Accommodation and Travel Options

The Central Coast Campus of the University of Newcastle is located at Ourimbah, about 80km north of Sydney and half-way to Newcastle. Delegates from further afield than Sydney or Newcastle are advised to arrive the day before the conference. As explained below under Accommodation, transport will be arranged from two local motels to and from the Campus on the day of the conference.

There are several means of transport to reach the Central Coast and the Campus.

Arriving by air

If you are flying, the best option is to fly into Sydney Kingsford Smith airport where you can either organise an airport shuttle service to bring you to Ourimbah, take the train or hire a car.

The shuttle service we usually use is called Kings & Queens, www.kingsandqueens.com.au/, and they will organise a meeting point for you and drop you off at your accommodation. The journey will take 2-3 hours depending on how many other passengers need to be dropped off along the way.

If hiring a car, all the major hire car companies are represented at Sydney Airport. It is about a 2 hour drive to the Central Coast, outside peak hours. On leaving the airport, follow signs to the City via Southern Cross Drive, then signs to Newcastle and north coast via the eastern distributor. After going through the Sydney Harbour tunnel, follow the expressway to Pacific Hwy exit, in the direction of Newcastle. Enter F3 freeway at Wahroonga. To reach the Central Coast Campus, see more information below under Arriving by car.

If taking the train, there is a station at both the domestic & international terminals. Timetables can be found at www.nsw.gov.au. The train service from the airport does involve changing trains in the city at Central Railway station where you would need to take the Gosford/Newcastle line. You would need to allow at least 2 hours for the journey. If you are staying at one of the hotels in the local area we recommend that you disembark at Gosford station and then taxi to your accommodation. See more information below under Arriving by train.

Unfortunately Kings & Queens don't operate a shuttle service from Newcastle airport but if you decide to fly into Newcastle, then please contact Newcastle Airport Information services on (02) 4928 9822 or email nais@newcasatleairport.com.au. This service has offered to organise shuttle transport for conference delegates. Please mention that you are attending the Enhancing Student Success Conference to assist in avoiding multiple bookings.

Arriving by car

If driving from the direction of Sydney or Newcastle, the Ourimbah Campus lies just off the F3 at Ourimbah between Chittaway and Brush Roads. From the F3 Freeway, take the Ourimbah exit which links to the Pacific Highway and follow the signs to the campus, turning left at the next roundabout about 2 km from the freeway exit. If you would like more detailed directions, see www.whereis.com The University teaching period will be over, so there will be adequate free parking within the campus grounds. As you enter the campus you will find two large car-parks opposite the main grassed quadrangle.

Arriving by train

If coming by train from the direction of Sydney or Newcastle you may need to change for Ourimbah at Gosford or Tuggerah depending on the timetable. The journey from either Sydney or Newcastle is approximately 90 mins, a little more if needing to change trains. At the Ourimbah station, exit on the east side of the station and the Campus is less than 10 minutes walk along Brush Road.

Registration

Registration is between 8.45 and 9.15 so once you arrive at the campus please follow the signs to registration. If you arrive after registration then please proceed to the Lecture theatres which are located at B8 on the campus map. If you walk up the covered walkway on the left-hand side of the campus quadrangle, this will take you to the Lecture Theatres.

Accommodation

For accommodation closest to the Campus the Willows Motel
www.thewillows.net.au and Bermuda Motor Inn
www.bermudamotel.ccnet.com.au are offering a special conference rate for our participants – you just have to mention that you are attending the University of Newcastle conference at the Ourimbah campus. The Willows Motel are offering a single room with breakfast for $115 per night and the Bermuda Motor Inn is $85 for a large single room and $75 for a smaller single room both without breakfast. Both are located within walking distance of shops and restaurants. We will be providing transport from both these motels to the Campus on the day of the conference and then back to either your motel or Gosford station at the end of the day if required.

If you would like this transport, please do make sure that you email Carolyn.lewis@newcastle.edu.au in advance to arrange for us to pick you up.

There is also a website that has a students/teachers rebate scheme: www.hotelscombined.com/Education_Support which lists all hotels in the surrounding area.