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Best time to visit Melbourne
Month-by-month weather, crowds, prices, and festival calendar — so you know exactly when to book.
Best time to visit Melbourne, Australia
Month-by-month breakdown of weather, crowds, prices, and seasonal highlights.
| Month | Score | Weather | Crowds | Prices | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 20-26°C, generally sunny with occasional sea breezes and isolated showers. | peak | peak |
⚠ High demand due to school holidays and summer events. | |
| February | 20-26°C, warm and sunny, can have heatwave days. | high | high |
| |
| March | 18-24°C, mild and pleasant with sunny days and cooler evenings. | moderate | moderate |
| |
| April | 15-21°C, crisp autumn air, beautiful foliage, can be showery. | moderate | moderate |
| |
| May | 12-18°C, cool and often overcast with frequent rain. | low | low |
⚠ Start of the colder, wetter season. | |
| June | 10-15°C, cold, damp, and frequently rainy. | low | low |
⚠ Shortest daylight hours, often grey and wet. | |
| July | 9-14°C, the coldest month, typically wet and windy. | low | low |
⚠ Coldest month, high chance of rain and wind. | |
| August | 10-15°C, still cold with a high probability of rain and wind. | low | low |
⚠ Very similar to July, can be bleak. | |
| September | 11-17°C, spring begins with variable weather, can be sunny or rainy. | moderate | moderate |
⚠ Unpredictable weather, can swing from cold to warm. | |
| October | 13-19°C, mild spring days, often sunny with occasional showers. | moderate | moderate |
| |
| November | 15-22°C, warm and increasingly sunny, pleasant evenings. | high | high |
⚠ Very busy due to the Melbourne Cup and start of summer. | |
| December | 17-24°C, warm to hot, generally sunny with increasing chance of heatwaves. | peak | peak |
⚠ High demand for accommodation and flights. |
Annual events worth timing your trip around
The first Grand Slam tennis tournament of the year draws international stars and fans.
Melbourne's largest community festival, featuring parades, fireworks, and carnival rides.
A showcase of Australian and international fashion with runway shows and events.
A national day of remembrance with dawn services and parades.
One of the world's largest comedy festivals, featuring hundreds of comedians.
A series of prestigious horse racing events culminating in the Melbourne Cup.
The 'race that stops a nation', a public holiday and major social event.
A major international cricket match held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Insider timing tips
- •Melbourne's weather is notoriously changeable; expect four seasons in one day, especially in spring and autumn.
- •Winter (June-August) is cold and wet, making it the least appealing time for outdoor exploration, though prices are lowest.
- •Shoulder seasons (March-April and October-November) offer a good balance of pleasant weather, fewer crowds than summer, and moderate prices.
- •Summer (December-February) is popular but can be very hot with heatwaves, and accommodation prices surge due to holidays and major events like the Australian Open.
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