Follow in the footsteps of sporting greats in and around Melbourne
Victorians like to regard Melbourne as the nation’s sporting capital, and it’s a fair claim. Many of Australia’s greatest sporting spectaculars are hosted in and around the city – and it’s possible to get a taste of many of them by visiting the venues all year round.
Take centre stage at the MCG
OK, so unless you put in a lot of effort from a young age, you’re never going to get to play in the AFL Grand Final or eke out a heroic century during the Boxing Day Test. There’s nothing to stop you running onto the MCG’s hallowed turf, though. That’s part of the deal during the tour of the ground, which is available whenever there is no event on.
The tour of Australia’s biggest and most iconic stadium passes through the coaches’ box, the cricket viewing area that’s usually reserved for members and the famous Long Room.
The MCG tour also includes a stop in the Melbourne Cricket Club Museum and Library, which go into the history of matches at the ground in almost frightening detail.
Study the form at Flemington
If there’s one event that can surpass the AFL Grand Final and Boxing Day Test, it is the race that stops the nation (or at least sends it to the pub). The Melbourne Cup is held at the Flemington race course, north west of the city centre, every November. Those that don’t have the necessary tickets (and big hats) have no shortage of screens on which to watch the big race.
However, those wanting to secure tickets to go and watch their sure-fire bet trail in last behind the nag with three legs and the beach donkey should keep an eye out for ticketing prices and details on the Victorian Racing Club’s website.
It’s not as if Flemington is a barren wasteland crossed only by rolling tumbleweeds for the rest of the year, though – there are races every few weeks for anyone wanting to get a taste of the atmosphere.
Walk around the Grand Prix Circuit
Albert Park, south of Melbourne City Centre and next to St Kilda, is usually a fairly tranquil spot with people munching sandwiches on the lawn, the odd jogger and a few boats splish-sploshing around on the lake.
For a few days in March, however, it is totally transformed. It becomes a seething hub of mechanics, high-performance machines and scantily-clad promotional girls as the Australian Formula One Grand Prix rolls into town.
Tickets go on sale early, but those unable to get hold of one can have the circuit to themselves for the rest of the year. It’s a public park, so there’s nothing to stop you walking or cycling around the route the finely-tuned Ferraris take.
Tackle the surf at Bells Beach
Right at the start of the Great Ocean Road, Bells Beach is legendary in surfing circles. Popularised by the frankly ludicrous Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze vehicle Point Break, the waves and rips make for a tough but hugely rewarding challenge.
That’s why it hosts the RipCurl Pro World Championship tour event every year, usually in April, and the world’s best surfers descend on the shoreline to take part.
During the rest of the year, there is no shortage of local heroes taking their chances in the buffeting breaks, which can be fantastic to watch from the safety of the beach. The truly brave can have a go themselves, but should be aware that Bells is certainly not for beginners. Never fear; the less brave can wimp out and go for a dip well away from the marauding surfboards.
Rev up at Philip Island
Philip Island, a couple of hours south-east of Melbourne, is best known for its parade of fairy penguins every evening. However, it also plays host to some beasts that are anything but fairy during the year. The Australian Moto GP is held here, and when the motorbikes aren’t in occupation, the V8 Supercars aren’t far behind.
For the rest of the year, boy-racing revheads who fancy a slice of the action get their chance – the 4.5km circuit also hosts an extensive Go Karting track, designed to be a scale replica of the big boy.
Pretend to be Lleyton Hewitt
While wild card entries into the Australian Tennis Open tend to be somewhat generously biased towards home grown players, the likelihood of most of us taking on Roger Federer or the Williams sisters is somewhat slim.
However, while moments of glory in the Rod Laver Arena in January may be out of bounds to all but the world’s tennis elite, anyone can rock up to the courts on which most of the championship is played and play a few sets of flimsy serves and unforced errors.
Melbourne Park, just east of the city in Richmond, is where all the action happens, and throughout the rest of the year the courts are hired out to the general public for from $26 an hour.
Tours are also available, taking in the Tennis Control Centre, players’ changing rooms and the main arenas.
This article was originally written for Ninemsn.
Copyright David Whitley
