Melbourne Sports & Aquatic Centre

Completed in 1997, the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Center (MSAC) is one of the largest athletic centers in the southern hemisphere. Home of the 2006 Commonwealth Games and the 2007 FINA World Swimming Championships, the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Center has a wide range of facilities for both serious swimmers and recreational users. Aquatic facilities include a number of indoor pools such as a 50-meter competition pool and 25-meter lap pool, a multi-purpose pool, outdoor 50m pool, wave pool including toddlers' play area, spa, sauna and steam room, water slide, dive boards, and hydrotherapy pool. 
The MSAC also boasts one of three FlowRider machines in Australia. The FlowRider creates a static wave of water that gives riders a similar experience to wakeboarding or surfing.
Other facilities include a 10-court squash facility with international standard glass show court, 12 court badminton stadium, 27 table tennis tables, a 10 court basketball facility with a 1800 seat show court, and three volleyball courts. These facilities can be rented by the hour, or visitors can come and watch some of the many amateur and professional sporting events taking place here.

Practical Info

The many facilities of the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Center all have slightly different opening hours, but in general things are open from 6am to 10pm weekdays, and from 7am-8pm on weekends. Access to the pools costs around $7, and renting any of the courts costs around $20 per hour, depending on peak hours and the size of the court. The FlowRider costs $20 for an afternoon and $30 for a full-day pass. Located near the center of Melbourne, MSAC can be reached by tram via Route 96 (East Brunswick to St Kilda Beach) (stop 129) or Route 112 (City to South Melbourne/St Kilda) (stop 131).