Top sporting hub
Melbourne is a sporting mecca and is, currently in the midst of an international sports fever. The Australian Grand Slam has just ended and the World Cup fever is at fever pitch with the India-South Africa match this Sunday. Already, the road blocks for the Australian Grand Prix are in place with the event scheduled on March 12 to 15. Daniel Ricciardo, the Australian in the driving seat with Red Bull, with Sebastian Vettel gone for Ferrari, the Australians are waiting with bated breath. The local soccer league ‘A-league’ is well under way and it is hot on the circuit in its 18th round. And come March, the extremely passionate AFl will start to sold out stadiums. Melbourne is the only city in the world that has six international standard sporting facilities (including four with retractable roofs) on the fringe of its central business district — the MCG, Docklands Stadium, the Rod laver Arena for tennis, the Hisense Arena, Margaret Court Arena and the Olympic Park in Melbourne Park. Besides the above mentioned sports, the Australian 500cc Motorcycle Grand Prix, the Spring Racing Carnival, the Australian Football league Grand Final and many other special events are lined up for this summer.
All-in-one stadia
The thing about Australian stadiums is that they are multi-purpose and the Indian perception of an MCG or the Adelaide Oval being only cricket stadia is way off the mark. Both MCG and the Oval are as full, if not more, when football is played within their precincts. The cricketing pitches are portable and are rolled up when the football season begins in the Australia. They are laid back again for the cricket. Not just football, these iconic stadia are also loaned out for bigtime concerts, like the Rolling Stones or the like.
Small & big of it
If Adelaide was a small, sleepy town, Melbourne is a big busy city. However, shops in both far removed cities close at the same time, early at 6 pm! By 10 pm, the streets are deserted in Adelaide and the city is almost in its second nap of the night. Melbourne, however, parties late into the night and people are often out at the Federation Square brimming with concerts, comedy nights or even special migrant population functions, like the bhangra fest for example. Amid all this, you also come to know that the city sits lightly on its sporting heroes who, unlike India, can go for a walk around the riverside, grab a bite at a street café and even walk through a busy marketplace without being intruded upon by fans. Indian fans are you listeningIJ
Tramway wonder
Melbourne, among many other things, is also famous for its extensive tramway system which is the largest outside Europe and fourth largest in the world. With 244 km long track and close to 450 trams, it is not just the size but what all it does on the rails. For one, the most romantic thing to do is have lunch or dinner on the Victorian style Colonial Tramcar Restaurant while seeing the city. This special tramcar serves you delicacies on the side as you savour the city through its quaint windows.