Join Rotarians from District 5050 and around the world at the Rotary International Convention from May 27 to 31, 2023.
 

The Convention is the perfect place to discover new opportunities for service and friendship.

Note: to enter Australia, you will need to apply for the ETA/visa on their App – details and the how to information can be found BY CLICKING THIS LINK

Here are some other important links:


CLICK HERE for the RI Convention website.

CLICK HERE for the Host Organizing Committee website


CLICK HERE for the Host Organizing Committee events

CLICK HERE To Register for the Convention

CLICK HERE to email District Governor-Elect, David Lukov for our District Get Together on Saturday, May 27 at 6:30 p.m. at the Railway Hotel - 20 Ferrars Street, South Melbourne.

CLICK HERE to register for the Beyond Borders Dinner - a gathering of Rotarians from Zones 28 and 32 (Canada, Washington State, North Eastern USA) on Sunday, May 28.

CLICK HERE FOR MAPS OF THE ABOVE LOCATIONS so that you know where you will be going and how long it will take to get there

Ian Riseley, Chair of the Rotary Trustees and Past RI President from Australia invites you to a fun day of golf, with funds going to the PolioPlus campaign.  CLICK HERE for golf details and registration

 
 
Hotel Recommendations
 
The hotel options continue to change as some sell out and as Rotary adds new hotels options. When checking for hotels, look under both the General Attendees section and the Participants section to find out the best of what’s available.
 
Book through Maritz Global Events:  https://convention.rotary.org/en/melbourne/accommodations.
 
 
Host Organizing Committee Information
  
 Below is information on transportation, followed by a copy of an email from the HOC
 
Getting to and from the Airport
Rotary does not provide transportation to or from the Melbourne Airport, or the next closest, Avalon Airport. There are a variety of ground transportation options including buses, taxis, and rideshare. One of the quickest ways to get from either airport and the city centre is Skybus. They offer express service between the airport and Southern Cross Station. Convention attendees can use the code ROTARY10 to get 10% off one-way or round-trip tickets. For more information, including a schedule, visit the Skybus website.
 
Getting to the Convention
Rotary provides transportation for convention attendees staying at official Rotary-contracted hotels.  All full convention registrants will get access to the public transportation system, Public Transport Victoria (PTV) from May 27 to 31, using their convention badge. This includes all trams, buses, and trains within Zone 1 + 2. We encourage you to download the PTV app or use the PTV journey planner to help you navigate between destinations.
 
Traveling Between MCEC and RLA
General sessions will be held at RLA. To travel between the two convention venues there are three options: walking, trams, or the inter-venue shuttle. Detailed information about each of these options will be available on the Transportation Guide and Venue Map accessible through the Rotary Event app. Information on how to download the app will be available closer to the event.
 
Mobility Assistance
Rotary will provide an accessible transportation service between the official Rotary-contracted hotels and the convention center for attendees who utilize scooters and wheelchairs. This year there will also be an accessible inter-venue service.
 
Mobility assistance equipment is not available to rent at the convention venues. Attendees will be responsible for securing their own devices. Click here for a list of scooter and wheelchair rental companies.
 
Attendees who have indicated they utilize a scooter or wheelchair on their convention registration or housing booking will receive a communication in mid-April with detailed information about our accessible transport. If you require this service and are not sure if you indicated the need, please click here to manage an existing registration or contact RI.Registration@rotary.org.

 
Message From our HOC Friends in Melbourne
Melbourne is an expert at big events, and our city is enthusiastically welcoming the Rotary International Convention, 27-31 May. We’re excited to meet you, and we’re creating all kinds of unique experiences that you won’t want to miss!

Golfers can enjoy playing 18 holes at one of Melbourne’s legendary sand belt courses on Friday, 26 May (before the convention begins), and help Rotary’s fight against polio at the same time.

On Saturday afternoon, discover the exhilaration that comes from attending a match of our own Aussie rules football, or as we call it, footy.

Then on Saturday night, experience a different kind of excitement with our welcome reception at the Melbourne Museum, showcasing Victoria’s finest food and beverages as well as insight into Australia’s history. Learn about Indigenous culture, the origin and evolution of our life in Victoria, and sporting treasures like the mighty racehorse Phar Lap.

For a very different food and beverage experience, enjoy a sample of our culinary diversity through the Streets of Melbourne events. On Monday and Tuesday nights at South Wharf, you can sample the best we have to offer — and you never know what other surprises we have planned for you!

Monday night also offers you a choice from an assortment of club-hosted hospitality events, each one unique.

Our final special event on Tuesday night will take you on an exclusive Rotary express train to Flemington, home of the renowned Melbourne Cup horse race, for a night like no other. This is your chance to wear your fanciest fashions, as if you were attending the race. You can dine on Victoria’s superior cuisine and wines and have your picture taken with a past winning racehorse and the mighty Melbourne Cup itself.

Melbourne has so much to offer — make sure you take this once-in-a lifetime opportunity!

Visit the host committee website to book these events.

Explore Melbourne and Australia
We’ve also organized a range of spectacular tours to help you explore Australia beyond the convention. Whether it’s a part-day walking tour of Melbourne, a tour to the monolith Uluru, in the ‘Red Centre’, or an exploration of the Great Barrier Reef and nearby rainforests, you’ll find something to meet everyone’s tastes. Explore the tours and book yours today.

Between your events and tours, taste some of the best coffee in the world!
Melbourne’s rich and diverse coffee culture dates back to the middle of the 20th century, when the first espresso machine arrived in the city. Since then, the industry has grown tremendously and made Melbourne the coffee capital of Australia.

Known globally for its coffee obsession and sophisticated cafe culture, Melbourne has more than 2,000 cafes and some of the most accomplished baristas in the world, including the winner of the 2022 World Barista Championship, Anthony Douglas from Axil Coffee Roasters.

Notable cafes that locals frequent include St. Ali, Market Lane Coffee, Sensory Lab, and Dukes. Choose the Caffeinate option in the online guide to Melbourne as a starting point to plan your daily caffeine needs. And if you have more time, consider attending a coffee roasting, tasting, blending, brewing, or filtering masterclass to learn from the experts themselves!

 
Pre & Post Convention Tourism
 
CLICK HERE for several Rotary organized and promoted tours and events in Australia and New Zealand
 
Past District Governor Sean Hogan invites you to join him and others on all or part of his personal tour.  Highlights include Sydney, Uluru (Ayer's Rock) and Adelaide before the Convention, followed by Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef afterwards. CLICK HERE to email Sean for more information.