Melbourne and South Pacific: Australian Open Tennis Breaks Now Paired With Luxury Cruises in 2026
Published on
November 26, 2025
For many fans, the idea of sitting under the warm Melbourne sun at the Australian Open in January feels like the perfect escape from a northern hemisphere winter. In 2026, travellers will be able to turn that dream into a longer adventure by pairing world-class tennis in Melbourne with an indulgent cruise across the South Pacific, visiting destinations such as New Caledonia, Vanuatu and New Zealand. The Australian Open, held each January at Melbourne Park with its flagship Rod Laver Arena, is the first Grand Slam of the year and already draws more than a million spectators across two weeks of play.
Australian Open: The Heart of the Holiday
The Australian Open is staged at Melbourne Park, with Rod Laver Arena serving as the main showcourt and featuring a retractable roof to keep play going during intense heat or rain. Official tournament information notes that the event typically runs over two weeks in mid to late January, with a packed schedule of singles, doubles and mixed doubles across day and night sessions. Tourism authorities highlight Melbourne in January as a festival-like experience, with outdoor dining, cultural events and summer weather creating a lively atmosphere for visiting fans.
In the 2026 packages, travellers spend three nights in Melbourne with tickets for matches at Rod Laver Arena before continuing their journey by air to their cruise departure port. This setup allows visitors to settle into the city, attend multiple sessions, explore the laneways, museums and riverfront, and adjust to the time zone before boarding their ship.
Option One: Crown Princess – South Pacific Island Escape
The first itinerary features Crown Princess, offering a more mainstream five-star cruise experience. Travellers begin with three nights in Melbourne, including Australian Open tickets, then fly north to Brisbane for an additional night before boarding the ship.
From Brisbane, the 17-night itinerary sails into the South Pacific, calling at:
- Nouméa and Easo Beach in New Caledonia, known for UNESCO-listed lagoons, French-influenced culture and a mild, tropical climate
- Port Vila, Luganville and Mystery Island in Vanuatu, destinations promoted by the Vanuatu Tourism Office for their white-sand beaches, blue holes and relaxed island life
This package begins on 17 January 2026, lasts 17 nights, and includes flights, hotel stays, meals on board and selected land tours, with prices reportedly starting from £3,599 per person. Bookings are due to close on 21 December 2025, giving travellers a firm deadline to secure cabins before the festive rush.
Option Two: Regent Seven Seas Navigator – Luxury Route to New Zealand
The second itinerary is designed for travellers seeking ultra-luxury cruising. After three nights in Melbourne with Australian Open tickets, guests fly to Sydney for one night and then embark on the Regent Seven Seas Navigator, an all-inclusive, smaller luxury vessel.
This 20-night voyage calls at Brisbane and Tasmania before crossing the Tasman Sea to New Zealand, visiting ports promoted by Tourism New Zealand such as Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, Napier, Gisborne, Tauranga and Auckland, each offering coastal scenery, wine regions, Maori culture and outdoor activities.
The package is scheduled to begin on 18 January 2026, runs for 20 nights, and includes flights, hotel stays, meals, drinks and shore excursions, with lead-in prices from around £11,749 per person. The booking deadline is currently set for 22 December 2025.
Impact on Business Travellers and Holidaymakers
For business travellers, these packages could turn a work-related visit to Australia into a blended “bleisure” trip. Melbourne and Sydney are key corporate hubs, and adding a cruise after meetings or conferences allows professionals to unwind without planning a second long-haul journey. Tourism Australia’s corporate information highlights the country’s importance as a destination for international business events, with strong air links and modern venues.
For leisure tourists, the combination of a Grand Slam tournament and tropical or New Zealand cruising delivers a substantial holiday in one booking. Instead of flying 20-plus hours for just a few days of tennis, travellers can extend their stay to over two or nearly three weeks, spreading the cost of flights across a longer experience. Families and couples benefit from having flights, hotels, tickets and cruises bundled together, which simplifies planning.
Step-by-Step Guide to Planning This Tennis-and-Cruise Trip
- Check entry requirements
- Review Australian entry rules, including visa options such as eVisitor or ETA for eligible nationalities, and biosecurity restrictions on food and plant products.
- Choose your itinerary
- Decide between the more affordable Crown Princess South Pacific route or the ultra-luxury Regent New Zealand route based on budget, destinations and length.
- Confirm Australian Open dates and sessions
- Look at official Australian Open ticket info and session schedules to understand which rounds your included tickets are likely to cover.
- Book before the deadline
- Aim to secure your chosen package well before the December 2025 cut-off, as cabins and popular match days may sell out.
- Plan time on shore
- Use official tourism sites for Australia, New Caledonia, Vanuatu and New Zealand to research excursions such as snorkelling, wine tours and cultural experiences.
- Arrange travel insurance
- Ensure coverage includes sports events, cruises and medical care in multiple countries.
- Pack for mixed climates
- January is summer in Australia and New Zealand, but weather at sea and in southern regions like Tasmania and Dunedin can be cooler, so layers are essential.
Quick Tips for Tourists and Travellers
- Apply for any required visas or electronic authorisations early.
- Allow at least a day in Melbourne before your first tennis session to recover from jet lag.
- Use public transport and official shuttle services to reach Melbourne Park easily on match days.
- Book popular shore tours, such as lagoon snorkelling in New Caledonia or geothermal experiences in New Zealand, in advance.
- Check luggage allowances on internal Australian flights between Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney, as domestic rules may differ from long-haul legs.
Key Points at a Glance
- Australian Open in Melbourne each January is the first Grand Slam of the year and features Rod Laver Arena as its main showcourt.
- Two 2026 packages pair three nights in Melbourne with match tickets and a South Pacific or New Zealand cruise.
- Crown Princess itinerary: 17 January 2026 start, 17 nights, visits New Caledonia and Vanuatu, from around £3,599pp, booking closes 21 December 2025.
- Regent Seven Seas Navigator itinerary: 18 January 2026 start, 20 nights, calls at Brisbane, Tasmania and multiple New Zealand ports, from about £11,749pp, booking closes 22 December 2025.
- Bundled packages offer strong appeal to both business travellers and holidaymakers seeking to turn a tennis trip into a once-in-a-lifetime South Pacific voyage.
For travellers who have long imagined combining the buzz of a Grand Slam in Melbourne with tropical islands or New Zealand’s dramatic coastlines, these 2026 cruises create a rare opportunity. With careful planning around visas, tickets and booking deadlines, tennis fans can look forward to cheering under the lights at Rod Laver Arena before watching the sun set over coral lagoons or New Zealand harbours, all within a single unforgettable journey.
Disclaimer: The Attached Image in This Article is AI Generated
