19 Glorious Things To Do in Melbourne in Spring (2024)

What’s it like in Melbourne in spring? Put simply, usually quite glorious. The weather is warming up, the days are sunnier, and with the start of daylight savings the days get longer, meaning you can pack more into a visit to Melbourne.

Spring season in Melbourne really is one of the best seasons to visit the city. It’s without a doubt my favourite time of year here in the city.

Along with the lovely weather, flowers start to emerge from their winter hibernation – and so do Melburnians, ready to thaw out our bones. There are plenty of events and activities to keep every weekend packed.

For visitors, it’s the shoulder season, so you should be able to find lower prices for hotel rooms and airfares – which means more cash to splash on activities and dining out.

If you’re planning a trip to Melbourne in spring, here are some of the things you need to add to your itinerary.

When is spring in Melbourne?

For anyone not in the Southern Hemisphere, a reminder that the spring months in Melbourne (and across Australia) are September, October and November.

Melbourne spring weather varies. September is the tail end of winter with a hangover of some of the cold weather. Temperatures average between 8 and 17 degrees (46 to 63 Fahrenheit). It warms up in October and November, with the Melbourne average temperature around 9 to 22 degrees (49 to 71 Fahrenheit). 

October has the second-highest rainfall of the year (but never fear, there are plenty of indoor activities in Melbourne for those rainy days).

Daylight saving time starts on 6 October in 2024, making spring in Melbourne even better. This is my favourite time – the days feel so much longer after the dark winter!

For full details about all the seasons in Melbourne, you can read my guide to the best time to visit Melbourne.

Spring public and school holidays in Melbourne

If you’re trying to avoid travelling to Melbourne during school holidays – or perhaps it’s the only time that you can get away – then it’s handy to know the Victorian term 3 (spring) holidays. In 2024, the holidays are from 21 September to 6 October. 

As for Melbourne spring public holidays, there are two in Victoria: the day before the AFL Grand Final (27 September) and Melbourne Cup (5 November).

Things to do in Melbourne in spring

Melbourne is charming all year round, but she really turns it on in spring. There are plenty of events and activities worth your time. Here are some of the best things to do in Melbourne during spring.

1. Explore an immersive digital gallery

I can’t speak highly enough of this incredible immersive art experience. The Lume is one of Melbourne’s most spectacular exhibitions.

Instead of simply looking at art on walls, at The Lume you’re actually immersed in the art. The digital gallery is enhanced with sound and aromas, creating a true sensory experience.

Come wander through the current exhibition: Leonardo da Vinci – 500 Years of Genius, celebrating the life and art of of Italian polymath Leonardo da Vinci.

Sessions run daily, from 10am on weekdays and from 9am on weekends, with prices starting at $44 for adults. Book tickets online.

2. Pack a picnic

If there’s anything that screams that spring has arrived, it’s packing a picnic. Melbourne is home to some beautiful gardens, so gather up some cheeses and meats, a few sandwiches and maybe even a bottle of bubbles, and lay out a blanket on the lawns at the Royal Botanic Gardens or the Fitzroy Gardens.

Even better – solve a few clues and gather your picnic goodies on a Mystery Picnic. You’ll end up with a basket of gourmet goodness to enjoy in a mystery location. You can do the mystery picnics with a significant other, your family or a group of friends. Read my full Mystery Picnic Melbourne review to learn more about what to expect.

3. See flowers in bloom around the city

Spring of course means flowers blooming, and there are some beautiful places in Melbourne to see nature’s beauty.

The Queen Victoria Gardens, Fitzroy Gardens and Royal Botanic Gardens are obvious and easily accessible choices for seeing flowers in Melbourne in spring. Further out of the city there’s the Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden, Alfred Nicholas Memorial Gardens and Werribee’s Victoria Rose State Garden.

You can also head to the Melbourne Museum to take the Milparri Garden Trail and learn about the traditional uses of native plants for food and medicine, or duck into the Forest Gallery to see a living forest. While there won’t be too many flowers blooming here, you’ll get a wonderful taste of nature.

