Do I need to be a member to play tennis in Melbourne?

No, not at 91 of the 113 venues we checked. 22 are members only, and we mark every one.

Can I play at Melbourne Park?

Yes. The courts around the arenas are open to the public and booked by the hour. Casual bookings open 24 hours ahead.

Can I play at Melbourne Park during the Australian Open?

Do not count on it. The operator closes the venue for event periods and had not published the January 2027 dates when we checked on October 11, 2026.

Can I hire a racquet?

At Melbourne Park, yes, from the pro shop. Elsewhere, ask the venue before you go.

What does a court cost?

At Melbourne Park: per hour: indoor peak $64 / off-peak $53; outdoor peak $46 / off-peak $35; showcourts peak $60 / off-peak $55; peak = after 5PM weekdays and before 1PM Saturdays. For other venues the price is on the venue's page wherever the venue publishes one.

Visitor guide · Melbourne

Where to Play Tennis in Melbourne

We tried to book you on centre court at Melbourne Park. This list is as close as we could get.

Melbourne makes it easy. Most courts here take a booking from anyone. No membership. No local address. The hard part is knowing which courts, and which clubs will turn you away at the gate.

We checked 113 venues across the city. 91 are open to you. 22 are members only. This guide tells you which is which.

Venue facts last checked September 29, 2026. Tournament dates checked October 11, 2026.

91
venues open to visitors: 13
within 5 km of Melbourne Park: 57
with a published price: January 11 to 31, 2027
Australian Open

Play where they play

The courts at Melbourne Park are public. Not the arena. The courts around it.

Courts: 35 (8 indoor hard + 23 outdoor hard + 4 European clay); tennisworld.net.au, read 2026-09-28
Hours: Mon-Thu 6:30AM-10:00PM; Fri 6:30AM-8:00PM; Sat & Sun 8:00AM-6:00PM; tennisworld.net.au, read 2026-09-28
Price: Per hour: indoor peak $64 / off-peak $53; outdoor peak $46 / off-peak $35; showcourts peak $60 / off-peak $55; peak = after 5PM weekdays and before 1PM Saturdays; tennisworld.net.au, read 2026-09-28

Two things to know. Casual bookings open only 24 hours ahead. And racquets can be hired at the pro shop.

One catch. The operator closes the venue for event periods, and it had not published the January 2027 dates when we checked. Ask before you build a day around it.

Book at Melbourne Park Full details

The closest courts to the tennis

Melbourne Park booked out, or closed for the event? These are the nearest courts a visitor can use, closest first.

