Baby It’s Cold Outside: 26 Experiences to Try This Winter in Melbourne (2024)

There’s something special about travelling in winter. It’s quieter, with fewer tourists, and the whole world seems softer and, of course, colder. If you’re longing to get out there and experience something amazing this time of year, then you need to visit Melbourne in winter.

With the perfect mix of cosy indoor activities and some exciting outdoor ones (heaters included!), winter in Melbourne can be a fun time to explore the city, even with the cooler weather. 

So, if you’re ready to rug up and enjoy the cold weather, here are the best things to do in Melbourne in winter in 2024. 

When is winter in Melbourne?

First up, some details. If you’re from the Northern Hemisphere, you might need a reminder that winter is different Down Under. The winter months in Melbourne (and Australia) are June, July and August. 

During winter in Melbourne, you can expect temperatures of between 6 and 15 degrees (43 to 59 Fahrenheit). In June, Melbourne weather is fairly mild, with the lowest rainfall of the whole year. If it is raining on your visit to Melbourne, check out a few ideas for indoor activities in Melbourne to keep you dry.

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

Winter public and school holidays in Melbourne

Perhaps you can only travel during the school holidays – or perhaps you’re trying to avoid them. Victorian term 2 (winter) holidays are from 1-12 July in 2024.

We’ve only got one public holiday in winter in Victoria, and that’s the King’s Birthday on Monday, 10 June in 2024.

Why should you visit Melbourne in winter?

While Melbourne does get pretty cold during winter (although there’s rarely snow in the inner parts of the city), it’s still a great time to visit. There are generally fewer crowds, and it’s low season, which means plenty of hotel rooms are available and potential airfare specials.

Plus, there are plenty of things to do in winter in Melbourne, as you’re about to discover!

1. Eat cosy food

If you’re wearing bulky clothes it’s the perfect excuse to eat heavy food and warm your belly. And luckily, Melbourne’s reputation as the food capital of Australia won’t let you down in winter either. Melbourne restaurants go all out in the colder months, with warming drinks and food that’s spicy, meaty or heavy enough to keep you toasty. 

Here are some of the best places to visit in Melbourne in winter for delicious and warming food: 

• Osteria Ilaria for heavy Italian food that will keep you warm for hours 
• The Meatball and Wine Bar which is just what it sounds like (yum!) 
• Slurp down a bowl of hot soup – I’m a fan of the spicy soups at Soi 38, the pho at Pho Nom and the ramen at Shujinko
• Epocha Restaurant, where you can get a Sunday roast that will leave you dozing in your favourite chair 
• Belle’s Hot Chicken for chicken so hot you’ll think it’s summer 
• The Napier Hotel for classic pub meals by the fire
• The Grace Darling Hotel for a good pub meal 

2. Watch an AFL match

Ask anyone, Australians are a little crazy. Which is the only way to describe why thousands of people head down to windy, chilly football stadiums in the middle of winter to watch AFL. 

This is a must-do when you’re in Melbourne and even if you don’t really like the footy, you’ll still have a fun time. Between the fried foods, the beer, and the happy (depending on how your team’s going) and excited atmosphere, you’ll find yourself shouting for your favourite team before you know it. 

For the best experience, try to get tickets for a game at the MCG, the biggest stadium in the southern hemisphere. Just make sure that you take along some warm clothes and a poncho in case it starts to rain because the game won’t stop unless it’s torrential weather. 

Check out the AFL website for ticket information.

3. Spend some time at the Winter Night Market 

To really enjoy Melbourne in winter, rug up and get outside in it to enjoy a local market. Melbourne has some great night markets, but the Queen Victoria Winter Night Market is the biggest and the best. 

It’s on every Wednesday evening between 5 June and 28 August, from 5-10pm. The market has live music, food stalls, baked goods and warming drinks. Bonus: entry is free. (PS. Check out more free things to do in Melbourne.)

If you want to spend some time like a local, then grab your wallet, refrain from eating in the afternoon before you go and have a great time at the Queen Victoria Market. 