4. Hit up a rooftop bar or sit riverside

Melbourne does rooftop bars very well. And in spring you can shrug off the jacket and put away the heaters. 

If you’re visiting Melbourne in spring, make sure you check out a few of these rooftop bars:

• Good Heavens, with its fun vibe
• Loop Roof Bar, which is cosy but very cool
• Rooftop Bar, the favourite go-to of many
• Siglo, for Parliament House views
• Naked Upstairs, for awesome views of the city
• Johnny’s Green Room, for Italian food and Carlton views

As well as a rooftop bar, we Melburnians also love one by the river. Riverland is tucked in under Fed Square, an all-day beer garden with prime river frontage. Ponyfish is a classic spot – sitting smack bang in the middle of the river. It’s small but mighty, serving up great cocktails and snacks.

Arbory Bar & Eatery stretches 100 metres along the riverfront – and springtime in Melbourne heralds the return of Arbory Afloat, a pop-up floating bar that’ll have you thinking you’re in Capri.

5. Explore the Fitzroy Gardens Conservatory

The Fitzroy Gardens Conservatory is full of blooms. This gorgeous Melbourne tourist attraction is housed in a building in the style of a Spanish mission.

With five displays each year, the space is filled with the sight – and smell – of stunning flowers meticulously cared for and displayed.

The Conservatory is open daily from 9am to 5pm. There are a few closures throughout spring in Melbourne as displays are changed: 16-20 September and 4-8 November.

6. Cheer on a footy team at the Grand Final

Will your team make the final? Even if they’re bottom of the ladder, there’s no denying the excitement around Melbourne when the Grand Final weekend draws closer.

Unless you’re a club member or lightning quick when tickets go on sale to the general public, it may be tricky to get tickets to the grand final. 

But that doesn’t mean you can’t cheer on your pick at a pub or with a group of mates.

And if you do miss out on tickets to the actual game, the AFL Grand Final Parade takes place in the city the day before the big game.

7. Sway to the smooth sounds of jazz

Melburnians – and visitors to the city – will be treated to the smooth sounds of jazz as part of the Melbourne International Jazz Festival from 18-27 October. Shows will be held at various venues. 

The program includes acts from Australia and New Zealand, as well as performers from as far away as the USA, Italy, Chile and Brazil. This year’s line-up includes Herbie Hancock and the incredible live score of the film Birdman.

8. Explore the city on foot

Now that the weather’s warming up, it’s time to pound the pavement and see the city. Check out Melbourne’s famous laneways and arcades, or catch a street artist in action.

There are several walking tours that cover history, art and culture. I list quite a few in my guide to the best Melbourne tours, both free and paid tours.

Otherwise, Melbourne is such a walkable city, you can easily while away a few hours on a self-guided tour of the city highlights.

9. Go for a hike near the city

There are some great hikes that you can do close to the city if you feel like stretching your legs on a sunny day. 

If you don’t have a car, strolling along the Yarra River is nice. Start next to Fed Square and walk east through Birrarung Marr, crossing back over the other side at the Church Street Bridge. Or go a little further up to Herring Island and cross at MacRobertson Bridge.

Jump on public transport to tackle the Yarra Bend Trail, where you might see kookaburras, flying foxes and yellow-tailed black cockatoos. There are several trails, ranging from 850 metres to 6.3 kilometres.

Further out of the city, the Dandenong Ranges National Park is a lush rainforest crisscrossed with hiking tracks. A popular one is the 1000 Steps (Kokoda Track Memorial Walk), a 2.8km-return trail.

10. Get your dog fix at the Melbourne Dog Lovers Show

Puppies, puppies, puppies! 

Dog lovers will be in heaven at Melbourne Dog Lovers Show, scheduled for 26-27 October. Be inspired to pamper your pooch with doggy manicures, cheer along at the sheepdog speed trials and try not to adopt all the rescue dogs in the Adoption Zone.

