Month guide · Melbourne · Australia
Melbourne in August
What August is really like in Melbourne: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: User:Bmra73, Public domain
Quick answer
August is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 15°C (59°F), lows of 7°C (45°F), about 10 rainy days and roughly 10.7 hours of daylight. Still cold and showery, with some of the lowest hotel rates of the year; film lovers come for MIFF.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 15°C (59°F) / 7°C (45°F)
- Rainy days
- About 10
- Daylight
- About 10.7 hours
- Sea temperature
- 12°C (54°F)
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in August
August is the 10th-warmest month in Melbourne: days average 15°C (59°F) against a yearly average high of 20°C (68°F), and nights fall to about 7°C (45°F). Rain falls on roughly 10 of its 31 days. Compared with July (14°C (57°F)), August is about as warm; by September highs climb to around 17°C (63°F).
- Sunrise (15 August)
- About 07:05
- Sunset (15 August)
- About 17:45
- Daylight
- About 10.7 hours
- Sea
- 12°C (54°F)
Spring (September–November). Changeable and windy at first, then warmer and greener, with the AFL Grand Final, the Fringe and Melbourne Cup week.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, August rates 2 for crowds (the peak is January at 5) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in January). That makes August one of the better-value months to book.
Events in August
- Melbourne International Film Festival (usually August)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in August
With frequent rain, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Historic site · Abbotsford
Abbotsford Convent
A former convent complex on a bend of the Yarra, now an arts precinct with studios, galleries, cafés and gardens.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Off the beaten path
- Free
- Art
- Kids
- Outdoors
Landmark · Melbourne CBD
Federation Square and Flinders Street Station
Meet 'under the clocks' at Flinders Street Station like locals do, then cross to the Ian Potter Centre for the free Australian art collection.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Architecture
- Art
- Rainy day
Gallery · Southbank
National Gallery of Victoria
Founded in 1861, the NGV is Australia's oldest public art museum.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Rainy day
- Iconic
- Architecture
Museum · Carlton
Melbourne Museum and Royal Exhibition Building
Check the museum's site for guided tours of the Royal Exhibition Building's interior, which is otherwise mainly used for events.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Rainy day
- History
- Architecture
- Nature
What to pack
For highs near 15°C, lows near 7°C and 10 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is August a good time to visit Melbourne?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, February–April and October–November are better overall. Compare every month.
Melbourne in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is August a good time to visit Melbourne?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Still cold and showery, with some of the lowest hotel rates of the year; film lovers come for MIFF.
+How warm is Melbourne in August?
Average highs are around 15°C (59°F) and lows around 7°C (45°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Melbourne in August?
Expect rain on about 10 days of the month.