Looking for family-friendly activities for the weekend that won’t break the bank? Here’s our guide to the best free things to do in Melbourne.
The ultimate guide to the 2025 Australian Open
The Australian Open 2025 will swing into action at Melbourne Park from 12-26 January 2025. From what to bring to how to make the most of a ground pass, here's how to ace a day at the AO.
The Australian Open is a much-loved event that showcases Melbourne to thousands of local, interstate and international visitors, plus a worldwide TV audience of millions. Held in January, it's a time when Melburnians and visitors alike enjoy summer festivals, school holiday activities and attractions such as the Royal Botanic Gardens and Melbourne Skydeck.
From 12 to 26 January, tennis fans can head to Federation Square to watch the action for free on the Big Screen (from 11am to late) or purchase tickets to see the world’s best tennis players battling it out live across multiple courts. There's also a stellar line-up of music on the AO Live Stage, plus great food from some of the city’s top restaurants on offer.
Whether it’s your first visit or you’re a seasoned AO veteran, here’s how to ace a day at the country’s best tennis tournament.
The Australian Open showcases Melbourne to thousands of visitors. Image: Visit Victoria
What you need to know about the Australian Open 2025
When is the Australian Open?
The Australian Open 2025 runs from Monday 6 January to Sunday 26 January 2025.
What's on at the Australian Open?
The Australian Open operates over a three-week schedule. Here are the events running each week.
AO Opening Week (6-11 January 2025) schedule
- Opening Week - watch players practice up close, experience behind-the-scenes action, explore Opening Week entertainment, and see which players qualify to secure a spot in the main draw.
- Kids Tennis Day (11 January) - family-friendly performances, kids' characters, arena spectaculars and more.
AO Week 1 (12-19 Janaury 2025) schedule
- Evonne Gollagong Cawley Day (15 January) - celebrate the world’s longest continuing living culture through First Nations music, dance, art and food.
- Hot Shots Day (16 January) - tennis coaches can bring registered Tennis Hot Shots participants (along with their parent/guardian) to watch the tennis and play games.
- Peroni Super Saturday (18 January) - the biggest day on the tournament calendar, with lots of thrilling competitions plus live music and beer on-tap on Grand Slam Oval.
- AO Juniors Championship (18-25 January) - watch the talent of tomorrow's tennis stars.
AO Week 2 (20-26 January 2025) schedule
- All Abilities Day (21 January) - a showcase of the diverse ways that people with disabilities thrive playing tennis.
- Asia Pacific Elite 14&U Trophy (22-24 January) - talented 14-year-olds (and younger) from the Asia-Pacific region.
- Women and Girls Day (23 January) - showcases female success and empowerment.
- Pride Day (24 January) - the LBGTQIA+ community sporting event of the summer!
- Glam Slam (24-26 January) - the only LBGTQIA+ tournament held at a Grand Slam.
- AO25 Intellectual Disability Championships (24-26 January) - this year, Australian Archie Graham will be defending his title against the world's top players with intellectual disability.
- AO25 Deaf Championships (24-26 January) - the world's top deaf tennis players take on our top Aussie players.
Which stars are coming to the Australian Open?
The best of the best will once again go into battle for the Australian Open championship, including (for the men's title) Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Danii Medvedev, Jannik Sinner, Andrey Rublev, Alexander Zverev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Holger Rune; and (for the women's title) Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, Ons Jabeur, Marketa Vondrousova, and Maria Sakkari.
How will I know which tennis stars are playing when?
Being an elimination event, it's impossible to know in advance who will be playing in which rounds and on which days at the Australian Open. 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.
There are plenty of great events to attend at the Australian Open. Image: Visit Victoria
Where can I buy Australian Open 2024 tickets?
Tickets are available online through Ticketmaster. This year, AO25 tickets purchased from Ticketmaster will be eligible for resale via your Ticketmaster account if your plans change.
How much are tickets to the Australian Open?
Tickets start from $15 for a one-day Opening Week Ground Pass or from $35 for a general one-day Ground Pass ticket. You can also purchase a Week 2 Ground Pass from $139 for access from 20-26 January.
