MELBOURNE 15-26 MARCH
Travel Places overview:
Official Travel Agent - Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games
Welcome to our travel and information services for this prestigious event - a truly inspiring sporting tradition.
Travel Places are pleased to be handling the travel arrangements for the following teams:
England, Northern Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey, Gibraltar and the Isle of Man, plus team officials - in all numbering over 1,000 participants. We are also geared up to handle travel logisitics for family members and relatives, media and other officials wishing to travel to the Games.
Our aim is to offer to all our clients, especially families and friends of competitors, quality affordable packages. We will be offering a no frills travel package consisting of scheduled flights and accommodation based on 13 nights in a twin share serviced apartment from £1,399.00 per person subject to availability from London.
This page is to provide you with a summary of our services and information relating to the event, as the earlier you can plan your trip the more the likelihood of getting your exact requirements.
Event Tickets:
 Link: Ticket Collection Process
Link: Schedules & Prices
Link: Event Tickets Order Form
Link: Event Ticket Information
Link: Seating Plans
Travel Places will not be taking any new Commonwealth Games ticket orders after close of business on the 20th February 2006.
Last Minute Ticket Availability:
Travel Places still have some tickets left for the Commonwealth Games, please see the ticket availability spreadsheet to see what we have available.
On this spreadsheet to understand what tickets are available, the date of the session and time is driven from the event code, i.e EDIV319E(E always evening session), = 19th March evening session, EDIV319L is the daytime session.
Please note that as this is not a live booking system we cannot guarantee any of these tickets until we confirm back to you in writing. Please note that we cannot exchange tickets already confirmed for you. Please speak to Debbie or Bruce on 01903 832888 if you have any queries. We look forward to seeing you in Melbourne!
- Please note ticket only requests are subject to a £20 booking fee.
For all tickets payment is due at time of ordering, refunds will be issued for any tickets not supplied. We are unable to process event ticket requests until we have received the completed form. Please fax the form to Bruce Scott on 01903 231179.
Please Note: Ticket collection will now take place in Melbourne prior to and during the games period. The Travel Places Melbourne office will be open from the 12th march 2006 through to the 25th March 2006, click here for details.
When picking up your tickets in Melbourne, Travel Places will require the confirmation Invoice and a valid form of photo I.D. in the name of the person who made the order.
Important Information for Basketball Ticket Holders:
Please note there is no free transport from Melbourne to Regional Victoria where the group games are taking place, even with a Games ticket.
- There will be good public transport operating through the train and coach service called V-Line. We believe they are offering $10 return tickets but you need to book in advance.
- Details are online or by calling 136 196 from Australia.
Information link for the free events such as the marathon, road cycling and the trialthlon.
Accommodation:
We now have some limited availability at our contracted apartments in Murphy Sreet, and Caroline Sreet, plus the Crest on Barkly Apartments.
Crest on Barkly Apartments:
Location:
47 Barkly Street is located right behind No.1 St Kilda Road melbourne, just 8 minutes from the Central Business District, and the area is recognised as one the most prestigious business and tourist areas of Melbourne. Just a short tram ride away is the famous Luna Park, Crown casino and Southbank.
Accommodation:
One, two and three bedroomed apartments are available, and offer all the comforts and facilities you would expect from an international three and half star hotel.
All suites and rooms have reverse cycle air-conditioning, colour TV, radio alarm clock, ISD/STD direct dial telephones, modem lines, refrigerator and tea/coffee making facilities. Ensuite bathrooms contain a bath and shower, hairdryer and complimentary toiletries.
Facilities:
- 24 Hour reception
- Guest laundry
- Currency exchange
- Safe deposit
- Business services
- Undercover car park
- Lift to all floors
- Cocktail Bar
- Outdoor terrace
- Al a carte restaurant
- 24 Hour bar service
Hotels:
 If it’s opulence you’re seeking, Melbourne has an abundance of luxury and boutique hotels. Or, if you crave a home away from home, serviced apartments allow you to spread out in style and comfort. If you’re travelling on a budget, the city’s network of clean guesthouses and backpacker hostels have wide appeal. Or perhaps your fancy runs to cosy bed and breakfast establishments, motel chains, private caravan parks, even a room in a residential college. Whatever your preference, Melbourne has an accommodation option to suit your budget and travelling style.
Please contact Jessica Fryett-Tigges on 01903 832888 if you require more information or availability for a hotel.
