Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
( 03-9001 6400;
www.victorianopera.com.au
)
Dedicated to innovation and accessibility, its pro-
gram pleasingly doesn't always play it safe.
MCG DREAMING
Where did Australian Rules football come from? There's plenty of evidence to suggest that Aboriginal men and
women played a form of football (called 'marngrook') prior to white settlement. Did they play it at the MCG site
pre-settlement? The MCG has two scar trees from which bark was removed by Aboriginal people to make ca-
noes. These reminders make it clear that Melbourne's footy fans (and perhaps players) were not the first to gather
at the site of the MCG - or the Melbourne Corroboree Ground, as some Indigenous Australians like to call it.
Sport
Melbourne is a sport-obsessed city. From March to October it's all about AFL footy, while
rugby league, soccer and rugby union are also very popular. In summer, cricket domin-
ates.
Melbourne Cricket Ground
( 03-9657 8888;
www.mcg.org.au
)
Melbourne's sporting mecca, the 'G' hosts cricket in the
summer and AFL footy in the winter. Attendance is a rite of passage for many locals. See
Melbourne Cricket Ground (
Click here
)
for more information.
STADIUM
Etihad Stadium
( 03-8625 7700, tours 03-8625 7277;
www.etihadstadium.com.au
; Bourke St, Docklands; tours adult/child/conces-
sion/family $15/8/12/39; 70, 75, 86, 96, 109, 112, Southern Cross)
Both comfortable and easy to ac-
cess, this Docklands stadium seats 52,000 for regular AFL games and the odd one-day
cricket match and rugby union test, with the advantage of a retractable roof to keep spec-
tators dry. Also runs tours for sporting tragics.
STADIUM
AAMI Park
SOCCER, RUGBY
( 03-9286 1600;
www.aamipark.com.au
; Olympic Blvd, Richmond; tickets from $30; 70, Richmond)
Across from Rod Laver Arena, AAMI Park is the home of Melbourne's soccer and rugby
teams. Its rectangular pitch is enclosed within a striking honeycombed-bioframe stadium,
with a capacity of 30,000.
From October to May, catch Melbourne Victory or Melbourne Heart in the A-League
soccer; from March to September there's rubgy league, with Melbourne Storm playing in
