You would probably know we were off to Australia on vacation during the week starting Sep 28. As a reminder, Saru had won a trip sponsored by Tourism Victoria for this entry. Starting with this post, I am going to cover the numerous spots we covered and some were well worth the visit.
We stayed 3.5 days in Melbourne, 1 in Gold Coast and 2.5 in Sydney during our week-long outing. We flew Virgin Atlantic between these cities, which I should say I enjoyed.
After landing in Melbourne on Sep 28 early in the morning, we headed to our hotel ibis Styles in the CBD (central business district), kept our luggage with the reception and soon ventured out for our first spot – Melbourne Cricket Ground. You see, I am crazy about Cricket, so we kept this as the first attraction to visit 🙂
Before I write about the attraction itself, I should mention the free Tram (numbered 35) one can take in Melbourne. Most of the attractions are easily approachable using this free service that runs during the day. There is also a Free Tram Zone, where one can take other trams also that run there…however, they will not be free once you are out of the free zone.
Once at the MCG, I was amazed with the enormity of it. We bought the tickets for the MCG tour and also for the National Sports Museum they have. The tour takes you through the entire stadium, with commentary on history, membership, library, media areas, rooms for executives, practice areas, and much more. It lasts a little over an hour to complete the tour…though i will give you a quick virtual tour here 🙂
Do you know they don’t just play Cricket at the MCG? They have also had Football, Rugby, Soccer and even Olympic Games there and many of them are still actively played there.
Our tour began from the ground. “Do you know the cricket pitch is not permanent on the ground?” – you won’t see it in the pictures below. It is prepared separately, brought to the ground a day before the match and laid there – there is a special machine which does all this.
There are two ways of entering the field for a player and the player decides for himself which route he would take. One is through the crowd and one is an under-path which leads directly to the field.
After the field tour, our guide told us about the seating capacity and how different stands are marked. With over a hundred thousand seating capacity, there are 22,000 seats reserved for the members of the MCG. And, if you ever think of getting one for yourself, you won’t get it in this lifetime – the waiting list is that long.
Later, we toured the Media Room, both TV and Newspaper, Practice areas, Library and saw the members’ Dinning Area as well.
We also saw the Strategy Room, where the teams evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of their opposition. You can not sneak into any of these places as there are close to 350 cameras in the MCG.
Once done with the tour of the ground, do not miss the 3D interaction with Shane Warne in their National Sports Museum.
Using the latest in Simulated Hologram Technology, Warne interacts with us as he moves around the space talking about his career – he opens the locker doors, plays with the bat, ball, and does much more…it looks and feels as if he is actually talking face-to-face with us.
There is much more to discover at the Museum, and one can spend an entire day at the MCG alone.
MCG is a must visit attraction, for it is the 10th largest stadium in the world, largest in Australia and largest cricket ground by capacity!
Great review for cricket lovers or otherwise.
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Thank you, buddy 🙂
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Wow! What an awesome experience! Would love to go there one day.
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Nice place for sports lovers!
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Super virtual tour of MCG, Alok. Always a dream destination for any cricket enthusiast. Nice peek which I would never have got otherwise 🙂
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It is an awesome stadium…a must visit if one is around. Welcome, Kamal 🙂
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Dear Alok, nice post on MCG. The ground seems to be set for Australian Football, a sort of rugby but quiet different.
Australian Football is played in about 50 countries including India. Recently Kolkata hosted the nationals and I had the opportunity of witnessing the sports. A blog post will soon come up in my blog.
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This is so good to know…you seem to enjoy a lot of sports then.
Thank you so much for adding.
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Yes Alok I do enjoy sports, especially those which are not too popular. Sharing my blog post on Australian Rules Football in Kolkata
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Great, will check out yours now 👍
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This sounds like a very comprehensive tour. I’ve never been to one of the tours at the MCG but it does look like a bit of an experience. I’ve only been to outside of it, and I feel dwarfed each time I stand beside it. Thanks for the behind-the-scenes photos and glad you had a good time in Melbourne. Looking forward to hearing more about your trip to Australia 😀
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Sure, Mabel. I love Cricket, so couldn’t have missed this ‘spectacular’ attraction.
Thank you very much.
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I loved that tram tho 😍 So Victorian style! And the MCG is marvellous! Great post Alok 👌
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Thank you, Hasmeet. They had better trams called Yarra Trams there…i will try posting a picture in one of my posts 🙂
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Interesting information about Melbourne cricket ground, pictures are great too.
I really enjoyed reading your post 🙂
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Thank you so much, feeling great reading your comment 😀
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Amazing pictures man !
you put so effort, why dont you come on shared hosting doamin
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Thank you, Arvind. I feel in control using WP and might switch to independent domain in future 🙂
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Lovely shots of the cricket ground. I really like that tram!
