Win a 2024 Toyota AFL Grand Final Experience worth over $5,000

In partnership with NIB

There’s an undeniable electricity in the air around Melbourne over the 2024 Toyota AFL grand final long weekend. Punters spilling out of pubs and onto the roads, venues buzzing late into the night and the vibrant colors of scarves and football shirts displayed on front porches and woven through city streets.

To get you in the final season spirit, nib is giving one lucky person the chance to win their way to game day – with tickets to the 2024 Toyota AFL Grand Final, plus a $5,000 Digital Visa gift card to eat, drink and play as you like.

The best ways to spend a grand finale weekend

With the celebrations starting long before match day and continuing right into the weekend, we’ve put together a sure-fire way to enjoy Melbourne’s Grand Final celebrations – from bars and restaurants to get you pumped up, places to celebrate after the team you win. and the next morning mandatory refueling and resetting.

Stay behind for dinner at Lilac Wine

Hidden in the back streets of Cremorne, you will find Lilac Wine wine bar. This unassuming warehouse boasts a grungy yet cozy decor with green velvet sofas, exposed brick walls lined with vinyl and spinning disco balls. Their wood-fired kitchen serves hot garlic batter, roast lamb and duck fat potatoes, making it a vibrant place to gather around a table with fellow diners.

Shop local with the locals at Gleadell Street Market

Located on Richmond’s Gleadell Street every Saturday morning, this local farmers market is the perfect place to stock up on produce for the ultimate BBQ or simply explore what the region has to offer. Expect stalls serving hot cinnamon doughnuts, bacon pastries and egg rolls, and stock up on kitchen staples like fresh eggs, locally grown vegetables, organic meats and experimental kombuchas.

Bottomless noodles and margaritas at New Quarter

Prepare for the big day by sipping on 5 types of noodles at New Quarter, a modern Vietnamese-style restaurant in Richmond, open for lunch and dinner. Enhance your meal with 2 hours of house-made margarita carafes, complemented by an impressive list of wines and beers on tap. Located on Swan Street, you’ll be within walking distance of all the pre- and post-match action. If a big feed isn’t for you, opt for dishes like wagyu beef skewers and banh mi fingers.

Grab a late night bite on Bourke Street

If the night takes you uptown, you have the distinction of some establishments that serve food until late, feeding revelers or those finishing the night off. Butcher’s Diner is a hole-in-the-wall that puts out cheeseburgers, steak sandwiches, and even sausage and egg rolls. Or, Pizza Pizza Pizza just around the corner serves giant American-style slices for $5, and in the back, you’ll find a hidden cocktail bar. Located a few doors down from bars like Siglo, Angel Bar and Spleen, you can end up carrying on the night – don’t say we didn’t warn you.

Discover a secret bar in Chinatown

Located in an alleyway in Chinatown, find the unassuming door to One Or Two, a contemporary 26-seat bar that focuses on whiskeys and a regularly rotating craft cocktail menu. This intimate space with whimsical Japanese-inspired dark wood interiors offers a temporary respite from the hectic city surroundings on a night out. Expect drinks like blueberry milk punch or old fashioned coconut on the menu, plus wine, sake and soju.

Dive into the Inner Studio

Being a football bettor can be a physically demanding feat. So if you’re looking to include a moment of relaxation, Collingwood’s Inner Studio is a recently opened retreat where you can soak in hot and cold magnesium pools or escape to their sauna in a serene, verdant warehouse. Their hour-long sessions allow you to squeeze in your weekend schedule if needed.

Authentic street food in a city parking lot at Soi 38

One of Melbourne’s most unique dining spots, Soi 38 is a Thai restaurant housed in an above-ground concrete garage. Take a seat around the mismatched colorful tables and chairs and order by writing on a printed menu with favorites like pork belly, papaya salad and mango sticky rice. If you’re hungry, opt for an Ultimate Bowl – a tasty soup loaded with noodles, clams, crispy pork and egg served on a gas burner to keep it bubbling and burning.

Spend a sunny afternoon in Abbotsford

An epicentric suburb of places to eat, drink and walk, drop by Abbotsford for a relaxed afternoon. Local hangouts like Lulie’s Tavern, Bodriggy Brewery and Dr. Morse will be buzzing with energy over the long weekend, just minutes away from each other. If you want a green escape, head down the road to Abbotsford Abbey – a sprawling historic estate turned cultural centre. Located along Yarra Bend Park and Collingwood Children’s Farm, you can meet some of the local animals before grabbing an afternoon spritz at Cam’s Kiosk or relax with an elevated, produce-based menu at Julie’s Restaurant.

If this sounds like the perfect weekend, it could be yours too.

To enter the draw to win two tickets to the 2024 Toyota AFL Grand Final plus a $5,000 NIB Digital Visa gift card, sign up for nib’s free membership – nib GreenPass – and let us know how to win $5,000 and tickets at the Toyota AFL Grand 2024 Final would excite you and why.

You must be entered to win, so enter now.