Car Hire:
John and Stuart will be able to get the most competitive quotes on Car Hire in Australia, you can Click Here to see a table of rates from our main suppliers, or call 01903 832888.
Stopovers:
 The most popular stopover destinations en-route to Melbourne are the Far East and the USA (depending on your time and budget). It's well worth considering if your ticket allows a free stopover, as this can help to break the long journey and minimise jetlag.
Far East:
Choose from Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong and if you are feeling a little more adventurous try somewhere like Vietnam or Malaysia. There are many quality hotels in the mainstream stopovers cities, iconic buildings such as Raffles in Singapore or the Orient Hotel in Bangkok, we can organise anything you like according to your budget.
We have a stopover section on the Far East: click here to go to the main menu for more information and hotel suggestions.
Getting There:
 We are pleased to be working with Qantas (the official airline for the Games), who have extensive schedules from London heathrow, and feeders with British Airways from regional UK airports. We have negotiated special rates, and will be able to provide detailed information on schedules and pricing according to your specific travel needs.
Qantas:
 The world's longest continually operating airline (originally formed as Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services), back in 1920, they have an excellent reputation for reliability and safety, modern long range aircraft, and engineering excellence.
They offer 21 flights a week from the UK to the Far East, Australia and New Zealand, including a daily flight direct to Melbourne.
Interconnecting flights with their global alliance partners can take you to virtually every location in the world.
There are three classes of travel, Economy, Business and First, each with a high standard of service, and wide range of in-flight entertainment.
Economy:
 There’s no reason why a long flight should be short on comfort and Qantas seats are the most comfortable in their class. Enhancements include in-built lumbar support, manually adjustable 'wings' in the headrest for extra head and neck support, 32” (80cm) of space between seat rows and plenty of blankets and pillows.
The relaxing atmosphere isn’t just down to the seating, superb food and fine Australian wines play their part as well, with menus designed by Neil Perry, owner of Sydney’s fabulous Rockpool restaurant. In between meals you can take advantage of the new “snack on Q” – a contemporary and re-usable refreshment bag containing a range of high quality snack items for you to enjoy whenever you want.
Another area where everyone is catered for is the airline's award-winning “Total Entertainment” system. This lets you enjoy the latest blockbuster movies on seven non-stop movie channels, five TV channels (including our exclusive kids channel ‘Nickelodeon on Q’), 16 audio channels 10 computer games to test your skill on ‘Q Games’ – all this on your very own seatback video screen. Younger travelers also receive a complimentary childrens pack to help keep them entertained for hours.
Business:
 The new Business class Skybed has now been launched on flights from the UK. Qantas surveyed frequent travellers, who told them they wanted more personal space, more privacy, more flexible cabin service and a seat that converted to a bed but which was still comfortable when dining or working. Hence these fantastic initiatives for business class passengers, including the revolutionary new Skybed, a personalised cabin service and a unique lighting system.
The Skybed is designed to give you the most comfortable range of sleeping positions ever. While you’re awake, you’ll find the incredible cocoon design cuts out cabin noise and along with fold-down privacy screens between the forward-facing seats, it allows you much more peace and privacy.
 You can adjust all 6’6” of the Skybed to more positions than you thought possible – and once you’re comfortable, you’ll find a host of other features within easy reach. There’s your personal telephone – a world exclusive with send and receive SMS keeping you fully connected with the outside world. If you need to work, the in-seat PC power outlet is a standard Australian plug fitting. Thoughtfully designed storage compartments keep shoes and valuables contained and there’s even an inbuilt back massager to sooth you into restful bliss.
You can eat your meals at a time that suits you. Your only dilemma will be deciding what to have. The extensive menus have been exclusively compiled by leading Australian restaurateur and chef, Neil Perry of Sydney Rockpool fame. They include healthy options, express meals and a full restaurant style, brought to you by hand-picked specialist flight attendants. All this is complimented by fine wines from a range of the new world’s finest vineyards.
First:
Escape to a sanctuary in the sky in your 6'6" fully flat electronic sleeper seat, providing the ultimate in personal space and comfort. New Qantas First includes softer and more comfortable seat cushions and new refinements to the headrest and seatback.
 Relax with your cosy duvet, soft wool blankets and oversized pillow and enjoy the best flight's sleep you ever had in your very own stylish sleeper suit. New amenity kits exclusively designed by Oroton, include a selection of luxurious skincare products from leading brands La Prairie and Clarins Men.
