Travel & Accommodation 

Venue location and accommodation 

Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre (GCCEC) is located in Broadbeach, on Queensland’s Gold Coast. 

Gold Coast airport is 30 minute drive, and Brisbane airport is 70 minute drive, from GCCEC. 

There are a range of accommodation options in walking distance to GCCEC, or conveniently located near the G:link – the Gold Coast’s light trail transport. 

We have been able to secure some special rates for SPLASH! 2024. See the SPLASH! Trade Expo website for details. 

We recommend booking accommodation early, as the 2024 Lifesaving World Championships will also be happening in Broadbeach, and demand on accommodation will be high. 

If you are traveling to SPLASH! from overseas, ensure you have secured a valid visa before you travel. 

Australian Travel Visa 

The Australian Government Department of Home Affairs website contains information regarding how to obtain a suitable visa, including a quick questionnaire to point you in the right direction. 

To assist our international visitors, 2024 SPLASH! Trade Expo is registered with the International Event Coordinator Network of the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs. This means that the event details and dates are now on record with the Australian Government, and should help speed up the process of visa approval for suitable applicants. Please note that IECN registration does not guarantee a visa grant. Visa applicants must demonstrate that they meet all the legislative requirements for an Australian visa. 

IECN has provided the following information: 

These are the visa options most likely to apply to 2024 SPLASH! Trade Expo exhibitors and attendees. 

1. Participants, attendees and speakers that will not be working, performing or otherwise be paid to contribute at the event may be eligible to apply for the following visa options: 
• Visitor (subclass 600) Business stream visa 
• Electronic Travel Authority – ETA (subclass 601) 
• eVisitor (subclass 651) Business stream visa
  
  Eligibility for an eVisitor visa and ETA will be determined by the country of passport that the applicant holds.
  
  Visitor (subclass 600) Business visa applicants should include as much information as possible to support their visa application. In addition, visa applicants should include evidence of any international travel outside of their own country (for example, copies of visas and passport pages containing entry and departure stamps) and/or evidence of attendance at similar events of this type. 
  
  
2. A speaker, presenter, exhibitor, or other contributor that will be working, or otherwise be paid to contribute at the event may be eligible to apply for one of the following visa options: 
• Temporary Activity (subclass 408) Invited participant visa (where there is an inviting Australian organisation). A letter of support from an Australian organisation is a legislative requirement for the Temporary Activity (subclass 408) Invited participant visa. 
• Temporary Work (subclass 400) Short Stay Specialist visa (where there is no inviting Australian organisation).
  
  NB: Exhibitors working at an event which targets a specific industry, and which does not involve selling goods or services directly to the public, may also be eligible for the Visitor visa options provided above.
  
  NB: These are the visa options available presently but the Department reserves the right to change regulations.