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going to Oz for the Ashes

tunstallhill

tunstallhill

Striker
anyone ever been? we've wanted to go for years and thinking of going for the 4th Test next xmas in Melbourne.

obviously the ground is massive, but is it easy enough to get tickets?

i see there are a few tour operators online, like The Barmy Army and a few others that offer packages including ticket, hotels and busses etc.., does anyone have any advice?

Thanks
 

I did Perth, Melbourne and Sydney in 2017-8 and loved it. Of the 3 I enjoyed Perth the most, but all 3 were good in their own way.

Personally I’d avoid an organised tour as when I went they seemed to be a lot more expensive, and it’s pretty easy to sort all accommodation and flights etc. from the UK. There’s also tens of thousands of fans over, so easy enough to meet people etc. once you’re out there.

For tickets I got a relative in Australia to sign up to Cricket Australia to get them. It might be different now, but I think you had to have an Australian address or something like that? In any event, I don’t think tickets should be hard to come by if you’re on the ball given how big their grounds are.
 
Kumbuka said:
I did Perth, Melbourne and Sydney in 2017-8 and loved it. Of the 3 I enjoyed Perth the most, but all 3 were good in their own way.

Personally I’d avoid an organised tour as when I went they seemed to be a lot more expensive, and it’s pretty easy to sort all accommodation and flights etc. from the UK. There’s also tens of thousands of fans over, so easy enough to meet people etc. once you’re out there.

For tickets I got a relative in Australia to sign up to Cricket Australia to get them. It might be different now, but I think you had to have an Australian address or something like that? In any event, I don’t think tickets should be hard to come by if you’re on the ball given how big their grounds are.
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Spot on mate cheers for that. I'm not a fan of organised tours, we've been all over the world off our own back so much prefer to do it myself it was just the access to tickets I thought it might help with .

We can only do the Melbourne test, due to timings, I'm hoping it's a good 5-day piss up . It's Xmas day that might be a funny one for us, but I've read that there are a lot of ex-pat parties there especially during the ashes . Did you experience owt like that ?
 
tunstallhill said:
Spot on mate cheers for that. I'm not a fan of organised tours, we've been all over the world off our own back so much prefer to do it myself it was just the access to tickets I thought it might help with .

We can only do the Melbourne test, due to timings, I'm hoping it's a good 5-day piss up . It's Xmas day that might be a funny one for us, but I've read that there are a lot of ex-pat parties there especially during the ashes . Did you experience owt like that ?
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Yeah I spent Xmas with people I was in a hostel with but there was plenty going on in the city, with loads of bars/restaurants open. There was also loads of ex pat / cricket fan events being advertised all around the test match, so doubt you’d have any issues finding places to go.
 
Kumbuka said:
Yeah I spent Xmas with people I was in a hostel with but there was plenty going on in the city, with loads of bars/restaurants open. There was also loads of ex pat / cricket fan events being advertised all around the test match, so doubt you’d have any issues finding places to go.
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Class, sounds ideal that. If i can guarantee tickets for all 5 days then I'm going . Can't see them on sale anywhere yet, the schedule doesn't get released till November so hopefully just after then. First time England fans have been able to go to the ashes over there in 8 years so I think it'll be popular
 
tunstallhill said:
Class, sounds ideal that. If i can guarantee tickets for all 5 days then I'm going . Can't see them on sale anywhere yet, the schedule doesn't get released till November so hopefully just after then. First time England fans have been able to go to the ashes over there in 8 years so I think it'll be popular
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Day 1 is the most difficult to get mate - it will sell out as Collingwood (I think it is) AFL STs have their seats reserved

The rest should be ok
 
Rip Van Fish said:
Day 1 is the most difficult to get mate - it will sell out as Collingwood (I think it is) AFL STs have their seats reserved

The rest should be ok
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I think a BA membership is £30ish. I assume that’d get some sort of priority despite not being on the tour group?

If you’re after atmosphere I’d find out which bay the trumpeter etc are in and get close to that. Being up in the Gods for 5 days will be a different experience.
 
NorthCountryBoy said:
I think a BA membership is £30ish. I assume that’d get some sort of priority despite not being on the tour group?

