Tuesday 30^th January 2007 8am – 7:30pm

Delegates can contact the travel assistants on 0448 463 663 during the above times.

On Monday evening the mini-bus drivers will assume the travel assistants role from 8:30 to 9pm and 11:30pm to midnight.

Shuttle Bus Bookings.

Many delegates have indicated via the web based travel form that they intend using the shuttle bus service to get from Tullamarine to Ballarat. This information has been communicated to the Shuttle Bus operators. All other delegates that intend using the Shuttle Bus service to Ballarat should make a booking directly with the Shuttle Bus service operators. Please also mention that you are an ACSW delegate to ensure you are charged the discounted one-way price of $20 for ACSW members.

The telephone number of the Shuttle Bus office is : (03) 5333 4181

Transportation from Shuttle Bus office (and railway station) to accommodation.

Monday 29^th January and Tuesday 30^th January a University of Ballarat mini-bus will transport Shuttle Bus and Rail passengers from the Shuttle Bus office (Located within the railway Station) to Motels and University Accommodation.

The minibus will be running this service for ACSW delegates and their families at the following times:

• Monday 29^th January - 8:15am to 9:00pm
• Tuesday 30^th January - 8:15am to 9:00pm

The mini-bus will be parked in Bay 9 or in Lydiard Street (near bay 9) of the Railway Station bus departure area. If the Mini-bus is not parked at this location during the times specified above, it is most likely on route transporting other delegates. Please be patient as most mini-bus journeys are likely to be less than 40 minutes duration.

Getting to Ballarat from Avalon Airport

Cars can be hired from numerous hire companies at the airport. Delegates are advised to ask the hire company representatives for maps and directions to assist with the trip from Avalon to Ballarat.

Detailed directions for road trips to Ballarat are contained in the Detailed Directions document.

Bus services run from Avalon to Melbourne and Geelong, however there is no direct bus service from Avalon to Ballarat.

A bus service runs from Avalon to Melbourne's Southern Cross Station. From there a regular train service operates to Ballarat.

Rail transport from Melbourne (Southern Cross Station) to Ballarat

Regular train services run from Southern Cross Station (Melbourne) to Ballarat.

Visit www.vline.com.au for detailed train schedules between Southern Cross Station and Ballarat railway station.

There are numerous options for delegates to get from the Ballarat railway station to their accommodation.

• On Monday and Tuesday a Mini-bus will be available for such transportation.
  (See details under the heading “Transportation from Shuttle Bus office (and Railway Station) to accommodation.”

• Taxi (telephone) - 131008

• Davis Bus
  Catch a number 10 - Buninyong route Davis bus from the bus stop at the corner of Sturt and Lydiard streets (500 metres walk south of railway station) to all recommended accommodation venues (apart from Sovereign Hill Lodge)

Getting to and from the ACSW conference venue (Mt Helen campus)

There are numerous transport options ACSW delegates have at their disposal while at the ACSW conference. They include:

• Special ACSW bus services (Little’s Bus Services)

• Ballarat taxi Services

• Davis Bus Lines service

We anticipate many ACSW delegates will use the first option cited above for daily transfers between their hotel and the conference venue. (Mt Helen campus of the University of Ballarat)

Little’s Bus Services(Free to ACSW delegates)

All ACSW suggested accommodation venues except “Sovereign Hill Lodge” are located within a 2km stretch of Main Rd Ballarat. Each day of the conference Little’s Bus Lines will collect ACSW delegates from Motels prior to the conference and transport them to the university. At the completion of each day’s final session Little’s Bus Lines will transport delegates back to the Motel’s along Main Road.

Schedule of daily bus services:

Tuesday 30^th January

Services from Motels to the University: 9:00am, 10:30am, 11:30am, 12:00pm

Services from the University to Motels: 5:15pm, 5:45pm, 6:30pm, 7:15pm

Wednesday 31^st January

Services from Motels to the University: 7:30am, 7:40am, 7:50am

Services from the University to Motels: 5:45pm, 6:00pm, 6:15pm

Thursday 1^st February

Services from Motels to the University: 7:30am, 7:40am, 7:50am

Services from the University to Motels: 5:45pm, 6:00pm, 6:15pm

Friday 2^nd February

Services from Motels to the University: 7:30am, 7:50am

Services from the University to Motels: 12:15pm, 1:45pm

Transportation for Sovereign Hill Lodge guests

In order to catch the Main Road bus services outlined above, guests would need to walk 900 metres to Main Road and wait for a Little’s or Davis Bus.

