Australia v England — MCG 150th Anniversary Test 2027
Follow England to Melbourne for a Test 150 years in the making — the first ever played under lights at the MCG.
EnquireFollow On Tours, a Cricket Australia Travel Office endorsed travel operator for the 150th Anniversary Test Match. CATO150/041/SA1.
150 years in the making
The oldest rivalry, back where it began
In March 1877, on this very ground, Australia and England played the first Test match in history. Australia won by 45 runs. A century later, in 1977, the two sides returned to the MCG for the Centenary Test — and Australia won again by exactly 45 runs. An uncanny echo, one hundred years apart.
In March 2027, the story comes full circle. The 150th Anniversary Test brings the game's oldest rivalry home to the 'G' one more time — now under lights, as the first men's day/night Test ever staged at the ground.
Some tours you go on. This one, you'll tell your grandchildren about.
Follow England to the 'G'.
Match Schedule
The Schedule
Accommodation
Recommended Hotel
Melbourne
Available to bookRadisson on Flagstaff Gardens· Standard
from £1095 pp · twin, room onlyView Details →
Single occupancy from £1320 pp
Add breakfast — £20 pp per night (£120 pp for the stay)
Room type: Standard
Other hotels on request. We're not limited to the hotels shown — tell us where you'd like to stay and we'll arrange it and price it with your quote.
Beyond the Cricket
Sightseeing & Experiences
The Great Ocean Road
One of the world's great coastal drives, winding west from Melbourne past surf beaches and rainforest to the Twelve Apostles — towering limestone stacks rising straight out of the Southern Ocean. Perfect as a full day from the city or a relaxed overnight. We can arrange a private driver-guide as an extension to your trip.
The Yarra Valley
Victoria's premier wine country, under an hour from Melbourne. Spend a day among rolling vineyards and cellar doors sampling cool-climate wines and world-class produce — with a hot-air balloon at dawn if you're feeling it. An easy, indulgent day out; we'll arrange a private tour and driver so no one misses the tastings.
Phillip Island Penguin Parade
One of Australia's most-loved wildlife experiences, around two hours from Melbourne. Each evening at dusk, hundreds of little penguins — the world's smallest — waddle ashore at Summerland Beach to their burrows. Add koalas and seal colonies to make a full day of it. We'll arrange a guided trip timed for sunset.
Hobart & Tasmania
Australia's island state, a short hop south of Melbourne. Explore Hobart's waterfront and the extraordinary MONA gallery, taste your way round cool-climate wineries and whisky distilleries, and reach the wild beauty of Freycinet and Wineglass Bay. A superb two- or three-night extension, tailored around your trip.
The Red Centre & Uluru
The spiritual heart of Australia. Watch the light shift across Uluru at sunrise and sunset, walk the base of the great monolith with a local guide, and take in Kata Tjuta and the vast desert silence. A short flight from Melbourne and an unforgettable few days — we'll build it around your Test dates.
The Great Barrier Reef
The largest living structure on Earth, off Australia's Queensland coast — a short flight north of Melbourne. Snorkel or dive among coral gardens and turtles, or take a scenic flight over the reef. A spectacular way to extend your Australian adventure, tailored around your dates.
Accommodation
CATO Hotel Ratings
Rates are per room, per night, and in AUD including GST of 10% (subject to change). Requests are subject to availability. If you choose to include breakfast, it must be included for all guests for all nights.
Included
Included: the Official Cricket Australia Pre-Match Function
Your trip includes entry to Cricket Australia's Official Pre-Match Function. Day 2 — 12 March 2027, likely 10:30–12:30 (time to be confirmed), venue to be confirmed. Featuring high-end Australian and English talent, this two-hour event brings together former cricketing greats and special guest appearances — hear the stories behind famous Test battles and preview the 150th Anniversary Test. Enjoy a two-course meal with beer, wine, soft drinks and entertainment, with coaches to the MCG afterwards if needed. Entry is included with your match ticket.
