Melbourne is a fitness capital of the world and many of the locals regularly exercise at Melbourne's numerous gyms, fitness centres, or by jogging, walking or playing sport. With world-class sports facilities, Melbourne is also home to many popular spectator sports, such as soccer, Australian Rules football, rugby, cricket, tennis and motor sports, such as the Australian Formula One Grand Prix and the Australian round of the World 500 cc Motorcycle Grand Prix.Other popular sports and outdoors activities in the Melbourne and Victoria area include golf, swimming, yachting, sailing, scuba diving and of course surfing. The local Melbourne newspapers provide a useful sports section that regularly lists daily and weekly local Melbourne sports events, which are held in and around Melbourne's city centre.
CricketAddress: Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Jolimont Terrace, Melbourne, Victoria (VIC), 3002, Australia AU
Tel: +61 (0)3 9657 8879
The Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) was founded in 1838 and managed the prestigious Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). The Members' Pavilion is the oldest stand and is full of interesting sporting history. The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) is one of the greatest sports stadiums in the world and during the summer, hosts international test matches, one-day internationals and also the Pura Milk Cup national Australia cricket competition.
Seat reservations are possible at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) and over the years, the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) has been home to a number of important sporting occasions, such as the first games of Australian Rules Football in 1858 and the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. Melbourne's cricket season runs from October until March.
Football / SoccerAddress: Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Jolimont Terrace, Melbourne, Victoria (VIC), 3002, Australia AU
Tel: +61 (0)3 9657 8879
Soccer is one of the most popular spectator sports in Melbourne and Australia has a semi-professional league. Despite its popularity in Melbourne, soccer tends to get given very little coverage in the media. The football season in Melbourne is during the autumn and winter, from March to September.
Australian Rules Football
Address: Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Jolimont Terrace, Melbourne, Victoria (VIC), 3002, Australia AU
Tel: +61 (0)3 9657 8879
Australian Rules Football is run by the Australian Football League (AFL) and is often simply referred to as 'The Footy' in Melbourne. Melbourne founded Australian Rules Football and regular games are held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), attracting between 50,000 to 75,000 spectators. The Australian Rules Football seasons runs from April to September and the atmosphere at the matches in Melbourne is incredibly exciting and quite unmissable.
Rugby Union and Rugby League
Address: Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Melbourne, Victoria (VIC), Australia AU
Rugby Union is Melbourne is by no means one of Melbourne's most popular spectator sports, although it does have a loyal following of rugby fans. Regular international matches are held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) and attract enormous crowds. However, Rugby League in the Melbourne and Victoria area is supported by a huge number of fans and the Melbourne Storm, Melbourne's only side in the National Rugby League, actually won the Grand Final in 1999, together with many other competitions and matches. The rugby season in Melbourne runs between April and September for both Rugby Union and Rugby League.
Tennis
Address: Melbourne Park National Tennis Centre, Batman Avenue, Melbourne, Victoria (VIC), 3002, Australia AU
Tel: +61 (0)3 9299 9079
Each year, the Melbourne Park National Tennis Centre plays host to the Australian Open tennis championship. Held for two weeks every January, this popular tennis event attracts some of the best tennis players in the world and is one of the most important tennis championships in the world . There are also numerous public tennis courts located throughout Melbourne, in many of the sports and leisure complexes, and also Melbourne's larger parks and gardens.
Basketball
Address: Melbourne Park National Tennis Centre, Batman Avenue, Melbourne, Victoria (VIC), 3002, Australia AU
Tel: +61 (0)3 9299 9079
Basketball is very popular in the Melbourne and Victoria area and National Basketball League games draw large crowds at the Melbourne Park National Tennis Centre. The basketball season in Melbourne runs from October to March.
Yachting
Yachting is a major pastime for both locals and visitors to Melbourne and at the weekend many hundreds of yachts sail around Melbourne's picturesque Port Phillip Bay, many of which are extremely large and impressive. The yachting season in Melbourne is between September to March.
Sailing, Canoeing and KayakingThere are a number of sailing, canoeing and kayaking schools in the Melbourne area for experienced and novice sailors.
With inexpensive introductory lessons, sailing is a particularly enjoyable way to tour Melbourne's Port Phillip Bay and the surrounding waterfront.
Surfing
Melbourne is home to many popular beaches with strong waves, making it a popular location in Australia for surfing. There are many useful surfing centres in Melbourne, where surfing equipment can be purchased or hired.
Scuba Diving
Melbourne is home to some impressive diving locations, including splendid reefs and clear waters. There are a number of diving centres and diving activities in the Melbourne and Victoria area.