4. Warm your bones in a hot spring 

It might seem an obvious thing to say, but it gets cold in Melbourne in winter. If you don’t like the cold, then why not check out some of the local hot springs? Located within driving distance of the city, soaking in a hot spring is one of the best things to do in Melbourne during winter when you get sick of the icy, windy cold. 

Here are some hot springs to try out: 

• Peninsula Hot Springs, located around 75 minutes from the city, this is the first geothermal mineral springs and day spa in Victoria
• Japanese Mountain Retreat, which is less than an hour from the city – and the perfect location for a romantic weekend away
• Hepburn Bathhouse and Spa, located about 90 minutes from the city in the lovely twin towns of Daylesford and Hepburn Springs
• Sense of Self, located in Collingwood, this soothing retreat has a mineral bath and Finnish sauna
• Alba, Victoria’s newest hot springs is a luxe experience – and just across the road from the Peninsula Hot Springs if you want to compare both

5. See this year’s Melbourne Winter Masterpieces

From 14 June to 6 October, the NGV will host Pharaoh, part of the gallery’s Melbourne Winter Masterpieces exhibition. Presented in partnership with the British Museum, the exhibition celebrates 3,000 years of ancient Egyptian art and culture.

More than 500 objects – from sculpture, jewellery, papyri and coffins – make up the exhibition, which is spread over the entire ground level of the NGV.

Visiting the NGV is one of the best winter activities in Melbourne in 2024 – you’ll get a dose of culture and stay warm!

6. Get out on a Friday Night

Not only can you see the incredible Pharaoh exhibition at the NGV, but the gallery’s NGV legendary Friday Nights are back. Ancient Egypt After Dark combines art with food, wine, cocktails and live music – the the perfect Friday evening.

Tying in with Pharaoh, each Friday night will bring an incredible line-up of music performances, Middle Eastern-inspired food and an array of drink offerings.

There will be performances from composer and oud player Joseph Tawadros, the Australian Art Orchestra and the team from Tempo Rubato, while Yering Station and Moët & Chandon are putting on the drinks.

You can see the full line up and book tickets online here.

7. Be amazed at RISING Festival

Experience art, culture and music under moonlight, as the incredibly visual and vibrant RISING festival returns.

This night-time festival features more than 105 events across 16 nights from 1-16 June. There are activities and installations for all ages, with art, dance, live music, installations and theatre – including several free public events.

Anchoring the festival is The Blak Infinite, a free exhibition that includes the installation Embassy, inspired by the Aboriginal Tent Embassy that was pitched on the grounds of Parliament House in Canberra in 1972.

Each evening, The Rivers Sing will echo across the Birrarung (the Yarra River), a performance that blends sound recordings with human voices. And Communitas invites more than a thousand people to form a mass choir to sing, dance and make sound vibrations.

Check out the full program online.

8. See an incredible candlelit concert

If you’ve never been to one of the stunning Candlelight Concerts by events company Fever, this winter it’s time to change that.

These concerts are absolutely mesmerising. Venues across the city are transformed into luminous spaces filled with music and soft candlelight. Whether you’re a classical music aficionado or simply seeking a magical night out, these concerts are an unmissable part of Melbourne’s events calendar.

The Candlelight Concerts feature a diverse range of musical performances. This winter you can see everything from A Tribute to Taylor Swift, Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, A Tribute to Beyoncé and The Best of Fleetwood Mac.

Check out the full list of Melbourne Candelight Concerts online here, or buy a gift certificate.

9. Check out Africa Fashion

More than 200 works will feature in the NGV’s Africa Fashion exhibit, which celebrates the creativity, ingenuity, and global impact of contemporary African fashions from the mid-twentieth century to the present day.

More than 50 designers and artists from 20 African countries are represented in the exhibit, which is presented in collaboration with London’s Albert Museum.

10. Book your own igloo

It doesn’t snow in Melbourne, but can you can still tuck yourself up out of cold in an igloo. And this year there are a few options to choose from:

• Winter Igloos at the Wharf Hotel – grab a group of friends and settle back for food and drinks in your own private igloo More info

11. Experience Now or Never

If you’re still not sold on Melbourne’s reputation as the culture capital of Australian, then our newest festival may change your mind.

