Not got a lot of time off work?

Here's he best deal at the moment for £700

Leave Manchester at 13:10 on Wednesday, lay up in Dubai for 2.5 hours and arrive in Melbourne at 23:20 on Thursday night
Returns from Tullamarine at 06:00 on Saturday morning and back in Manchester at 07:00 on Sunday with a rather long 13 hour lay up in Dubai.

That's available on Skyscanner right now and probably won't be there for that long.

That just a technical Thursday night stay in the hotel and then straight to airport after the game?

Im considering flying Sat before landing Sunday with game on the Friday night and flying back the following day. Flights £650 on Skyscanner.

I do similar each year to go watch NFL in America.

Not sure if i will do it but certainly thinking about it.

Best part of 48 hours in cattle class for a meaningless friendly - you really have to be committed

You can look at it as a meaningless friendly or you can look at it as a great holiday and a chance to see an amazing city like Melbourne which will give memories for a lifetime.

The choice is upto you.

How dare you put a positive angle on a topic, on Southstander!

Heresy!!!

Burn him!

Quote ="Frosties."That just a technical Thursday night stay in the hotel and then straight to airport after the game?'" Yeah, probably and it could be worth getting a hotel at the airport for the Thursday night. Given your check in for the return flight would be 3am in Melbourne you might as well. There is also a 24 hours bus from the Airport into town as well see www.skybus.com.au for more details. There is a better one stop deal for £708 on Skyscanner right now with better transfer times Leave Manchester 13:10 on Wednesday, 2:35 lay up at DXB and arrive Melbourne 23:20 on Thursday night Leave Melbourne at 06:00 Saturday, 1:35 lay up at DXB and back in Manchester at 18:40 on Saturday night. I don't think you will get better flights or deal than that for such a short space of time.

Quote ="Frosties."That just a technical Thursday night stay in the hotel and then straight to airport after the game?'" Yeah, probably and it could be worth getting a hotel at the airport for the Thursday night. Given your check in for the return flight would be 3am in Melbourne you might as well. There is also a 24 hours bus from the Airport into town as well see www.skybus.com.au for more details. There is a better one stop deal for £708 on Skyscanner right now with better transfer times Leave Manchester 13:10 on Wednesday, 2:35 lay up at DXB and arrive Melbourne 23:20 on Thursday night Leave Melbourne at 06:00 Saturday, 1:35 lay up at DXB and back in Manchester at 18:40 on Saturday night. I don't think you will get better flights or deal than that for such a short space of time.

I’ve booked with Purple Travel. £1025 flights and hotel, thought it was a great price for 7 nights.

If you are going to do what Matt is suggesting you will spend more time in Dubai airport than Melbourne.

Having been to Melbourne it is a great city a cross of old Victorian/European - great bars out of town great food in South Yarra, St Kilder , Trams, Great Ocean Road etc. and only an hours flight to Sydney.

If you are going for a week maybe - its a long way to go for just a week never mind a long weekend but as you say the choice is upto you

If i go it would be for a week. Matts day trip seems absurd.

< insert exploding irony metre image here >

I wouldn't be doing it that is for sure



Been seen and conquered - had a great time see no value in repeating the process - especially if the focus of the trip is a meaningless friendly

Some people might only have that option though and not have enough time off work to go for any longer.

Best deal today is £698

Leaves Manchester 13:10 on Wednesday, arrives Melbourne at 09:05 on Friday morning but that's with 8 hours in Dubai and 1hr 45 in Singapore. Returns at 6am Saturday morning and back in Manchester at 7am on Sunday with a 14 hour lay up in Dubai on the way back.

Best 1 stop deal is now £751 as I think they have caught on to the fact the game is happening and there has been a potential spike in interest.

Cheapest under 30 hour travelling deal is £713.

leaves Manchester at 20:25 on Wednesday night, arrives in Melbourne at 12:05 on the day of the game. Stops of 90 minutes in Dubai but 5 hours in Perth, but you'd get some time to explore as you would clear customs there before the onward journey to Melbourne. Flight back leave 20:20 on Saturday night, a hop to Adelaide with a 90 minute connection with just 2 hours in Dubai before getting into Manchester at 11:20 on Sunday morning ready for work on Monday lol

The quickest travel time price is £913

Leaves Manchester at 20:25 on Wednesday night, 2 hour stop in Dubai and into Melbourne at 06:30 on Friday morning. Return flight is at 06:00 on Saturday and back into Manchester at 18:40 on the same day with just a 95 minute lay up in Dubai.

I'm already sorted as I'm out the week before for the Wollongong game. I fly into Melbourne on the morning of the game before off to Sydney for the double header the morning after. It's almost like a Catalan trip for us during our stay there.

Booked a hire car today, ready for the Great Ocean Road trip, and a hot air balloon ride over the city. Dream holiday for me this, can’t wait.

Good on yer Sgy should be amazing.

Ocean road is terrific -12 apostles all those little towns named after English places Peterborough/Torquay/Anglesey. I would suggest starting at Warrembool rather than Torquay unless you are going to continue on to South Australia. We stayed in Larne which was very nice, we listened to Saints v Leeds on Radio Leeds in the hotel IIRC Makinson scored a late try to win it for them - enjoy

Thanks bud. What with a very understanding wife, and now in the position financially to do it, I thought it was too good a trip to miss out on. When may I get another chance to see Leeds over there? To say I’m looking forward to it is a slight understatement.

Travel is awesome - its just a long way to go to get there - if you have chance don't miss Mornington Peninsula the sky at night from St Andrews beach is incredible so is the wine on the Peninsula.

Flights updates - still based on Wednesday - Saturday

Quickest - £717 both journeys less than 24 hours. Leave 20:35 on Wednesday night, back 18:40 Saturday night.

Cheapest - £679 - 31 hours out (two stops 90 mins DXB, 9 hours ADL) 36 hours back (14hour lay up in DXB) Leaves 13:10 Wednesday and back 07:00 Sunday morning.

Is £40 worth 14 hours in Dubai airport!!

Probably not.
Anything around £700 is a good deal. I booked mine back in August and got them for £670 but I am going to/from Sydney.

I went in 1992, it cost £800 then, so it's ridiculous value.

I saw a flight from Sat to Sat for £595 return this morning. Both flights 1 stop 25 hours each way. On the return trip it was leave Sat am land in Manchester Sat night.

If i see it again im booking. Might even have the Thursday in Sydney which is £57 return from Melbourne.

You should have booked that. I doubt you will see that deal again. Especially with it being Emirates as well.

There will be plenty of deals over next few months