Exploring Melbourne's Four Seasons Through Unique Destinations

According to legend, the most beautiful season in Melbourne is autumn, and one should avoid the scorching heat of Melbourne in summer. It's partially true, but not entirely. Today, I'll prove to you that Melbourne is beautiful and has many exciting places regardless of the season. I'll suggest some places you should visit in Melbourne according to each season!

Firstly, you need to note that being in the Southern Hemisphere, the seasons in Melbourne are different from the rest of the world. The seasons in Melbourne are as follows:

Now let's explore where to go with Melbourne's weather across the four seasons.

1. Melbourne Weather in Spring (September - November)

Spring weather in Melbourne is mild, with average temperatures ranging from 20 to 25 degrees Celsius. You can experience all four seasons in one day in Melbourne as the days are warm but the nights can be chilly. Spring in Melbourne often brings rain, especially in October, but overall the weather remains beautiful and pleasant. This is a great time for outdoor activities and exploring nature after a cozy winter indoors. Here are some tourist attractions to visit in spring in Melbourne:

Yarra River

When the weather is sunny and warming up, spend a beautiful morning cruising on the Yarra River. From this lovely river nestled in the heart of the city, you'll admire Melbourne from a completely different perspective. Isn't that a fantastic experience?

Boating on the Yarra River. @melbcruise

Melbourne offers boat tours on the Yarra River, usually starting from the CBD (central business district) and circling to Docklands. Depending on the time and schedule you choose, the tour can vary in length. In my opinion, around 1 to 2 hours should suffice.

Yarra Valley

Just over an hour's drive from central Melbourne lies the Yarra Valley, with its endless vineyards. This is the birthplace of Australia's long-standing wine production, including two world-famous varieties, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Visiting the Yarra Valley, you'll broaden your horizons as you explore vast vineyards, wineries, and sample various types of wine.

The Yarra Valley is stunning in spring. @Melbourne

You'll have relaxing moments here. @visityarravalley_official

Not only that, but the Yarra Valley also boasts restaurants, spas, and luxurious accommodations. With wine, how could there be a shortage of delicious food? In the Yarra Valley, you'll find exquisite dishes to pair with wine, such as fresh salmon, homemade caviar, and chocolate. From wine to food, it's all top-notch here!

You must indulge in fine wine and food in the Yarra Valley. @kvarnava

In the Yarra Valley, there's a once-in-a-lifetime experience of hot air ballooning. While it may be a bit pricey, you'll get to admire the stunning valley from above. This is undoubtedly an unforgettable experience on your journey.

The Yarra Valley is often a weekend retreat, an escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. Here, you'll find luxurious accommodations and spas if you want to spend 1-2 days unwinding. Otherwise, a day in the Yarra Valley is enough for you to have fun and learn many interesting things about wine.

The perfect weekend getaway in the Yarra Valley. @visityarravalley_official

A panoramic view of the Yarra Valley. @visityarravalley_official

Fitzroy Gardens

Nothing beats outdoor excursions and picnics in the warm, fresh spring air to make up for the days of winter confinement. When it comes to picnicking, there's no place better than Melbourne. Melbourne boasts an abundance of parks and green spaces, perfect for picnics or simply strolling around.

Captain Cook Cottage – a must-visit spot in Fitzroy Gardens. @visitmelbourne

Fitzroy Gardens is one of Melbourne's favorite outdoor destinations. It's one of Melbourne's most beautiful botanical gardens, dating back to the Victorian era, and the best part is that it's right in the heart of the city. One of the highlights here is the Captain Cook Cottage and Tudor Village. Additionally, Fitzroy Gardens boasts lush green lawns, an abundance of plant species, and fountain displays.

Diverse vegetation at Fitzroy Gardens. @cityofmelbourne

I recommend Fitzroy Gardens because not only is it centrally located but it's also a beautiful garden. Actually, Melbourne has many places for outdoor activities. In the city center, you can head to Southbank for weekend BBQs or visit the Royal Botanic Gardens. There's also Queens Park, Coburg Lake Reserve, Wattle Park, Carlton Gardens, and Edinburgh Gardens, which are perfect for leisurely walks and outdoor activities.

