Australian Grand Prix™ Travel Guide
Your guide on how to get to Albert Park, where to explore & other important information to know before you go.
Practical Information
- Visas: All foreign visitors to Australia, apart from New Zealanders, will have to obtain a visa in advance of their trip. Most visas can be obtained electronically without payment and are issued straight away. For more information, please see here.
- Currency: Australian dollar, $AUD. International credit cards are widely accepted, and ATMs are readily available. Plus, tipping is not expected but is also not discouraged when you’ve had good service.
- Language: English
- Time Zone: UTC +11 hours
- In an Emergency: Dial 000 to be connected to the proper emergency personnel for your situation.
- Power Sockets: Australia uses Type I power sockets with a standard voltage of 230V 50 Hz. European travellers will need a power adaptor, while those travelling from North America will also need a voltage converter.
- Weather: For the Australian Grand Prix™, temperatures should range from around 24°C (76°F) during the day to 14°C (58°F) at night. Plus, its the driest time of the year in Melbourne, so it's likely you will be granted a beautiful race weekend!
Arrival & Getting Around
Flights to Australia
Melbourne has two international airports, but the majority of international and domestic flights arrive at Melbourne Airport (MEL), also known as Tullamarine. The airport is used by both flag carriers (including Qantas, Virgin Australia, Emirates and Singapore Airlines) and discount airlines (Jetstar, Tigerair and Scoot, among others). Melbourne Airport is approximately 20.0 km (12.4 mi) from the centre; the best way to get from the airport to the city is to take either a taxi or the cheaper alternative, the SkyBus, which drops off at several central locations.
The second airport in Melbourne is the Avalon Airport (AVV). Much further from the city than Melbourne Airport, Avalon serves AirAsia flights from Kuala Lumpur and domestic Jetstar flights from Adelaide, Sydney, and the Gold Coast. The best way to get from Avalon Airport to the city is with SkyBus.
Where to stay
Albert Park is located just south of the city centre and close to the beachside suburb of St Kilda. The best places to stay for the race are in the Central Business District (CBD), Southbank, South Yarra or St Kilda. Not only are these areas near the track, but they are also buzzing with cafes, restaurants, bars, and shopping.
F1® Experiences offers a selection of the best hotels in Melbourne. If you are still looking for accommodation, contact your Sales Representative for more information about available hotel options.
How to get to Albert Park
Detailed and current information about the best ways to get to Albert Park on race weekend can be found here.
Public Transportation
The cheapest and most convenient way to get to the Albert Park circuit is to take the tram. The most popular route is the St Kilda Road GP Shuttle service, which runs from Swanston Street in the city centre (between Flinders Street train station and Federation Square) to St Kilda and is best for fans entering via Gates 5, 8, 9 and 10. The Light Rail GP Express service runs from the corner of Spencer Street and Collins Street in the centre towards Gates 1 & 2 and the Clarendon Street GP Express trams head from the same location to Gates 3 & 4. Don’t be in a hurry to leave the circuit after the on-track action finishes, but it is likely that the trams will get overcrowded in the evenings.
Taxi and Ridesharing
From the city centre or St Kilda, a taxi to the circuit is a convenient way to get to the circuit. The official taxi company for the Australian Grand Prix™ is 13cabs Australia (Tel: 132227). You can also opt-in for ridesharing with Uber. Both taxi and Uber drop-off and pick-up locations are at Gates 1 and 2 (on Canterbury Road), Gates 3 and 5 (on Albert Road), Gate 8 (on St Kilda Road) and Gate 10 (on Fitzroy Street).
Hire a Car
Severe parking restrictions are in place near Albert Park on Grand Prix™ weekend and no dedicated parking exists near the circuit. We recommend leaving your car at home and letting someone else do the driving.
F1® Experiences
Booked accommodation along with your Official Ticket Package from F1® Experiences? Daily transfers to and from the circuit can be added to your Official Ticket Package for an additional cost.
What to see & do in Melbourne
Go shopping at Queen Victoria Market
The largest market in the Southern Hemisphere celebrates Melbourne’s multicultural population with everything from Australian-themed gifts to fresh produce, cafés, and food stalls. Everything you need to know about the Queen Victoria Market can be found here.
Try your luck at Crown Casino
With roulette, blackjack, craps and poker, not to mention over 3500 electronic gaming machines, Crown Casino is one of the largest casinos in the world! If gambling is not your thing, you’ll also find nightclubs, theatres, concert venues, restaurants and shopping.
Check out Federation Square
Melbourne’s premier arts, culture, and events precinct, which is located opposite the Flinders Street train station in the city centre, houses a variety of permanent and temporary exhibitions celebrating everything from aboriginal culture and history to digital culture, design and architecture. More information about the experience can be found here.
Get a bird’s eye view at Eureka 88
heck out the Melbourne skyline from the observation deck on the 88th floor of the Eureka residential tower in Southbank. Find out more about times and pricing, here.
Visit the Melbourne Cricket Ground
Take a behind-the-scenes tour of Australia’s largest and most iconic sports stadium or visit the Australian Sports Museum at the MCG, which celebrates Australia’s achievements in everything from the Olympics to football, cricket and horse racing.