To ensure Sovereign Hill Lodge guests do not have to make this long walk, a University mini-bus (or Little’s Bus) will collect delegates from Sovereign Hill Lodge (car park) at the following times:

Tuesday 8:45am, 10:15am, 11:15am and 11:45am. (Coach service)

Wednesday – Friday 7:40am (mini-bus service)

A return service will leave from the University at the following times:

Tuesday 5:15pm, 5:45pm, 6:30pm & 7:15pm

Wednesday – Thursday 6:00pm (University Mini-bus)

Friday 1:00pm (University Mini-bus)

Ballarat Taxi Services

Ballarat Taxi’s Telephone (03) 5329 0000

Davis Bus Lines (Number 10 – Buninyong/City service)

Davis Bus Lines operates a public bus service from central Ballarat to the University. The cost of a 2 hour ticket is $1.70

This Bus Service travels along Main Road Ballarat and hence passes all recommended accommodation venues except “Sovereign Hill Lodge”

See Davis Bus Lines website for full details

Timetable of buses travelling to the University.
The following are approximate times that the number 10 bus passes the first motel, Barkly's Lodge:

7:30am, 8:00am, 8:30am, 9:00am, 9:30am, 10:00am, 10:30am, 11:00am, 11:30am, 12:00pm, 12:30pm, 1:00pm, 1:30pm, 2:00pm, 2:30pm, 3:30pm, 4:00pm, 4:30pm, 5:00pm, 5:30pm, 6:00pm, 7:05pm, 8:00pm

Approximate departure times for buses travelling to the city from the university

7:05am, 8:05am, 8:35am, 9:05am, 9:35am, 10:05am, 10:35am, 11:05am, 11:35am, 12:05pm, 12:35pm, 1:05pm, 1:35pm, 2:05pm, 2:35pm, 3:05pm, 4:05pm, 4:35pm, 5:05pm, 5:35pm, 6:05pm, 6:35pm, 7:35pm, 8:35pm

Transportation to conference dinners.

Head of School Dinner

Wednesday 31st. Bus departs Car Park 2 at 5:45pm

Venue – Doherty's Ballarat Lodge, 613 Main Rd. Ballarat.

Conference Dinner.

Thursday 1st December.

Venue – Doherty’s Ballarat Lodge.

A Bus will transport delegates from ACSW recommended accommodation motels to Ballarat Lodge (approx time 7:00pm).

Return buses are scheduled for 10:30pm, 10:45pm and 11:00pm.

Returning Home after the ACSW conference.

Delegates catching the 1:30pm shuttle bus from the University

On Friday 2^nd February after the completion of the ACSW conference many delegates will require transport to Tullamarine airport terminal. To streamline this process a Shuttle Bus will leave the university at 1:30pm sharp from the southern car park and travel directly to the Tullamarine airport terminal. Delegates wishing to use this service should book a seat when completing their conference registration. A payment of $20 can be paid when boarding the bus.

To ensure the bus leaves at 1:30pm delegates may bring their luggage to the University on the Friday 2^nd and store it in studio 4 of the Caro convention centre. A University staff member will be in attendance from 8am, and will organise security and the booking of luggage in and out of studio 4.

Delegates not catching the 1:30pm direct service to Tullamarine

For those delegates that require a shuttle bus service other than the Friday 1:30pm service, you are probably best to catch a taxi to the Railway Station. The Shuttle Bus Office is located within the railway station.

When registering for the conference all delegates will be asked the following transport related questions:

• Do you require a shuttle bus return to Tullamarine

• Which service do you intend to travel

This information will be passed onto the Shuttle Bus operators to ensure sufficiently sized buses are scheduled.