Suburban Olympics

Plunder the relics of Melbourne’s Commonwealth Games and tap into Olympics fever in your own back yard

First published on 6 Aug 2012. Updated on 24 Aug 2012.

All eyes are on London, but if you cast your mind back, Melbourne’s played host to world games mania before. Just six short years ago, she was wriggling into Lyrca to host the international-ish Commonwealth Games! And like any good fitness fad, all that fancy equipment is still in the shed. Be a contender, and line up where our best and brightest actually managed to win gold.

Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre
Albert Park	First opened in the ’90s, MSAC got official “sporting battler” status when its new $60m pool sprang leaks in the lead-up to the Commonwealth Games. Holes were plugged, Aussie swimmers dominated (19 gold!) – now for $7.20 a session, or $3.20 during “happy hour”, you can battle too!
State Mountain Bike Course
Lysterfield Park	Don’t wait for a sunny day – rain delivers perfect conditions for skidding up and down these narrow, muddy, root-riddled tracks. The range of courses deliver as much – or as little – adrenalin and arse-ache as you need. Take your own bike or hire a tricked-out “Specialized Carve” from the café/bike shop on site.
St Kilda Foreshore and Beach Road
St Kilda	Home to triathlon and cycling events in 2006, this bit of beachfront continues to play constant host to a rat-race of runners, riders, and other insanely muscled specimens. Join their ranks in a marathon-worth of summer events – or just pound the pavement, and enjoy their frustrated, fit faces as you get in their way.
Docklands
CBD	This rabbit-warren development was the thrills and spills of that oh-so-dramatic event, the 20 and 50 kilometre walks. Docklands is better known, however, as the city’s biggest and most desolate wind tunnel. And pounding the precinct’s pavements will certainly provide a good core work-out, as you fight to stay upright.
Royal Botanic Gardens
CBD	Running “The Tan” is one of Melbourne’s most popular physical activities, but for the Comm Games it welcomed two-wheelers as well, for the Cycling Road Race events. Always especially packed post-Olympics, join the throng of pre-summer joggers.
Darebin City Bowls Club
Thornbury	Lawn Bowls is not an Olympic sport, but is front and centre in the Empire’s playoffs – and also the sport of choice for athletes who don’t think international competition should require quitting the fags. Nonetheless, this is the site where lawn bowling is at its most competitive – but it does still have a bar.
Yarra River
CBD	A weird and lasting memory of Melbourne’s time in the Commonwealth Games sun was a flotilla of 72 giant fish that made their strange and rigid way down the Yarra River. Make a more active spectacle with the help of a rowboat – the Melbourne Rowing Club has beginners’ classes to make you oarsome.