Are you planning to visit Melbourne in summer? You’re in luck! Summer is a great time to visit Melbourne, as the city comes alive with Christmas festivities, the NGV’s Summer Blockbuster exhibition, the Australian Open, the Boxing Day Test and plenty of outdoor events & festivals.
In this guide to visiting Melbourne in summer, I’ve included what to expect from the weather, the best things to do in Melbourne in summer and the best summer events in Melbourne. From St Kilda Festival to Yayoi Kusama at the NGV to the Lonsdale Street Greek Festival, there is heaps to see & do in Melbourne in summer!
I’ve lived in Melbourne for the better part of a decade, and love sharing my tips and recommendations with visitors. For more ideas, check out my itinerary for 3 days in Melbourne.
When is summer in Melbourne?
Summer in Melbourne is from December to February. This makes it a great time to visit Melbourne (& other parts of Australia) for travellers from the Northern Hemisphere who are looking to escape winter. What better way to spend winter, than on a summer holiday in Australia?!
Weather in Melbourne in summer
Melbourne has famously changeable weather, but you should be able to expect the warmest and sunniest weather of the year in Melbourne in summer. Sometimes, Melbourne will have a cool (or wet) summer, but in my experience there are reliably plenty of warm and hot days in Melbourne in summer. Of course, it’s Melbourne, so be prepared for all kinds of weather!
Average daily temperatures in Melbourne in summer are between 14-26 °C (58-79 °F), but expect hot days in the 30s (86-102 °F) or even up to 40°C (104 °F). Melbourne has a very dry heat, so this feels very different to a hot day in humid climates, like in Brisbane, Cairns or Sydney.
What to pack for Melbourne in summer
In Melbourne, you have to be prepared for all kinds of weather, even in summer! Pack warm weather clothes, such as shorts, sandals and tee shirts, and don’t forget Australian summer essentials: a hat, sunscreen & sunglasses.
Australia has some of the strictest sunscreen standards in the world, so you could wait until you get here to buy the best SPF 50+ sunscreen (from any pharmacy or supermarket).
Of course, it’s Melbourne, so you should always pack a light jacket or jumper, jeans, sneakers, and an umbrella.
Best Things to Do in Melbourne in Summer
St Kilda Beach
St Kilda Beach truly comes alive in summer. Arrive early in the day to beat the crowds, and escape the heat before late afternoon, when it tends to reach its peak. St Kilda is a waterfront suburb on Port Philip Bay and is a 10 minute drive from the Melbourne CBD. St Kilda is very popular with backpackers, so it can get a bit “lively” in the evenings. Hit the beach & then head to the landmark local pub, Hotel Esplanade (The Espy) for lunch or dinner.
The Australian Open
Melbourne comes down with serious tennis fever every January, when the Australian Open brings the biggest tennis stars in the world to Melbourne Park. The Australian Open is one of four Grand Slam tennis events in the world (alongside the US Open, the French Open & Wimbledon), and is one of the best-run sporting events in the world.
The Australian Open is held in Richmond, which is an inner city suburb right by the Melbourne CBD (downtown). Book tickets for a particular match, or book a Ground Pass for access to the outer courts and the festivities on the grounds.
Brighton Bathing Boxes
The Brighton Bathing Boxes are a Melbourne landmark, and are at their most beautiful on a bright, sunny day. Dendy Beach in Brighton is lined with a string of brightly coloured, 19th century Victorian bathing huts, which have become a Melbourne icon. The bathing boxes are private property, so you can’t go inside, but you can get beautiful photos outside them. Have a dip at the beach while you’re there!
NGV’s Summer Blockbuster
The National Gallery of Victoria holds exhibitions year-round, but the two most highly anticipated exhibitions of the year are held over summer and winter. The NGV’s Summer Blockbuster usually celebrates a contemporary or modern artist, and is always a world-class exhibition. In 2025, the NGV’s Summer blockbuster celebrates Yayoi Kusama, one of the most renowned living artists. This is a ticketed event, you can visit during standard opening hours, or book tickets to NGV Friday Nights, a series of evening events with live music, pop up bars, and late access to the exhibition.
Drink & dine on the Yarra River
Summer is the best time in Melbourne to enjoy being by the Yarra River. Head to Southbank Boulevard to admire the best views of the Melbourne CBD across the river, and enjoy lunch, dinner or drinks on the water. There are lots of restaurants in Southbank to choose from, but the best spot is undoubtedly Yarra Botanica, a floating bar & eatery directly on the Yarra, which has the best views & celebrates Victorian produce – nearly all ingredients on the menu are Victorian, and 100% of the beverage list is Victorian.
Sunset Picnics
Melbourne enjoys very long summer days, due to daylight savings, so the sun sets between 8-9pm. It’s the perfect time of year to enjoy a sunset picnic, especially for watching the sunset over the bay. Some of the best spots are Catani Gardens in St Kilda, Point Ormond in Elwood or along the foreshore in Brighton. Other beautiful picnic spots in Melbourne (without the water views) include Royal Botanic Gardens, St Kilda Botanic Gardens, Fitzroy Gardens and Carlton Gardens.
Events in Melbourne in Summer 2025
Australian Open
The Australian Open is held every summer in Melbourne, for three weeks in January. Book tickets to particular days or matches, or book a Ground Pass to soak up the atmosphere of the Open amongst the pop up bars, restaurants and big screens in the grounds, as well as get access to the outer courts. The Australian Open has concluded for 2025, but will be back for more tennis fever in 2026!
