Any know much about the practicalities of parking at the MCG?

As a helper with my son's Auskick club we have an amazing opportunity to visit the MCG in a few weeks and actually get to play/coach on the pitch. Very excited

I'll probably book us a hotel for the night. The drive from hotel (Spencer Street, opposite Southern Cross Station) to the MCG looks easy enough on Google Maps. Will that be the easiest/most flexible option or do we tram it?

Cheers

Don't bother trying to drive in Melbourne, even though it's quite possible. The parking is the killer, particularly around the MCG. The MCG is easy to get to by tram, train, or indeed walking from Flinders Street. And from Southern Cross you could get a free tram to the other side of the CBD area, then walk the rest.

Cheers Garry. I can book parking next to the MCG for $20, but then I won't be able to have a beer during the game... The hotel I've booked is next to Southern Cross station, so very easy access to a number of tram stops - Latrobe St, Docklands, Southern Cross, Flinders St. - though I guess as we're going on a Sunday services will be reduced?

My son has some cricket coaching first in Thomastown. Google Maps says it is 40 mins to drive from there to MCG, or 30 mins to our hotel (The Atlantis) on Spencer St.

I need to be at the MCG by 3.30pm. If I get to our hotel by 2.45ish is it doable to get to the MCG on time? I would sacrifice beer for getting to the MCG on time if I need to book parking and drive directly there.

2:45 might be tight. The reason I suggest the CBD Tram is because it's free, so no need for a Myki card, then the walk from the Eastern extent isn't too bad isn't too bad - but I wouldn't want to be in a rush.

Maybe try the PTV journey planner and see what it says.

Good tip. But just like Melbourne trains, it isn't working very well ... or at all ... at the moment!

There is no way on gods earth I would voluntarily take a car into the MCG car park, especially crossing the city.

I looked up the walk, it's 2.9 Ks from Southern Cross to the "G" Says 38 mins.... I could easily do it in less than 30. I know you've got a little one with you but.... It'll take you longer than the 30 min walk to get the car out of the MCG car park. Then it wil likely take you 30 mins to drive back to Southern Cross. Doubling your travel time.

There should be a train every few mins from Spencer St to Flinders ST or Parliament, the walk is less than 20 mins from those. Parliament is that little bit closer to the G.

A train from Southern Cross to Richmond is your best bet though. Should be at least 6 an hour of those.

use the PTV Journey planner or download the train trapper app.

Then there's Didi, Uber, bolt and Ola..... Which will probably only cost you 10 bucks or less. There again on the way back from the G you'll have to walk a long way from the G to catch or "pin" one of those effectively away from the crowds.... right over to near the Hilton hotel.

The reason I suggested taking the free tram to, say, the Spring St/Finders St Stop 8 (the SE corner of the CBD) is because being free you don't have to muck about getting a Myki card for everyone. It might take 20-30mins to do the half circuit (anti-clockwise), but the walk is then only 5-10 mins to the MCG (which is outside the free zone). Alternatively you can probably get the tram across the middle (still free) and have a slightly longer walk to the MCG from Parliament.

Only problem with the free tram, is whenever I've waited for the bloody thing, there has been some kind of issue with it. See it all the time, except for when I'm actually waiting for it. LOL.


Myki works on Android now. You can download the app.... not sure what happens with kids tickets though.

I reckon I'd go with Ola as that first trip should cost you just about zilch.

All trams in CBD are free now the CBD has a free tram zone both of which spencer street and flinders are in so you can use any tram for free