Vodafone Ashes Series 2010-11
Inspection Report - Melbourne
The fourth Vodafone Ashes Series test match between Australia and England will be played at the MCG in Melbourne, starting on Boxing Day. This legendary fixture is one that every discerning cricket fan must witness at least once in their life. Melbourne itself - the capital of the state of Victoria - is an amazing city with lots to see and do, and Melburnians are passionate about their sport, as anyone who has ever been to Melbourne will confirm. This helps to make the atmosphere at the MCG electrifying.
As well as plenty to do in the city itself, there are also lots of great places to visit in the vicinity, and Melbourne is a ideal location from where to take some wonderful day trips, not least a trip along the Great Ocean Road.
The Melbourne Cricket Ground - referred to within Victoria as 'The Spiritual Home of Australian Sport' - is the largest sports stadium in Australia with a current capacity of just over 100,000 and is famous for its amazing atmosphere. As well as cricket, the MCG (or 'the G', as locals affectionately call it) is also one of the main stadiums used for the Australian Rules AFL.
The MCG - which is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register and the Australian National Heritage List - is located in Yarra Park in East Melbourne, which also hosts several other stadia including the Rod Laver Arena and Hisense Arena, which are both used for the Australian Open tennis.
Howzat Travel seating arrangements will be as follows*:
Silver - Southern Stand Block P17 or P18 (See map / See view)
Gold - Southern Stand Block N22, 20, 19, 17 or 15 (See map / See view)
Platinum - Olympic Stand Block N53, 54, 55 or 56 (See map / See view)
Read Cricket Australia's 'Conditions of Entry' guidelines here.
Hotels
Howzat Travel will be using two properties for our customers' stay in Melbourne - the Mantra on Russell and the Clarion Suites Gateway. Both are located a short distance from the MCG, to enable ease of getting to and from the cricket each day - either by foot or by tram.
Mantra on Russell 4*Hotel website
The 220-room Mantra on Russell is an excellent base for your time in Melbourne, located right next to the vibrant Chinatown district. The hotel is just a short walk from everything central Melbourne has to offer, including its abundance of shops, bars and eateries, plus the trams are just a few minutes away - to take you around the city or a little further afield if you prefer. The Mantra on Russell is also just a 15-minute walk from the MCG and just 5-10 minutes from the Old Melbourne Gaol and the Melbourne Museum.
Inside, the tastefully decorated hotel's rooms all feature broadband internet, air-con, cable TV, kitchens and laundry facilities, and the hotel also boasts a swimming pool, gym and spa facilities. The first floor is also host to the hotel's 'Up One' Restaurant and Bar, where breakfast is served daily and where a creative menu is offered for lunch and dinner.
The Mantra on Russell is located on Russell Street, just a 15-20-minute walk to the MCG, south along Russell Street, left onto Flinders Street and right onto Wellington Parade South - see map to the left. Trams to the ground can also be caught from nearby Swanston Street if you prefer.
Clarion Suites Gateway 4.5*Hotel website
Situated on the banks of the Yarra River, the Clarion Suites Gateway hotel has spectacular views across the river to the South Bank from its river-facing rooms. Just two minutes from the hotel is the free City Circle Tram, which travels all the way around the edge of the city centre. You are also located just across the road from the Immigration Museum and the Melbourne Aquarium, a 5-10 minute walk from the main shopping district, a 25-30 minute walk from the MCG and a short walk straight across the river on the Queens Bridge will take you to the South Bank and the Crown Entertainment Complex (see below).
Inside the Clarion Suites Gateway, the room are all well appointed and pleasantly decorated, all with kitchens / kitchenettes, air-con, cable TV and broadband internet. The hotel also has a heated pool and laundry facilities on the 5th floor, plus guests get complimentary access to a nearby gym.
The Clarion Suites Gateway is located on the corner of William Street and Flinders Street - see map to the left, click to enlarge. It is a 30-minute walk to the MCG, walking north-east along Flinders Street, onto Wellington Parade South on towards the MCG, which can be seen all the way along your walk. There are also trams running along Flinders Street - including the free City Circle tram - if you prefer to travel that way.
Christmas Dinner
In Melbourne on Christmas Day, we have arranged a dinner at the delightful Terra Rossa restaurant on Flinders Lane. Having looked around several properties in Melbourne, we decided that the ambience, location and menu that Terra Rossa can offer will be ideal for all Howzat Travellers to enjoy a delicious three-course Christmas meal together. Restaurant website
Things to do in and around Melbourne
Take a stroll along the South Bank, where you will find top class restaurants bearing the names of world famous chefs like Gordon Ramsey. The South Bank is also the location of the Crown Entertainment Complex - a world of casinos, bars, restaurants, clubs, theatres, cinemas, shops, cafes and more! Jump on the free City Circle tram. As well as being a great way to get around the edge of the central business district, it is also an effective way to learn about Melbourne, as it provides informative and interesting sightseeing commentary all the way around! Enjoy the spectacular, panoramic views of Melbourne from the Eureka Skydeck - the world's tallest residential building at 300 meters, and the highest public vantage point in the Southern Hemisphere. Located on the South Bank, the Skydeck also feaures 'The Edge' - a glass cube that projects 3 metres out of the buiding - with you in it! We can highly recommend this. Melbourne is the place from where to book some amazing trips you won't forget for a long time. You can visit the wineries of Victoria, Phillip Island for the penguin parade and best of all, travel along the Great Ocean Road, enjoying the breathtaking coastal scenery, including the legendary Twelve Apostles. The Melbourne Aqarium is located on the banks of the Yarra River and is home to over 1,000 aquatic creatures, including giant sharks and stingrays in a 360º oceanarium. Melbourne has lots to offer in terms of shopping. Designer names on Collins Street, high street names in the shopping centres, plus between Elizabeth Street and Swanson Street you will find several quaint lanes and arcades, which really give the Melbourne shopping experience an added dimension. The Melbourne Museum is the largest museum in the Southern Hemisphere and features seven main galleries and an IMAX theatre. Check out Old Melbourne Gaol (Jail), host to many of Australia's most infamous and notorious characters in its long history, and the place that the infamous bushranger Ned Kelly was hanged. Just a short tram ride from the city centre is the suburb of St Kilda, host to Melbourne's most famous beach, funky restaurants and bars, and for kids, the Luna Park amusement park.
Weather
In the summer, Melbourne is hot with fine weather and average temperatures of around 25ºC, although this can peak at over 40ºC on really sunny days. Melbourne is known for its changeable weather too, and it is not uncommon to experience a quick burst of rain. Sun protection should be taken to Melbourne, as with everywhere else.
