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Where to Stay in Melbourne for the Australian Open 2027: Areas, 12 Hotels and Getting to Melbourne Park

By Casey, Gently Yonder editor

Australian Open 2027 runs 11 to 31 January. Six areas weighed by the route to Melbourne Park, 12 hotels, last year's tram plan and what lifts January prices.

Last updated · 16 min read

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In this guide14 sections
  1. The short answer
  2. The 2027 dates: what is published
  3. Getting to Melbourne Park
  4. What pushes January prices up
  5. East Melbourne: beside the gates
  6. The east end of the city centre: Spring Street and Collins Street
  7. Richmond: the local option
  8. Southbank: across the river
  9. Docklands and Southern Cross: trains, trams and the airport bus
  10. St Kilda: a value base by the bay
  11. How to book Melbourne for the Australian Open
  12. All 12 at a glance
  13. Before you go
  14. Frequently asked questions

The Australian Open fills three weeks of Melbourne’s January, from 11 to 31 January 2027, and the dates are the part of your hotel bill you can plan around. We found no Melbourne city hotel tax to report, so the things that shape the price are the calendar, the transport fares that change on 1 January, and what each hotel charges for extras such as parking.

This guide covers the 2027 dates as Tennis Australia has published them, six areas weighed by how you reach Melbourne Park, twelve hotels, and the fares and routes that matter. The 2027 transport plan was not yet published at the end of October, so the arrangements we describe are labelled as last year’s. The hotels are researched picks, chosen for location, what each property publishes and consistent guest feedback, and each was checked as operating at the end of October 2026. No hotel pays to appear here.

The short answer

If you want… Stay in Why
to walk to the gates East Melbourne The hotels sit beside the sports precinct, with Jolimont station close by
a classic base and a short walk The east end of the city centre Spring Street and Collins Street, then Flinders Street for the walk to Melbourne Park
a quieter, local base Richmond Richmond station is a 10-minute walk from the grounds on last year’s official plan
river views and a stroll across Southbank Big hotels over the Yarra, a walk over the river to Flinders Street
trains, trams and the airport bus Docklands and Southern Cross Route 70 trams run from Docklands to the venue, and SkyBus stops at Southern Cross
a lower price and a sea breeze St Kilda A longer journey, with the beach and the pier at the door

Not sure which area? Rank these areas for your trip: pick what matters and see the reasons.

An empty blue tennis court with blue seating rising on all sides beneath a roof, and a Kia Arena sign on the far wall
A blue-court tennis arena in Melbourne. Photo: Nightingale / Pexels

The 2027 dates: what is published

Tennis Australia’s site gives the dates for the 2027 tournament as follows, and adds that all dates and event details are subject to change.

What When
Whole tournament 11 to 31 January 2027, at Melbourne Park
Opening Week 11 to 16 January
Main draw From 17 January
Singles finals 30 and 31 January

Tickets are sold through Ticketmaster, and Melbourne Park’s 2027 guide, last updated on 8 October 2026, says early bird pricing runs until 12.59pm on 30 November 2026. For comparison, the 2026 tournament ran from 12 January to 1 February, with the main draw from 18 January.

Getting to Melbourne Park

Melbourne Park’s own 2027 guide calls public transport the quickest and easiest option, and says the park is a 10-minute walk from the city centre via Birrarung Marr or the Tanderrum Bridge.

A green and yellow tram crossing the street in front of the domed, cream and red-brick Flinders Street Station under a grey sky
A tram at Flinders Street Station, where the walk to the grounds begins. Photo: Joolsmagools / Pexels

What last year’s plan looked like. For the 2026 tournament, Transport Victoria published the following. We have not seen the 2027 version, so treat it as a guide to how the event is likely to run, not a promise.

The Free Tram Zone. The City of Melbourne describes it as covering the central city and Docklands, bounded by Spring Street, Flinders Street and La Trobe Street, with the streets around the Queen Victoria Market included. Inside it you don’t need a myki for trams; trains and buses still need a ticket. Southbank is across the river from Flinders Street, East Melbourne is east of Spring Street and Richmond is further out, so none of them is inside the zone.

