WTSFest Melbourne City Guide

Author: WTS Team

Last updated: 26/08/2025

The Women in Tech SEO Festival is coming to Australia on November 27th, 2025!

A full day conference - 10 brilliant talks by 10 brilliant speakers

Don't have a ticket? You can grab one right here.

WTSFest Melbourne speaker line-up

With many WTSFest attendees visiting Melbourne from all around the world to join us for our conference, we wanted to put together a guide to help you make the most out of your time with us.

Our guide is focused on the surrounding area where we'll be hosting our conference, with local recommendations on accommodation, attractions, restaurants, cafes, and more.

Without further ado, presenting our WTSFest Melbourne City Guide!

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Melbourne is Australia’s cultural capital, where the Yarra River winds through a city full of hidden laneways, amazing coffee, and a mix of old and new.

Our venue, Collins Square Event Centre (Level 5, Tower 2, 727 Collins Street), is right in the heart of the Docklands and CBD.

The Docklands blends Melbourne’s modern skyline with a buzzing city centre. Around the venue, you’ll find rooftop bars, street art–filled laneways, and plenty of spots to grab a flat white or explore the local food scene.

WTSFest Melbourne kicks off on Thursday 27th November 2025, with a full day of talks across four themes: Analyse, Advance, Innovate, and Empower.

We’ll wrap things up with a post conference networking event to celebrate our first ever WTSFest in Australia!

We know Melbourne is the perfect backdrop for our first conference in Australia - creative, vibrant, and full of community energy.

Our venue

Location: The Event Centre, Collins Square, Level 5, Tower 2, 727 Collins Street Melbourne VIC 3008

The venue is right in the Docklands precinct, just a short walk from Southern Cross Station—Melbourne’s main transport hub.

Getting there & around

If you’re arriving at Southern Cross Station, it’s only a 5-minute walk to Collins Square. The station connects to metro trains, regional V/Line services, SkyBus from the airport, and multiple tram routes.

From Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine), the easiest option is the SkyBus to Southern Cross Station (about 30 minutes), then walk straight to the venue. A taxi or Uber will take around 25–30 minutes depending on traffic.

Melbourne’s trams are free within the CBD (including Collins Street), making it super easy to get around once you’re in the city.

Accommodation

A list of recommended hotels near the venue.

Travelodge Hotel Melbourne Docklands- 6 min walk from the venue
Batman's Hill On Collins- 7 mins walk from venue
Best Western Melbourne City Hotel - 8 mins walk from venue

Attractions

Below are some recommendations of attractions and activities near our venue:

Royal Botanic Gardens
Free entry, open daily. A short tram ride or 25-minute walk from Collins Square, the gardens are one of Melbourne’s most beautiful green spaces with walking paths, lakes, and sweeping views back to the city.

Hosier Lane Street Art
Just a 15-minute walk from the venue, this laneway is Melbourne’s most famous street art spot—perfect for wandering and taking photos of ever-changing murals and graffiti.

Comedy Republic
A comedy club in the CBD showcasing local and touring comedians. A fun night option, about a 20-minute walk or short tram ride away.

Bartronica Arcade Bar
A retro gaming bar with pinball and classic consoles, just 15 minutes’ walk from the venue. A must for anyone who loves arcade vibes.

Food & Drink

Your ticket to WTSFest includes lots of catering throughout the day, with a light breakfast, hot lunch, refreshments, and snacks in our breaks. But if you plan on spending a longer time in Melbourne, here are a few recommendations near our venue.

Food

Shortstop Donuts ($5–10) – Famous for inventive donuts and coffee, a quick 10-minute walk from the venue.
Il Mercato Centrale ($10–20) – An indoor food market with lots of casual dining options, only a 10-minute walk.

$$$

Gimlet ($60+) – Elegant European dining in the CBD, about 15 minutes’ walk.
Half Acre ($60+) – Modern Australian food with Middle Eastern twists, a 10-minute drive from the venue.
Bottega ($60+) – Classic Italian with a Melbourne twist, about 15 minutes’ walk.

Drink

Some bars and coffee shops near the venue-

Manchester Press – Known for its bagels and specialty coffee, located in a quirky laneway about 15 minutes’ walk from Collins Square.
Operator 25 – A stylish café set in a heritage-listed building, serving specialty coffee and creative brunch dishes. About 10 minutes’ walk.
Naked for Satan – Rooftop bar in Fitzroy with amazing city views, about 15 minutes by tram.
Caretaker’s Cottage – Ranked among the world’s best bars, small and atmospheric, 10 minutes’ walk from the CBD.
HER Rooftop – Stylish rooftop bar with views over the city, about 15 minutes’ walk.

Safety

Melbourne is widely regarded as one of the world’s safest, most liveable cities, with a welcoming atmosphere.

Like any city, it’s good to stay alert but not alarmed. Pickpocketing can happen in crowded spots like tourist landmarks or busy trams, so keep valuables close and tucked away.
Be aware of your surroundings and stay alert, especially when exploring unfamiliar areas late at night.
If you plan to enjoy the nightlife, be cautious and use reputable transportation options to return to your accommodation.
Public transport in Melbourne is well connected, frequent and safe - however you are also able to take Ubers around the city, also widely used and considered safe

In an emergency, dial Triple Zero (000) for police, fire, or ambulance services.

Overall, Melbourne is a safe and easy city to get around - just use the same common-sense precautions you would in any major city.

A HUGE THANK YOU to our WTSer locals who provided recommendations for our guide!