If you’re after atmosphere I’d find out which bay the trumpeter etc are in and get close to that. Being up in the Gods for 5 days will be a different experience.
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Yea but they want to sell you a hotel and match tickets package and it will be £1200-£1400
They wouldn’t entertain my lad who wanted to go to Multan next week (half term in Dubai) with tickets as he’s not bought their official package
 
Boxing Day Test at the MCG is on the bucket list.
Got an ex-gf who lives in Melbourne so may re-connect with her and see if she'll sort me out.......with tickets that is 🤣

I'm sure Mrs VM will be thrilled to see me getting back in touch with her
 
VenisonsMullet said:
Boxing Day Test at the MCG is on the bucket list.
Got an ex-gf who lives in Melbourne so may re-connect with her and see if she'll sort me out.......with tickets that is 🤣

I'm sure Mrs VM will be thrilled to see me getting back in touch with her
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Needs must mate, always good to keep contacts for the important things in life!!
 
Rip Van Fish said:
Yea but they want to sell you a hotel and match tickets package and it will be £1200-£1400
They wouldn’t entertain my lad who wanted to go to Multan next week (half term in Dubai) with tickets as he’s not bought their official package
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Tbf I doubt there’s any need for them to do a tickets thing given the crowds. Hope he gets sorted though.

From what I’ve seen from those there, escaping the armed escorts to the ground seems to be the main entertainment!
 
When I went to Brisbane in 2013 for the first test, I simply booked the flight to Brisbane and went online and bought the tickets for the first 4 days and printed them out at home, it may of changed but I don’t remember having to become a member of cricket Australia, or any other security faff. it’s a long way to go so I had a week in Bangkok first. Flew with Emirates their and back from Manchester.
 
seaham ftm said:
Clear your PMs @tunstallhill
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Done 👍
big bill said:
When I went to Brisbane in 2013 for the first test, I simply booked the flight to Brisbane and went online and bought the tickets for the first 4 days and printed them out at home, it may of changed but I don’t remember having to become a member of cricket Australia, or any other security faff. it’s a long way to go so I had a week in Bangkok first. Flew with Emirates their and back from Manchester.
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Class, that's how I'd like to do it ideally, just as simple as possible with regards to flights and tickets.

I think you can fly Newcastle -Doha-Melbourne in one journey, takes about 24 hours but I'd probably just go for it.

I'd like to join in with the cricket / Xmas / expat festivities when there though
VenisonsMullet said:
Boxing Day Test at the MCG is on the bucket list.
Got an ex-gf who lives in Melbourne so may re-connect with her and see if she'll sort me out.......with tickets that is 🤣

I'm sure Mrs VM will be thrilled to see me getting back in touch with her
Click to expand...

I'll get in touch with her if you want, test the water
 
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tunstallhill said:
anyone ever been? we've wanted to go for years and thinking of going for the 4th Test next xmas in Melbourne.

obviously the ground is massive, but is it easy enough to get tickets?

i see there are a few tour operators online, like The Barmy Army and a few others that offer packages including ticket, hotels and busses etc.., does anyone have any advice?

Thanks
Click to expand...

Don't bother with the tour operators, you'll end up paying three times as much as a DIY effort. Expect to pay £3k-£4k each if you do. Lots of ways to get to Melbourne cheap via a stop/connecting flight in South/Eastern Asia.

You'll always get tickets. If you're on Facey theres a lad called Roy Serridge usually starts groups off for upcoming overseas tours which shares info/contacts (it's currently New Zealand overseas tour 2024). Also the Barmy Army page for specific tours is good for info.
brandon said:
Avoid the Barmy Army like the plague is the general consensus I think marra.
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Keep them at arms length if they're not your thing. They can be useful for info/tickets etc.
 
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Paddy O'Dors said:
Don't bother with the tour operators, you'll end up paying three times as much as a DIY effort. Expect to pay £3k-£4k each if you do. Lots of ways to get to Melbourne cheap via a stop/connecting flight in South/Eastern Asia.

You'll always get tickets. If you're on Facey theres a lad called Roy Serridge usually starts groups off for upcoming overseas tours which shares info/contacts (it's currently New Zealand overseas tour 2024). Also the Barmy Army page for specific tours is good for info.


Keep them at arms length if they're not your thing. They can be useful for info/tickets etc.
Click to expand...
Might sound like a daft question, but do all 5 of the Melbourne tests sell out well in advance?
 
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