The First Q Film Library offers 50 titles to choose from. The library is constantly updated and includes premiere, world, classics, Australian and family titles. Select the movies you want to watch and play them at your leisure. All this on your own personal 21cm (8.4 inch) touchscreen with new high quality, noise-cancelling headset.
Qantas First offers a wide choice of cuisine style dining at a time to suit your preference. Choose from full restaurant-style dining, an express-style meal, or simply a snack in the middle of the night. And before you retire into the comfort of your sleeper seat your dedicated Flight Attendant will be pleased to take your overnight breakfast order so you can maximize your sleep time.
There's even a little extra in your personal telephone – send and receive SMS keeps you fully connected with the outside world and a new AC PC power outlet for easy laptop connection, means that no adaptor is required.
The really unique Qantas difference is found in the personalized service provided by hand-picked First Class Flight attendants. From the privileged check-in to the smile serving your choice of fine Australian wine, they are always on hand to smooth every aspect of your journey.
We can, of course, offer availability and prices for all scheduled carriers that fly to Australasia, please email Debbie Street with your request (see Travel Request Form), or call us on 01903 884446 with any queries.
Local Transport:
 Melbourne has a privatised public transport system comprising trains, trams and buses. Trams are the main form of transport throughout the Central Business District and run up and down most main streets.
Trains are the main mode of transport throughout the greater Melbourne area. The best way to get around the Central Business District is to catch the City Circle Tram, a free service that runs around the perimeter of the CBD. There is an excellent map of the CBD and its main points of interest on the website. Travelling away from the CBD, your choice is catch a tram or a train (although bus services do operate to some ).
Trams:
Trams going outside the CBD run to the inner suburbs and in some instances a little further. There are different departure points throughout the CBD and you can check these here. A lightrail service runs to the popular tourist destinations of St Kilda and Port Melbourne (Beacon Cove).
Trains:
There are two main railway stations in the CBD: Flinders Street Station, at the corner of Swanston and Flinders Streets, which is the main terminus for Melbourne metropolitan rail services; and Spencer Street Station, at the intersection of Bourke and Spencer Streets, which is the main hub for country rail services. You can plan how to use Melbourne's public transport system using MetLink (includes all train, trams and bus services).
Commonwealth Games Overview:
 Melbourne will pulsate with 4,500 athletes from across 72 countries competing in 16 sports for the 18th Commonwealth Games in March of 2006.
The Commonwealth Games will be a celebration of elite sport, friendship, culture and goodwill for participants from the 71 Commonwealth nations and territories. Competitors, team officials, family, media, spectators and official body representatives will be present to witness what will probably be the largest ever Commonwealth athlete participation, and a global television audience in excess of one billion people.
The Melbourne 2006 Sports Programme comprises of 12 individual and 4 team sports, with a total of 24 disciplines to be contested at the event. Click here for a summary of sports and venues.
 The Australian Government will provide funding to assist the Melbourne 2006 Games, estimated at around 273 million dollars. Support will include financial assistance to support the staging of significant Games events, such as the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, the Queen's baton Relay and the Cultural Programme.
They will also provide a range of essential security and non-security services that will include border control, communications and broadcasting, anti-doping, dignitary handling and non-security defence support, security intelligence, national law enforcement and counter terrorism measures.
History:
 The first Commonwealth Games took place in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada in 1930. Bobby Robinson, a key force within Athletics in Canada, finally implemented the event that had been talked about among Commonwealth nations for over 30 years. Eleven countries boasting 400 athletes in total participated in the first Games. The City of Hamilton provided $30,000 to these nations in order to defray travel costs.
Since then the Games have been conducted every four years except for 1942 and 1946, when World War II intervened. Sixteen Games have been held in total, with three of these hosted by Australian cities - Sydney 1938, Perth 1962 and Brisbane 1982.
From 1930 to 1950 the Games were known as the British Empire Games, then the British Empire and Commonwealth Games until 1962. From 1966 to 1974 they took on the title of British Commonwealth Games and from 1978 onwards they have been known as simply the Commonwealth Games.
 In an effort to keep the Games vibrant and relevant, the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) allowed Kuala Lumpur in 1998 to include team sports for the first time, a decision which proved an outstanding success. Melbourne's challenge is to perpetuate the evolution of the Games so as to maintain its historical position of strength on the world event stage.