Melbourne has many other gardens too. The image shows Carlton Gardens. @cityofmelbourne

The Largest Tulip Festival in Melbourne

If you happen to visit Melbourne in spring, you're in for a treat! Melbourne hosts the Tesselaar Tulip Festival from September to October each year. The festival lasts about a month, with different themes every week, showcasing tulips from Holland, Ireland, Turkey, and more. You don't need to travel to distant Europe to see vast, colorful tulip fields. The Tesselaar Tulip Festival brings it all to Melbourne.

No need to go to Europe, Melbourne in spring has its own tulip fields. @tesselaar_tulip_festival

Moreover, the Tesselaar Tulip Festival features many other interesting sideline activities throughout its duration. For example, last year, the festival recreated a Dutch village, complete with landscapes, cuisine, and culture.

Taste of Melbourne

Spring is indeed the season of festivals. If you visit Melbourne around October, you'll experience the annual food festival. Here, you can taste thousands of dishes and drinks from Melbourne's finest restaurants to street food. The Taste of Melbourne food festival also features music and other lively activities.

The biggest food festival of the year, Taste of Melbourne. @weekendnotes

2. Melbourne Weather in Summer (December - February)

Summer in Melbourne, and indeed all of Australia, can get extremely hot!! Temperatures can reach up to 42 degrees Celsius, so people often stay indoors. However, just because it's hot doesn't mean there's nothing to do in Melbourne during summer. Luckily, Melbourne is blessed with diverse landscapes including rivers and beaches, so there's no shortage of places to visit. And if you visit Melbourne in December, you'll get to experience a different kind of Christmas... Christmas at the beach.

St. Kilda Beach

During summer, Melburnians often flock to the beach to escape the heat. Just a short distance from Melbourne's city center in the suburb of St. Kilda is St. Kilda Beach. Here, on hot summer days, you can enjoy swimming as St. Kilda Beach is almost wave-free.

One of Melbourne's famous beaches, St. Kilda Beach. @visitmelbourne

In addition to swimming or sunbathing at the beach, the St. Kilda Beach area holds many interesting things for you to explore. You can take a stroll on St. Kilda Pier or participate in a variety of activities here such as cycling or fishing. St. Kilda Pier offers a stunning view of the vast sea and sky.

Don't forget to visit St. Kilda Pier. @visitmelbourne

Not only that, but this suburban area also features elegant architecture blending European style with bohemian culture. Around St. Kilda Beach, there are diverse dining and shopping options, so you can spend the whole day here without getting bored. It's no wonder why St. Kilda Beach is one of the fantastic relaxation spots that Melbourne locals often visit on weekends.

Luna Park

Located near St. Kilda Beach is Melbourne's most famous amusement park - Luna Park. Once you're here, make sure to visit Luna Park for some truly relaxing moments. Luna Park offers a plethora of rides and even some thrilling attractions. You can find all sorts of entertainment here.

Melbourne's oldest amusement park located near St. Kilda Beach. @lunapark

Not just a mere amusement park, Luna Park holds special significance for Melbourne residents. It's Melbourne's oldest amusement park, opening its doors in 1912 and enduring many changes alongside the city. It's also home to the world's oldest operating roller coaster. Despite the presence of many modern parks, Luna Park still stands and holds a special place in the hearts of Melbourne locals.

Brighton Beach

Brighton Beach is one of the hottest check-in spots in Melbourne. Have you seen those colorful little houses in Melbourne that everyone's posting on Instagram? They're right there at Brighton Beach.

The legendary colorful houses at Brighton Beach, Melbourne. @ninkatsawa

Exploring further, Brighton Beach is divided into three areas along Port Phillip Bay: Upper Brighton, Middle Brighton, and Dendy Street. Over 80 quaint, colorful cottages line Dendy Street. In fact, these houses are dressing sheds dating back to the Victorian era. All made of wood, painted in vibrant colors, they add a unique charm to Brighton Beach. Under the blazing summer sun, these houses make for striking photos.

A super cool check-in spot in Melbourne that you wouldn't want to miss. @hannesjocarter

Indeed, you can't visit Melbourne without checking out a unique spot like the colorful cottages at Brighton Beach. But beyond just snapping photos, the purpose of visiting this beach is to relax and swim. Brighton Beach is perfect for activities like surfing.

Great Ocean Road Coastal Drive

Great Ocean Road is considered one of Australia's most beautiful routes. Indeed, driving along this 243 km stretch, you'll witness the richness of Australia's nature. Great Ocean Road is always on the must-do list when visiting Melbourne. Remember, it's an experience you absolutely must have!

