Melbourne, Australia, kicked off 2007 with its ace hosting of the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the year, bringing in victories for Serena Williams and Roger Federer at Rod Laver Arena. As the largest yearly sporting event in Australia, the Open attracts 550,000 visitors in the peak of the Oz summer, and didn’t disappoint this year with its dynamic match play.

But Melbourne is not just about tennis – in a new study by London consulting and research firm ArkSports, Melbourne was named the world's best city for sports events, beating Sydney and Paris, which tied for second. Melbourne ranked tops for its level of public interest in events, facilities, number of major events won and level of government support.

Barely a month goes by without a major sporting event in Melbourne, which is the only city in the world to boast five international-standard sporting facilities on the fringe of its Central Business District.

Among the many events there’s the Australian Open in January, the FINA World Swimming Championships in March (where the Rod Laver Arena is miraculously transformed into a swimming venue), the FORMULA 1™ Australian Grand Prix, the first race of the season, in March, and the Rip Curl Pro in April, where the world's top-ranked surfers carve up the waves on Victoria's surf coast at Bells Beach.

On the first of every November is the Melbourne Cup, “the race that stops the nation.” The pinnacle of Victoria’s 50-day Spring Racing Carnival, the Cup is Australia’s premier equestrian event that combines sport with high fashion and 145 years of tradition.

Uniquely Aussie, Melbourne is also home to Australian Rules Football (locally known as “Footy” or “Aussie Rules”). Regular season and championship games are mostly played at the city’s two major sports fields, the Telstra Dome and the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Getting Into The Action
For a complete all access Melburnian adventure, Goway (www.goway.com) is offering a three-night “Sports Enthusiast” package featuring Melbourne Sports Tours’ (www.melbournesportstours.com) “Sports Lover” or “Aussie Rules” options.
Sports Lovers

Sports lovers will be psyched to see the venues that play host to some of Australia's favorite sporting events. During a tour of Melbourne Park, one of the world's busiest sports and entertainment precincts, those who have imagined themselves battling Nadal or Sharapova for the title match can experience the excitement of the Australian Open with a behind-the-scenes tour of the athletes’ dressing rooms in the Rod Laver Arena, plus an hour of play on the very same courts the tennis greats rallied on for their wins.

Additional highlights include a visit to Flemington Racecourse, home of the Melbourne Cup, plus a drive though the Commonwealth Games’ Athletes’ Village and around Albert Park, where the Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit sits alongside Melbourne Sports & Aquatic Centre. Guests learn about the history of sporting events held at the various arenas in the area and enjoy lunch overlooking the Telstra Dome arena, where “Footy” is played.

Australian Rules Football

“Aussie Rules” is the most highly attended spectator sport in Australia, with fans wild for its fast paced, hard-hitting play. The sport originated in Melbourne and is a deep seeded part of the city’s culture and spirit. Experience the passion of a game the way the locals do with a great view from the reserved Premium seating section, where a host will explain the rules, teach Club team songs and involve everyone in the action while sampling traditional “footy food” - a meat pie with sauce and a drink. (Option only available Friday – Sunday, March – August.)

Rounding out their Melburnian experience, all “Sports Enthusiast” guests also enjoy a guided tour of the city’s neighborhoods, parks, gardens and historical landmarks, such as Captain Cook’s Cottage, plus a Phillip Island excursion to see the daily parade of thousands of Little Penguins march from the sea to their burrows for the night.

Goway’s “Sports Enthusiast” package, available April 1, 2007 – March 31, 2008, is $642 per person and includes three nights’ stay at Crown Promenade Hotel in the heart of the Southbank entertainment precinct, transfers, half-day city tour, dinner aboard Melbourne’s traditional Colonial Tramcar Restaurant, a Phillip Island “Little Penguin Parade” tour, and choice of the “Sports Lover” tour with one hour tennis court time at Rod Laver Arena or an “Aussie Rules” evening at a football game.

For more information on Melbourne and Victoria, visit Tourism Victoria’s website www.visitmelbourne.com.

To book Goway’s “Sports Enthusiast” package call 1-800-387-8850 or visit www.goway.com.













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This story was published on 09 Feb 2007.