Now Is The Time To Plan The Perfect Australian Open Weekend For 2025

25.01.2024 - 19:49 / forbes.com

In Melbourne, the locals refer to the Australian Open as “The Tennis” because it is an entire experience, not merely a place to watch tennis, but a destination. Located in the heart of Melbourne, it truly is a city grand slam event in the best possible way—the grounds are surrounded by all of the big city perks like shopping, dining and amazing coffee but you’ll also get lovely scenery along the Yarra River which runs through Melbourne. The Open itself is a multi-layered offering, as three-time Grand Slam Champion and First Nation Australian Ash Barty noted during a recent interview, “You can buy a grounds pass and have a full amazing day and never even see a tennis game, there’s just that much going on here.” The word is out and the buzz is real—this year’s open has seen record-setting crowds and the time to plan your visit for 2025 is now. Indeed AOTravel, the official travel provider of the Australian Open, is selling tickets and packages for 2025 right now. They’ll plan the entire experience for you—hotel, dining, transfers and tickets—from takeoff to departure. Here’s what should be on your to-do list for the rest of this week and next year’s slam:

What to Expect at the Open: The Australian Open is called the Happy Slam for a reason—the event’s energy is festive, playful, and full of convivial cheer—and you don’t have to break the bank to have a fabulous day of tennis at the AO. A simple Standard Ground Pass ticket brings access to outdoor courts, Kia Arena, 1573 Arena and unreserved seating at John Cain Arena. You’ll also have access to the dining and concessions offerings at the Grand Slam Oval and Garden Square. Bring a picnic blanket and spread out on the lawn to watch the ticketed events on the big screen.

If luxury and premium access is your speed, there are several packages including the Fan Walk—an entirely unique Grand Slam experience exclusive to the Australian Open where you’ll get to enjoy the Walk of Champions, a guided tour of Rod Laver Area, and photographs near the iconic blue court as the players warm-up.

After a day or an evening of tennis you must make time to sample the food and drink on offer in Melbourne proper. Indeed,dining and drinking (especially coffee) are serious business in Melbourne. A great way to dip into the overwhelming food scene in this city is to take a Hidden Secrets dinner tour where a group of eight guests maximum and a guide explore three different restaurants (on foot) in one evening. Coffee is a city-wide obsession; at every street corner you’ll discover a new artisan coffee shop—the latest estimate put the number of cafes in Melbourne at around 2,000.

What to do Outside of Melbourne—Explore the Mornington Peninsula

The Mornington Peninsula, just a