Your ultimate guide for a perfect day and night at the 2024 Australian Open

Your ultimate guide to the Australian Open 2024

When is the Australian Open?

The Australian Open 2024 runs for 15 days from Sunday 14 January to Sunday 28 January.  

How do I get to the Australian Open? 

By car 

If you're planning on driving, there are both on-site and off-site options. If you want to park on-site at the National Tennis Centre, this must be added as an upgrade when you book your tickets. For off-site parking, the Yarra Park Car Park, accessible via Gate 3 off Punt Road, is the closest. Parking costs $10 (EFTPOS only), with all money invested in the upkeep of the park. You can find metered parking along the Yarra River on Alexandra Avenue and around the Royal Botanic Gardens on Birdwood and Linlithgow avenues. There are also secure parking facilities in the CBD and on Southbank. 

Train 

One of the easiest ways to get to the Australian Open is by train. Melbourne Park is just a short walk from either Richmond, Jolimont or Flinders Street stations. The last train services will depart Flinders Street Station at around midnight during the week, and hourly from midnight on weekends. Check the Public Transport Victoria website for timetables and disruptions.

Tram

Australian Open ticket holders can travel free on the route 70 and 70a trams from the CBD to Rod Laver Arena and Melbourne Arena (Melbourne and Olympic Parks) tram stops from Sunday 14 January to Sunday 28 January. Make sure you have your Australian Open ticket with you. 

Bike

If you're taking the two-wheeled route, bicycle parking facilities are available at the underpass of the William Barak Bridge and Entrance A, as well as at the intersection of Olympic Boulevard and Batman Avenue.

For help planning your journey, or finding the nearest car or bicycle parking, download RACV’s arevo journey planner app for real-time public transport information, traffic updates and even closest parking locations. 

Which entrance should I use?

There are three main entrances to the Australian Open

• Garden Square Entrance (recommended for access to Rod Laver Arena and Margaret Court Arena). 
• Grand Slam Oval Entrance (recommended for access to John Cain Arena and the numerous food and beverage outlets at Grand Slam Oval). 
• City Entrance (recommended for access to family fun at AO Ballpark presented by Emirates).

How much are tickets to the Australian Open? 

Tickets start from $29 for a Night Ground Pass, with stadium seats starting from $49 for John Cain Arena, $65 for Margaret Court Arena and $109 for Rod Laver Arena. Expect to pay more than $300 for stadium seats during finals rounds and book early to avoid disappointment; many sessions are already selling fast.

If you want to level up your Aus Open experience, there are also a range of VIP tickets on offer, from dinner at some of Melbourne's premier venues with reserved seats at Rod Laver Arena to on-court seats with exclusive access to a private champagne bar.

Where can I buy Australian Open 2024 tickets? 

Tickets are available online through ticketmaster.com.au and through Ticketmaster retailers.

What does a ground pass ticket get you? 

You can get a Ground Pass for $59 (children $10) or a Night Ground Pass for $29. This ticket gets you into all outdoor courts, Kia Arena, 1573 Arena, and unreserved seating at John Cain Arena. As well as entry to myriad bars and dining options where you can soak up the sun, the sport and the festival atmosphere. You can also access entertainment at Margaret Court Arena from 23 January to 27 January. If you want to see a game at John Cain, Margaret Court or Rod Laver Arena, you will need to buy Stadium tickets separately.  

Which are the best days to go to the Australian Open?  

The first two to three days of the tournament are always the best if you have a Ground Pass as players haven’t yet been knocked out so this is when the most matches take place. Make the most of your ticket by studying the schedule and working out which matches you want to watch and what other activities you’re keen on.   

How can I get reserved seating to the Australian Open?  

If you want to get into key games or to see specific matches, you’ll need to buy a Stadium ticket. Stadium tickets will ensure you have reserved seating at either Rod Laver, Margaret Court or John Cain Arenas so you can come and go as you please. Stadium tickets are sold as either day sessions or night sessions. If you purchase a day session, you can stay and watch tennis in the outdoor courts after 5pm. Night ticket holders cannot access the grounds before 5pm.   

