15 Things To Do in Melbourne When You’re in Town for the Australian Open

A short walk from Rod Laver Arena lies Melbourne’s arguably most famous sporting landmark: the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), a massive stadium which practically hosts everything but tennis.

Learn more about the stadium on a guided tour, and see where the 1956 Olympics were held, not to mention countless cricket matches and Australian rules football finals, before visiting areas behind the scenes that many local sports fans never experience. You won't find a more iconic Melbourne attraction near the Australian Open.

Though technically part of the MCG, the Australian Sports Museum is a standalone attraction that fans of all different sports are likely to enjoy. With its focus on Australia's great sporting passion and legacy, across various sports and codes, the museum makes for a fitting spot to add to your tennis travel itinerary.

Here, you can learn about tennis players who have contributed to the country’s sporting history through Grand Slams and the Davis Cup, and try your hand at different activities thanks to its interactive exhibits.

Explore Melbourne’s love of sport while also getting your steps in on this shared walking tour around the sprawling sports precinct of East Melbourne. Besides the Rod Laver Arena and the MCG, this area is home to AAMI Park, which hosts soccer, rugby, and events, plus has historical ties to the 1956 Olympics.

This is a great way to broaden your understanding of Australian sport and enjoy some of the city’s finer green spaces; just remember to bring an umbrella and sunglasses to deal with Melbourne’s unpredictable weather.

Of course, Melbourne’s walking tours aren’t limited to the world of sport—they’re also a fun and informative way to explore Melbourne’s Central Business District (CBD), home to many of the city’s most recognizable attractions.

On walking tours you’ll admire the architecture of the State Library of Victoria, discover the old-fashioned charm of the Block Arcade, learn about the history of Chinatown, and get recommendations for coffee and dining as you go. Even with limited time, you’ll soon discover what makes Melbourne tick.

One challenge of a summer tennis trip is that you often have to brave some extreme heat while city sightseeing in Melbourne. So, seek shade and respite from the intense Australian sun by disappearing under the canopy of the Royal Botanical Gardens Victoria, a sprawling complex of gardens just across the Yarra River.

This is the ideal spot to take a 30-minute minibus tour around the gardens, and learn about its history and highlights from your guide.

Another way to deal with the summer heat is to take a dip at one of Melbourne's bayside beaches. St. Kilda is the closest in a string of beaches that run along the bay’s waterfront, but there are many more options, including the famous Brighton Beach (home to those colorful bathing boxes).

For something a little more active, take a paddleboarding lesson out on the bay's usually calm waters to experience St. Kilda in all its glory and try out a new skill.

The only thing that Melbourne loves as much as sport is good coffee. Discover Melbourne laneways and cafés on a coffee tour, during which you'll visit various hole-in-the-wall coffee shops and cafés around the CBD to learn about the city's passion for a good brew.

This is also a good excuse to see how charming laneways, such as Degraves Street, have helped Melbourne earn the reputation as Australia’s most European city, while others bolster its artistic credentials, including Hosier Lane.

While there are many Southbank and Yarra River walks you can do to explore Melbourne's riverfront, kayaking tours are a fun and active alternative. Paddle along the Yarra through the city center and see Melbourne’s skyline and city life from a fresh perspective.

You'll also explore different parts of the inner city, from the familiar downtown area around Federation Square to the chic waterfront outside Crown Melbourne and beyond to the modern developments of Victoria Harbour. Best of all, you can time your paddle to get front row seats to watch the sunset from the water.

Melbourne’s food scene has a lot going on, so ease yourself in with a food tour. Walk around the center to sample tasty morsels and learn about the city’s eclectic culinary influences on this fun tour, plus get further recommendations of things to try and the best restaurants in Melbourne to visit.

You can also join a guided market tour of Queen Victoria Market; you’ll combine tastings with exploring the many vendors and stalls, all selling an array of local treats and delicacies.

If you don’t mind an early start, hot-air balloon rides offer an excellent opportunity to see Melbourne from above. Take off before the sun comes up, rise into the sky, and drift across the city center—you’ll be able to spot the tennis precinct and nearby sports complexes from the air, plus the rest of the skyline.

This is one of the best things to do in Melbourne this summer, whether you visit a lot or if it’s your first time, as there’s nothing quite like watching daylight wash over the city.

Another great way to see the scale of the Australian Open’s tennis park is by venturing up to Melbourne Skydeck on the 88th floor of the Eureka Tower.

From this inner city observation deck, you can see all of Melbourne’s sports precinct, downtown skyscrapers, the suburbs along the bay, and even as far as the Dandenong Ranges on a good day. If you're feeling brave, test your nerve at the deck’s Edge experience by stepping out into its glass box suspended out to the side of the building.

Sport is just one pillar of Melbourne’s culture, but this city also boasts a love of the arts. To explore the artsier side of Melbourne, there’s no better venue than the National Gallery of Victoria.

Visiting this acclaimed art gallery is considered one of the top cultural activities in Melbourne, especially if your visit coincides with a buzzworthy temporary exhibition. Not that the gallery’s excellent, free permanent collection isn’t worth seeing in and of itself, given that it features international pieces from acclaimed names such as Picasso, Dalí, and Rembrandt.

If you only have day session tickets to the Australian Open, your evenings are wide open to explore Melbourne’s nightlife. Pub and bar crawls take you to a variety of venues to discover the different vibes on offer at Melbourne’s many bars, pubs, and speakeasies.

Plus, by visiting local bars and pubs, you’ll also get to sample the city’s thriving craft beer scene or try wines from nearby regions, including the Yarra Valley, without having to venture all the way there.

Melbourne is just the start of what Victoria has to offer. Explore and experience more of the state on a day trip from Melbourne, but know that there are plenty of destinations to choose from, including the Great Ocean Road.

Whether you want to sample the wines of the Yarra Valley, look for penguins at Phillip Island Nature Parks, or admire the coastal views of the Twelve Apostles along the aforementioned Great Ocean Road, guided tours make it easy to get away from the city for a day, without a lot of planning or your own vehicle.

Rather than travel a long way from the city, head to the Dandenong Ranges if you’re seeking a break from Melbourne or an activity to entertain younger kids.

There, board the famous Puffing Billy Railway for a family-friendly ride through mountain forests and over quaint wooden trestle bridges to the country town of Emerald, before riding back. Round out the day with time at Healesville Sanctuary to see native wildlife, such as kangaroos, koalas, and platypus.