Fare Amount Note
Free Tram Zone Free Trams only
myki Money, two hours, Zones 1 and 2 $2.85 Half-price period
myki Money, daily cap $5.70 Half-price period; $11.40 before it
SkyBus, adult one way $25.90 Not covered by the half-price discount
SkyBus, adult return $43.40 Online return price shown by SkyBus

The half-price period on Victorian trains, trams and buses runs until 1 January 2027, and the Victorian Government’s page mentions no extension, so check the fare before you fly. Contactless cards, phones and watches work for full-fare travel at the same fares as myki. Our arithmetic: if the daily cap returns to $11.40, seven capped days cost up to $79.80, against $39.90 at today’s cap. Many days will cost less than the cap.

From the airport, SkyBus runs as a turn-up-and-go service to Southern Cross Station, and a myki can’t be used on it. Our airport guide compares every way in, and getting around Melbourne covers the trams in more detail.

What pushes January prices up

There is no city tax table here. We did not find a Melbourne city accommodation tax in the sources we checked, so we have not invented one. These are the things that do move the total.

East Melbourne: beside the gates

East Melbourne sits beside Fitzroy Gardens and across from the sports precinct, and the hotels here lean on that. It is outside the Free Tram Zone, which is the price of being close: you walk rather than ride. Jolimont Station is the rail link, and last year’s official plan put it 11 minutes on foot from the Garden Square entrance.

Where to stay in East Melbourne

How the hotel links work: a hotel’s name goes to its own website. “Check rates” opens it on Booking.com through our partner Stay22, which pays us a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you.

A large stadium with floodlight towers and cable masts rising above railway tracks and trees under a blue sky with white clouds
The Melbourne Cricket Ground beside the railway tracks near Richmond. Photo: Joshua Williams / Pexels

The east end of the city centre: Spring Street and Collins Street

The east end is the quiet, grand part of the grid: Parliament, Spring Street, the theatres and the Paris end of Collins Street. Spring Street is the Free Tram Zone’s eastern boundary. From Flinders Street Station the official walk to the Birrarung Marr entrance took 10 minutes last year.

Where to stay in the east end

Richmond: the local option

Richmond gives you a neighbourhood rather than a precinct. Last year’s official plan put Richmond Station 10 minutes’ walk from the grounds, or a tram ride to the Grand Slam Oval entrance. We have not measured the walk from either hotel below to the station, so work out your own route in the Journey Planner.

Where to stay in Richmond

Southbank: across the river

The Yarra River at dusk with a white arched footbridge, small boats moored along the banks, and city towers with construction cranes behind
The Yarra at Southbank, with a footbridge over to the city. Photo: Robert Stokoe / Pexels

Southbank has the river promenade, the arts precinct and the Crown complex, and its hotels face back across the Yarra at the city. It is outside the Free Tram Zone, but a footbridge takes you to the Flinders Street side, from where last year’s plan put the Birrarung Marr entrance at 10 minutes’ walk. We have no official time for the whole journey, so test it.

Where to stay in Southbank

Docklands and Southern Cross: trains, trams and the airport bus

A waterfront promenade at sunset with a Marvel Stadium sign on the left, a sculpture, a wooden walkway over the water and tall golden towers behind
The Docklands waterfront at sunset, with Marvel Stadium to the left. Photo: Joolsmagools / Pexels

Docklands and the streets around Southern Cross are inside the Free Tram Zone, so the first tram you catch costs nothing. Last year’s official plan put Route 70 and 70a trams between Docklands and John Cain Arena at Melbourne Park, with free travel for ticket holders, and the SkyBus terminus at Southern Cross makes it the easiest end of town to arrive in. From Southern Cross, SkyBus’s own guide describes walking about 500 m to Spencer and Flinders Streets to catch the Route 70 tram.

Where to stay in Docklands and at Southern Cross

St Kilda: a value base by the bay

A wooden pier over calm water at dusk, with sailboats moored beside it and the Melbourne skyline in the distance under an orange and grey sky
The Melbourne skyline from the pier at St Kilda. Photo: Robert Stokoe / Pexels

St Kilda trades convenience for the beach. Last year’s official page put the Route 246 bus along Punt Road, between Clifton Hill and Elsternwick via St Kilda. We have not timed any St Kilda journey, so check the Journey Planner.

