Key Contacts
Otago Museum
ASPAC 2010 Hub
Lanyard/Name Tag
Transfer to Queenstown
Help
Survival Factor
Admission Charges at the Otago Museum
Emergency Services
Shopping and Convenience Services
Activities in Dunedin
Dining Out in Dunedin
Trade Booths
Behind the Scenes Tour
Temperature, Weather and Clothing
Language
Smoking
Currency
Electricity
Drinking Water
Internet

Key Contacts

Clare Wilson –ASPAC 2010 Conference Director
clare.wilson@otagomuseum.govt.nz
021 194 7473

Eleanor Ross – ASPAC 2010 Programme Coordinator
eleanor.ross@otagomuseum.govt.nz
021 194 7472

Rebecca McDowell – Tourism and Facilities Coordinator
rebecca.mcdowell@otagomuseum.govt.nz
021 194 7477

Juliet Pierce – Marketing Coordinator
juliet.pierce@otagomuseum.govt.nz

Otago Museum

419 Great King Street
P O Box 6202
Dunedin 9016
New Zealand
Ph +64 3 474 7474
Fax +64 3 477 5993

ASPAC 2010 Hub

The central Information point for the conference while you are in Dunedin will be the ASPAC 2010 Hub. This is where you will find:

• Registration and Information Desk
• Morning and Afternoon tea
• Lunch
• Computers to access the Internet (with printer)
• Wireless Internet access for your laptop
• Trade Booths

The ASPAC 2010 Hub can be accessed through the Tangata Whenua Gallery from Level One of the Atrium or through Discovery World, also on Level One of the Atrium.

Lanyard/Name Tag

We ask that you wear your ASPAC 2010 lanyard/nametag at all times during the conference. This will identify you to Museum staff members as ASPAC 2010 delegates. Your ASPAC 2010 lanyard allows you FREE ENTRY to:

• Discovery World (our Science Centre on Level 1) including:
  • Tropical Forest (our live butterfly experience)
  • Survival Factor (the current interactive science exhibition developed by the Otago Museum and Otago Polytechnic)
• Dinosaur Eggs and Babies (Our current special exhibition on Level 1)

Transfer to Queenstown

The conference does not return to Dunedin.

On Wednesday 24 March the conference moves to Queenstown. This includes a trip on the Taieri Gorge Railway from Dunedin, followed by a bus journey through to Queenstown where you will experience the amazing geology and landscapes of Central Otago. All transportation will be provided by the Otago Museum, and lunch will be supplied. Our excellent staff will become your tour guides on this adventure, ensuring you don’t miss any of the great highlights along the way.

 Inside your lanyard you will find luggage tags with your name on them. You need to attach these to your luggage before arriving at the Railway Station. At the Heritage Hotel (in Queenstown) these tags will be used to take the right bags to the right rooms. If you are staying somewhere other than the Heritage, your bags will be left aside for you to collect when the bus is unloaded at the Heritage Hotel.

Please check in at the Dunedin Railway Station for the Taieri Gorge Railway and hand over your luggage. Then take a seat in the identified ASPAC carriages. The train has a buffet car if you wish to purchase refreshments during the journey and will arrive at Pukerangi about 11.40am.

We will be met by buses for the remainder of the tour to Queenstown. Drinks and snacks will be available on the bus. As there will be no toilet on the bus, regular stops will be made at public facilities.

A picnic lunch will be held (weather dependent) at Ranfurly (approximately 1 hour from when the train finishes) where a special science show by our Discovery World Science Communicator Amadeo Enriquez will introduce and excite you to Central Otago Schist!

The journey through to Queenstown will also include a stop at a classic Central Otago Fruit Stall and some time to enjoy picturesque Arrowtown.

On arrival at the Heritage Hotel, you can leave your bag and check in at the special ASPAC 2010 Registration station. Your bags will be delivered to your room. Taxis will be available if your accommodation is elsewhere in Queenstown.

Help

For any help you may need, please see the Otago Museum staff at the Registration and Information desk in the ASPAC 2010 Hub. You will also find a first aid kit at this desk should you need it. Otago Museum staff are easily recognised in blue t-shirts and are here to help.

Survival Factor

In Discovery World you will find our brand new exhibition Survival Factor which has been created with the help of the Otago Polytechnic, right here in Dunedin. This highly interactive exhibition opens your eyes to the incredible human body. You are free to explore Survival Factor at any time between Museum opening hours of 10am and 5pm, and for extra information about buying or hiring the exhibition, please see our Trade Booth in the ASPAC Hub. To enter Survival Factor free of charge, you will need to be wearing your ASPAC 2010 name tag.

Admission Charges at the Otago Museum

Most of the exhibitions within the Otago Museum are free to the public. This excludes Discovery World, including the Tropical Forest which involves a small admission charge to visitors, as does our current special exhibition Dinosaur Eggs and Babies in the Special Exhibition Gallery on Level One.

