Month guide · Melbourne · Australia
Melbourne in October
What October is really like in Melbourne: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: DXR, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
October is one of the best months to visit Melbourne. Expect average highs of 20°C (68°F), lows of 10°C (50°F), about 9 rainy days and roughly 13.1 hours of daylight. Warmer and greener but still changeable; gardens bloom and the spring racing carnival builds towards the Melbourne Cup.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 20°C (68°F) / 10°C (50°F)
- Rainy days
- About 9
- Daylight
- About 13.1 hours
- Sea temperature
- 15°C (59°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in October
October is the 7th-warmest month in Melbourne: days average 20°C (68°F) against a yearly average high of 20°C (68°F), and nights fall to about 10°C (50°F). Rain falls on roughly 9 of its 31 days. Compared with September (17°C (63°F)), October is warmer; by November highs climb to around 22°C (72°F).
- Sunrise (15 October)
- About 06:34
- Sunset (15 October)
- About 19:37
- Daylight
- About 13.1 hours
- Sea
- 15°C (59°F)
Summer (December–February). Warm to hot, mostly dry days with long evenings, the Australian Open and beach days at St Kilda, interrupted by occasional 40°C heat and sudden cool changes.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, October rates 3 for crowds (the peak is January at 5) and 4 for hotel prices (highest in January). Book accommodation early: October is one of the pricier months.
Events in October
- Spring Racing Carnival — Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate (usually October)
- Melbourne Fringe Festival (usually early October)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in October
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Landmark · Richmond
Melbourne Cricket Ground
The MCG holds about 100,000 people and hosts AFL football through the winter, the AFL Grand Final in September and the Boxing Day Test match in summer.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- After dark
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
What to pack
For highs near 20°C, lows near 10°C and 9 wet days: light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is October a good time to visit Melbourne?
One of the best months to visit Melbourne, with 2 notable events on the calendar. The other best months are February–April and November. Compare every month.
Melbourne in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is October a good time to visit Melbourne?
It is one of the best months to visit Melbourne. Warmer and greener but still changeable; gardens bloom and the spring racing carnival builds towards the Melbourne Cup.
+How warm is Melbourne in October?
Average highs are around 20°C (68°F) and lows around 10°C (50°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Melbourne in October?
Expect rain on about 9 days of the month.