Brave the cold with the top 10 things to do in Melbourne in winter
You might think that Melbourne lies low on colder days, but that’s where you’re wrong — Melbourne is always alive even in the winter season. The people in this city just know how to find warmth in every little way.
Everything just glows even more, so much to the point that we’d rather go out and join the fun than cozy up at home.
This made me love the city even more, especially the events and happenings that keep everyone happy and connected. And you’d better not miss these winter activities in Melbourne because some of them are specially made for this season.
1. Winter Night Market at Queen Victoria Market
Media credit: Fringe Flavours Night Market
Website: https://qvm.com.au/
Address: Queen St, Melbourne
Phone: +61393205822
Operating hours:
- Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday 6:00 am – 3:00 pm
- Saturday and Sunday 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Anyone who resides in Melbourne knows that the Queen Victoria Market isn’t just buzzing all year round, but it also transforms into something that suits any season.
During the winter season, every Wednesday evening, the Winter Night Market opens up its lanes and reveals a winter wonderland filled with various street food, warming drinks, and live entertainment.
And because it is open to everyone, it’s a great option for families or couples who just want to enjoy the winter atmosphere.
Although I’ll say that you don’t have to spend anything, I highly doubt it, especially when you’re already there browsing all the stalls — there are hundreds of them, by the way.
| Pro tip: Skip the parking hassle and just take the tram to the Winter Night Market. Routes 19, 57, 59, stop nearby. The market is within the free tram zone as well. |
2. Melbourne Winter Masterpieces
Media credit: Secret Melbourne
Website: https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/
Address: 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne
Phone: +61 3 8620 222
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
When it’s finally winter in Melbourne, the Melbourne Winter Masterpieces series is launched, which is an annual exhibition that aims to attract visitors during the quieter tourism period in Victoria.
This also helps boost local businesses like restaurants and hotels.
Each year, world-class art pieces are transported from international galleries and institutions to be displayed exclusively in Melbourne.
These exhibitions either take place in the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne Museum, or the ACMI. After the launch, the exclusive exhibit runs for approximately 100 days, usually between June and October.
| Pro tip: It would be better to pre-book tickets once it’s possible to avoid long queues on the day of your visit. |
3. Mornington Peninsula Hot Springs
Media credit: Peninsula Hot Springs
Website: https://www.peninsulahotsprings.com/
Address: 140 Springs Ln, Fingal VIC
Phone: +61359508777
Operating hours:
- Monday to Thursday 7:00 am – 11:00 pm
- Friday 7:00 am – 2:00 am
- Saturday 5:00 am – 2:00 am
- Sunday 5:00 am – 11:00 pm
Nothing can beat a steamy bath with views of nature in a crisp winter season. That’s why experiencing the hot springs on the Mornington Peninsula is a must.
Since winter is considered the season for spa treatments, it’s one of the most highly recommended activities.
The hot springs offer various pools with different temperatures and awesome features, including a hilltop pool, cave pools, and forest pools.
Access here will include the use of sauna, steam rooms, and cold plunge pools if you’re looking for a “fire and ice” experience.
To add, there are wellness workshops and yoga sessions as well.
It’s about 90 minutes away from Melbourne, but you won’t have to worry about accommodation since the place also provides overnight lodges and glamping cabins, so you’re welcome for an extended stay.
| Pro tip: If you want to enhance your bathing experience, you can try the evening or “moonlit bathing” session, which is particularly beautiful and more intimate in winter. |
4. O’Brien Icehouse
Media credit: O’Brien Icehouse
Website: https://www.obrienicehouse.com.au/
Address: Floor G, The District Docklands, Ground/105 Pearl River Rd, Docklands
Phone: +61 1300 756 699
Operating hours:
- Monday 9:00 am – 3:45 pm and 6:15 pm – 10:00 pm
- Tuesday 9:00 am – 10:00 pm
- Wednesday 9:00 am – 3:45 pm
- Thursday 9:00 am – 3:30 pm and 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
- Friday and Saturday 9:00 am – 11:00 pm
- Sunday 9:00 am – 9:30 pm
At O’Brien Icehouse, you can skate, watch ice sports, or enjoy a nice warm drink at the café. The icehouse is a premier ice venue in Melbourne with two Olympic-sized rinks, a café and bar, a pro shop, and seating for around 1,000 spectators.
O’Brien Icehouse is home to the Australian Ice Hockey League, and the winter season is when finals usually take place, making it a great time to catch a thrilling match.
On nights without matches, the venue is open for visitors to enjoy various ice sport sessions. And if you’re a beginner, the staff is always ready to help you find your balance.
Regardless of the weather outside, you’ll get to enjoy winter activities inside the venue in a much warmer and more fun way.
| Pro tip: If you’re planning to experience the rinks on your visit, always check the facility’s schedule to make sure you don’t fall on the days when the place isn’t reserved for training or events. |
5. Plan a trip to Lake Mountain
Media credit: Lake Mountain Alpine Resort
Website: https://lakemountainresort.com.au/
Address: 1071 Lake Mountain Rd, Marysville
Phone: +61359577201
Lake Mountain is the closest snow resort in Melbourne, making it a great idea to enjoy a fun snow experience during the winter season.