There are also plenty of educational workshops and sessions to help you care for your pet.

11. Pose for pics at the Tesselaar Tulip Festival

Surround yourself with an explosion of colour at this annual tulip festival. 

Located in Silvan, an hour east of the CBD, the Tesselaar Tulip Festival runs from 14 September to 13 October. There’s plenty of space to set up a picnic, or enjoy the food, live entertainment and tractor rides on site.

Adult tickets are $35 with children under 16 free. I’d recommend booking well in advance, especially if you want to visit on a weekend – it gets packed! Access is between 10am and 5pm daily. 

12. Get out on the water

Allowing people to captain their own boats down the river could be a foolhardy business model – but it sure is a lot of fun!

In the past few years, a couple of companies have popped up allowing people to self-drive their own boat down the Yarra River. Go Boat and On A Boat are two companies currently offering the chance to motor down the river. 

You can BYO your own picnic food and drinks, and hand over the reins (rudder?) to a member of your group while the rest of you enjoy the view.

BYO captain’s hat!

13. Grab a showbag at the Royal Melbourne Show

The Royal Melbourne Show is back after a two-year hiatus – and there’s a bonus this year, as kids under 14 can go to the show for free.

There’ll be the usual fun to be had: games, rides, livestock shows, cooking demonstrations and, of course, sheds full of showbags.

The show runs from 26 September to 6 October. Tickets and information can be found online here.

14. Revel at Oktoberfest

Australia’s largest and longest running Oktoberfest event is back in Melbourne, at Catani Gardens in St Kilda. At Oktoberfest in the Gardens, there’ll be a massive beer hall, German food stalls, roving performers, thrill rides, a silent disco and plenty of entertainment and on-stage competitions.

Hofbräuhaus in the CBD also has plenty of Oktoberfest fun planned. The festivities kick off on 16 September and run until 28 October.

15. Check out a show

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Melbourne is known for our theatre, and this spring in Melbourne we have some great shows underway, including:

• Beauty and the Beast the Musical (more info)
• Tina: The Tina Turner Musical (more info)
• Six the Musical (more info)

16. Enjoy the Melbourne Fringe Festival

The Melbourne Fringe Festival is back on this year, with a program that’s exciting, daring and fabulous. Many shows are free and will be held across the city.

The most cutting-edge independent artists from Melbourne, Australia and overseas will put on shows that feature everything from dance to theatre to experimental performances – shows that will inspire, provoke and amaze.

The festival runs from 1-20 October; check out the program online.

17. Groove to incredible music acts

ALWAYS LIVE is back, with 17 days of live music across Victoria. Confirmed acts include Baker Boy, Emma Donovan, Missy Higgins and Chet Faker as well as international acts including Jack White and Roisin Murphy.

The festival is the biggest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, and isn’t just limited to Melbourne – there’ll be acts all across the state.

The festival kicks off in late November.

18. Shop at a market

Spring for me means getting outdoors more, and there are a few outdoor markets to browse.

Get ahead of your Christmas shopping by picking up a few handcrafted items at the Arts Centre Melbourne market, held every Sunday out the front of the arts centre.

The Finders Keepers is also on over one weekend in October (11-13 Oct), with more than 200 stalls filled with beautiful goods from Australian designers.

19. Go punting on the lake

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Did you know that you can go punting on the Ornamental Lake in the Royal Botanic Gardens?

On a clear spring day, this is such a gorgeous way to spend a day with your loved one or some friends.

The punts can fit six people, and you can bring your own picnic and drinks. They’re always private so you won’t be stuck with strangers (how unromantic would that be!).

It’s even dog friendly!

My tip: Book well ahead – sessions sell out really quickly.

Final thoughts on visiting Melbourne in spring

Melbourne in spring is divine, and it’s probably one of the best times to visit the city, especially if it’s your first time. There’s a lot to do and great weather to get you out and about. 

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