Location
THE 2025 ESA Seminar will be held at rydges melbourne
Welcome to A New Rydges, Melbourne
Welcome to a refreshingly local and transformed Rydges Melbourne, nestled in the vibrant heart of the city’s theatre district. Immerse yourself in the pulse of Melbourne’s culture, with Chinatown at your doorstep, exclusive Collins Street boutiques, major sporting precincts, Emporium, Melbourne Central and the Bourke Street Mall all moments away.
Rydges Melbourne, winner of “Best Meeting and Events Space 2024” is home to one of the city’s largest conference and event facilities. Discover eleven newly designed meeting rooms across two levels, with the grand Centre Stage featuring awe-inspiring seven-meter-high ceilings and a feature 4x7m HD LED screen. Step up to level two and be captivated by our new Rooftop Terrace and Terrace Rooms, boasting sweeping panoramic views of iconic landmarks like Her Majesty’s Theatre and Chinatown.
Parents’ room
ESA Seminar 2025 prides itself on being a family-friendly conference. To accommodate parents with small children attending the meeting, the venue has set aside a parents’ room. The sessions will not be displayed in this room, but parents will be able to watch them from their own personal device via the livestream platform.
Getting there
Taxi & rideshare
A taxi is approximately $70 and a 30 min drive. You can easily book a taxi or rideshare directly from the airport. Follow the signs to the designated taxi/rideshare pickup zones at the terminal.
City Shuttle Bus
Shuttle service is approximately $22 and a 1 hour drive and can be booked through SkyBus. Upon arrival at Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine), head to the SkyBus terminal located just outside Terminals 1, 3, and 4. The SkyBus will drop you off at Southern Cross Station (Spencer Street).
Taxis and rideshares are readily available at the Southern Cross Station. It will be a short 5-10 minute drive (around 2 km) to Rydges Melbourne. The fare should be around AUD$10-$20, depending on traffic.
Tram: From Spencer St/Collins St tram stop (a 2-minute walk from Southern Cross), take Tram 11, 12, 48, or 109 (towards Collins St) and get off at the Exhibition St stop. Rydges Melbourne is a short walk from here.
Train: Take a City Loop train from Southern Cross Station to Parliament Station (1 stop). Rydges Melbourne is about a 5-minute walk from Parliament Station.
TRAIN & TRAM
Train
Take any train to Parliament Station (City Loop). Parliament Station is about a 5-minute walk from Rydges Melbourne.
After exiting the station, head south on Spring St, turn right onto Little Bourke St, and then left onto Exhibition St.
Tram
Take any tram on Route 86 or Route 96 and get off at Exhibition St/Lonsdale St stop. Rydges Melbourne is a short 3-minute walk from this stop.
DRIVE
From Melbourne Airport:
Route: Take Tullamarine Freeway (M2) heading toward CityLink and continue to the CBD, then take the exit toward King St. Follow La Trobe St and Exhibition St.
On-Site Parking: Rydges guests can enjoy on-site parking for $60 per day. Simply take a ticket to enter the car park. When you’re ready to hit the road, pre-pay for your parking at reception to receive an exit ticket to use on your way out. To exit the car park, scan your exit voucher to open the boom gate.
Rydges Melbourne car park is open daily from 6 am till midnight. Exit after this time is still available for in-house guests.
Please note parking at Rydges Melbourne is limited and is subject to availability.
Off-Site Parking: There are a number of alternative options close by.
Paramount Carpark (120m | 2-min walk)
Secure Parking - 59 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne Car Park (240m | 3-min walk)
Secure Parking - Southern Cross, Melbourne Car Park (180m | 3-min wak)
Other Locations:
If coming from within Melbourne, you can reach Rydges by taking major city roads like Hoddle St, La Trobe St, or Flinders St, depending on your starting point.