Pre-Arrival Information

There are many transport options for getting to and from Cairns airport to suit your needs and budget. Visit this page of the Cairns airport website for more information.

The airport is approximately 7 kilometres to the Cairns Convention Centre.

Check out the survival guide for information on how to get around Cairns once there.

Cairns Convention Centre
Cnr Wharf & Sheridan Streets
Cairns QLD 4870
W: www.cairnsconvention.com.au

Refer to this page for an interactive map that will assist with directions to the Centre.

The Registration Desk will be located on the Ground Level of the Convention Centre, accessible via the entry on Wharf Street. It will be open the following hours to enable you to collect your name badge which must be worn at all times to gain access to the program and exhibition:

Arrival Tea and Coffee
Arrival tea and coffee will not be available onsite. The Convention Centre does not have a cafe onsite so we recommend you collect your beverage of choice on your way to the Centre each morning.

Cloak Room
A cloak room will not be available onsite however, on Friday, there will be a sectioned off area in the Ground Level foyer for you to leave items at your own risk (this will not be monitored by Convention Centre or VoM 2024 Meeting staff). We recommend you leave any luggage at your hotel concierge.

The exhibition will be held in Auditorium D which is accessible via Door 6 on the Ground Level of the Centre. All daily catering from Tuesday-Friday will be served in the exhibition, allowing you time to enjoy refreshments whilst meeting with our valued exhibitors. The posters will also be held in this space, including the Wednesday evening poster session after sessions have concluded. The exhibition will be open during the following hours:

Please see the sponsors and exhibitors pages of the website for more information on our valued partners.

Next week you will receive a further email from us detailing how to access the technology which will assist with your Meeting experience, including:

• A QR code to enable you to print your Meeting name badge on arrival
• Access to the Meeting app which provides the latest information about the Meeting program, social events, sponsors and exhibitors and enables you to connect with colleagues

We encourage all delegates to download and login to the Meeting app prior to arrival, as this will be the sole source of information on the Meeting as no print materials will be provided onsite. You will also be able to view the presentation abstracts, and e-posters, within the Meeting app.

The Meeting opening session will begin at 1500hrs sharp on Monday 15 May in Auditorium C, accessible via Doors 14 and 15 on the Mezzanine Level of the Convention Centre. We encourage you to register early to ensure you are seated and ready for the formalities to begin. Please see the Meeting website for the full program.

The program will also feature:

• Pre-Meeting workshop: Masterclass in Communication (advance registration was required)
• Poster sessions from Tuesday-Thursday
• Two concurrent ECR sessions on Tuesday afternoon
• The ISVM General Assembly on Wednesday
• A live recording of the podcast 'This Week in Virology' on Wednesday

Poster Sessions
Poster sessions will be held in the Exhibition on Tuesday and Thursday over the extended lunch breaks, and on Wednesday evening after sessions have concluded (refer to the program grid for detailed timings). A list of the posters on display each day can be found within the program.

Be sure to check your registration pre-arrival letter to confirm if you have booked for these not-to-be missed events. Advance bookings are necessary so please contact us if you would like to book for you or your guests. In addition, if you can no longer attend an event you have registered for, please let us know by email immediately.

You will find further details about the social program on the website.

Every effort will be made to accommodate all special dietary requirements and/or other needs, however, advance notification is required. Please contact us by email if you did not provide this information at the time of registering. If you have provided this to the Meeting Office, this will be outlined in your registration pre-arrival email.

The dress code for the Congress is smart casual. The weather in Cairns in July ranges from an average low of 17 degrees Celsius to an average high of 26 degrees Celsius.

To assist with networking, a copy of the delegate list (excluding privacy requests) will be available in the Meeting app.

For those travelling with a young family, we have a family friendly room available for you to watch a live stream of the sessions in the main session room throughout the Meeting. This will be located in Meeting Room 8 on the Mezzanine Level of the Convention Centre and will be open from the start of the first session to the end of the last session each day.

A parents room will be available in the Main Foyer of the Cairns Convention Centre. The parents room includes a change table, nappy bins and lounges.

From the ECR committee to you, we present the VoM 2024 Meeting survival guide! This is your go-to guide for transport, places to visit, and helpful tips and tricks for blending in with the Aussies! We’ve included some “Dos and Don’ts” to help you make the most of your time in Cairns. 

Just arrived from the airport or looking to explore? See what transport options will help you get around. 

Food and drink always brings us closer together so we’ve also provided some pubs, bars and restaurants which will be perfect for solidifying new networks on those post-conference nights where no one has any plans. 

With a bunch of information to help get you started in Cairns, we hope this guide helps you find your feet during the Meeting. Click here to access the survival guide.

Keep your eyes peeled for photo of the day prompts! The best photos will be displayed around the Meeting. We encourage you to be as creative as possible and have provided a list of places around Cairns as inspiration. See the ‘Places to go and things to see’ section in the survival guide for recommendations.

Full details on how to participate in the Photo of the Day competition will be released to registered delegates prior to the Meeting. 

Share your thoughts with us on social media using #VoM2024. Follow @VoM_2024 on Twitter/X..

Arriving in Cairns early or staying on after the Meeting and looking for things to do? Visit this dedicated tours page setup by Destination Cairns Marketing to browse and book a range of tours and activities hand-picked for Meeting delegates.