International sporting events

Live to the rhythm and the shout of the first of the world's four Grand Slam tennis tournaments. (The three other being the French Open, Wimbledon and US Opens). Held each January at Melbourne Park, the Australian Open is the only Grand Slam tournament that can feature indoor play. Indeed, the two main courts, Rod Laver Arena, and Vodafone Arena have movable roofs which can be shut in case of rain or extreme heat.
If you are not able to visit Melbourne in January and feel the atmosphere of the games, experience the excitement of Grand Slam all year around at the Melbourne Park. Play on the same courts as the world's best players and enjoy guided tours of the amazing sport complex.

Listen to the roar of powerful motors at the Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit in Albert Park. Buzz to the speed and the twisted ending of one of the best Formula One championships. The Australian Grand Prix is held in March during four days of excitement for the entire city. The rest of the time, Albert Park is ironically a quiet paradise for joggers, rowers and others fond of sports.

When visiting Melbourne, you must go to a game of Aussie Rules.
If you are not Australian, you should first learn a bit more about this Australian culture!
The Australian Football League (AFL) is the Australian national competition in the sport of Australian rules football, affectionately called ‘footy’. The game is fast paced and resembles elements of rugby and soccer.
The AFL is a very powerful, wealthy and influential organisation in Australian sport. It started 25 years ago in Victoria and has grown into a national competition with teams based in five of the six Australian states. In Melbourne, the players are gods! The city hosts 9 of the 16 teams that form the Australian Football League.
The 16 teams play against each other in 22 rounds between late March and early September. These matches are followed by a series of finals matches which culminate in the two best teams playing off for the premiership in the AFL Grand Final.
Played on the last saturday of September, the Grand Final is traditionally played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, even if two non-Victorian teams are playing.

You can also visit the AFL World at Federation Square. Please, see the heading "Attractions”.

On the first Tuesday of November, the nation stops to listen to a horse race. In a social and cultural tradition spanning over 145 years, Melbourne Cup literally brings Australia to a standstill.
You must have heard of it! The Cup now attracts a worldwide television audience of 700 million people in 120 countries and territories.
Bet on one of the many competitors from all over the world. The northern hemisphere-trained stayers invade Melbourne’s Flemington race course making the event truly international. It’s only because, the Melbourne Cup is one of the world's most challenging horse races, and one of the richest (total prize money for 2005 - $AU5.1 million).
For the occasion, lots of people take the day off. Public and private parties are organized everywhere. Champagne and canapés, huge hats and race track fashions, the racecourse has become the place to see and be seen. The fashion frenzy that seizes the event is as popular as the race itself. Wear your best outfit and get involve in the fashion ‘competition’. Who has the finest hat?

In Melbourne, the 26th of December is more exciting than Christmas Day. Following turkey, mince pies and crackers, the intensity of the Cricket Test Match begins. Held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), the event offers the fun and frenzy that only great sport can spark off. Even the walk to the MCG is full of animations. Once the Test Match starts, thousands of fans cheers to their national team and boos to their opponent. You’ve got to realize, this is not just a cricket match, it's a sporting and cultural event Melbourne is proud to showcase to the world. Families are picnicking inside and outside the ground. Summer holidays begin, New Year is around the corner; it is just such a good time of the year. You have to live it.
Get into the intensity of the day and encourage your team, and if you don’t have one, pick Australia!

*All information is subject to change without notification.