Month guide · Melbourne · Australia
Melbourne in March
What March is really like in Melbourne: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
March is one of the best months to visit Melbourne. Expect average highs of 24°C (75°F), lows of 14°C (57°F), about 6 rainy days and roughly 12.4 hours of daylight. Warm, stable weather and a packed events calendar make March one of the best months; hotels fill during the Grand Prix.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 24°C (75°F) / 14°C (57°F)
- Rainy days
- About 6
- Daylight
- About 12.4 hours
- Sea temperature
- 19°C (66°F)
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- Highest
Weather in March
March is the 3rd-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 6 of its 31 days. Compared with February (26°C (79°F)), March is cooler; by April highs drop to around 20°C (68°F).
- Sunrise (15 March)
- About 07:19
- Sunset (15 March)
- About 19:40
- Daylight
- About 12.4 hours
- Sea
- 19°C (66°F)
Winter (June–August). Cool, grey and showery with short days, but low hotel prices, the footy season, MIFF and cosy bars and restaurants.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, March rates 4 for crowds (the peak is January at 5) and 5 for hotel prices (highest in January). Book accommodation early: March is one of the pricier months.
Events in March
- Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park (usually March)
- Moomba Festival on the Yarra (Labour Day weekend, usually March)
- Melbourne Food and Wine Festival (usually March)
- Melbourne International Comedy Festival (usually late March to April)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in March
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Market · Melbourne CBD
Queen Victoria Market
Go in the morning for the best produce, and check the market calendar first: it does not trade every day, and night markets run on selected evenings.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
- Free
- History
Museum · Carlton
Melbourne Museum and Royal Exhibition Building
In the Carlton Gardens, the Melbourne Museum covers natural history, First Peoples culture and the city's own story, with a living forest gallery, dinosaur skeletons and Phar Lap, the champion racehorse.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Rainy day
- History
- Architecture
- Nature
Museum · Federation Square
ACMI
Pick up a free Lens at the entrance to bookmark exhibits as you go, then look them up online later.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Rainy day
- Kids
- Art
Architecture · Melbourne CBD
State Library Victoria
Opened in 1856, the State Library is best known for the La Trobe Reading Room, an octagonal domed hall ringed by tiers of galleries.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Rainy day
- Photo spot
What to pack
For highs near 24°C, lows near 14°C and 6 wet days: light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; comfortable walking shoes.
Is March a good time to visit Melbourne?
One of the best months to visit Melbourne, with 4 notable events on the calendar. The other best months are February, April and October–November. Compare every month.
Melbourne in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is March a good time to visit Melbourne?
It is one of the best months to visit Melbourne. Warm, stable weather and a packed events calendar make March one of the best months; hotels fill during the Grand Prix.
+How warm is Melbourne in March?
Average highs are around 24°C (75°F) and lows around 14°C (57°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Melbourne in March?
Expect rain on about 6 days of the month.