Attraction
National Gallery of Victoria
Australia's oldest public art museum, with free general entry to NGV International on St Kilda Road and the Australian collection at Fed Square.
Melbourne Cricket Ground
Australia's largest stadium, opened in 1853, home of the AFL Grand Final and Boxing Day Test, with guided tours and the Australian Sports Museum.
At a glance
- Type
- Stadium and sports museum
- Area
- East Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Official site
- mcg.org.au
Good to know
- Guided tours
- Australian Sports Museum
- Restaurant
Why we recommend it
The Melbourne Cricket Ground, usually shortened to the MCG, opened in September 1853 on a site chosen by the Melbourne Cricket Club in what is now Yarra Park. With a capacity of just over 100,000, including about 5,000 standing places, it is the largest stadium in Australia and home to the Australian Sports Museum.
English touring teams played here from the 1860s, and the ground hosted the first Test match in 1877, during the Lillywhite tour, and the Boxing Day Test has been a fixed date on the cricket calendar since 1995. Australian rules football is just as central: the Grand Final has been played here almost every season since 1902, and the ground is contracted to host it until 2059. The seated-era attendance record of 100,024 was set at the 2022 and 2023 Grand Finals, while the all-time record of 121,696 dates from the 1970 VFL Grand Final. It was also the main stadium for the 1956 Olympic Games, hosting the opening and closing ceremonies and the athletics. If your visit coincides with a match, going to a game is the most direct way to see the MCG at full volume.
On other days, the 75-minute guided tour is the way in. Tours leave from Gate 3 at regular intervals between 10am and 3pm and, subject to availability, take in the Long Room, the Melbourne Cricket Club library (founded in 1873), the players' change rooms, the Shrine to Test Cricket, the Ron Casey Media Centre and the Ponsford Stand, with a walk along the boundary line of the arena. Bookings are essential, and the schedule changes on event days, so book online before you go.
The Australian Sports Museum is also inside Gate 3, so a tour and a museum visit combine easily, which suits families and anyone travelling with a sports fan. The Committee Room restaurant inside the ground opens for lunch on weekdays.
The MCG sits in parkland on the eastern edge of the city, and the nearest railway stations are Richmond and Jolimont. The ground itself stands within Yarra Park, the former Government Paddock. Allow around two and a half hours for a tour followed by the museum, and if you are visiting in late December or late September, expect tickets for the Boxing Day Test and the Grand Final to be in high demand.
Melbourne Cricket Ground FAQs
Can you tour the MCG?
Yes. Guided tours last 75 minutes and leave from Gate 3 at regular intervals between 10am and 3pm. Booking is essential.
What does the MCG tour include?
Subject to availability, the Long Room, the MCC Library, player change rooms, the Shrine to Test Cricket, the Ron Casey Media Centre, the Ponsford Stand and a walk along the boundary line.
Do tours run on match days?
The schedule changes on event days, so check and book online before you go.
Where is the Australian Sports Museum?
Inside Gate 3 of the MCG.
How many people does the MCG hold?
About 100,024, including around 5,000 standing places.
What are the nearest stations?
Richmond and Jolimont stations are the closest.
What major events are held at the MCG?
The AFL Grand Final, usually played here each season, and the Boxing Day Test cricket match.
When did the MCG open?
In September 1853. It also hosted the main events of the 1956 Olympic Games.