Stadium tickets also act as a ground pass, allowing access to all outside courts, as well as Kia Arena, 1573 Arena, and unreserved seating in the John Cain Arena.  

I really want to see *insert fave tennis star here*. How will I know who is playing when?  

Being an elimination event, it is impossible to know in advance who will be playing in which rounds and on which days. The schedule for each day will be posted on the AO website the night prior. Depending on who’s playing, the big names will generally play on the stadium courts, and the best blockbuster matches are most likely to be held in the evening.  

When is the Australian Open tournament draw? 

The Australian Open draws have taken place. Visit ausopen.com/draws for all the latest scheduling and event information.

Which stars are coming to the Australian Open?

The best of the best will once again be coming out to battle for the Australian Open championship, including Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Danii Medvedev, Jannik Sinner, Andrey Rublev, Alexander Zverev, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Holger Rune.

Will I be able to meet tennis players or get their autographs?  

Players usually have practice sessions on the outdoor courts during the day so, if you’re lucky, this is your best bet of getting a #grandslamselfie or meeting your tennis idols.

Practice sessions will take place on Rod Laver Arena between 9.30am and 2.30pm, or you can try your luck at the new Player Practice Village outside the National Tennis Centre between 8.30am and 4pm. Players also do signings during the day at Garden Square. As always, it’s very much the luck of the draw.  

What should I bring on the day?  

A hat, sunscreen and sunglasses are a must. If you forget your sunscreen, there are sunscreen stations around Melbourne Park precinct where you can slip, slop and slap, as well as free water stations around Melbourne Park. Avoid getting dehydrated by drinking water throughout the day and refilling your water bottle every time you pass a water station.   

You can also BYO food and drinks, but note that eskies, hampers and containers bigger than 1.5 litres are not allowed. Food and drinks in glass, cans or ceramic containers are also not permitted. 

Are there shaded areas at the Australian Open?  

Most seats in Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena and Melbourne Arena are shaded. Those three stadiums also have roofs, so if the heat rule (made at the match referee’s discretion) comes into play, they’ll be closed to cool things down. In between watching matches, you can go a walk outside. The outside courts have lots of shade to create a very fan-friendly experience. There are also lots of shade structures all over Melbourne Park to help make it comfortable.

Is the Australian Open good for kids? 

The Open is a great day out for the whole family. Families with younger kids will love the AO Ballpark – where they’ll get their serve of totem tennis, Hot Shots Tennis and the Emirates Sky Cadets Challenge, the AO’s nine-metre-high aerial adventure.

There is three days of family fun from 22 to 24 January in Week 2. Tickets are priced from $10 and sold separately for each day. On Monday, Barbie Day includes photo opportunities with life-size Barbie Blister Packs, yoga and mindfulness sessions, dance classes and art activities. Tuesday is LEGO Day, with building stations, LEGO characters, challenges, while Super Hero Day on Wednesday features DC Justice League shows and appearances by Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, The Flash and Supergirl.

There are also change facilities, parents’ rooms (with microwaves, change tables and comfy chairs for feeding) and pram parking around the grounds to help make your day out as seamless as possible.

Is there live entertainment at the Australian Open? 

Dance the day (or night) away to some of the country’s hottest musicians when you upgrade your ground pass during the Grand Slam finals. For three days, from 25-28 January, the inaugural Australian Open Finals Festival will play host to big-name artists including British superstar acts Groove Armada and Rudimental, iconic Australian artists DMA’S, Ruel, Peach PRC and Tash Sultana.

What food and drink will be available at the Australian Open? 

The food and drink offering at the Australian Open just keeps getting better with fine fare from some of the city’s culinary standouts, including leading chefs such as Andrew McConnell and Stokehouse’s Jason Staudt offering both casual and high-end dining experiences.

Along with Italian easteries and family-friendly stalls, First Nations-owned business Uncle Charlie’s will have enticing offerings made with native Australian ingredients. Think spiced popcorn seasoned with desert lime.

Big names from further afield include Scott Huggins from Penfolds Magill Estate in South Australia, London’s Cambio de Tercio, and the invitation-only Emirates Suite, featuring grilled lobster, zaatar chicken and more.