Summer Activities & Things to Do Around Melbourne
Summer in Melbourne is pure magic! With longer, warmer days, the city is buzzing with contagious joy.
Seize the sunshine and explore premier beach suburbs from South Melbourne to St Kilda. Enjoy beachside cafes, bike along The Bay Trail, and soak in the vibrant St Kilda market vibes every Sunday. Grab a GoGet for a coastal adventure to Mornington and Portsea's sandy beaches. Venture to the lush Dandenong Ranges for a scenic escape filled with Puffing Billy's charm. Melbourne's summer is calling for epic adventures – book in advance, embrace the outdoors, and make it a season to remember!
Go Bike Riding in Melbourne
A great way to enjoy the sunshine and take in new views of the city in summer is to jump on a bike, with a variety of bike trails available all through Melbourne and the wider region. The Capital City Trail is a pleasant cycling route that winds through the centre of Melbourne, passing by many of the city's most well-known sites, such as Federation Square, the Zoo, and the Botanical Gardens.
Bicyclists can access Brighton via the 6km-long Bay Trail from the area outside Luna Park's St Kilda entrance. Before making the trip back, take in the sights of the ocean, walk in the surf, and stop for lunch in Brighton. If you’re after a longer picturesque ride, tackle the Lilyday-Warbutron Rail Trail. This lovely 40-kilometer bike route starts in the outer eastern suburbs of Melbourne and follows the former railway through valleys, vineyards, and bridges. The Yarra River, which rises from the Warburton mountain ranges beyond, empties into the bustling and historic hamlet of Warburton, where the ride comes to a conclusion.
Spend Summer with the Animals
Head to Melbourne Zoo early in the morning during summer, when the animals are most active and the heat isn’t at its peak. You can also enjoy an overnight experience with a Roar ‘n’ Snore camping experience or kick back and enjoy the famous Twilight Series which offers up performances of rock 'n' roll, country, folk, contemporary pop, and golden oldies. Want to beat the heat? Head to SeaLife Aquarium which spans three storeys and is situated in Melbourne's CBD. Sea Life offers engaging and instructive exhibits for young children and adults alike, making it an enjoyable family outing. Experience the marvels of sea life up close by participating in one of the numerous hands-on activities or travelling through glass tunnels where stingrays and fish swim above you.
Visit the NGV and Museums’ to enjoy the air-conditioning
There's nothing better to do on those oppressively hot Melbourne summer days than to go right inside to one of the amazing museums in the area. You'll be glad to view some amazing artwork or exhibitions and get away from the heat, even if you're not a museum enthusiast.
Entering amazing NGV (National Gallery of Victoria) complex will quickly make you feel cooler thanks to the falling water over the front glass. In actuality, Australia's largest, oldest, and most popular art museum is the NGV. It extends over two galleries that are close to one another on foot. You'll find amazing collections of artwork from Australia and other countries, both modern and old. The permanent collection does not charge admission. If you’re not sure which gallery or museum to visit, here are a few pointers. NGV offers a variety of permanent exhibits in addition to amazing blockbuster shows. Explore some of Australia's top artists at the Ian Potter Centre at NGV Australia.
Melbourne Museum features dinosaur exhibits, First Nations displays, and much more. It's an enjoyable, interactive museum that's perfect for all ages. At the Immigration Museum you can discover the history and contemporary immigration to Australia. At ACMI enjoy movies, video games, and the creation of your own epic playlist at this fun museum. Scienceworks is a tonne of fun for everyone, whether you're a kid storyteller or just want to geek out in the Lightning Room or Planetarium. To beat the heat, it’s also recommended visiting the Melbourne Museum, where you may cool yourself and learn by meandering around the forest garden and Milarri Garden Walk.
Travel through the rainforest on the Puffing Billy
Situated around one hour east of Melbourne, the spectacular Dandenong Ranges can be traversed during the voyage aboard the Puffing Billy. Located 40 kilometres east of Melbourne, Puffing Billy offers a great chance to unwind and take in the fresh air as the train travels through the temperate rainforest, with lush fern gullies swishing by and towering Mountain Ash trees overhead. The train played a key role in the development of the rail system in the Dandenong mountains in the early 1900s and in Melbourne's history. The train departs for Gembrook from Belgrave Station. It is a family-friendly significant tourist destination that everyone will love. Bring a picnic or savour the train's summer menu. There are several activities available at Lakeside, including swimming pools, picnic areas, model train exhibits, and paddle boating on the lake.
Spend the day at the Beach
Although you will undoubtedly be surrounded by travellers, there's no mistaking the summertime at the beach. If you want to tick of visiting the best beaches around, read our guide to the 8 Best Beaches in Victoria. Melbourne residents are fortunate to have access to so many beaches for relief from the heat throughout the summer. St Kilda beach is one location that both residents and visitors love. Head to St. Kilda and enjoy a drink at the famous Esplanade Hotel, ride the Big Dipper at Luna Park, shop the weekend markets and then relax on the beach and people watch. In addition to swimming, St Kilda beach has a plethora of other recreational options, including jet skiing, rollerblading, windsurfing, kite surfing, beach volleyball, and more. You can also see small penguins at the pier most evenings, or take a leisurely stroll down the St Kilda Promenade for a relaxing walk.
Travel to Mothers Beach in Mornington and Dendy Street Beach in Brighton if you have more time in Melbourne and would want to avoid the crowds. Brighton Beach features the well-known brightly coloured bathing boxes and calm seas, however waves can occasionally break during very erratic weather. Though it is a bit farther from the city, Half Moon Bay is more isolated. The bay's crescent shape makes it an excellent place to swim.
