The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) or as it is affectionately called – ‘The G’ – is a must visit when in Melbourne. And you don’t need to be a sports fan to visit the MCG and appreciate it. A visit to the MCG will provide you with an insight into Melbourne’s sporting culture while exploring one of Melbourne’s most iconic sites. Here’s how to visit the MCG.
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About the Melbourne Cricket Ground
The Melbourne Cricket Ground is a world-class sports stadium. It was built in 1853 and is the largest sports stadium in Australia and the 11th largest in the world. It is home to the Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC), a cricket club founded in 1838. The maximum recorded crowd is a massive 100,024 people. It not only hosts AFL (Australian Football League) and cricket matches but other sporting events including rugby league and soccer matches and music concerts. In 1956 it hosted the Olympic Games and in 2006 the Commonwealth Games. So it has a very special place in Australian sporting history.
Where is the Melbourne Cricket Ground?
MCG Light Towers can be seen in the distance – they draw you to the ground
The MCG is located just 3 kilometres east of Melbourne’s CBD in the suburb of Richmond. It is part of what is called Melbourne’s sporting and entertainment precinct. Across the road is the National Tennis Centre, which hosts the Australian Open every year usually starting the second week in January. Also nearby is AAMI Park, home ground for the NRL team – Melbourne Storm. Plus Melbourne Rebels (Rugby Union) and both Melbourne’s soccer teams – Melbourne Victory and Melbourne Heart.
How to Get to the Melbourne Cricket Ground?
You could drive the 2 or so kilometres from Melbourne’s CBD to the MCG, but really, as the ground is so close to the city, you could walk or take public transport to get you there.
Catch a Train to the MCG
Two train stations service the MCG.
Jolimont Station is just north of the MCG. It is a five-minute walk through Yarra Park to Gate 3 after alighting from the train.
Richmond Station is on the south-eastern side of the MCG. It is about a 10-minute walk to the G.
Catch a Tram to the MCG
A number of trams will get you to the MCG. No. 75 (City-Vermont South) and No. 48 (City-North Balwyn) trams stop outside the MCG near Jolimont Train Station. Then its a short stroll through Yarra Park.
For more transport details visit the Public Transport Victoria website.
When to Visit the MCG
You can visit the outside of the MCG anytime and walk around its perimeter. Going inside the ground is influenced by events that may be taking place there.
Why is the MCG so important in Melbourne?
As well as hosting regular international and domestic cricket, Australian Rules football games and other events, the MCG is home of sport in Melbourne. It just has a presence with its light towers dominating the Melbourne skyline. It is a meeting place of sporting minds or should that be ‘where legends play’.
What Can You See and Do at the MCG?
You can visit the MCG a few ways. You can go on a tour, walk around the perimeter or go to an event. And you cannot miss the MCG as it’s tall light towers can be scene from many places in Melbourne.
Walk Around the Perimeter
If you don’t want to go inside the MCG, you can walk around it’s perimeter. Follow the Parade of Champions – some 10 statues of Australian sporting heroes: Shane Warne (cricket), Bill Ponsford (cricket), Ron Barassi (AFL), Sir Donald Bradman (cricket), Dennis Lillee (cricket) , Betty Cuthbert (athlete), Shirley Strickland (athlete), Haydn Bunton (VFL), Keith Miller (cricket) and Leigh Matthews (AFL).
You can also just enjoy Yarra Park outside. But if you want to go inside your options are to go on a tour or to an AFL or cricket match or other event.
Shane Warne Statue – one of the statues in the Parade of Champions
How to Take a Guided Tour of the MCG
So what can you see and do at the Melbourne Cricket Ground? Well, a guided tour of the MCG will take you to places that you normally cannot go. Learn about the MCC (Melbourne Cricket Club) Tours are conducted by very knowledgable volunteers who take you to the inner sanctum of the MCG and let you walk onto the hallowed ground. Things you will see and visit during the tour include:
- the famous MCC Long Room
- MCC Library (founded in 1873)
- MCG Tapestry.
- Player change rooms.
- Cricketers’ viewing room.
- Ron Casey Media Centre.
- National Sports Museum
- Portrait of Sir Donald Bradman and Sachin Tendulkar.
- Cricket Victoria Bill Lawry Centre
- Ponsford Stand
- City Terrace with views of Melbourne’s skyline.
- A walk on the arena – also known as the hallowed ground of the MCG.
- End at the MCG shop.
TIP: Wear very comfortable shoes as you will be doing a lot of walking on a tour of the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Wall of cricket photos along the wall outside the entrance of the National Sports Museum
How to Book a Tour of the MCG
You can walk up and book a tour which run between 10am and 3pm every day – except on match day when games are being played or other events occurring. Tours leave roughly every 15 minutes with an adult ticket costing $33. If you are wondering how long a tour lasts, well, a fully guided tour of the MCG can take around 75 minutes to complete. The MCG closes at 5pm with the last tour leaving at 3pm.
>>>> You can purchase a ticket by walking up to Gate 3, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Yarra Park, East Melbourne or Book your MCG Tour online here
Go to an AFL or Cricket Match or Event
Waiting for a Match to Start
Go to an AFL or Cricket Match
AFL (Australian Football League ) is a fast-paced contact sport with origins from 1858. Every week during the winter months, thousands of passionate fans turn up at the MCG to watch their beloved team play. It culminates with the grand final played on the last Saturday in September. Cricket is hugely popular during the summer months and sees the MCG host matches between the state cricket teams as well as the Australian team and teams from other countries. One of the best days to go, and one of the hardest days to get a ticket is for the Boxing Day Test match.
Are You Ready to Visit the MCG?
A visit to the MCG should definitely be on your list of things to see and do in Melbourne. If you need accommodation during your visit to Melbourne read this post on where to stay in Melbourne first. Have you been to the MCG? – I’d love to hear in the comments.
Sounds like fun! I would like to see a cricket match.
Cricket matches are fun and exciting to see. Be aware they can go for quite a few hours.
A great bit of sporting history there!
Agree, the museum is well worth a visit just to learn about Australia’s sporting history.
Wow! You have made it so easy and convenient to visit the MCG. And the photos have already inspired me to take a tour.
Thank you. The MCG is easy to visit – you can see it’s light towers from many parts of Melbourne so you can easily find to take a tour or go to a game. I go most weekends during winter to see my team – Hawthorn – play in the AFL competition.