Where to stay in St Kilda

How to book Melbourne for the Australian Open

All 12 at a glance

Hotel Area Tier Best for Watch out for
Pullman East Melbourne East Melbourne Comfortable The shortest walk to the venue Parking not included
Mantra on Jolimont Melbourne East Melbourne Good value A lower price by Jolimont station A 24 m² entry room
The Hotel Windsor East end Splurge History at the Free Tram Zone’s edge An old building
Sofitel Melbourne on Collins East end Splurge A polished base on Collins Street Parking not included
The Motley Hotel Richmond Richmond Comfortable A new boutique hotel on Bridge Road AU$35 a day parking
Amora Herencia Riverwalk Melbourne Richmond Good value Space by the Yarra Test the journey first
The Langham, Melbourne Southbank Splurge A classic hotel on the river Price
Crown Towers Melbourne Southbank Splurge Space and full service A casino complex
Quay West Suites Melbourne Southbank Comfortable Apartments and a kitchen “A stroll” is the hotel’s wording
Mövenpick Hotel Melbourne on Spencer Southern Cross Comfortable Airport bus and trams A tram ride to the venue
Quest Docklands Docklands Good value Self-catering Event-night crowds
The Prince St Kilda Good value The beach and the pier Small entry rooms

Before you go

Sort out mobile data first (the best eSIM for Australia), and consider cover for a trip with tickets and flights in it (best travel insurance for Australia). For the rest of your stay, see things to do in Melbourne and the first-timer’s guide to Melbourne.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Australian Open 2027?

Tennis Australia gives 11 to 31 January 2027 at Melbourne Park: Opening Week from 11 to 16 January, the main draw from 17 January and the singles finals on 30 and 31 January. It adds that all dates and event details are subject to change.

Where is the best place to stay for the Australian Open?

East Melbourne, if you want to walk: Pullman East Melbourne describes itself as opposite the sporting hub, overlooking the MCG and Rod Laver Arena, and Mantra on Jolimont lists Jolimont station 400 m away. The east end of the city centre, Richmond, Southbank, Docklands and St Kilda are the other areas, and the guide weighs each by its route to Melbourne Park.

How do you get to Melbourne Park?

Melbourne Park's 2027 guide says public transport is the quickest option and the park is a 10-minute walk from the city centre via Birrarung Marr or the Tanderrum Bridge. The 2027 transport plan was not published at the end of October 2026; in 2026 Route 70 and 70a trams ran to the entrances, and Flinders Street Station was a 10-minute walk from the Birrarung Marr entrance.

Are trams free in Melbourne during the Australian Open?

Trams inside the Free Tram Zone are free: the City of Melbourne describes it as the central city and Docklands, bounded by Spring Street, Flinders Street and La Trobe Street. In 2026 the zone was also extended on weekdays to Melbourne Park for ticket holders, on the day of the ticket. The 2027 arrangements had not been published.

How much is the SkyBus from Melbourne Airport?

SkyBus lists an adult fare of $25.90 one way, with an adult return at $43.40 when bought online. It runs turn-up-and-go to Southern Cross Station, and a myki cannot be used on it. Victoria's half-price public transport discount excludes SkyBus.

Is there a hotel tax in Melbourne?

We did not find a Melbourne city accommodation tax in the sources we checked, so the guide has no tax table. What moves the total is the calendar, parking (for example AU$35 a day at The Motley Hotel Richmond), and the public transport fares, which are half price only until 1 January 2027 unless extended.

Sources & further reading

Dates, fares and hotel terms change. Every detail here was checked at the end of October 2026, and the 2027 transport plan had not been published; confirm tournament dates, transport and room terms before booking. All twelve hotels are researched picks, none was a hosted stay, and none is first-hand. This article contains affiliate links: hotel rates on Booking.com and other booking sites through Stay22, and tours, transfers and eSIMs through our partners; if you book through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. No hotel pays to be included.

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