What to do nearby
Australia’s cultural and geographical scale is truly remarkable: an island nation with a coastline exceeding 25,000 kms in length and a population of 26 million people.
Australia is divided up into 8 states or territories (Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory).
Australia is big – in distance, the continent stretches about 4,000 kms from north to south and from east to west, making it the 6th largest nation after Russia, Canada, China, USA and Brazil. The majority of Australians live on the east coast, in particular in Sydney (6M people) and Melbourne (5M people).
Australia is famous for its diverse range in weather, landscapes, plants and animals. You may have heard about them in the past, but now is your chance to see and experience them first-hand. Below is a list of local and interstate attractions to visit either before or after the conference.
For a more comprehensive list please visit
The Australia Open
The Australian Open 2026 will be held the week after the symposium. The Australian Open is a tennis tournament held annually at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The tournament is the first of the four Grand Slam tennis events in the tennis calendar each year, preceding the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open.
Melbourne region
Yarra Valley Wineries - Find yourself in the award-winning vineyards, cellar doors and wineries of the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges. Wander the back roads, discover the secrets, share the stories and shake the hands that picked the grapes of the next glass of wine you will enjoy from this famous cool-climate wine region. This region is also unique for Healesville sanctuary, a zoo specialising in Australian native animals.
Phillip Island - Phillip Island lies just off Australia’s southern coast and is a popular day trip from Melbourne. World famous for its Penguin Parade, when little penguins come ashore in groups at dusk to the Nobbies outcrop which is the perfect site for viewing a large colony of Australian fur seals. The ‘Phillip Island Circuit’ is also a well-known track for motorcycle and car racing.
Great Ocean Road - The Great Ocean Road is an Australian National Heritage listed 240-kilometre stretch of road along the south-eastern coast of Australia and consists of some of the best scenery in the world.
Melbourne city – The capital of Victoria has a perfect blend of rich cultural history and new age trends. The city hosts several museums and comes to life with events and exhibitions. Explore its bustling laneways, trendy neighbourhoods and sophisticated foodie scene to get a taste of what Melbourne is all about.
Wilsons promontory - Be awed by Victoria's largest coastal wilderness area in Wilsons Promontory National Park. Affectionately known as 'The Prom', it is one of the state's best loved parks – and with good reason. This 50,000 hectare reserve is threaded with a labyrinth of walking tracks that showcase all manner of magical realms sheltering abundant wildlife.
Wilsons Promontory’s squeaky beach has been recently crowned as Australia’s best beach.
Northern Victoria region
Shepparton Art Museum - Museum with diverse works from ceramics to paintings, plus events and a shop for artist-made gifts.
Lower Goulburn National Park - The Lower Goulburn National Park is a national park located in the Goulburn Valley district of Victoria, Australia. The 9,310-hectare linear national park protects the lower Goulburn River from Shepparton to its river mouth near Echuca where it forms confluence with the Murray River.
Australian Botanic Gardens - The Australian Botanic Gardens Shepparton uses Australian native plants in themed gardens designed to represent the cultural, environmental, historical and agricultural characteristics of Greater Shepparton and the Goulburn Valley.
Shepparton Motor Museum - Not-for-profit museum showcasing vintage cars, bikes & trucks, plus driving memorabilia.
Kyabram Fauna Park - A haven for Australian wildlife with all profit going towards fighting wildlife extinction.
Tatura Irrigation and Wartime Camps Museum - Volunteer-run museum focused on local history and heritage, with a reference library and shop.
Whroo Historic Reserve - This fascinating bushland reserve features extensive remnants of Whroo's rich mining history, as well as multiple picnic areas and lots of informative signs.
Echuca Discovery Centre - The Port of Echuca is a living monument to the 1870’s when it was the third largest port in Australia, outside Sydney and Melbourne. Authentic paddle-steamers depart daily from the wharf and home of the TV series “All the Rivers Run”.