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Hahaha…that’s a cute little tram they have 🙂
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Wonderful set of images of the stadium.
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Thanks, brother!
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Pretty informative -as usual! Looking forward for more!
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Sure, they will keep on coming 🙂
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Great. 🙂
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Wow! Great pictures. You people had a great time. Would be waiting for more posts on Melbourne 🙂
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Yes, i will keep on adding them over next few months. Thank you 😀
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All I can say is wow! Thanks for the virtual tour!
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You are most welcome 🙂
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Good pictures..!!
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Thank you!
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Wow! Now you’ve made me add one more place to my bucket list!
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You would definitely enjoy it…anyone would 🙂
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Wow sounds so exciting.
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It is…no doubt about it 🙂
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I missed going to the MCG .. even the SCG is a lovely ground .. thank you for the lovely pictures 🙂
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If you get a chance again, don’t miss. You are welcome to enjoy here though 🙂
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Aw this post so well narrated with pictures brings back memories. Thanks a lot Alok.
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Welcome, Dilip. Seems you have been there!
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Thanks for the extensive virtual tour of the famed MCG.
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You’re very welcome 🙂
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Not a big fan of cricket (US baseball for me) as I just do not get to see it much ~ but when I do (when I am in Hong Kong) I love it. The skill, the players but for me it is the history and how the game has evolved – great post and thank you for sharing.
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I am a big fan of Cricket.
I see…you will enjoy my latest post on Cricket played in a Baseball stadium in New York.
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Awesome! Amazing! Thanks for sharing the tour 🙂
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You’re most welcome, Amrita 🙂
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Thanks of taking me on a Tour to Melbourne Cricket Stadium.
I felt as if I was holding your fore finger and going round.
The pictures are so clear.
Some I have lost much interest in Cricket.
Being so; when I would visit the place; not at all I suppose.
Love to You.
Shiva
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Hahaha…i am glad you enjoyed it that much…inspires me!
Thank you so much!
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Why should I interact with a 3D image of Warne? In a short while, he’d rather want to interact with me directly 😛 I didn’t know that MCG conducts sports events other than cricket too. Nice pics 🙂
Destination Infinity
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That was the greatest moment of being at the MCG…interacting with Shane Warne 🙂
It looked so real.
Thank you!
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Awesome!!! I’m sure you guys must have enjoyed a lot!!
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Yes, absolutely 🙂
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Hope you enjoyed your vacation.. Thanks for sharing your amazing experience! 🙂
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You are very welcome, Miss 😀
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The mountains and the view points were amazing. Great vacation!!
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I guess you meant the stadium or maybe you wrongly commented here (meant for another post)?
Thank you, anyway!
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Awesome photos
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Thanks!
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What a fascinating experience at the MCG for you!
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Yep 😀
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Well presented, my Dear Alok! A good tour! 🙂
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Thank you, Ji 😊
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🙂
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Great pictures…you seem to have a memorable trip of one of the most respected cricket grounds, MCG… 🙂
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Yes, we loved it…is it so stunning!
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Fantastic post!
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Thanks!
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Wow… gosh you have a travelers heart… wonderful pics ❤
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I know…I just love traveling 😊
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Thank you for the wonderful virtual tour of MCG!!
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You’re most welcome 😊
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“Do you know the cricket pitch is not permanent on the ground?” ….. Well this was quite a news…. I digested this info with awe as I never thought anything like that could be possible.
3D interaction with Shane Warne looked very interesting. I wished in India they would do something like this with Sachin Tendulkar at the Wankhade Stadium.
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I am glad you read the post so deeply. I was amazed as well when I heard about it.
In fact, in yesterday’s All-Stars Cricket match, they showed how they laid-out the drop-in pitch…was amazing learning about it. My next post is on it since I watched the match live in New York 😊
I wish too that they have such museums out there in India.
Thank you so much for adding!
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Being a huge cricket fan, MCG was always there in my mind, and I used to dream of standing there in the middle and feeling that ambiance.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience and some beautiful images 🙂
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I can understand your feeling, Sreejith…I was in the same boat until I went to MCG and then to All-Stars Cricket match on which I wrote recently.
Hope you get to be at the MCG some day!
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I thought you saw a match betwwen Sachin and Sehwag… but nice this Stadium quite exciting…
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That is my latest post – on the match…you commented on my earlier post here on MCG 🙂
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Lucky you maan! The ground has so much history and cricketing tradition associated with it :). Really lovely pics :D.
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Yes, I agree. Though there is much more to see there than just the ground.
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