Australia is looking forward to you visiting, but as we are an unusual bunch down here, please consider the following.
ARMIDALE IN THE STATE OF NEW SOUTH WALES (NSW)
Note that WEMBO 2023 will be held at Armidale NSW and NOT Armadale in the state of Western Australia or in state of Victoria – They are both a long way away!
WHERE TO FLY IN?
Major International airports are in Sydney, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
If you intend to fly all the way through to Armidale coming into Sydney will probably be the easiest connections and Sydney is a great city for a stopover.
In Sydney you have all the famous tourist icons such as the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House, The Rocks, Darling Harbour. For more information on Sydney follow this link.
If you fly into the state of Queensland (QLD) to Brisbane or the Gold Coast and then drive to Armidale, you will lose an hour when you cross the QLD/NSW state border due to daylight saving in NSW and not in QLD. On your return trip you will gain hour and as an example 17:00 in NSW will be 16:00 in QLD.
CAR HIRE
Car hire can be completed directly from all airports including Armidale.
It is worth preloading the Google Maps app and downloading the maps of the areas you want to travel through while you are at home with internet access. Also understand that while you are driving your car you can not adjust your phone. You need to stop your vehicle in a safe location to use your mobile phone while in a car in Australia. We therefore also recommend you bring a phone cradle that attaches to your windscreen so you can easily view the directions without taking your eyes off the road. Otherwise ensure that you rent a GPS with your rental vehicle to allow safe and stress-free navigation. Be aware that the fine for using your phone in Australia while driving is $344 – ouch!!!
Both Sydney and Brisbane have toll roads. It may be worth purchasing tolls with the rental car.
DRIVING TO ARMIDALE
There are two great loops to drive from Sydney, Brisbane or the Gold Coast.
Sydney To Armidale
This circuit will bring you through Sydney the Hunter Valley and return via the Central Coast (Coffs Harbour). Follow this link to see in Google Maps.
Brisbane To Armidale
Head south down the New England Highway through the Northern Tablelands and return via the coast through Coffs Harbour and Byron Bay. Directions from Brisbane International Airport click here or from the Gold Coast International Airport click here
AUSSIES DRIVE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD
Please remember that in Australia we drive on the left side of the road like UK and Japan.
SPEED LIMIT ENFORCED
Australian police have a very low tolerance to people speeding in cars or any vehicle. You only have to be travelling over the speed limit and you will be fined for speeding and this is enforced aggressively. The current penalties for up to 10kph over the speed limit is $121, if over 10 and under 20kph is $280, and the fines just increase from there.