Now or Never debuted last year and features art, ideas, sound, technology and more. It’s a combination of Melbourne Music Week and Melbourne Knowledge Week and celebrates Melbourne’s creative scene.

Running from 22-31 August, check the website for the program.

12. See a lit-up world

After wowing Melburnians for the past few years, Lightscape is back again to light up the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne.

Be mesmerised by an eight-metre sphere filled with over 20,000 moving LEDs, singing trees and a flickering fire garden among colour-changing installations, soundscapes and large-scale illuminated sculptures. Experience a 2.2-kilometre trail around the gardens and celebrate the beauty of nature after dark.

More information about the installation can be found online, which is on from 14 June to 4 August.

13. The Lume

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.

Autumn brings a brand-new 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.

14. Check out a show

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

• WICKED The Musical (more info)
• Sunset Boulevard (more info)
• Beauty and the Beast the Musical (more info)
• A Streetcar Named Desire (more info)

15. Climb aboard a ferris wheel

While Melbourne’s Star Observation Wheel may have been silenced, there’s a new ferris wheel in town.

The Skyline Melbourne sits at Polly Woodside Park and has amazing views of Melbourne’s cityscape.

After you’ve enjoyed a spin around, have a game of mini golf at Straya Mania and grab a bite to eat at the South Wharf Social.

16. See Banksy’s works

Love Banksy? A new exhibit that showcases the elusive street artist’s works is now in Melbourne.

The Art of Banksy: Without Limits features more than 180 artworks, such as certified art, prints on different kinds of materials, photos, sculptures, installations, digital installations, murals and mapping shows.

Book tickets online.

17. Have a cosy drink with mates 

Even if you look forward to winter in Melbourne, the cold and the grey days can still be a little depressing. And what better way to beat back the blues than with a few drinks and good company by flickering firelight?

Here’s where to take your friends for a cosy drink: 

• Beneath Driver Lane for a few drinks by candlelight 
• The Napier Hotel for drinks and pies
• Embla for a wine bar with a wood-fired oven for nibbles 
• The Local Taphouse for drinks by the fire 
• The Palace Hotel where you can watch a game of footy with a brew
• Try the Boozy Milo cocktail at Riverland Bar
• Mulled wine will keep you warm – some of the best can be found at Milk the Cow, Mjolner, Section 8 and ReWine

18. Have high tea 

If you’re not into alcohol but like the idea of a warm drink during winter in Melbourne, then why not have high tea? 

A British tradition that dates back to the mid-1700s, working men once enjoyed high tea between 3 and 4pm. Back then, it was a chance for them to grab a quick snack before heading back to their jobs. 

These days high tea is more about scrumptious cakes and sandwiches, along with good tea and company. 

Here’s where to start your own high tea tradition: 

• The Conservatory at the Crown Melbourne where you’ll find a classical Parisian hotel tearoom
• The Windsor, where they’ve been serving high tea since 1883
• Collins Kitchen at the Grand Hyatt Melbourne
• The famous Hopetoun Tea Rooms, where the line out the door will convince you how good the food is 
• Mary Eats Cake for treats made by culinary superstars

19. Sip on hot chocolate

Speaking of warm drinks, if hot chocolate’s more your thing, Melbourne has plenty of the sweet stuff on offer.

The best places for hot chocolate in Melbourne are:

• Koko Black – it may be a chain, but the hot chocs here are thick and delicious
• Mörk Chocolate Brew House, the masters of hot chocolate
• Hash Specialty Coffee and Roasters, for their famous science project-style hot chocolate
• Brunetti, for thick, Italian-style hot chocolate

20. Escape the cold in an escape room

Best played with a group of clever friends, escape rooms combine the thrill of the unknown with the heart-pounding anxiety of physical confinement.

It’s all in good fun, of course, you’re not actually in peril. But when they’re done well, these rooms do a good job of suggesting otherwise. And that’s half of the fun of them, isn’t it! 

