National Sports Museum, Melbourne

Sport is like a religion in Australia and at the National Sports Museum you can learn all about the nation’s love affair with sport and some of its greatest athletic triumphs. The museum is located inside the Melbourne Cricket Ground, affectionately known as the MCG. Dedicated to Australian sport, there are displays and exhibitions relating chiefly to Australian football, cricket and the Summer Olympics. Other displays also reflect upon sporting achievements in tennis, netball, rugby union and league, golf, soccer and basketball. Since the Australian Racing Museum was absorbed into the National Sports Museum in 2010, there are also many displays that relate to horse racing.

There are plenty of interactive displays along with important sporting memorabilia, which fascinates kids and adults alike. The museum is located on two levels and has around 2500 pieces on display. Some of the best-known sporting memorabilia on display include the Waterford Crystal Ashes cricket trophy; baggy green caps of several Australian test cricketers and gold medals from several of Australia’s Olympians including Cathy Freeman and Edwin Flack – who was Australia’s first gold medal winner. Interactive displays give visitors the chance to try out their athletic prowess as well as become a sports journalist on the news desk.

Why You Should Visit:
Unashamedly Aussie-biased, this is nevertheless a fascinating collection of memorabilia and displays.

Tip:
You can buy a ticket at Gate 3 where the entrance is (right by the escalators). For a deal/steal, you may purchase this ticket in conjunction with the MCG tour ticket (the tour lasts about 75 minutes).

Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Aaroncrick.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Melbourne. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

Download The GPSmyCity App

Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: National Sports Museum
Sight Location: Melbourne, Australia (See walking tours in Melbourne)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery

Walking Tours in Melbourne, Australia

Create Your Own Walk in Melbourne

Creating your own self-guided walk in Melbourne is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

St. Kilda District Walking Tour

A cosmopolitan seaside suburb of Melbourne overlooking Port Phillip Bay, Saint Kilda District is a charming and culturally rich neighborhood graced with a blend of historical landmarks and contemporary attractions.

One of its prominent sites is the Saint Kilda Town Hall, an imposing municipal building that serves as a hub for various community events and gatherings.

Eildon Mansion, another... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.5 Km or 2.2 Miles

Melbourne Food Tour

Relatively small compared to the likes of New York City or London, Melbourne is quite big when it comes to food – standing tall among major international culinary destinations. The influence of multiple waves of immigration from Europe and Southeast Asia has rendered this Australian city's gastronomic landscape insanely varied and opulent.

Indeed, the local food scene caters to a wide... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.2 Km or 1.4 Miles

Laneways and Arcades Walking Tour

With over 40 laneways and arcades found in Melbourne, one can easily traverse a good part of the city's Central Business District through them, without even setting foot on a street. Many of these laneways date back to the Victorian era and are packed to the brim with all sorts of retail establishments and eateries – each with its own distinctive character and charm.

One of the most... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.6 Km or 1 Miles

Melbourne Introduction Walking Tour

Melbourne is the capital and largest city in the Australian state of Victoria. The metro area consists of 31 different towns spread around the bay of Port Philip. Indigenous Australians have lived here for more than 40,000 years. European settlement began in the 1830s when settlers arrived from Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania). The settlement, incorporated in 1837, was named for the British Prime... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.5 Km or 2.2 Miles

Historical Buildings Walking Tour

Melbourne's architecture is a rich cocktail of styles ranging from those practiced in the early years of European settlement of Australia to the more modern ones. Among the historical buildings particularly noticeable here are those from the Victorian era, forming an essential part of the city's heritage.

The Old Melbourne Gaol once served as a prison, from 1842 to 1929, and is... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles

Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip

Chocolate Indulgence Tour of Melbourne

Melbourne has a reputation for cafés and fine restaurants, and lately a chocolate fever has taken over the city. This tour takes you through the alleyways and arcades of the city center whilst stopping at selected chocolate indulgence points. Take your senses on a unique experience through six of...