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The 2027 Australian Open runs at Melbourne Park from Monday 11 to Sunday 31 January 2027. Viator doesn’t sell tournament tickets itself — official ticketing goes through ausopen.com. The 2026 edition broke every record with 1,368,043 spectators over three weeks. I’ve picked 11 Viator activities rated 4.8/5 or higher to fill the days and evenings without a session: signature excursions (Great Ocean Road, Phillip Island, Yarra Valley), the city on foot or by bike, and one hybrid tennis experience that switches to an Open entry ticket in January. Start by checking availability on that last one before you build the rest of your schedule.
If you’re planning a trip to Melbourne for the 2027 Australian Open, the first thing to know is what Viator doesn’t do: sell tickets to the tournament itself. This platform covers something else, and that’s exactly what interests me here — everything there is to do in Melbourne between sessions, on a day without a match, or in the evening after the last ball has been struck. Three weeks of tennis is a long stretch, and the city has plenty to fill the downtime.
I built this list of 11 experiences around one principle: nothing that feels like a dry, generic entry ticket. One exception deserves to be flagged upfront: the tennis experience at Melbourne Park changes nature during the tournament window — it then includes entry to the Australian Open rather than a simple court rental. It’s the only card in this selection that touches the event directly, and I treat it with the caution it deserves: limited availability, dates to check before you pay.
For the rest, I prioritised what really shapes a summer stay in Melbourne: the three signature excursions leaving from the city (Great Ocean Road, Phillip Island, Yarra Valley), the city itself on foot, by bike or on a food tour, and two premium experiences for evenings when you want something other than tennis. All rated 4.8/5 or higher, all confirmed available over the 11 to 31 January 2027 window.
The 2027 Australian Open at Melbourne Park: the record-breaking Happy Slam
The tournament has been played at Melbourne Park since 1988, the year the Open left Kooyong — judged too small for a Grand Slam event — for Flinders Park, renamed Melbourne Park in 1996. Attendance jumped from day one: 266,436 spectators at the inaugural edition, up from 140,000 at Kooyong the year before (source: Tennis Majors). The centre court, long known simply as « Centre Court », was renamed Rod Laver Arena in January 2000 in honour of the only player to complete the calendar Grand Slam twice (source: Wikipedia — Rod Laver Arena).
Nicknamed the « Happy Slam » — players’ favourite tournament according to several specialist sources — the Australian Open is also the best-attended of the four Majors. The 2026 edition broke every record with 1,368,043 spectators over three weeks, up nearly 150,000 on the year before (source: ausopen.com — AO 2026 by the numbers). Right next door to Melbourne Park on the other side of the Yarra, the Melbourne Cricket Ground anchors it all in what the city claims as its identity: the sporting capital of the world.
The 11 best things to do in Melbourne during the 2027 Australian Open
1. Play on Melbourne Park’s blue courts (AO entry in January)
Year-round, this is a court rental with rackets and balls on Melbourne Park’s famous blue courts. But during the tournament window, the format changes: it then includes entry to the Australian Open rather than a playing session. I’ve put it first in this list because it’s the only one that touches the event directly — double-check the available dates before booking, it closes toward the end of the tournament.
- On Melbourne Park’s official blue courts
- In January, the experience includes entry to the Australian Open
- Ideal for fans who also want to hit a few balls themselves
2. Melbourne’s sporting precinct and behind-the-scenes at the MCG
A guided walk along the Yarra through Melbourne’s world-famous sporting precinct, followed by a behind-the-scenes tour of the Melbourne Cricket Ground — locker rooms, the historic Long Room, the media centre. Availability tightens noticeably during the tournament: confirmed slots cluster right at the end of the Open, when the MCG runs its own schedule. A solid option for sports fans in general, not just tennis.
