Location & transport
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.
Coach Transfers from Launceston Airport
Scheduled group transportation from and to Launceston airport will be arranged to suit arrivals and departures for both the MGSA and the Mutation Detection meetings.
People travelling outside the timetable will need to make their own arrangments so please don't book your flight until you check the schedule below.
Bus Schedule
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! (if you are going to both meetings you only need pay and do this once).
> Transfer Booking Form
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. 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.
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 | 14.15 | 17.15 | Arrive 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 16.40, 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!
| 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. If leave later will miss all the late flights out! |
| 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 arrive in time for the 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 etc. The hotel is very warm inside so you should layer your clothing. Please bring an umbrella.
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.