Spend Summer at the Mornington Peninsula
The Mornington Peninsula is the perfect place to experience all that summer has to offer. We're talking about lengthy days at the beach, exploring the great outdoors, and enjoying delectable food and beverages while lounging with friends or loved ones. The Peninsula has 192 kilometres of coastline, two bays, and ocean beaches, so there are many ways to enjoy the beach. At the well-known bathing paradise, Mornington's Peninsula Hot Springs, soak away your tension. Choose from more than 20 experiences that are inspired by different parts of the world, and feel the stress leave your body. The Mornington Peninsula is home to more than just a variety of terrestrial animals, such as wombats and kangaroos. Because of the amazing marine environment of nearby Port Phillip Bay, it also has playful seals and dolphins. You can take a three-hour sightseeing trip off the coast of Sorrento that includes a swimming encounter with these beautiful creatures to get up close and personal with these wild animals. Alternatively you can prepare to make friends and swim with local seals and dolphins in their natural home on a half-day snorkel excursion. Kids of all ages will enjoy a fun-filled day out at the Enchanted Adventure Garden, which is located at Arthurs Seat on the Mornington Peninsula. To keep everyone occupied, there are several mazes to discover, enormous puzzles to complete, flowers, enormous garden sculptures, and a tube slide. Summertime is a great time to visit the Arthurs Seat Eagle, which offers breathtaking views over Melbourne, the ocean, and the Mornington Peninsula across Port Phillip Bay. Enjoy a fine, informal meal experience at the recently renovated Eagle Café at the top station. There's plenty of space to relax with a coffee and a snack, or maybe a local wine or beer, on the large outside deck, which offers breathtaking views from almost every table.
Eat out at the Summer Night Market
Queen Vic Market’s Summer Night Markets are a summertime staple and run every Wednesday night from November to mid-March. The summer night markets provide a feast of mouth-watering cuisine, lively entertainment, and handcrafted crafts from the area. The market is open every Wednesday from 5 to 10 p.m. and admission is free.
Bring your friends or family and head to the Market for a memorable evening filled with dining, drinking, shopping, live entertainment, fun, and the feel of a summer sunset. The summer night markets feature a changing weekly lineup of live music and roaming entertainment, as well as international street food trucks and booths, festival bars, and exclusive shopping with local craftsmen. Just show up hungry and eager to have fun.
Spend a Summer Morning at the Markets
While you probably don't think about markets while organising summer activities, heading to a local market is a great way to enjoy a summer morning before the day heats up. Visit one of Melbourne's many fantastic markets to locate a wide variety of exquisitely crafted artisan items, produce and food offerings. Every Sunday, St Kilda hosts the Esplanade market, where vendors set up shop along the waterfront. Head to the Southbank Market, which is conveniently located next to The Arts Centre, to double your Sunday entertainment. A fantastic market with plenty for both adults and children and everyone will undoubtedly leave with some goods. Melbourne has always had a flourishing market culture, which is why people gather on weekends to buy in squares, halls, car parks, schools, and other well-known places. The best thing is that you can truly engage with the people who produce, develop, and make the items you're buying, and it's reasonably priced. Check out our guide of the Best Markets in Melbourne to get ideas for your upcoming weekend excursion.
Spend a Summer Evening at an Outdoor Cinema
Summer means numerous moonlight movie theatres are now available to you. Make it a romantic night out or an enjoyable outing with friends. Get a refreshing drink, some sushi, cheese, pizza or pack a snack-filled picnic. Settle in, unwind, and take in the show! Always attempt to check the weather forecast before making booking. Located atop Curtin House's laneway which has a number of hip pubs, restaurants, and retail stores, is the famous Rooftop Cinema, which is open throughout the summer months. Encircled by the twinkling lights of the city towers, enjoy an amazing evening with some wonderful food selections. The Royal Botanic Garden is home to one of the most well-liked outdoor moonlight cinemas where you can relax in beanbag chairs and enjoy the latest blockbusters or classic films as the sun sets.
Have a Picnic in the Park
Throughout the summer, Melburnians enjoy their parks to the fullest. Whether it's South Yarra's Fawkner Park, Fitzroy's Edinburgh Gardens, the lakefront Albert Park, Princes Park near Carlton, or Fitzroy's Princes Park, these green spaces come to life in the warm weather with people enjoying picnics with their families, apartment residents meeting up with friends, and anyone else looking to take advantage of the cool grass. Melbourne is home to 28 botanic gardens. Being the closest to the Melbourne CBD, the Royal Botanic Gardens are probably the most well-known. It covers an amazing 38 hectares and is home to more than 50,000 different types of plants, trees, and bushes. A great location to find some shelter or sunlight. You can have a quiet picnic by a gorgeous lake, in a flower bed, or beneath some trees. Melbourne is a terrific destination for a picnic since there are so many lovely parks and gardens across the city. Arrange some meats and cheeses, some sandwiches, and perhaps even a bottle of bubbly, then spread a blanket on Gardens' lawns. Read our guide to the Best Picnic Spots in Melbourne to get more inspiration.
Explore Melbourne’s Laneways
The fact that Melbourne is home to some of the greatest laneways and laneway art in the world is no secret. Take a summer day trip outside to explore the laneways and take in the ever changing street art. Additionally, Melbourne offers street art tours guided by street artists who will reveal secret works of art that you would never discover on your own. If you prefer to do it by yourself, simply stroll the city, or look up guides online; these enjoyable excursions not only immerse you in some of the city's greatest laneways, buildings, artwork, and unique pubs and cafés, but they also challenge you to elevate your sightseeing experience. The ideal way to spend a sunny day exploring the city – plus you can even finish up with some shopping aftwards!
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