- Guided walk along the Yarra through the sporting precinct
- Behind-the-scenes at the MCG: locker rooms, Long Room, media centre
- 150 years of Australian sporting history in 3.5 hours
3. Great Ocean Road and the Twelve Apostles in a small group
A full day to catch your breath between tournament sessions: limestone cliffs, photo stops along the coast, a naturalist guide and a multilingual audio guide on board covering 16 languages. It’s the most popular format in this selection, with more than 7,000 reviews combined. Book it on a day without a match rather than in the evening — the drive is long.
- Twelve Apostles and limestone cliffs in a small group
- Naturalist guide, multilingual audio guide on board
- Best-selling format, over 7,000 reviews combined
4. Phillip Island penguin parade at dusk
A full day trip to the Phillip Island peninsula to watch the penguin parade at sunset, with a detour for local wildlife — koalas, kangaroos — along the way. It’s the most requested nature excursion from Melbourne, perfect for an evening without a session at the tournament.
- Penguin parade at dusk on Phillip Island
- Local wildlife (koalas, kangaroos) along the way
- Absolute best-seller for a nature excursion from Melbourne
5. Yarra Valley: vineyards, gin or beer, and lunch
Four handpicked estates in the Yarra Valley, cellar-door lunch included, with the option to swap a wine tasting for gin (Four Pillars) or beer (Watts River). Small group, easygoing atmosphere — the right pick for a relaxed day between tournament sessions.
- 4 handpicked estates in the Yarra Valley
- Beer/gin option alongside wine, lunch included
- Small group, easygoing atmosphere, everything taken care of
6. The historic Puffing Billy steam train through the Dandenong Ranges
Departs Melbourne for Belgrave, then boards Australia’s best-preserved heritage steam train through the Dandenong Ranges. A full family-friendly format, worth booking on a day you want to switch off from tennis entirely.
- Ride aboard Australia’s best-preserved heritage steam train
- Crossing the Dandenong Ranges
- Family-friendly format, full day from Melbourne
7. The ultimate Melbourne walking tour: laneways and hidden history
Three hours with a passionate local guide through Melbourne’s iconic laneways, with a coffee or drink included along the way. It’s the ideal tour for a quiet morning before an evening session at Melbourne Park.
- 3-hour walk with a passionate local guide
- Hidden laneways, street art, little-known stories
- Coffee or local treat included along the way
8. Food tour: 6 tastings through Melbourne’s hidden laneways
A food-focused wander through Melbourne’s world-famous laneways, with six tastings of local specialties and Australian creations, capped off with an exclusive secret dish along the route. A good pick between two sessions — just check availability, it’s not open every day of the tournament.
- 6 tastings through Melbourne’s iconic laneways
- Australian specialties and local creations
- Good culinary break between two sessions at the stadium
9. Melbourne by bike: the most complete city tour in one morning
A bike tour built to cover the maximum number of sights in a short time: streets, architecture, parks and the waterfront. Bike, helmet and local guide included. A great way to see the city in a few hours before an afternoon session at Melbourne Park.
- Bike tour covering the maximum number of sights in a short time
- Past the gardens, the waterfront and the historic centre
- Bike, helmet and local guide included
10. Sunrise hot air balloon flight over Melbourne
About an hour’s flight over the Melbourne skyline at sunrise, with free transfer from city-centre hotels. It’s the most premium card in this selection — book it early in the morning before a long day of tennis.
- Sunrise hot air balloon flight over the skyline
- Free transfer from city-centre hotels
- Optional breakfast after landing
11. Sunset kayak on the Yarra, dinner included
A three-hour sunset kayak trip on the Yarra River, with views of the Melbourne skyline from the water and dinner included on arrival. My final recommendation for closing out a tournament day differently — check the dates, it doesn’t run every day.
- Sunset paddle on the Yarra
- Views of the Melbourne skyline from the water
- Dinner included after the outing
Getting ready for your trip to Melbourne for the Australian Open
Instant 4G/5G connection the moment you land at Melbourne Tullamarine, no physical SIM card to hunt down between sessions.
