Travel Information
Transportation
Most delegates will be trasferred by coach to Cradle Mountain. If you choose to use our coach transport to Cradle Mountain, you must fly to LAUNCESTON AIRPORT ONLY at one of the times for the scheduled buses below.
Alternatively, you could take the ferry from Melbourne and self-drive to and from the mountain or fly to Devonport or Launceston and hire a car.
Flights to Tasmania
Qantas, Jetstar, Virgin Blue and Tiger Airways all have frequent flights to Tasmania from the mainland. If you are using our coach transport to Cradle Mountain, you MUST FLY IN AND OUT OF LAUNCESTON AIRPORT as the coaches will only meet certain flights at Launceston. If you book early you should be able to secure cheap flights. PLEASE BOOK YOUR FLIGHTS AROUND THE BUS SCHEDULE BELOW so you do not wait around in the airport.
If you choose to fly to Devonport (the closest airport to Cradle Mountain) or Hobart (the furthest) you will have to either hire a car or use scheduled bus services to get there.
Tasmania by Sea
For those departing Melbourne, you make like to travel via sea to Devonport so you can take your car and self-drive to Cradle Mountain (1.5 hours), possibly to spend a weekend before or after the meeting. For details on the "Spirit of Tasmania" please see: http://www.spiritoftasmania.com.au/ .
Scheduled Group Transportation from Launceston Airport
Scheduled group transportation from and to Launceston airport will be arranged for the MGSA & Mutation Detection Meetings for arrivals on the Sunday 1st, Monday 2nd and Tuesday 3rd August and departures on the Tuesday 3rd, Wednesday 4th, Friday 6th and Saturday 7th August only. See the timetable below. People travelling outside these dates and times will need to make their own arrangments so please don't book your flight unless you check the schdule below. The buses have been arranged to fit in with the most suitable flight arrivals and departures Australia-wide.
As some people will make their own way to and from Cradle Mountain, we have chosen not to include the transfers in the registration fee. You will need to book one of each of the transfers below using the booking form below. Cost is $80 return per person. You can pay online during registration BUT YOU MUST ALSO SEND IN THE FORM SO WE KNOW WHICH BUS, IF YOU DONT SEND THE FORM BUT PAY YOU WILL NOT BE BOOKED!
Bus Schedule
The below schedule has been determined after researching all incoming and outgoing flights of Launceston airport and is designed so people from around Australia are able to get to the meeting on time and back to the airport in time for the early evening flights. If you wish to travel outside this schedule you will have to arrange your own transport.
Although there are many flights out of Launceston to the mainland in the morning the last one is around 9.30 AM, so it is IMPOSSIBLE to get to any of these on time from Cradle Mountain, as the coach would have to leave at 6.00-6.30 AM and likely drive through snow, a later departure ensures roads are cleared of any possible snow and it is not dark as we have been advised it is too dangeous to drive the coaches on the Cradle Mountain road in the dark. Thus, departures from Cradle Mountain are designed to be able to catch the midday and evening flights only.
Schedule TO CRADLE MOUNTAIN FROM LAUNCESTON AIRPORT
| Date | Depart Launceston Airport | Arrive Cradle Mountain Chateau | Notes |
| Sunday 1st Aug | 10.30 | 13.30 | |
| Sunday 1st Aug | 15.15 | 17.15 | Arrive just in time for MGSA Welcome Reception |
| Monday 2nd Aug | 14.15 | 17.15 | |
| Tuesday 3rd Aug | 10.40 | 13.40 | Arrive in time for MUT DET 1st Session |
Schedule FROM CRADLE MOUNTAIN TO LAUNCESTON AIRPORT
Mon-Fri flights to all destinations depart at 16.50, 17.45 & 18.00. This schedule allows ample time to catch any of these flights. There are flights that leave in the morning but you can't get from the moutain to the airport in time to catch them! (see above)
| Date | Depart Cradle Mountain Chateau | Arrive Launceston Airport | Notes |
| Tuesday 3rd Aug | 13.00 | 16.00 | This bus will arrive in time for the many evening flights |
| Wednesday 4th Aug minibus if required only |
10.00 | 13.00 | Cannot leave earlier for reasons above this bus will make it in time to catch midday flights most leave between 14.00 -15.00 |
| Friday 6th Aug | 12.30 | 15.30 | This bus will arrive in time for the many evening flights |
| Saturday 7th Aug | 10.00 | 13.00 | This bus will make it in time for midday flights |
Weather & Clothing
The dress code of the conference will be casual Winter resort wear. It is going to be VERY COLD in August; see averages below (possible snow) so we advise you pack a coat and other warm clothing, for example a fleece, ski jacket, gloves, hats, scarfs etc. The hotel is very warm inside so you should layer your clothing. Please bring an umbrella. You may like to bring something a little more special for the Gala Dinner.
Climate Averages Cradle Mountain
August: Max + 4.9 °C , Min - 0.5 °C . 9.00 AM mean temp = +2.2 °C
Rainfall Av. for August 301.7 mm, mean 14.2 days of rain, 90% humidity
Banking facilities
There is NO ATM anywhere at Cradle Mountain. Please make sure you obtain any cash you may need before you get there.