Unlike other sporting occasions, the Commonwealth Games brings together nations from every corner of the world in a unique family spirit of shared history, common experiences, a unifying language, and links that transcend cultural barriers and physical borders.
Queens Baton Relay:
 The 71 nations of the Commonwealth are home to almost one third of the world’s population. For the first time in history, a Commonwealth Games Queen’s Baton Relay is travelling to every single member nation. The Melbourne 2006 Queen’s Baton Relay is the most inclusive relay ever staged.
The epic journey began on 14th March 2005 at Buckingham Palace, and over the next twelve months will travel More than 180,000 kilometres through every continent, across every ocean. The Queen’s Baton will visit many remote and barely accessible nations in what will be the longest relay in history.
From Europe to Africa; Asia to Antarctica. Four corners of the globe, in one year and one day.
Fast Facts:
- Population of Melbourne: 3.36 million (2001 cencus)
- Visas: Non-Australian citizen needs a valid visa or Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) to enter and spend time in Australia. With the exception of New Zealand citizens, all foreign nationals must obtain a visa/ETA before travelling to Australia. Travel Places can issue a standard three-month tourist visas, valid for multiple entries over one year, this is £10 per person.
- Dialling code: 00 613
- Weights & Measures: Metric
- Electricity: 240V
- Currency: Australian Dollar
- Airport: Melbourne Tullamarine, for international and domestic flights. It is about 25 kilometres (16 miles) north-west of the Central Business District.
- Taxis:Melbourne taxis are numerous and easy to spot – they are all uniformly yellow. As well, drivers must always wear a neat uniform and have an identity card on show at all times.
- Climate:Melbourne enjoys a temperate climate with a cool winter. The March average minimum temperature is 13.1 degrees celcius, and the average maximum is 23.8 degrees celcius.
About Melbourne:
 Often hailed as the sports and cultural capital of Australia, Melbourne has a long history of staging major events, from the Olympic Games, held in 1956, to Grand Slam tennis and Formula One, which are held every year. Melbourne’s resident population of around 3.5 million are strong supporters of sport and regularly known to fill stadiums to capacity for Australian Football League matches and other sporting events.
Melbourne is set around the shores of Port Phillip Bay. The city itself, laid out in a large rectangle and boasting a lively and cosmopolitan pulse, sits on the northern banks of the Yarra River, about five kilometres from the bay.
 One glance at a map and it’s obvious that Melbourne is a planned city: a tidy, balanced grid of neatly angled streets. But beneath this sense of everything in its place restraint lies a restless creative energy constantly pushing back at the city’s seeming conservatism. The CBD is made up of precincts; distinct enclaves each with its own flavour and charm. Some are just a lane or two, while others cover the banks of the Yarra River or a busy CBD street. Extending around the bay are a number of inner suburbs, each with its own distinct character and personality. A short tram ride from the city centre, Melbourne’s suburban eighbourhoods are a must see for anyone wanting to experience what life here is really all about.
Sightseeing:
 When time constraints dictate seeing only one major attraction, hotel guests often opt for a trip to the Melbourne Zoo, with other favourites being the Rialto Towers Observation Deck, the National Gallery of Victoria, and the Botanic Gardens. Fairy penguins reside on nearby Phillip Island. Yarra River development has brought sparkle to a one-time eyesore transformed into a vibrant entertainment district called Southgate. From the Alexandria Bridge behind Flinders Street Station, pedestrians can tour through myriad bars, shops and restaurants on the south side of the river.
 As befits the capital of the Garden State central Melbourne has about one quarter of its area given to parks. The most popular are the Treasury,Fitzroy Garden and Royal Botanic Gardens, with their magnificent avenues of Elms, Oaks, Moreton Bay Figs and ornamental lake. The Royal Botanic Garden covers an area of thirty five hectares, contains over 10,000 species of plants, and are set in a vast area of parklands extending to the Yarra River.
Sights/attractions to put on your itinerary: 
- Great Ocean Road
- Dandenong Ranges
- Phillip Island
- Goldfields
- Historic towns such as Ballarat
- The Grampians National Park
- Puffing Billy
- Port Phillip Bay & St Kilda
- Old Melbourne Gaol
- IMAX Theatre
- Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) - Being used as the main Stadium
- Observation Deck (tallest office building in Southern Hemisphere)
- Melbourne Zoo
- Crown Entertainment Complex
Links:
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