
15 Things To Do in Melbourne When You’re in Town for the Australian Open
Add these off-the-court activities to your Melbourne itinerary for when you’re in between matches.
Victoria’s premier cruise ship destination, the Melbourne Cruise Port (Station Pier) welcomes liners from around the world, as well as Australian navy vessels and ferries which depart to and from Tasmania. Thanks to a privileged location in the Port Melbourne neighborhood, Station Pier is a convenient jumping-off point to both the city and wider Victoria.
Most passengers docking at the Melbourne Cruise Port head straight for downtown Melbourne, just 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) away. Highlights of Australia’s second largest city include Queen Victoria Market, the Eureka Skydeck, and Federation Square. Group or private shore excursions typically include all of them and more, such as the Yarra River, Luna Park, and St. Kilda Beach.
Day trips abound from Melbourne too—drive down the Great Ocean Road or penguin-spot on Phillip Island. It’s also easy to reach Tasmania from Station Pier in Melbourne, as the “Spirit of Tasmania” runs regularly between Melbourne and Devonport and takes around 10 hours.
Getting from Station Pier to central Melbourne via public transport is fairly straightforward. The Route 109 tram operates between Station Pier and Melbourne city center, as does the 109 City Express bus to St. Kilda Road. Both trips take roughly 20 minutes. Taxis also operate from a dedicated rank at the port and are good alternatives for those with lots of luggage.
English is the official language in Melbourne, but you may well hear people speaking Vietnamese, Cantonese, and Arabic too. The currency is the Australian dollar and ATMs are widely available throughout the city.