Top Melbourne Events

These are just some of the major events that Melbourne has to offer. If you are travelling to the city during any of these times it may we worth your while to check them out.

Melbourne Cup

The Melbourne Cup is the race that stops a nation.  It is estimated that 90% of Australian have a flutter on the cup each year.  Held on the first Tuesday of November, the big race kicks off at 3pm eastern daylight savings time but the party starts well before that. For travellers on the cheap this is the tip…You don’t need to be inside the track to have the Melbourne Cup experience.  The carpark is generally where the action is. Park the car set up a card table and have a drink or two listing to the big race on the radio.  Everyone dresses up or down as it may be and the day is as good as any.  Just a s a side not the Melbourne Cup day is a public holiday so Melbourne shuts down essentially for the day. Public transport runs on a limited time table so be warned.  Wednesday is a recovery day for all the punters with hangovers.

The Big Day Out

The Big day out is a massive concert held at Flemington Racecourse on Australia Day (Jan 26 for those who don’t know).  Headline acts for 2009 include Neil Young, The Prodigy, The Living End, Pendulum, Arctic Monkeys the Ting Tings just to name a few. If you can’t make or can’t get tickets to it this year just wait until next year and get in early as it sells out in Minutes.

Australian Open Tennis Championships

Even if you don’t like tennis you will like the Australian Open Tennis in Melbourne. The atmosphere in Melbourne during the tournament, which runs from January 19 to February 1, 2009 is awesome.  The Australian Open is one of the four tennis championships that make up the ‘Grand Slam,’ and a coveted prize for the top professionals. If you are travelling on a budget the ground pass is the cheapest tickets which allows entry to the outer courts. There is a big screen so you can catch the ation on centre court. Check prices out at ticketek.

Moomba Waterfest

Moomba is held on the and around the Yarra River. It is Melbourne’s biggest and brightest annual event, with heaps of free entertainment from the 6-9thof March. Each year the programme for the four-days gets bigger and better, with activities like open-air movie shows, giant sand sculptures, waterski and wakeboard championships and Dragon Boat races. One of the most popular events is the crazy ‘Birdman Rally’ where people construct flying machines and then throw themselves off a bridge into the murky depths of the river. It is spectacular!

Australian F1 Grand Prix.

If you like noise and Formula 1 cars hurtling around a track at break neck speed this is the event for you. Held around Albert Park Lake, just out of the city, this event is held from the 27-29th of March.  There is heaps of off track entertainment too. Just remember accommodation around the city becomes pretty tight.

Melbourne International Comedy Festival

The Melbourne Comedy Festival is world renowned. Almost a month of comedy from April 1st to the 26th, no not joking, there are heaps of acts to see. Once the festival ends it goes on the road with some of the best acts touring the country.  It is generally cheap to attend and provides great entertainment.

If you reckon that some other events for Melbourne should be mentioned here just leave a comment with the details. If you go to any of these events and love it or hate it or thin there is stuff that others should know about, also let us know.

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