Season guide · Melbourne · Australia
Melbourne in winter
June–August: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Johntorcasio, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Cool, grey and showery with short days, but low hotel prices, the footy season, MIFF and cosy bars and restaurants. Expect highs up to 15°C (59°F) and lows around 7°C (45°F), with about 29 rainy days across June–August.
Key facts
- Months
- June–August
- Temperatures
- 7°C (45°F) to 15°C (59°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 29
- Sea
- 12°C (54°F) to 13°C (55°F)
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in winter
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June | 14°C (57°F) | 8°C (46°F) | 9 | 9.6 h | 2/5 |
| July | 14°C (57°F) | 7°C (45°F) | 10 | 9.8 h | 2/5 |
| August | 15°C (59°F) | 7°C (45°F) | 10 | 10.7 h | 2/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 14°C (57°F) against a yearly 20°C (68°F), and 29 of the year's roughly 95 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 2/5 and hotel prices 2/5 on average.
What's on in winter
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- June: RISING — arts and live performance festival (usually June)
- June: King's Birthday AFL match at the MCG (second Monday of June)
- July: Winter night market at the Queen Victoria Market (usually Wednesday evenings in winter)
- August: Melbourne International Film Festival (usually August)
Good choices for winter
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
Aquarium · Melbourne CBD
SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium
Visit on a weekday morning outside school holidays to watch the penguins without a crowd at the glass.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
.jpg){kind=link}
Historic site · Melbourne CBD
Old Melbourne Gaol
This bluestone prison on Russell Street dates from the 1840s, and the bushranger Ned Kelly was hanged here in 1880.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
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
Day trips in winter
- Yarra Valley (About 1–1.5 hours by car) — Victoria's best-known wine region around Healesville and Yarra Glen has cellar doors pouring Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and sparkling wine, plus Healesville Sanctuary, a native wildlife park run by Zoos Victoria.
- Dandenong Ranges and Puffing Billy (About 1 hour by train or car) — Puffing Billy, a restored steam railway dating from 1900, runs from Belgrave through fern-filled forest in the Dandenong Ranges, with passengers sitting on the open carriage windowsills, legs dangling.
What to pack
- Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings
- A packable rain jacket for showers
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is winter a good time to visit Melbourne?
It is a trade-off: Cool, grey and showery with short days, but low hotel prices, the footy season, MIFF and cosy bars and restaurants. The best months overall are February–April and October–November.
+What is the weather like in Melbourne in winter?
Highs of up to 15°C (59°F) and lows around 7°C (45°F), with about 29 rainy days over the season.