Yayoi Kusama at the NGV
Every year, the National Gallery of Victoria holds an eagerly anticipated “summer blockbuster” exhibition, which runs from late spring until early autumn. The NGV’s Summer Blockbuster in 2025 showcases Yayoi Kusama, with more than 200 artworks and eye-popping immersive design. Yayoi Kusama is one of the world’s most celebrated living artists, and the NGV always puts on a great show for the blockbuster, so this is one not to miss!
Entry to the Yayoi Kusama exhibition is ticketed, but entry to the permanent collection at the NGV is free – make sure you check out some of the permanent collection as well, while you’re there.
Antipodes Lonsdale Street Greek Festival
Lonsdale Street is famous for being the centre of Melbourne’s thriving Greek community, in a city which is famous for being home to the most people with Greek heritage, outside of Greece. The Antipodes Lonsdale Street Greek Festival is a two-day street party celebrating Greek culture & cuisine, with music, dancing, food & entertainment. The festival will be held on Saturday 23 & Sunday 24th February, with the full program yet to be announced.
Chinese Lunar New Year Celebrations
Melbourne celebrates Chinese Lunar New Year every year, with a number of lively celebrations around the city. The major Chinese Lunar New Year Festival is held in the Melbourne CBD (downtown) every year in Chinatown, which includes the Millennium Dragon Parade. It’s Melbourne city’s largest event!
Summer Night Market
The Queen Victoria Market opens after dark every summer, with a lively and popular Summer Night Market. From 5pm every Wednesday in summer, dozens of delicious food stalls pop up inside the historic Queen Victoria Market, which is the largest covered market in the southern hemisphere! The Summer Night Market is actually my preferred way to visit the Queen Victoria Market.
The Outsiders Melbourne (Free)
Melbourne is famous for its street art, which decorates neighbourhoods across the entire city. The most concentrated street art in Melbourne is around Hosier Lane, which makes it the perfect location The Outsiders, an exhibition featuring more than 100 works by notable street artists, including Banksy, Rone, Hush and Ron English. A quintessentially Melbourne exhibition!
Hours: 12-6pm from January 13-25 May
THE LUME Melbourne: Van Gogh
You’ll likely have seen photos of the otherworldly immersive art experience, THE LUME, which uses virtual reality to bring art to life. Back by popular demand, THE LUME’s Vincent Van Gogh Exhibition is returning to Melbourne in 2025, and is suitable for all ages. I recommend booking tickets in advance.
Dear Evan Hansen
Until February 16th, you can catch the Australian premier of the Tony award-winning broadway blockbuster, Dear Evan Hansen, at the Arts Centre in Melbourne. The coming-of-age musical tells the story of socially anxious highschooler Evan Hansen, who is thrust into the spotlight when he inadvertently invents an important role for himself at the centre of a tragedy.
St Kilda Festival
The NGV’s Summer Blockbuster of 2024/2025 celebrates Yayoi Kusama, with one of the most comprehensive retrospectives of her career that the world has ever seen. With more than 200 artworks and eye-popping immersive design, this is an unmissable exhibition in Melbourne this January.
Twilight Beach Polo
Twilight Beach Polo will not be held in summer 2025, but is planning to return to Melbourne in February 2026.
Crowds & Costs in Melbourne in Summer
Summer is peak season in Melbourne, with higher prices and crowds due to long school holidays, the Australian Open in January, and of course, the best weather of the year. Plan in advance & make reservations for hotels, tours, events and restaurants as early as possible.
Best Side Trips From Melbourne in Summer
Summer brings long days in Melbourne & Victoria, but also bushfire season. Monitor local reports and authorities for bushfire alerts when travelling around Victoria in summer, especially if you’re planning to go to regional areas.
Mornington Peninsula
Summer is the perfect time of year to make a day trip or side trip to the wineries & beaches of the Mornington Peninsula. The Mornington Peninsula is in peak season in summer, and gets extremely busy with day trippers, holidaymakers and Melburnians enjoying their second homes by the water. Make as many of your hotel, restaurant and wine tasting bookings in advance as you can. Be warned, the water on the Peninsula is cold year-round, so don’t expect warm Mediterranean waters!
Check out my guide to the Mornington Peninsula for ideas on what to do & where to stay.
Yarra Valley
The Yarra Valley is one of the best wine regions in Australia, and is an easy day trip from Melbourne. Check out my guide to the best wineries in the Yarra Valley or book a day tour to the Yarra Valley wineries, to let someone else worry about driving.
Bellarine Peninsula
The Bellarine Peninsula is just over an hour’s drive from Melbourne, and a great alternative to the Mornington Peninsula. It’s a bit less of a tourist hotspot, more popular with locals than international visitors. The Bellarine Peninsula is west of Melbourne, with Geelong as its largest town. I love Jack Rabbit Vineyard for wine tasting with a stunning ocean view!
Tasmania
Summer is peak season in Tasmania, because the southern island state gets some rare warm weather! Fly to Hobart or Launceston in Tasmania, and book as much as possible in advance. You could spend a few days in Hobart, or do a road trip from Launceston to Freycinet National Park, which is home to the stunning Wineglass Bay.
While the Great Ocean Road is a very popular summer destination, I don’t recommend planning to do a trip to the Great Ocean Road in the height of summer because of the high risk of bushfires in the area. Regardless of where you are going in Victoria in summer, check local authorities for the fire danger warning. I prefer visiting the Great Ocean Road in shoulder season, in late spring or March.
Hello! I’m an Australian travel blogger, living in Melbourne, Australia. I grew up in Brisbane, studied in Paris, lived & worked in New York City and now live in Melbourne, Australia.
I love sharing specific and useful recommendations, itineraries and guides for the most beautiful things to see, do, experience & eat wherever I go.
My favourite travel destinations are Australia, New York City & surrounds, France, Greece & Japan, but I’m always excited to explore somewhere new!
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