After whats has felt like a long winter its back... YES, the first race of the F1 World Championship will kick off on Sunday 25th March in Melbourne Australia..
So if you love the smell of petrol, the roar of a finely tuned engine here's our selection of 6 of the best places to stay for the big event..
Pullman Melbourne On the Park
The Pullman Melbourne overlooks picturesque Albert Park, but for one week of the year, the view is transformed into one of the world's most exciting Formula 1 racing circuits & guests can enjoy all the action from their windows.
Just a short tram ride from Melbourne CBD and St Kilda, Pullman Melbourne Albert Park provides the perfect picturesque base from which to explore the area. Guests staying at this elegant Melbourne hotel are within easy reach of the Royal Botanic Gardens a nd the Shrine of Remembrance, with access to the St Kilda Road business district and Melbourne Airport via the freeway. Guests looking to explore Melbourne can discover its laneways and cultural attractions, and its vibrant casino and dining precincts.
The Langham Melbourne
The Langham is the Ritz of Melbourne, with crystal chandeliers, marble staircases and wall-length windows looking straight out onto the Yarra River. It sits in an enviable spot on the Southbank Promenade, just a short walk from the Rod Laver Arena. The Langham is proactively involved with the event, providing a tennis programme for each day the evening before. For the 2017 Open, the hotel hosted an intimate soirée for Andy Murray, where the tennis superstar mingled with guests over tennis-inspired cocktails and canapés.
Rendezvous Hotel Melbourne
With views overlooking the Yarra River, Rendezvous Hotel Melbourne provides guests modern accommodations in one of Australia’s most historic buildings. The hotel is located in the city’s Central Business District. Accommodations at the property feature a minibar, in-room safe, work desk and a pillow menu. A limited amount of free Wi-Fi is offered to guest on a daily basis.There is an on-site fitness center at the hotel as well as a 24-hour business center.
Federation Square is a three-minute walk from the hotel while The Queen Victoria Gardens and SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium can be reached in five minutes on foot.
Grand Hyatt Melbourne
With an open-air tennis court, a handy location for the Open and an aesthetic that’s the picture of elegance, the Grand Hyatt Melbourne is the perfect fit for tennis fans with luxurious taste. There’s a spa, sauna gym, basketball court, golf practice cages, an indoor pool and sweeping views from the hotel's CBD vantage point , combined with courteous staff, suites with jacuzzis looking out onto the Yarra River and moody, marble-clad interiors.
Experience Bella Hotel Apartments
Bella Hotel Apartments are conveniently located on City Road in the heart of Crown Precinct. Rich in culture and entertainment. Only a short walk to the CBD, the precinct draws an enthusiastic crowd to its soaring buildings and the Southgate promenade, which boasts some of Melbourne’s best entertainment and shopping. With South Melbourne just a short walk away, you can experience the area’s neighbourhood warmth and culture, especially the famous South Melbourne Market, brunch cafes and the eclectic shopping strip of Clarendon Street. The beauty and tranquillity of The Royal Botanic Gardens is also located close by as is The Albert Park Lake, home of The Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix.
Ibis Styles Melbourne, The Victoria Hotel
The Victoria Hotel is the obvious choice when looking for contemporary accommodation in Melbourne. Idyllically located next to Melbourne Town Hall and minutes from the iconic Flinders Street Station and Federation Square, this historic hotel in Melbourne is within close walking distance to the city’s must-see attractions. With 370 spacious heritage rooms, The Victoria Hotel offers contemporary accommodation within what is arguably Australia’s most popular city.
The Victoria Hotel is conveniently situated in the Free Tram Zone and offers easy access to Southbank and the city’s many galleries and museums, as well as the vibrant restaurant, café and bar scene. Shopaholics are in prime position to explore the Collins Street boutiques, Bourke Street Shopping Mall and Chinatown alleys. And for those looking for a night out, the Little Collins Street locale is the perfect base to take on the Melbourne’s lively East End theatre district, Crown Casino and famous sporting arenas.