However, as ASPAC delegates, you are entitled to explore all of the Museum free of charge. You simply need to clearly show the Communicator at the Discovery World entry desk your lanyard and name tag to be able to enter the following:

• Discovery World (our Science Centre on Level 1) including:
  • Tropical Forest (our live butterfly experience)
  • Survival Factor (the current interactive science exhibition developed by the Otago Museum and Otago Polytechnic)
• Dinosaur Eggs and Babies (Our current special exhibition on Level 1)

Emergency Services

The emergency telephone number in New Zealand is 111. It is a free phone call. If you have an emergency and need a quick response from the Police, the Fire Service, or an Ambulance, dial 111.

For health emergencies dial 111. For smaller health concerns or doctor’s appointments please see the Urgent Doctor on Hanover Street, just one block south of the hospital. Any member of your ASPAC 2010 team will be happy to help you.

Shopping and Convenience Services

A pharmacy is located within close distance of the Otago Museum in Albany Street. A supermarket is also nearby – it is about 5 minutes walk away between Cumberland Street and Great King Street - three blocks south of Otago Museum. Please ask any ASPAC 2010 team member to direct you.

You will find most convenience items at the Campus Shop within the University of Otago ‘Link’ Building. This building is located directly across the street at the traffic lights to the left of the entry to the Otago Museum. Here you will find food, drinks, basic toiletries and phone cards. All other items can be purchased from the supermarket.

The main shopping area in Dunedin is on George Street. This includes a number of malls and shops and is approximately 10 minutes walk from the Otago Museum.

Should you need any postal services while you are in Dunedin, directly across the street to the right of the main entrance of the Otago Museum is a red NZ Post outlet shop.

Activities in Dunedin

As part of your registration pack you will find a ‘Dunedin A to Z Visitor Guide’. This guide details attractions and activities to do in the Dunedin area.

Dining Out in Dunedin

The Dunedin A to Z Visitor Guide in your registration pack also lists restaurants, cafes and bars in the city. Many of these can be found in the Octagon on George Street. This is an approximate 15 minute walk from the Otago Museum.

Trade Booths

In the ASPAC 2010 Hub are a number of Trade Booths from different centres and Organisations.

Behind the Scenes Tour

The Behind the Scenes tour of the Otago Museum (Tuesday 23 March, 6pm) will include both the Natural Science and Humanities collections. The tours will start from the Museum Cafe on the Ground Level. Please gather at the Museum Cafe by 6pm. Tour times will be staggered to avoid congestion, but refreshments will be available will you wait from 5.30pm.

Temperature, Weather and Clothing

March is the early Autumn in New Zealand. The average temperature is 16°C in Dunedin and 14°C in Queenstown. The weather in New Zealand can change quickly – sometimes four seasons in one day! You should be prepared for sudden changes in weather and temperature. As the Queenstown environment is very beautiful you will be encouraged to get out and about. You may wish to bring comfortable walking shoes.

You should bring a jacket and sweater with you to New Zealand, as the weather may turn cold. You can expect some rain, so also include a light rainproof jacket or coat. You should also include a sunhat and sunscreen, as the New Zealand sun can be particularly harmful and sunburn can happen quickly.

For the Welcome Dinner on Monday 21 March, tidy dress is encouraged. For preconference tours and post conference tours, we suggest a wind resistant/showerproof jacket and comfortable footwear.

Language

English is the common and everyday language of New Zealand. New Zealand is a multi-cultural society and you may hear many other languages spoken, including Maori, an official language of New Zealand. All signage and directions will be in English.

Smoking

To protect people from the health effects of second-hand smoke, smoking is not allowed inside buildings in New Zealand (except in private homes). Smoking is prohibited in bars and restaurants. If you are a smoker, you will need to smoke outside.

Currency

New Zealand's unit of currency is the New Zealand dollar (NZ$).

Foreign currency can easily be exchanged at banks, some hotels and Bureau de Change kiosks, which are found at international airports and most city centres.

All major credit cards (Mastercard, VISA and American Express) can be used in New Zealand. Travellers Cheques are accepted at hotels, banks and some stores.

Electricity

Electricity is supplied throughout New Zealand at 230/240 volts, 50 hertz. Most hotels and motels provide 110 volt ac sockets (rated at 20 watts) for electric razors only.

Drinking Water

New Zealand has excellent water supplies. All tap water is fresh and safe to drink. We recommend refilling water bottles from the tap as this is the most environmentally friendly and economical option.

Internet

Computers for internet use are available in the ASPAC 2010 Hub, in the computer lab in Discovery World and in the Search Centre. Wireless internet access is available for delegates who wish to bring their personal laptops. Internet access at the Heritage Hotel in Queenstown is Broadband in the guest rooms, which is additional to your room charge and at your own expense. There is no internet access in the conference room, however there is a free Internet station in the Hotel Reception.