Getting to the Centre

Getting to your appointment

There are several ways to get to your appointment at Wellington Hospital, including buses, taxis and free shuttles. Find out more about getting to Wellington Hospital

Car parking for Cancer patients

Parking is available at the hospital. The Cancer society also generously allows patients to park outside the Cancer Society (52 Riddiford Street, Newtown). All you need to do is present your appointment schedule at the reception and they will give you a chit to put on your windscreen.

Countdown Supermarket

You can use spaces availabe on the second level of the Countdown supermarket. These are marked in blue.

National Travel Assistance Scheme

You may also be eligible for the National Travel Assistance scheme.

Capital and Coast District Health Board works with the Ministry of Health to provide national travel assistance to patients.

You are eligible to receive help with your travel costs if you meet one of the following criteria:
You visit a specialist at least 22 times within 2 months
You visit a specialist at least 6 times within 6 months and travel more than 50km one way
You hold a Community Services card and travels more than 80km one way.
You travel more than 350km one way.

If you qualify, you are automatically eligible to claim for mileage and public transport costs. Patients travelling long distance will qualify for flights, and if they're travelling more than 100km will qualify for an accommodation supplement ($100 per night in a motel, $25 per night with family/friends). Patients with mobility issues may qualify for taxi travel.

National Travel Assistance Scheme Registration form

Ministry of Health Guide to Eligibilty

If you need further information, please speak to the reception staff at the Blood and Cancer Centre.

Accommodation

If you’re traveling further than 100km each way to attend an appointment, you may be entitled to an accommodation supplement through the National Travel Assistance Scheme (jumplink to previous information).

Margaret Stewart House

If you're from out of town, you can stay at Margaret Stewart House while having cancer treatment at the Wellington Blood and Cancer Centre.

You’ll need to ask your local hospital or the Wellington Blood and Cancer Centre for a letter saying you’re able to use this service (an accommodation referral letter). Phone the Wellington Blood and Cancer Centre on 04 385 5999 ext. 5303. If you need help with this process, please talk to the Wellington Blood and Cancer reception staff.

Motels

If Margaret Stewart house is full, you may be asked to stay in a local motel. These are not fully funded, however, you will be given $100 per night towards the cost of the motel. Please talk to our reception staff if this is going to be difficult for you.

Local motels you can stay at include:

Southgate Motor Inn 70-72 Riddiford St, Newtown

Ascot Motor Lodge 46 Riddiford St, Newtown
Sojourn Riddiford, 22-26 Riddiford Street, Newtown
Sojourn Ghuznee, 75 Ghuznee Street, Wellington City - Information sheet

During your stay

There are refreshments provided in the Radiation Treatment main waiting room. Please ask our reception staff if you need help.

There are also two coffee shops in the hospital:

- Mojo, on Level 3 of the Clinical Services Block, by the purple lifts View map

- Wishbone on Level 2 in the atrium in the Main Hospital building. View map

Local amenities

Pharmacies

There are several local pharmacies:

Inside Countdown Supermarket
Ashleigh Court Pharmacy (100 Riddiford Street )
Castle Chemist (139 Riddiford Street)
Unichem (near New World Supermarket)

Supermarkets

There are two supermarkets in Newtown

Countdown Supermarket (opposite the hospital)
New World (on the main street in Newtown)

Out of Hours Doctors Surgery

If you are from out of town and need to see a GP for any reason, you can visit the Wellington Accident and Urgent Medical Centre at 17 Adelaide Rd, Newtown. They are open everyday from 8:00 am - 11:00 pm. You don’t need an appointment.

What to do while you are staying in Wellington

You may like to explore Wellington while you are here.

Maps of Wellington CBD are available from our reception and you can find out more about what’s happening in Wellington on the Wellington City Council website. The iSite in the Wellington city centre can also provide information.

Last updated 14 September 2022.