Reserve a seat at the John Cain Arena with a ticket from $49, at the Margaret Court Arena from $59 or at the Rod Laver Arena from $95. 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 Australian Open experience, there are also a range of VIP tickets on offer through AO Reserve.
What does a Ground Pass AO25 ticket get you?
A Ground Pass (Week 1 or Week 2) ticket gets you into the Grand Slam Oval, Garden Square, AO Topcourt, and more. You can also get into the John Cain Arena, although only into the unreserved seating area.
If you want to see a game at Margaret Court or Rod Laver Arena, or reserve a seat at John Cain Arena, you will need to buy stadium tickets separately.
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.
Evaluate whether you want a stadium ticket or a ground pass. Image: Visit Victoria
Is there live entertainment at the Australian Open?
AO Live will present three weeks of live music and entertainment across the precinct, culimnating in three massive days from 23 to 25 January 2025 in John Cain Arena. Artists include pop sensation Benson Boone, DJ Kaytranada, Grammy-nominated pop star Kesha, and DJ Armand Van Helden.
AO TOPCOURT also offers immersive gaming, play zones, live music and DJs plus the hottest trends in fashion and beauty. Note that AO TOPCOURT is not incuded in every ticket - check your ticket inclusions before purchase.
What food and drink will be available at the Australian Open?
There will something to satisfy everyone's tastebuds at the Australian Open 2025, including fine dining and food trucks. Delight in a global food mecca, from Lebanese to Italian, French to Meditarranean, Vietnamese to Nashville-style American, Mexican to Greek.
What should I bring on the day?
A hat, sunscreen and sunglasses are a must. There are free sunscreen stations and water fountains around Melbourne Park precinct. 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 for a walk outside. The outside courts have lots of shade to create a fan-friendly experience. There are also some shade structures all over Melbourne Park to help make it comfortable.
Watch the Australian Open for free at Federation Square. Image: Visit Victoria
Is the Australian Open good for kids?
The Australian Open is a great day out for the whole family.
There are 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 the Australian Open accessible?
Accessible seating is available in Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena and John Cain Arena. Additional accessible seating is available in 1573 Arena, Court 3 and Kia Arena, as well as outdoor courts 5-9. These bays have spaces for wheelchairs as well as companion/service dog seating.
You can purchase accessible seating via the Ticketmaster website, the Ticketmaster phone line (1300 308 999) or via an accessibility form.
All AO entrances are accessibility friendly and Travellers Aid Australia will work with Tennis Australia to provide support at the A025 event for people living with disabilities getting to and from the event and navigating around the venue. Service animals are welcome in all areas of Melbourne Park, Birrarung Mar and all public transport facilities.
There will also be live captions on screens around the site, three sensory rooms across the precinct, play commentary from AO Radio x Vision Australia for blind or low-vision patrons (bring your own headphones), and hearing loops at the Rod Laver Arena, John Cain Arena and Margaret Court Arena (must provide own headphones). Patrons sitting in the accessible seating bay areas on the Rod Laver Arena concourse level can also access in-seat food and beverage ordering.
Which entrance to the Australian Open 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 food and beverage outlets at Grand Slam Oval
- City Entrance - recommended for access to family fun at AO Ballpark.
How do I get to the Australian Open?
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.
By car
There is public parking in Yarra Park for $10 (EFTPOS only). Arrive early to secure your parking, as capacity may be reached before the start of the match.
For alternative parking options, visit the MCG website.
Tram
If travelling by tram, the Garden Square Entrance is most convenient. Take the Route 70 or Route 70a trams to Stop 7B Rod Laver Arena/MCG Gates 1-3.
If travelling to the AO City Entrance, take the Route 70 or Route 70a trams to Stop 7A William Barak Bridge and then walk to City Entrance.
Train
If travelling by train, get off at Flinders Street Station and then take a short walk down to Birrarung Marr to the AO City Entrance.
Last train services depart Flinders Street Station from 12am (midnight) during the week. The Night Network will operate on weekends, with trains departing hourly all night from Flinders Street Station.
Bike
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. Don't forget to secure your bike.