Fitness Centres and Gyms
There are numerous well-equipped fitness and sports centres in central Melbourne, with excellent state-of-the-art fitness and weight training equipment, aerobic courses, personal trainers, saunas, solariums, steam rooms, hydrotherapy and massage. Most gyms and sports centres in Melbourne are open daily, from early in the morning until late at night.
- Ascot Vale Sports and Fitness Centre
Address: Langs Roads, Ascot Vale, Melbourne, Victoria (VIC), 3032, Australia AU
Tel: +61 (0)3 9375 3411 - Ashburton Pool and Recreation Centre
Address: 8 Warner Avenue, Ashburton, Melbourne, Victoria (VIC), 3147, Australia AU
Tel: +61 (0)3 9885 0333 - Box Hill Indoor Sports Centre
Address: 9 Clarice Road, Box Hill, Melbourne, Victoria (VIC), 3128, Australia AU
Tel: +61 (0)3 9890 7000 - Footscray Swim Centre
Address: 64 Buckley Street, Footscray, Melbourne, Victoria (VIC), 3011, Australia AU
Tel: +61 (0)3 9688 0298 - Ivanhoe Aquatic and Fitness Centre
Address: 170 Waterdale Road, Ivanhoe, Melbourne, Victoria (VIC), 3079, Australia AU
Tel: +61 (0)3 9499 7166 - Kew Recreation and Sports Centre
Address: 383 High Street, Kew, Melbourne, Victoria (VIC), 3101, Australia AU
Tel: +61 (0)3 9853 6177 - Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC)
Address: Aughtie Drive, Albert Park, Melbourne, Victoria (VIC), 3206, Australia AU
Tel: +61 (0)3 9926 1555 - Nunawading Aquatic Sports and Fitness Centre
Address: Fraser Place, Forest Hill, Melbourne, Victoria (VIC), 3131, Australia AU
Tel: +61 (0)3 9878 4576 - Queens Park Health Club
Address: 31 Queens Road, Melbourne, Victoria (VIC), 3000, Australia AU
Tel: +61 (0)3 9804 5855 - St. Kilda Sports and Fitness Centre
Address: 97 Alma Road, St. Kilda, Melbourne, Victoria (VIC), 3182, Australia AU
Tel: +61 (0)3 9510 9409 - Waves Leisure Centre
Address: 111 Chesterville Road, Highett, Melbourne, Victoria (VIC), 3190, Australia AU
Tel: +61 (0)3 9553 1038 - Whitehorse Aquatic and Leisure Centre
Address: Surrey Drive, Box Hill, Melbourne, Victoria (VIC), 3128, Australia AU
Tel: +61 (0)3 9898 2099 - Winning Edge Fitness Centre
Address: Chadstone Shopping Centre, Dandenong Road, Chadstone, Melbourne, Victoria (VIC), 3148, Australia AU
Tel: +61 (0)3 9569 0200
Swimming
Fishing
Visitors, tourists and locals in Melbourne and Victoria all share a love of water sports and Melbourne is home to many public swimming pools. Some of these swimming pools are set into beaches and many of Melbourne's outdoor swimming pools close at the beginning of May and open again in October. Here is a list of popular swimming pools and aquatic leisure centres in Melbourne.
Address: 139-153 Williamsons Road, Doncaster, Melbourne, Victoria (VIC), 3108, Australia AU
Tel: +61 (0)3 9848 1300
Address: 14 Dawson Street, Brunswick, Melbourne, Victoria (VIC), 3056, Australia AU
Tel: +61 (0)3 9381 1840
Address: Cleeland Street, Dandenong, Melbourne, Victoria (VIC), 3175, Australia AU
Tel: +61 (0)3 9706 9299
Address: Edgar Street, Glen Iris, Melbourne, Victoria (VIC), 3146, Australia AU
Tel: +61 (0)3 9824 8800
Address: Corner Cox and Melbourne Roads, Norlane, Geelong, Victoria (VIC), 3214, Australia AU
Tel: +61 (0)3 5275 1909
Fishing is a particularly popular pastime for tourists, visitors and locals in the Melbourne area and many of the fishing boats are equipped with modern, state-of-the-art technology radar and fishing equipment. Some of the fish most frequently caught in the waters outside Melbourne and offshore on Melbourne's numerous piers include barracouta, flat head, garfish, parrot fish, red mullet, snapper, snook, trevally, sea trout and whiting.
Mountain Biking
There are numerous cycling trails throughout Melbourne that are suitable for mountain bikes. Many of these are located on the outskirts of Melbourne and include scenic views of the surrounding bushland and ocean.
Extreme Outdoor Activities
Melbourne is home to some of the most exciting and daring extreme sports and outdoor activities, which include mountaineering, abseiling, rock climbing, caving, flying, skydiving, bungee jumping, white-water rafting, ballooning and speed racing.
