Quick answer: Yes. Go on Kids Tennis Day, the Saturday of opening week, which is a full day of kids' entertainment, tennis fun and family activities across the precinct.8 The AO Ballpark has adventure play, a waterslide and kids' tennis at Hot Shots HQ, so pack a towel.8 Bring hats, sunscreen and water: some areas and seats are in direct sun and heat.7
At a glance
| Dates of the 2027 Australian Open | 11 to 31 January 2027 Official |
|---|---|
| Opening week 2027 | 11 to 16 January 2027 Official |
| Kids Tennis Day 2027 | Saturday 16 January 2027 Expected |
| Kids Ticket | Ages 3 to 11 Official |
| Children aged 2 and under | Free, as long as they don't take a reserved seat Official |
| Bags | One bag per person, small enough to fit under a seat Official |
| How tickets work | Ticketmaster (official ticketing partner) |
On this page
- At a glance
- Opening week, every time
- Kids Tennis Day: the big one
- The waterslide (yes, really)
- Beating the heat
- The boring-but-important bit
- Where families should stay
- Check stays for your dates
- Dates
- Busy weeks
- Know the venue
- New for 2027
- From our visit
- Your family day checklist
- Questions parents ask
- More for this event
Will the kids enjoy the Australian Open if they couldn’t care less about tennis? Mate, in opening week they’ll have a better day than you. There’s a waterslide. A giant adventure playground. Face painting, character meet-and-greets, and open practice where the players warm up like it’s no big deal.
The tennis is the bonus round. The trick is picking the right week, and outsmarting the heat.
Coming soon · design preview
Photo
A photo from the event (our own, or licensed and credited) with a short caption. Optional per page.
Opening week, every time
Go in opening week, the six days before the main draw. Qualifying’s on, the whole precinct is open, and you can catch open practice. It’s the week built for wandering, and nobody bats an eye when a four-year-old loses interest halfway through a set.
Kids Tennis Day: the big one
If you only get one day, make it Kids Tennis Day, the Saturday of opening week. Melbourne Park turns into one giant kids’ party: shows all day on Grand Slam Oval, face painting and character meet-and-greets in Garden Square, Hot Shots tennis on an official AO court, and a giant game show at John Cain Arena. It’s the Australian Open the way a six-year-old would design it, and honestly, they’ve nailed it.
The waterslide (yes, really)
Make a beeline for the AO Ballpark. It’s an adventure playground with a waterslide, smack in the middle of a Grand Slam, and on a January afternoon it’s a magnet for anyone under ten. Pack a towel and a change of clothes and you’ll be the legend of the family.
Beating the heat
Melbourne in January can be a scorcher, and some seats cook in full sun. Hats, sunscreen and water bottles are non-negotiable. Non-alcoholic drinks in plastic bottles and your own food are welcome, baby food included, so a packed lunch beats a food queue every time. One bag each, small enough to slide under a seat, and leave the esky at home: no container over 1.5 litres gets in.
Prams aren’t allowed in the seating areas, so work out where yours is parking before a match. And some spots have loud music and flashing lights, handy to know if your little one is sound-sensitive.
The boring-but-important bit
Under-3s get in free, as long as they don’t take a reserved seat. Kids from 3 to 11 need a Kids Ticket, and 12 to 17-year-olds a Youth Ticket, with age counted on the day you go. Anyone on a Kids Ticket needs a grown-up with them the whole time. Bring photo ID for the adults and something that shows the kids’ ages, just in case you’re asked.
So, will the kids love the Australian Open? On the Saturday of opening week, with a towel in the bag for the waterslide, it might just be the best day of their summer. Yours too.
Where families should stay
East Melbourne & Jolimont
12 min to the venue
Getting back late: Walking distance: no late transport needed
With kids Luxury
Check stays in East Melbourne & Jolimont Paid referral
Southbank
20 min to the venue
Getting back late: Walk back, or AO trams to the city until an hour after play ends, then walk Expected
With kids Luxury
Check stays in Southbank Paid referral
South Yarra & Prahran
25 min to the venue
Getting back late: Sun to Thu, if play runs past 11.30pm: AO night bus from Federation Square. Fri and Sat: trains all night Expected
On a budget With kids
Check stays in South Yarra & Prahran Paid referral
CBD east
15 min to the venue
Getting back late: Walk back, or AO trams to the city until an hour after play ends Expected
First-timers Luxury
Check stays in CBD east Paid referral
Richmond (Swan St)
15 min to the venue
Getting back late: Walk back, about 15 minutes; extra Route 70 trams run towards Richmond Expected
On a budget Groups
Check stays in Richmond (Swan St) Paid referral
St Kilda
40 min to the venue
Getting back late: Sun to Thu, if play runs past 11.30pm: AO night bus from Federation Square. Fri and Sat: night trams to St Kilda Expected
On a budget
Check stays in St Kilda Paid referral
Check stays for your dates
- Stays in Melbourne Stays near the venue Check dates Paid referral
We earn a commission if you book through these links. We choose areas and stays on their merits. No partner can pay to be included or ranked.
Dates
11 Jan 2027 Official to 31 Jan 2027 Official
- Opening week 2027
- 11 to 16 January 2027 Official
- Kids Tennis Day 2027
- Saturday 16 January 2027 Expected
- Main draw 2027
- 17 to 31 January 2027
Coming soon · design preview
Busy weeks
How busy the city is around the event, week by week, and what else is on. Coming with the clash index.
Coming soon · design preview
Weather
Typical weather for the event dates from long-term records, then a forecast in the last two weeks. Coming with the weather data.
Coming soon · design preview
Know the venue
Entry, bags, payments, sightlines and access at the venue, each from the official source. Coming with the venue data.
Coming soon · design preview
New for 2027
Up to three things that change this year, flagged from the edition facts. Coming with the edition comparison.
Coming soon · design preview
From our visit
Our own notes and photos from the event, where we have them. Coming after a visit.
Your family day checklist
- Plan your visit for Kids Tennis Day, the Saturday of opening week.8
- Book Kids Tickets for ages 3 to 11 and Youth Tickets for ages 12 to 17.7 Age counts on the day the ticket is used.7
- Skip a ticket for little ones: children aged two and under are free, as long as they don't take a reserved seat.7
- Bring photo ID for the adults and proof of the kids' ages: the organiser may ask for it.7
- Pack non-alcoholic drinks in plastic bottles, and your own food, including baby food, keeping to one bag per person, small enough to fit under a seat.7
- Bring a towel and a change of clothes for the AO Ballpark waterslide.
- Pack hats and sunscreen: some areas and seats are in direct sun and heat.7
Questions parents ask
- Can older kids wander off and explore on their own?
- Not on a Kids Ticket. Children on one must be with a parent or guardian aged 18 or over at all times.7
- When is opening week?
- It's the week before the main draw, when the whole precinct is open, with qualifying and open practice sessions.9,11 Check the AO 2027 dates for the exact days.
- Is the Australian Open OK for a sound-sensitive child?
- Plan for it, because some areas have loud music, flashing lights and pyrotechnics.7 Pack ear defenders if your child uses them.
- What can we bring in?
- Non-alcoholic drinks in plastic bottles, and your own food, including baby food.7 Stick to one bag per person, small enough to fit under a seat, and see the AO 2027 conditions of entry for the full list.7
Coming soon · design preview
More for this event
Links to the other guides for this event (first-timers, budget, groups and more) as they go live.