Month guide · Melbourne · Australia
Melbourne in December
What December is really like in Melbourne: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Shkuru Afshar, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
December is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 24°C (75°F), lows of 14°C (57°F), about 7 rainy days and roughly 14.8 hours of daylight. Early summer, long evenings and Christmas lights; the city quietens after Christmas as locals head for the coast.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 24°C (75°F) / 14°C (57°F)
- Rainy days
- About 7
- Daylight
- About 14.8 hours
- Sea temperature
- 18°C (64°F)
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in December
December is the 4th-warmest month in Melbourne: days average 24°C (75°F) against a yearly average high of 20°C (68°F), and nights fall to about 14°C (57°F). Rain falls on roughly 7 of its 31 days. Compared with November (22°C (72°F)), December is warmer; by January highs climb to around 26°C (79°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 05:53
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 20:39
- Daylight
- About 14.8 hours
- Sea
- 18°C (64°F)
Autumn (March–May). Often the most settled weather of the year, with the Grand Prix, comedy and food festivals, and golden leaves in the gardens by May.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, December rates 4 for crowds (the peak is January at 5) and 4 for hotel prices (highest in January). Book accommodation early: December is one of the pricier months.
Events in December
- Boxing Day Test cricket at the MCG (26 December)
- New Year's Eve fireworks over the CBD and the Yarra (31 December)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in December
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
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Historic site · Kings Domain
Shrine of Remembrance
Melbourne's war memorial, completed in 1934, is modelled on ancient Greek and Roman monuments.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Views
- Architecture
Waterfront · St Kilda
St Kilda foreshore and pier
Arrive around dusk to see the little penguins return to the breakwater; keep your voice down and never use a camera flash.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- After dark
- Couples
- Nature
Viewpoint · Southbank
Melbourne Skydeck
The observation deck on the 88th floor of Eureka Tower gives 360-degree views over the CBD, Port Phillip Bay and, on a clear day, the Dandenong Ranges.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Views
- After dark
- Couples
Zoo · Parkville
Melbourne Zoo
Children usually enter free at weekends, on public holidays and during Victorian school holidays; tram 58 from the CBD stops near the entrance.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Nature
- Outdoors
What to pack
For highs near 24°C, lows near 14°C and 7 wet days: light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is December a good time to visit Melbourne?
A shoulder-season month, with 2 notable events 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 December a good time to visit Melbourne?
It is a shoulder-season month. Early summer, long evenings and Christmas lights; the city quietens after Christmas as locals head for the coast.
+How warm is Melbourne in December?
Average highs are around 24°C (75°F) and lows around 14°C (57°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Melbourne in December?
Expect rain on about 7 days of the month.