Things Convergence Members Need To Know

The con site is next door to the Queen Victoria Market at the northern outskirts of the CBD.

By Train: Nearest station is Melbourne Central, which is three blocks south of the Cato Centre. If travelling by train from interstate, trams up Bourke Street, alight at Elizabeth Street then trams to the Market.

By Bus: Buses which travel along Lonsdale or Queen Streets. The nearest cross street is Elizabeth and Franklin Streets. The Interstate bus terminal is a short distance away in Franklin Street.

By Car: ample and inexpensive short term or day parking is available at the Queen Victoria Market. Longer term car parking is available at :

By Air: The Skyways airport shuttle terminates next door to the interstate bus terminal. Taxis from Tullamarine Airport to the hotel would cost in the vicinity of $30.00. There is a hotel shuttle bus which departs from outside the international terminal at Melbourne Airport (the one in the middle) however, drops at most of the larger hotels in the CBD and also some enroute (Essendon, Parkville, Carlton).

Qantas have been appointed Official Airline for ConVergence 2002, the 41st National Australian Science Fiction Convention.

A discount of up to *40% off the full economy airfare (excluding taxes) at the time of booking has been negotiated for this convention. These discounts are valid on Qantas domestic scheduled services subject to group class availability at time of booking. Should the *40% discount economy class fare not be available on a required flight the fare may be upgraded to the next available economy class conference fare, i.e. 30% and 10% discounts.

*Conference Airfares are not available on Qantaslink (Sunstate Airlines) to / from the following ports: Thursday Island, Whitsunday Connections (South Mole, Daydream, Shute Harbour, Hayman Island)

Please quote your Association Profile Number, which is 2952730 and destination and date of conference when making your reservation. Please note that the applicable discount is available for domestic travel within Australia only and is subject to payment and ticketing conditions.

Qantas are proud to be a part of Convergence 2002, and know you will enjoy flying with us. The Qantas Association Sales telephone number for Australian Delegates is: TOLL FREE 1 800 684 880 International members can contact their local Qantas office for the best available fare of the day.

Bookings will open 1st June 2001.

Also see The Qantas Web site - for information about flights

Hotel Y

The Hotel Y is the preferred hotel when booking for ConVergence members. The Hotel Y is the onsite hotel and forms part of the con centre. Self catering/alcohol is allowed, so room parties are not a problem.

Hotel Ibis offers 4-star accommodation. Short walk (or crawl) from the con site.

Four star and higher: Radisson on Flagstaff: ### William Street, Melbourne.

No weapons are to be brought to, worn or carried at any time during the convention (including water pistols, real or replica guns, swords or knives), unless approved as part of an official event. Only the convention organisors may approve such weapons and their participation in any event. Please see the supplementary set of rules for the Masquerade.

The use of illegal drugs is expressly forbidden within the convention site. Alcohol may not be brought into the convention site and may only be consumed within the confines of the convention site if purchased from official sources, ie bars and restaurants.

What you do in your own hotel room is your own business, although most accommodation providers would not approve of you bonging on.

As the convention has secured the entire Hotel Y for Convergence members, there will be few restrictions on room parties and such. However, guests will be liable for any malicious damage you may cause and the convention organisors will be extremely pissed off if you cause any trouble and reserve the right to eject you from the convention, the convention site and the onsite hotel if you do so.

A child is a person under 12 years of age, and while in attendance at the con, must be accompanied and supervised by a parent or guardian at all times.

ConVergence will not be providing a child minding service to con attendees. Parents and guardians are advised to make their own arrangements for child care services. For interstate or country visitors, you should check with your hotel regarding child care or baby-sitting services.

If you want to hold a room-party, it is your responsibility to do so. The Queen Victoria Market is next store to the convention site and the Hotel Y. A wonderous array of food is available from very early in the morning till 5pm-ish. It is open all day Friday, Saturday and Sunday. There is a bottle shop across the road from the Hotel Y and carries an adequate range of alchol. The closest supermarket is at Diamaru that also has a more upmarket bottleshop (cnr Elizabeth & Latrobe Streets) or Coles Express (cnr Elizabeth and Flinders Streets). Porchello’s Pizza is a short walk, cnr Peel Street and Victoria Parade). ConVergence will not be assigning staff to organise or liaise for room parties. Bear in mind the hotel rules. An e-group will be established on the ConVergence website for people to post notices or enquiries about parties or whatever.