Some of the escape rooms you should try this winter in Melbourne are: 

• Ukiyo for Japanese-themed escape rooms 
• The Mystery Rooms for a variety of rooms to suit all ages and abilities 
• Rush Escape Game for some of the scariest and hardest rooms
• Entermission the virtual reality escape room
• Trapt for a classic experience with an on-site bar for afterwards

21. Go ice skating during winter in Melbourne

Sometimes you can’t fight the cold, you just have to get out there and enjoy it. That’s why going ice skating is one of the best things to do in winter in Melbourne. 

Even though it doesn’t snow in Melbourne, you can still take advantage of the cold to glide gracefully over the ice. Or, if you aren’t good at skating, fall, get up and fall over again and have fun doing it! 

No matter whether you’re an expert level skater or a beginner, you can find your place on the ice in Melbourne. Go ice skating at O’Brien Icehouse near the Docklands for a family-friendly venue that’s safe for all ability levels. This venue has two rinks and is open 364 days a year. It’s one of the most fun Melbourne winter attractions. (Check out more things to do with kids in Melbourne.)

22. Catch a flick at the Melbourne International Film Festival

The Melbourne International Film Festival was first established in 1952 and is one of the world’s oldest movie festivals. It gives Australian filmmakers the chance to show off their talents and build their audience, and offers skill development programs for talented newcomers. 

But the festival is really about celebrating international films, so you’ll find a variety of shorts, features, documentaries and children’s movies. Sitting in comfortable cinemas watching experimental and ground-breaking films is one of the most interesting Melbourne winter activities. 

This festival is typically held at venues all over town, and will run from 8-25 August in 2024. 

23. Take a winter foodie walk

AmazingCo’s seasonal Winter Foodie Walk is a foodie treasure hunt where you’ll solve clues to reveal the locations where you’ll pick up a toasty drink or hearty dish.

Grab your other half, your besties or your kids and work together to solve the riddles.

To find these goodies, you’ll need to solve a series of riddles, each of which will take you to the next cosy shop as you fill your gourmet picnic basket.

These fun self-guided walks are run by the company that also does mystery picnics around Melbourne. Read my Mystery Picnic Melbourne review to find out more about their experiences.

Book your Winter Foodie Walk here!

24. Check out the Firelight Festival

Rouse yourself from your cosy, warm home and head outside to experience something a little different. Fire installations, laser shows, live music, fire twirlers and plenty of snacks and beverages converge to create a toasty festival, the Firelight Festival.

This year’s experience includes the Firelight Labyrinth, where visitors will weave their way through a mythical maze of light and sound in the underground space at Marvel Stadium.

The Docklands will light up with plenty of entertainment at this free festival, which runs from 28-30 June. The Firelight Labyrinth experience will run from Friday 28 June to Sunday 14 July.

25. Enjoy a dinner cruise on the Yarra River

Melbourne lights up at night and there’s no better way to see the city than from the river. Rug up on a dinner cruise along the Yarra River to see how the city sparkles in the winter evening.

On a 3-hour cruise, you’ll experience a 4-course meal as you slowly make your way down the river.

Book online here for a gorgeous winter experience.

26. Chill out in an ice bar

It may seem counterintuitive to spend time inside a freezing cold ice bar in the middle of winter in Melbourne, but it’s quite fun! Located in Fed Square’s Atrium, IceBar Melbourne gives you gloves, a snow cape and Ugg boots to stay warm.

Grab a drink and explore the (small) bar made of ice – the whole bar area is carved out of 30 tonnes of dry ice! There are games and photo screens to capture your experience. The staff are really friendly, and regularly pop around to guests for a chat.

It’s not a cheap thing to do in Melbourne, but it’s definitely a unique thing to do!

Book tickets for IceBar Melbourne here.

---

Melbourne in winter may seem a little drab and grey. But if you know where to go, it can be a place of delicious flavours, dancing flames, great friends and fun experiences.

PIN IT FOR LATER:

Save this guide to winter in Melbourne so you can plan your wintery visit soon!