Plan Your Visit

At a glance

• Dates: December 6–7, 2026 (Sunday–Monday)
• Venue: SMC Conference & Function Centre (Sydney Masonic Centre)
• Address: 66 Goulburn Street, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
• Map: Open in Google Maps
• Co-location: ML4H 2026 is held in Sydney immediately before NeurIPS 2026.
• Registration: details will be announced on the Attend page.

Venue

ML4H 2026 takes place at the SMC Conference & Function Centre, a dedicated conference venue in the heart of the Sydney CBD. The venue is surrounded by hotels, restaurants, and shopping, and many of Sydney’s best-known sights — the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Darling Harbour, Sydney Tower Eye, and the Queen Victoria Building — are within walking distance or a short ride away.

Getting there

From Sydney Airport (SYD). The airport is about 9 km from the venue. Trains run directly from both the International and Domestic terminals to the city; alight at Museum Station, about a five-minute walk from SMC (total journey roughly 20 minutes). Taxis and rideshare are available at all terminals; allow 20–40 minutes to the CBD depending on traffic.

By public transport. SMC is well connected: Museum Station (train) is around five minutes’ walk, Gadigal Station (metro) under ten, Central Station about ten, and the Chinatown light rail stop a short walk away. There’s no need to buy a ticket in advance — tap on and off with a contactless credit or debit card, including via Apple Pay or Google Pay, or with an Opal card, available from convenience stores and supermarkets across the city. Plan trips and check fares at transportnsw.info.

Route maps. Step-by-step directions to SMC from key locations:

• From ICC Sydney
• From the University of Sydney (USYD)
• From UNSW Sydney

Parking. Several public car parks operate near the venue on Goulburn Street, including Secure Parking – Goulburn Street and Wilson Parking – 59 Goulburn Street, though public transport is recommended for CBD travel.

Travel advisory: please allow extra time for possible flight delays and airport queues, and book flights early — December is peak travel season in Australia.

Accessibility

The venue’s main entrance is on the 1st floor. Step-free access is available via the Ground Floor entrance. If you have accessibility, mobility, or dietary requirements, or need any other assistance to participate fully, please email us in advance at ml4h@ahli.cc and we will work with you and the venue to make arrangements.

Accommodation

The venue sits in the middle of the CBD, with a wide range of hotels within walking distance. With NeurIPS taking place in Sydney the same week, demand for rooms will be exceptionally high — we strongly recommend booking as early as possible.

Visa information

Whether you need a visa to enter Australia depends on your nationality and country of residence. Check your requirements with the Australian Government’s visa finder:

1. Choose Visit and tourism as your reason for coming to Australia.
2. For the first question, select “Attending a conference or expo”.
3. For the second question, select your passport country.
4. Optionally, for the third question, select a stay of “less than 3 months”.

For most attendees, the result will be one of three visitor pathways: the eVisitor (subclass 651), the Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601), or the Visitor visa (subclass 600). Processing times vary and can be lengthy, so we recommend applying as soon as your travel is confirmed.

Letter of invitation. We are happy to provide a letter of invitation to support your visa application. Email ml4h@ahli.cc with:

• Your full legal name, as written in your passport
• Date of birth (dd/mm/yyyy)
• Your affiliation and position
• Your postal address and telephone number
• Your role at ML4H (author, presenter, mentor, reviewer, or general attendee), including your paper title if you are an author or presenter

Letters are processed in the order received and sent as a signed PDF by email. Please request yours as early as possible.

Good to know

• Time zone: Sydney is on AEDT (UTC+11) in December.
• Weather: early summer — expect roughly 18–26 °C. UV levels are very high; bring sunscreen and a hat for time outdoors.
• Money: the currency is the Australian dollar (AUD). Contactless card payment is accepted almost everywhere, and tipping is not expected.
• Power: Australia uses Type I plugs at 230 V / 50 Hz — bring an adapter.
• Connectivity: prepaid SIMs and eSIMs are widely available at the airport and in the city.
• Water: tap water is safe to drink.
• Emergencies: dial 000 for police, fire, or ambulance.

Exploring Sydney

December is early summer in Sydney — long days, warm weather, and the city at its liveliest. If you can stay a little longer, highlights include the Sydney Opera House, the Harbour Bridge Climb, Darling Harbour, Taronga Zoo, the Sydney Tower Eye, and, further afield, the Blue Mountains. For more ideas, see the official visitor site sydney.com.

Questions about your visit? Email us at ml4h@ahli.cc.