Sports and Recreation in Melbourne
More than 1.5 million people visit City of Melbourne sports and recreational facilities each year.
The Active Melbourne program encourages all residents, city workers and visitors to be active regardless of age, gender, culture or ability through:
- the extensive range of sport and recreational facilities and world class parks and gardens.
- participating in public events such as Ride to Work Day, Mothers' Day Classic, Water Safety Week and 'Run to the G' to promote a more active lifestyle.
- supporting a number of Walking School Buses in the municipality and 'Walk On Wednesday', a new initiative encouraging schoolchildren to be more active by walking to school.
- offering reciprocal swimming rights for members across Council's swimming pools during summer.
- facilitating a wide range of sport participation opportunities for school children across the municipality.
- a sports and recreation grant scheme for clubs and individuals within the City of Melbourne.
- the development of a new youth health and fitness membership option at the Melbourne City Baths.
Kensington Community Recreation Centre
The Kensington Community Recreation Centre features a 25m swimming pool, a children's learning pool, and a toddlers play pool with water features, all located in a fantastic indoor setting.
It also has a multi-purpose sports hall equipped with hydraulic basketball rings, netball goals, indoor soccer goals and volleyball net. It can be used as an indoor cricket venue. The hall is available to hire for casual hire.
Children's programs include Ed Gym (for one to five year olds), modern dance classes and aquatic education from infants through to school age, plus music lessons, holiday programs, and homework support as well as netball, soccer, basketball clinics and competitions.
Adults are also well catered for with swim squads for beginners and advanced, and a variety of health and wellness classes including pilates and yoga classes. Other activities include: pottery and sculpture; Latin American dancing; aqua aerobics; guitar lessons; sports aerobics; and tennis. The mixed netball competition is a great way to unwind after a hard day at work and make new friends. Disabled access is available.
Riverside Skatepark
The Riverslide Skatepark, in the Alexandra Gardens, is a five-minute skate from Flinders Street Railway Station.
Riverslide has 1800m2 of skating surfaces and is the biggest skate park in the inner city. The park was designed in consultation with skaters, and has a street-skating focus so you can test your stuff on ramps and fun-boxes.
Carlton Gardens Tennis Club
The Club enjoys a city fringe location in a classic garden setting. It has four courts, court lighting and a heritage clubhouse plus an outdoor BBQ available to club members and the general public. A Wednesday night social competition runs all year round with non-members welcome to join in. Professional coaching is available.
Royal Park Golf Course
The nine-hole Royal Park Golf Course can cater for all levels of golfing ability.
The course offers:
- very reasonable green fees of $11 for nine holes and $17.50 for 18 holes.
- club hire for $14.
- motorised golf cart hire for $20.
- golf shop.
- putting green and driving nets.
- on site golf pro who is available for group and individual lessons.
Princes Bowling Club
109 Bowen Crescent, Carlton North
9380 1458
Male and female bowlers are welcome and sets of bowls can be borrowed at no cost. The club has two greens, and an indoor bowling facility that is available in winter.