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See insurance pricesLong-haul flights to Melbourne Tullamarine (MEL) from Europe, with a stopover. January fares climb with the Australian summer season and the tournament.
See available flightsPractical tips for visiting Melbourne during the tournament
Getting to Melbourne Park. Contrary to popular belief, Melbourne Park, like the MCG and Rod Laver Arena, sits outside the CBD’s Free Tram Zone — a valid myki (transport card) is required as soon as your journey goes beyond the CBD or Docklands, or you risk a fine at Richmond station (source: Melbz.com.au).
Where to stay. The CBD and Southbank remain the areas closest to Melbourne Park, within walking distance of the stadium’s three entrances. The southern summer and the tournament push prices up, sometimes doubling them — booking several months ahead is recommended (source: Tripwis).
Weather and what to pack. January is the heart of the southern summer, averaging 16 to 27°C, with peaks well above that. Melbourne is famous for its « four seasons in one day » — never rely on the morning forecast alone, pack a light jacket even in a heatwave.
Book ahead. The Great Ocean Road and Phillip Island excursions fill up faster in December-January, during the Australian summer school holidays, than at other times of year — better to book early than find a tour sold out the day before.
To build a fully personalised itinerary around the Australian Open, you can also check out the Pixidia itineraries hub or the discover page for suggestions tailored to your travel profile.
Frequently asked questions about the 2027 Australian Open in Melbourne
Can I buy 2027 Australian Open tickets through Viator?
No, not directly. Official tournament ticketing goes through ausopen.com and resellers authorised by Tennis Australia. The one exception in this selection is the tennis experience at Melbourne Park, which switches to an Open entry ticket during the tournament window (limited availability, check before booking).
What are the official dates of the 2027 Australian Open?
The tournament runs from Monday 11 to Sunday 31 January 2027 at Melbourne Park. Qualifying (Opening Week) covers 11 to 16 January, with the main draw from 17 to 31 January. Source: ausopen.com — Australian Open 2027 dates announced.
Which activity should I book first for my stay in Melbourne?
The small-group Great Ocean Road tour is the most popular experience in this selection (4.9/5, over 7,000 reviews) — a full day best booked on a day without a session. For a shorter morning, the ultimate Melbourne walking tour (3 hrs, 4.9/5) fits easily before an evening session.
How do I get to Melbourne Park from the city centre?
Melbourne Park is roughly a 20-30 minute walk from the CBD, or reachable by tram/train to Richmond or Jolimont station. Note: the venue sits outside the Free Tram Zone, so a valid myki is required for any public transport trip to the stadium.
Do I need to book Viator excursions far in advance?
Yes, especially for the Great Ocean Road and Phillip Island tours, which fill up fast in December-January during the Australian school holidays. Booking several weeks ahead is reasonable; for the tennis experience and the MCG combo, check the open dates first before booking anything.
What budget should I plan for activities outside tournament tickets?
For two adults, activities in this selection range from €151.66 (kayak or MCG combo) to €650.90 (hot air balloon flight), with most day excursions between €175 and €250. On top of that comes local transport (myki) and accommodation, whose rates climb sharply during the tournament.
Sources
- Australian Open 2027 dates announced: accessed on 2026-09-22
- Your guide to the Australian Open in Melbourne: accessed on 2026-09-22
- Australian Open 2026 by the numbers: accessed on 2026-09-22
- Australian Open 2026 Sets New Attendance Record: accessed on 2026-09-22
- Play begins at Australian Open’s new home: accessed on 2026-09-22
- Rod Laver Arena — Wikipedia: accessed on 2026-09-22
- Melbourne Free Trams 2026: Where Tourists Get Fined: accessed on 2026-09-22
- Top hotels and areas to choose for the Australian Open: accessed on 2026-09-22
- Melbourne January Weather, Average Temperature: accessed on 2026-09-22
- How Far are the 12 Apostles from Melbourne?: accessed on 2026-09-22
- How to get the best value tickets at AO 2026: accessed on 2026-09-22
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