AUSTRALIAN OPEN & MELBOURNE, MORNINGTON & THE BELLARINE PENINSULAS

Melbourne is a fabulous city to visit year round and one of the very best times to be in our southern capital is undoubtedly in January when it hosts the Australian Open Tennis. Melbourne thoroughly deserves its reputation as Australia’s sporting capital and the city lays on great hospitality for the first Tennis Grand Slam each year. Although none of our men and women are ranked in the top, Melbournians are passionate about their tennis and vocal with their enthusiastic support of competitors from around the globe. 

Our tour includes 3 days at the Open where we will see daytime 4th round matches on Sunday and the quarter finals on Tuesday and Wednesday. We have reserved (Category 2 shaded) seats for all 3 days in the Rod Laver Arena (centre court) and excitement is guaranteed as the final 8 battle for places in the semi finals. In 2023 the quarter finals saw men’s matches featuring Karon Khachanov vs Sebastian Koria, Stephanos Tsitsipas vs Jiri Lehecka, Andrey Rublev vs Novak Djokovic, Ben Skelton vs Tommy Paul and women’s matches featuring Jessica Pegula vs Victoria Azarenka, Elena Rybakina vs Jelena Ostapenko, Aryna Sabalenka vs Donna Vekic and Karolina Pliskova vs Magda Linette. 2024 again promises to be action packed, as the world’s best battle for the Australian Open title. 

Apart from the tennis we will enjoy several other highlights including a great day exploring the beautiful Mornington and Bellarine Peninsulas.   We will travel around Port Phillip Bay taking in many of the picturesque towns of the Mornington Peninsula before boarding the Searoad Ferry at Sorrento.    Crossing the Bay we will see the headlands of Point Nepean and Point Lonsdale before arriving on the western shoreline to explore Queenscliff and Geelong.

Our accommodation is at the 4 star Best Western Plus Travel Inn located in Carlton, Melbourne. (Ph:  03 9347 7922) a short drive from Melbourne Park and the perfect base to explore our southern capital.

We will again have options on Friday with a choice being offered including the Melbourne Museum and Carlton Gardens, Federation Square and Victorian Gallery with its extensive collection of Australian art, the Eureka Skydeck for panoramic views from level 88, tour of the MCG, City Circle Tram, the Science Works Museum and Planetarium, the Immigration Museum in Old Customs House, Victoria Markets, the Shrine of Remembrance, St Pauls Cathedral, Old Melbourne Gaol, the Fitzroy and Treasury Gardens and a Yarra River Cruise.

Other highlights include:

*        Welcome lunch at Docklands

*        City sights tour

*        Southbank and the Botanic Gardens

*        St Kilda and Port Phillip Bay

*        Yarra Valley Vineyards

*        Visits to Monbulk, Olinda and Montrose

*        Lunch in the Dandenong Ranges

*        Rye, Rosebud and Sorrento

*        Seafood picnic lunch at Portsea

*        Geelong Art Gallery

*        Heritage Tour of Queenscliff

*        Dinner on the Geelong Waterfront

*        2 dinners at the fabulous Lygon Street, Carlton

*        A free night to catch a show, break the bank at the casino or perhaps a night at the tennis

Cost per person is $3,495.00 which includes 5 dinners, 4 lunches and 6 breakfasts, admissions, luxury coach travel and airfares.  The single supplement is $570.00.