Powlett Reserve Tennis Centre1.3 km from Melbourne Park
East Melbourne
- Courts: 5
- Surface: 5 synthetic grass
- Lights: Yes
Price: Off-Peak $28 per hour (Mon-Fri 7am-4pm); Peak $38 per hour (Mon-Fri 4pm-10pm); Weekends $34 per hour; 1.87% card surcharge
Book
Fawkner Park Tennis Club1.8 km from Melbourne Park
South Yarra
- Courts: 6
- Surface: 6 synthetic grass
- Lights: Yes
Price: Off-Peak $28 per hour (Mon-Fri 7am-4pm); Peak $38 per hour (Mon-Fri 4pm-10pm); Weekends $34 per hour; 1.87% card surcharge
Book
Carlton Gardens Tennis Club2.3 km from Melbourne Park
Carlton
- Courts: 4
- Surface: Artificial grass
- Lights: Yes
Price: Non-member (signed-out) price per court shown on booking sheet, by session: Mon 28 Sep 2026: $25/hr ($12.5 per 30-min slot) in sessions 06:00-17:30, $30/hr ($15 per 30-min slot) in sessions 18:30-23:00 | Sat 3 Oct 2026: $25/hr ($12.5 per 30-min slot) in sessions 06:00-14:00, $30/hr ($15 per 30-min slot) in sessions 17:30-23:00
Book
Tennis World Albert Reserve2.6 km from Melbourne Park
Melbourne
- Courts: 9
- Surface: 9 hard
Price: Tennis World Melbourne court-hire list (covers Melbourne Park and Albert Reserve): OUTDOOR COURTS Peak $46.00 per/hr, Off-Peak $35.00 per/hr; peak = after 5pm weekdays and before 1pm Saturdays. Page notes price adjustments effective 5 Oct 2026 are "now reflected"
Flagstaff Gardens Multi-Use Courts2.7 km from Melbourne Park
West Melbourne
- Courts: 2
- Surface: 2 hard
- Lights: Yes
Book
Princes Gardens Tennis Courts3.2 km from Melbourne Park
Prahran
- Courts: 3
- Surface: 3 plexi-pave
- Lights: Yes
Book
University of Melbourne tennis courts3.4 km from Melbourne Park
Parkville
- Courts: 4
Price: Per hour, "Other" (non-student, non-staff): regular $38 (Mon-Fri 12:00-2:00pm and 5:00pm onwards, Sat & Sun), off-peak $27.50; students $25/$16.50; staff & alumni $36.50/$26
Book
Mayor’s Park Tennis Courts and Clubhouse3.9 km from Melbourne Park
Clifton Hill
- Courts: 6
- Surface: 4 synthetic grass, 2 hard (multi-use tennis/netball)
- Lights: Yes
Price: Guest sheet 2026-09-29 shows $13.00 per bookable slot on most slots, $15.80 on some evening slots; slot length not stated, so no per-hour figure
Book

As the crow flies.

How booking works here

Melbourne books by the hour, online. 66 of the 91 venues open to visitors take bookings through Tennis Australia's Book a Court. The rest book through their own site or by phone, or need no booking at all. Every venue page here links to the right place.

Walk on, no booking

Some courts need no booking at all. Turn up and play.

Members only. Don't turn up.

22 of the clubs we checked are for members. Nice courts. Not yours, unless a member signs you in. We list them so you know before you travel.

When to go

The Australian Open runs Monday, January 11 to Sunday, January 31, 2027. Opening Week is January 11 to 16. The main draw is January 17 to 31.

That is Melbourne's summer. Book the early hours or the evening, and look for lights: 51 of the venues open to visitors have them.

FAQ

Do I need to be a member to play tennis in Melbourne?: No, not at 91 of the 113 venues we checked. 22 are members only, and we mark every one.
Can I play at Melbourne Park?: Yes. The courts around the arenas are open to the public and booked by the hour. Casual bookings open 24 hours ahead.
Can I play at Melbourne Park during the Australian Open?: Do not count on it. The operator closes the venue for event periods and had not published the January 2027 dates when we checked on October 11, 2026.
Can I hire a racquet?: At Melbourne Park, yes, from the pro shop. Elsewhere, ask the venue before you go.
What does a court cost?: At Melbourne Park: per hour: indoor peak $64 / off-peak $53; outdoor peak $46 / off-peak $35; showcourts peak $60 / off-peak $55; peak = after 5PM weekdays and before 1PM Saturdays. For other venues the price is on the venue's page wherever the venue publishes one.

How we checked

Every fact on this page comes from the venue's or the organiser's own site. Each venue page shows the source and the date we read it. We do not review courts and we have not played them for you. If something here is wrong, the source changed after we read it. Tell us.

“Casual/non-member court bookings can only be made within 24 hours of the desired booking time.” tennisworld.net.au, read October 11, 2026
“a vast range of racquets to hire” tennisworld.net.au, read October 11, 2026
“Venue closure periods including event periods” tennisworld.net.au, read October 11, 2026
“Monday 11 to Sunday 31 January 2027” “Opening Week: 11 to 16 January” “Main Draw: 17 to 31 January” melbournepark.com.au, read October 11, 2026

All tennis courts in Melbourne

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