It’s especially perfect for family trips since it’s a non-downhill resort. You can enjoy snow play, tobogganing, and cross-country skiing.
So, if you want to skip the thrill and adventure of snow sports, you can just stay in the snow play zone, building snowmen or having snowball fights.
Just note that Lake Mountain is a day resort, so there’s no accommodation on the mountain itself. Visitors usually stay in Marysville.
The best time to go? Around late July or early August, when there’s maximum snow depth. Just make sure to check the snow level and road conditions before departure.
| Pro tip: A trip to the resort from Melbourne takes approximately two hours. Make sure you leave early, so you arrive just on time when the resort opens. Don’t risk arriving late because ticketing closes by mid-afternoon. |
6. Firelight Festival
Media credit: What’s On Melbourne
Website: https://firelight.melbourne.vic.gov.au/
Address: Docklands
If you want to warm up in the midst of chilly and long winter evenings, the Firelight Festival is something that you’ll surely enjoy.
This winter festival in Docklands features art installations, flame sculptures, live music, and various food options. Even most of the installations are interactive — I’m talking about mazes, projection art, and more.
It’s basically a sensory experience where sound, heat, and light come together to make a fiery experience.
The festival is free and suitable for all ages. For couples, it can be a unique date idea, while it’s a fun night out for families, especially kids.
| Pro tip: Some installations only operate during certain hours, so it’s better to check the festival schedule ahead of time. |
7. Open House Melbourne
Media credit: Open House Melbourne
Website: http://www.openhousemelbourne.org/
Address: Room 3, Level UG, Johnston Street Building, 35 Johnston St, Collingwood
Phone: +61386488612
Operating hours: Monday to Friday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Open House is a one-of-a-kind experience that only happens in one weekend over the winter season, typically on the last weekend of July.
This annual event gives the public free access to over 200 significant buildings and places that aren’t usually open to the public.
This ranges from heritage sites to private residences and exclusive museum pieces across various locations, including the CBD, Docklands, Southbank, and other Melbourne suburbs.
Access to these sites varies: some are free entry and others require pre-bookings with a small fee.
| Pro tip: Before the weekend arrives, make sure you plan out your itinerary first since the Open House involves multiple locations. Keep things organized so you can enjoy a seamless experience. |
8. Melbourne International Film Festival
Website: https://miff.com.au/
Phone: +61 03 8660 48888
The Melbourne International Film Festival is an event that’s always part of the city’s winter calendar. It’s also one of the longest-running film festivals in the world, typically held for 18 days.
Over 200 international films are screened across various cinemas and theatres, including the ACMI, Cinema Nova, The Astor Theatre, and more.
There are films available for any kind of audience. For example, there are short films and accessible content for families. For couples, you can easily make it a romantic outing by including a meal or drinks right after.
Aside from the screenings, there are also panel talks and workshops.
| Pro tip: If you plan to see several movies, consider getting a multipass for multiple sessions. It’s more cost-effective and will save you more time. |
9. AFL Games
Media credit: AFL
Website: https://www.afl.com.au/
Phone: (03) 9643 1999
As we all know, many Melbourne residents are major football fans, which is why the city is also a major hub for AFL, with matches that are regularly held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and Marvel Stadium.
The season runs from March to September, and winter is when the games usually get in full action since it’s close to the finals.
Catching a live game is kind of a silent local rite, so not even a chilly season can stop avid fans from watching and cheering on their favorite team.
You can also enjoy stadium staple food, like pies and hot chips.
| Pro tip: To avoid the post-game crowd on the way home, try to get into Richmond or Jolimont Station, or you can just walk if your destination is the city center. |
10. Good Heavens transforms into Heavens Above
Media credit: Good Heavens Rooftop Bar
Website: https://www.goodheavens.com.au/heavens-above
Address: level 2/79 Bourke St, Melbourne
Phone: +61394532882
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday 12:00 pm – 1:00 am
Good Heavens, Melbourne’s largest rooftop bar, transforms into Heavens Above for winter. The pop-up is designed to turn the whole place into something more fitting for the season by adding more warmth, winter-themed activities, and a special menu.
They equip the venue with heaters, fire pits, and some special decor like a cocooning fabric for more insulation.
One major addition here is the rooftop kurling rink, a social game similar to shuffleboard but without the ice.
For the menu, the bar offers comfort food and warm, inventive cocktails. We’re talking about toasties, grilled oysters, S’mores espresso martinis, and the like. The menu can vary every winter season.
| Pro tip: If you’re in town for AFL games or other events, Good Heavens is a great spot to stop by. They usually run special themed nights according to these events, like rooftop footy watching. |