MELBOURNE PEEPS! I need to travel to the RCH, could use some local input.

Ok, So as the title suggests, at the end of May I will be bringing my 10yr old DS down from Cairns (tropical warm days still!) to the Royal Children Hospital to attend a cluster of appointments spread over 3 days. I want to avoid hiring a car if possible & staying as close as possible to the RHC.

Anyone have any recommendations on accommodation? Will I manage with Public transport alone? On the first day the flights I am looking at having me landing at 2, then I have an appointment to attend at 4, is a 2 hour window plenty of time to get from the airport, dump stuff at accommodation & then get to the appointment? Or am I crazy?

End of May, is it likely to be wet? Cold? etc?

Catch a skybus or similar to your accommodation. I'd try and get accommodation close to the hospital. Public transport here is great. It probably will be cold and quite possibly wet. Check out stayz, wotif and last minute. I'd even call the hospital and see what accom they recommend to family who need it. They might know something awesome.

I am not sure a 2 he window is possible unless you have accom close to hossy. Check out the metlink website to plan public transport from where you decide. You might be worth going straight to RCH and then public transport to accom after. Keep in mind your appt could be up to 2 hrs late depending on the staff that day.

Yep, it will be wet and cold. So get a good umbrella, shoes for wet weather and warm clothes haha. Getting to the RCH is super easy from just outside flinders st. If you have a pram, people are happy to help lift it up and down the steps I've found. If you can afford accom in the city or near the hospital I'd go for that. If you get accommodation in the city you'll be able to go from hotel to hospital in that time frame.

ETA LOLOLOL!! Doubt your TEN year old DS needs a pram haha, I missed the 0 :p

The appointments are at the psychiatric unit, I would like to think they wouldn't keep a child with anxiety problems waiting for 2 hours! lol that thought scares me! I was looking at a place up the road from the RCH but I don't know if its a walkable distance or not. I will need to suss that out.

So looking at the Map, there is a Motor in (Park Square) on the other side of the Royal Park from the hospital, but on the same side of the road. Is Flemington Rd like a highway or would I be able to walk to the hospital from there?

I agree with Rouge, I'd contact the hospital first to see if they can recommend accommodation. There may be discounted rates etc for places affiliated with the hospital :)

It's a big road but you can absolutely walk along the footpaths, or catch a tram if it's pelting down.

Flemington Rd is just a big road. You will definitely be able to walk from there - it should take you all of 5-10 minutes.

Skybus do the hotel drop off (as Rouge said). If your hotel isn't in the drop off list, then the skybus will drop you off at Spencer Street (Southern Cross) station.

Honestly with a tired little man (after a flight) & luggage, I'd get a cab from the station to your hotel. You're looking at about $20 for the cab from the skybus stop to near the RCH.

Trams that go past the RCH are the 55, 57 and 59.

Look around Parkville and North Melbourne for accomodation. At a pinch you could stay on the border of Brunswick/Princess Hill (along the tram # 19 line, as the tram goes past the main hospital).

The hospital should be able to give you a list of suitable accomodation nearby.

You will need to get a myki for you both when you arrive so that you can travel on public transport. There is a 7-11 at Spencer Street that sells them (just near the skybus stop).

Is it just you and DS going Efjay? Are you familiar with Melbourne at all? I'd be happy to meet you on the first day and accompany you so you know where to go :)

Yep, Just me & Evan. No way could we afford all 7 of us to go down. Nope have not been to Victoria since I was in yr 10 on school camp!

DH thinks I should take at least 1 day to do something with Evan while we are there. Any ideas?

What are his interests?

Science, electronics that sort of thing

Scienceworks!

Science works is great - also the Melbourne Museum which is closer to where you are staying

The Arden in Arden St is pretty good and walking distance to RCH.

i would think only having two hour window from touch down to appt would be pushing it - if there are any delays at all, you'd potentially miss your appt or end up more stressed (and make E more anxious). i would be taking an earlier flight and trying to take the pressure off yourselves as much as you can at this end. it might mean things being a bit more chaotic that morning at home but getting here, getting settled - i would think that is more important. and it's common for flights to be late kwim? given you don't know Melbourne much, it would be easier to have extra time and be early...