In summer, Great Ocean Road becomes even more stunning with clear skies and emerald oceans. Due to the low rainfall in Melbourne during summer, it's perfect for water sports activities.

The most beautiful coastal route in Australia - Great Ocean Road. @australia.com

Great Ocean Road starts from Torquay and runs along the beautiful southwestern coast of Victoria. Driving along this route, one side is towering cliffs, the other is the breathtaking ocean. Not only will you admire the stunning coastline, but you'll also have the chance to encounter wildlife at Tower Hill, explore the historic seaside town of Queenscliff, visit farms, enjoy wine tasting at wineries,... Of course, water activities like kayaking and diving to explore the diverse marine life here are unmissable.

Legendary beauty along the Great Ocean Road - 12 Apostles. @visitmelbourne

Shopping spree on Boxing Day

If you're in Melbourne during Christmas, seize the unparalleled shopping opportunity. After Christmas Day (25/12) comes Boxing Day, when everything from electronics, cosmetics, clothing, household items... basically everything under the sun goes on massive sale. It's the biggest sale event of the year in Melbourne.

Spend Christmas in Melbourne and indulge in the ultimate shopping extravaganza. @cityofmelbourne

Explore shopping hubs at Bourke, Collins, South Wharf, and malls like Chadstone, Highpoint, Melbourne Central, Melbourne Emporium... You'll surely find unexpected bargains.

Welcome the New Year at Federation Square

While Sydney boasts its grand fireworks display at Sydney Harbour on New Year's Eve, Melbourne doesn't fall short either. On New Year's Eve, Melburnians gather at Federation Square in the city center to count down to the new year and witness the sky illuminated by fireworks.

New Year's fireworks at the heart of Melbourne. @cityofmelbourne

If you happened to be in Melbourne during New Year's, join the bustling atmosphere at Fed Square.

3. Melbourne Weather in Autumn (March - May)

From March to May, Melbourne experiences temperatures ranging from 15 to 20 degrees Celsius. They say autumn is the best time to visit Melbourne, and rightly so, with its cool weather and beautiful scenery. Melbourne's autumn is both dignified and romantic as golden leaves cover the streets. Let's explore some prominent tourist spots in autumn.

Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne

Spread across a 36-hectare area right in the heart of the city along the Yarra River, the Royal Botanic Gardens boasts over 50,000 trees from various parts of Australia. The Botanic Gardens serves as a tranquil green oasis amidst the bustling city of Melbourne. In autumn, this place becomes even more beautiful with a blend of golden and orange hues.

The lush Royal Botanic Gardens amidst Melbourne's urban landscape. @whatsonmelb

And here's autumn in Melbourne, as beautiful as a dream. @cityofmelbourne

Just strolling around this beautiful garden is already so relaxing. It's also the perfect spot for sightseeing, reading a book, or having a picnic with friends.

Grampians National Park

Grampians National Park is about a 3.5-hour drive from Melbourne. Although it's quite a distance, trust me, you won't regret coming here. The park boasts incredibly majestic scenery, making it a perfect day trip destination. The cool autumn weather is ideal for hiking or sightseeing activities.

Grampians National Park offers stunning landscapes. @nastjastasia

With rock formations shaped over millions of years, Grampians National Park features countless scenic views around towering mountains and small towns like Dunkeld, Stawell, Halls Gap, Wartook Valley, and Beaufort. Climbing rugged cliffs and waterfalls, you'll have truly breathtaking vistas of Grampians National Park.

Among the most famous are McKenzies Falls and Lake Wartook – must-visit tourist destinations. You can go fishing or boating on Lake Bellfield and Lake Wartook and have the chance to encounter native animals like koalas, kangaroos, emus, and eagles.

Majestic mountains in Grampians National Park. @sandviich

One of the special experiences in Grampians National Park is visiting vineyards and wineries. There are over 15 wineries in this area producing famous wines. You can enjoy wine tasting paired with local specialties here. Additionally, Grampians National Park offers many resorts for travelers looking to spend a weekend or a few days here.

Melbourne Zoo

The Royal Melbourne Zoo, also known as Melbourne Zoo, houses over 300 different species of animals from across Australia. Of course, you'll get to meet the adorable kangaroos – the country's iconic marsupials. Additionally, Melbourne Zoo is home to other cute creatures like penguins, platypuses, emus, and even some slightly intimidating ones like lions. Nobody wants to visit the zoo on scorching summer days or freezing winter ones, so autumn is the ideal time.