This is an independently-arranged trip, not an escorted group tour — there's no tour manager, and you plan your days around the cricket as you like. You get your tickets, hotels, all documents in advance, a travel companion app, and our team is on hand throughout your trip. More on how we work →
Customise Your Tour
Available Add-ons
- +Private airport transfers (arrival & departure)
- +Premium match-ticket upgrades — Category F up to Category B
- +Breakfast at your hotel
- +Follow On Tours t-shirt
Pricing included in your personalised quote.
Your Trip
Ready to plan your Melbourne, Australia trip?
Plan your trip in two steps
Save £100pp by booking online
Step 1
Chat — ask us anything
Have a question? Ask our AI concierge about the Test, the ground, Melbourne, and making the most of your trip.
Step 2
Best PriceBuild & book your trip
Know what you want? Pick your hotel, choose your seats, and add extras — all in a few clicks. Save £100pp by booking online.
Call us
Prefer to speak to someone? Our cricket travel specialists have 17 years of experience getting fans to the cricket.
Travel Essentials
Practical Info
Visas
Most visitors to Australia need an ETA (Electronic Travel Authority) or visa before travelling. UK passport holders apply online for an ETA — it's quick, but not available on arrival, so sort it before you fly. Check the official Australian Government site for your nationality.
Vaccinations
No special vaccinations are required for most travellers from the UK — just keep routine jabs up to date. If you're arriving via a yellow-fever risk country, proof may be needed. Check NHS Fit for Travel before you go.
Currency
The Australian Dollar (AUD) is the local currency. Cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere, so you'll rarely need cash — a little is handy for markets and small cafés.
Weather in March
Mid-March is late summer/early autumn in Melbourne — usually warm and pleasant, though the city is famous for "four seasons in one day", so pack layers. Evenings can cool down, so bring something warmer for the night sessions of a day/night Test.
Getting Around
Melbourne's centre is compact and walkable, with an excellent tram network — the City Circle tram is free in the central zone; grab a Myki card for the rest. Trams, taxis and Ubers all run to the MCG, which sits just east of the city in Yarra Park — an easy walk or short ride from most central hotels on match days.
Safety
Melbourne is a safe, easy city to get around, and Australia is wonderfully welcoming to touring cricket fans. Take normal big-city precautions and check gov.uk travel advice before you go.
Important note
Important note – in the unlikely event the 2027 Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix dates overlap with the 150th Anniversary Test Match, hotel surcharges will apply. If this occurs, CATO will communicate the surcharge details with you within 10 business days of the Grand Prix dates being officially confirmed. You will then have the choice of paying the surcharge, or to cancel the booking and receive a full refund for any payments made to CATO. This choice must be communicated to CATO by the date nominated, and CATO will process your refund within 14 days.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
The Process
Genuinely Bespoke
Ask the Planner
Tell our travel planner what you're after — which match or which course, how long, and who's coming. It knows the grounds, the hotels, the cities and what's worth your time. Ask it anything.
Build Your Trip
Pick your tickets and your hotel from what we hold, then add whatever else you want — a transfer, an extension, a safari, a private box. Anything we don't hold, tell us and we'll go and get it.
We Quote It, You Travel
Every enquiry comes to us, and we place it personally with the people we trust on the ground. You get one honest quote — then a Travel Companion app for the trip itself.
Your financial protection
Follow On Tours Limited is a member of the Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust (ABTOT), membership number 5718, and holds bonds A60089 and A60090.
The Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited (ABTOT) provides financial protection under The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 for Follow On Tours Limited, membership number 5718, and in the event of their insolvency, protection is provided for:
Non-flight packages
ABTOT cover provides for a refund in the event you have not yet travelled or repatriation if transportation was included in your package. Please note that bookings made outside the UK are only protected by ABTOT when purchased directly with Follow On Tours Limited.
In the unlikely event that you require assistance whilst abroad due to our financial failure, please call our 24/7 helpline on 01702 811397 and advise you are a customer of an ABTOT protected travel company.
You can access The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 here: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2018/634/contents/made
You can find out more about ABTOT here: https://www.abtot.com/