Sport and Entertainment

Melbourne was named the best sports-city in the world in November 2009, at the SportBusiness Sports Event Management Awards in London, and it’s easy to see why.

Melbourne is the birthplace of Australian Football (AFL) and the first Test cricket match was played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in 1877, and hosted the Olympic Games in 1956 and the Commonwealth Games in 2006.

A year-round program of major events is staged in venues close to the city centre. And there are many opportunities for everyone to participate in sporting activities from walking and swimming to golf and team sports of all sorts.

For spectators, cricket and Australian (AFL) football can be seen at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), AFL and soccer at the Docklands Stadium, Australian Open tennis at Melbourne Park, the Australian Grand Prix at the Albert Park circuit and soccer, rugby league and rugby union at the soon to be completed purpose built stadium.

Netball is the most popular sport played by Australian women. Martial arts, yoga and taekwondo are widely available. The State Library of Victoria even has a dedicated room for chess players.

Surfing and Winter sports such as skiing and snowboarding make a great day trip from Melbourne. Many clubs offer packages.

Victoria’s regions offer great adventure sports such as abseiling and rock-climbing, bushwalking, horse-riding, hot-air ballooning and kayaking.

Regional horse races – such as the Hanging Rock Cup on January 26 each year - are also a great day out, and are often more relaxed and cheaper than metropolitan events.

National Sports Museum at the MCG

The National Sports Museum, located at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, is home to Australia's finest collection of sporting heritage.

The National Sports Museum houses the Australian Gallery of Sport and Olympic Museum, Sport Australia Hall of Fame, Australian Cricket Hall of Fame, Australian Football exhibition (including Australian Football Hall of Fame), temporary exhibition areas addressing the sporting issues and events of the day and much more.

This is a vibrant, exciting and attractive mix of sporting heritage and entertainment aimed at matchday patronage as well as catering for the MCG’s traditional tourist groups seven days weekly.

The museum is open from 10am-5pm daily, with varied access when sporting events are held at the MCG.
For more information go to  www.nsm.org.au/

Tickets

You can attend most events – AFL football, soccer, and cricket at the MCG and Docklands Stadium by buying a ticket at the venue. However it is wise to book ahead through ticket agencies for big events.

Join in!

Melbourne’s open spaces mean there are likely to be sports ovals, bicycle trails, tennis courts, swimming pools and public golf courses close to where you live or study. The Tan around the Botanic Gardens is Melbourne’s most famous jogging track, but it’s also fantastic for a leisurely stroll.

You can join a sports club through your school, college or university, or join suburban sporting clubs for everything from cricket to soccer. Your local council website will have information on facilities and clubs in your area.

Bike trails

Hire or borrow a bike and explore Melbourne’s magnificent network of bike trails. These take you along the Yarra River, all the way from the City to Eltham, Docklands, suburban creeks, disused railway lines, along Port Phillip Bay, and through historic residential streets. You’ll see parts of Melbourne you would never otherwise experience. Always wear a helmet.

See Bicycling Victoria for more information about bike riding in Victoria.