Visit Melbourne Zoo to meet Australia's adorable kangaroos. @girlsneedtravel

When it comes to wildlife, Australia is unrivaled, so you can't miss the chance to see these animals up close, which you usually only see in books.

Stroll the streets and explore street art

Autumn days are the perfect time to wander the streets and explore every nook and cranny of Melbourne. Everything here suddenly becomes more romantic. So why not take this opportunity to visit the incredibly distinctive street art districts in Melbourne?

The first stop I want to introduce you to is Hosier Lane. This street is located right in the city center opposite Federation Square. Here, you'll find a series of unique graffiti artworks. Hosier Lane is also a super hot spot for photo ops in Melbourne, where you just need to raise your camera to get a beautiful shot.

Hosier Lane – the street art district in the heart of Melbourne. @cityofmelbourne

Hosier Lane may seem quite familiar to every visitor to Melbourne. Another street art district is located in Brunswick. Brunswick is on the outskirts of Melbourne but is an extremely interesting place. Here, you'll encounter diversity in styles and cultures. People dress in a rather hipster and cool style.

Brunswick is still very artsy. Here, you can find street art, photography galleries, or free music performances. When you visit Brunswick, you'll feel a youthful, very free-spirited, and also artistic Melbourne.

Brunswick is full of artistic corners. @livingnomads

Brunswick is a very interesting and worth-visiting suburb. @frugalfrolicker

Strolling through the streets is the most exciting way to explore Melbourne. You observe, feel everything about this city on your own, and you'll also discover your favorite nooks and crannies. So, with the cool autumn weather, there's nothing better than wandering around Melbourne to understand more about this beautiful city.

The autumn weather in Melbourne is absolutely wonderful for strolling around. @cityofmelbourne

Moreover, at the end of March, Melbourne hosts a huge event, the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix race. If you're interested, visiting Melbourne in autumn is the perfect time.

4. Melbourne's weather in winter (June – August)

Skiing

The most exciting activity in winter in Melbourne is skiing. To experience the snow, you have to head to Mount Buller, located over 3 hours northeast of Melbourne's city center by car. This is the top destination for snow sports, including skiing. Along the way, you'll pass through the Yarra Valley and plateaus where you can admire the spectacular scenery of snow-covered mountains.

Mount Buller offers numerous resorts. @Mt Buller

You can choose to spend a few hours at Mount Buller and return to the city center or stay overnight. There are quite a few resorts at Mount Buller for travelers to enjoy the winter in Melbourne to the fullest.

Ice skating at Eureka Tower

You don't have to go far to experience snowboarding because right in the heart of Melbourne, there's a gigantic ice slide located at the city's tallest building, Eureka Skydeck with 88 floors. This is a favorite playground for both kids and adults in Melbourne during winter. Come and enjoy the lively atmosphere here and give this giant slide a try.

Snow slide in the heart of the city at Eureka Skydeck 88. @tothotornot

An unmissable experience when in Melbourne, and don't forget the highest 88th floor for a 360-degree panoramic view of the city.

Watch the Fireworks Festival at Docklands

If you visit Melbourne in July and August, you'll witness spectacular fireworks displays at Docklands. Every Friday throughout July and August, at Harbour Esplanade, Docklands, there are fireworks to welcome winter, accompanied by music performances and underwater light shows. This is one of the liveliest and most crowded spots on weekends in Melbourne during the winter.

Fireworks at Docklands in winter. @cityofmelbourne

Queen Victoria Night Market

The Queen Victoria Market always makes it to the list of famous tourist attractions in Melbourne. It's a historic market, trading for over 130 years and one of the largest open-air markets in Melbourne. At Queen Victoria Market, you can find just about every kind of produce from meat, fish to the freshest fruits and vegetables. So what makes the Queen Victoria Market special in winter?

Winter Queen Victoria Night Market – one of the exciting destinations. @stephyoungphotography

During winter, the Queen Victoria Market is bustling at night. There are not only many Melbourne and international food stalls but also live bands and various entertainment. Buying hot food with a cup of hot chocolate and relaxing with friends at Queen Victoria Market on chilly days is a wonderful experience in Melbourne.

So, we've explored Melbourne's weather through four seasons together. Let's summarize a bit:

Must-visit attractions in central Melbourne