Where to stay during the Australian Open

Proximity to the venue, private tennis courts and tennis-related perks are key considerations for avid fans travelling to the 2018 Australian Open.

And, according to global travellers, these are 10 of the best places to stay in Melbourne for the big event.

Melbourne Short Stay Apartments

The two rooftop tennis courts at Melbourne Short Stay Apartments, with views of Port Phillip Bay, will thrill avid tennis fans. The views from the bedroom balconies are equally splendid, and the Rod Laver Arena – the venue of the Australian Open – is only a short and pleasant walk away. There’s also a huge swimming pool, while everything you could possibly want to see in central Melbourne is within walking distance.

Pullman Melbourne On the Park

Pullman Melbourne on the Park is a mere 10-minute walk through Yarra Park to the Australian Open courts. Try to get a corner suite for views of both the fountains and flowerbeds of Fitzroy Gardens, as well as the cityscape towards Northcote and Thornbury. The pool and spa area is also a blessing for relaxing before or after a tense tennis match.

The Langham Melbourne

The Langham is the Ritz of Melbourne, with crystal chandeliers, marble staircases and wall-length windows looking straight out onto the Yarra River. It sits in an enviable spot on the Southbank Promenade, just a short walk from the Rod Laver Arena. The Langham is proactively involved with the event, providing a tennis programme for each day the evening before. For the 2017 Open, the hotel hosted an intimate soirée for Andy Murray, where the tennis superstar mingled with guests over tennis-inspired cocktails and canapés.

Milano Serviced Apartments

Just a short walk through Melbourne’s CBD to the Australian Open, these apartments are as well-placed for attending the tennis as they are for exploring Melbourne institutions like the Queen Victoria Market (just around the corner). The apartments share an immaculate outdoor tennis court for brushing up on your serve after watching an inspiring display from the world’s top seeded players.

Rendezvous Hotel Melbourne

This heritage-listed hotel offers guests a free shuttle tram service from its doorstep straight to the Australian Open venue. But should you fancy a short walk, it only takes 20 minutes on foot along Southbank, past the French Renaissance-style, ochre and green Flinders Street Station and through the fragrant Botanic Gardens. And with original features blended with contemporary decor, it’s a refined and fashionable oasis right in the middle of the city.

Grand Hyatt Melbourne

With an open-air tennis court, a handy location for the Open and an aesthetic that’s the picture of elegance, the Grand Hyatt Melbourne is the perfect fit for tennis fans with luxurious taste. There’s a spa, sauna gym, basketball court, golf practice cages, an indoor pool and sweeping views from the hotel’s CBD vantage point, combined with courteous staff, suites with jacuzzis looking out onto the Yarra River and moody, marble-clad interiors.

Experience Bella Hotel Apartments

Conveniently-located for the Open, these contemporary apartments are also right above Southbank, so you can easily pop downstairs to find a range of restaurants and entertainment between matches. Or make yourself a picnic in your beautiful marble kitchen and head out for a full day at the tennis.

Citadines on Bourke Melbourne

As well as being highly rated for proximity to the Australian Open, these slick apartments are also right next door to the Melbourne’s main cultural attractions. They’re located on Bourke Street, which – along with the parallel Little Bourke Street – houses some of the city’s best eateries. After a long day of tennis and a slap-up meal, head upstairs to admire the view of Melbourne’s glittering skyscrapers and neon signs from your floor-to-ceiling window.

Ibis Styles Melbourne, The Victoria Hotel

For tennis fans keen to discover the city of Melbourne during the tournament, the friendly staff at this central hotel will be happy to help. It’s in a great position in the middle of the CBD, 2 minutes from Federation Square, as well as for the Open, just 20 minutes’ walk from the Rod Laver Arena. The hotel also has a swimming pool, sauna, rooftop gym with city views and its own restaurant specialising in Australian fusion cuisine.

Mantra on Jolimont

You’d be hard pressed to find a better location for the Open than that of these airy, modern apartments. From the higher floors, most rooms have a view of the tournament’s tennis courts, as well as of the Royal Botanic Gardens and the Yarra River. Between matches, you can recline by the minimalist, grey slate swimming pool and make the most of Melbourne’s blue January skies and balmy temperatures.