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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 | 20-28°C, warm and mostly sunny | peak | peak |
⚠ Can experience heatwaves. | |
| February | 20-28°C, warm and sunny with occasional heat | high | high |
⚠ Still prone to heatwaves. | |
| March | 17-25°C, mild and pleasant with sunny spells | moderate | moderate |
| |
| April | 14-22°C, cool and crisp with sunny days | moderate | moderate |
| |
| May | 11-18°C, cool with increasing cloud and rain | low | low |
⚠ Weather becomes less predictable. | |
| June | 8-15°C, cold and damp with frequent rain | low | low |
⚠ The coldest month, often grey and wet. | |
| July | 7-14°C, cold, wet, and windy | low | low |
⚠ Least appealing weather, very cold and damp. | |
| August | 8-16°C, still cold and often wet, but with more sunshine potential | low | low |
⚠ Can still be quite chilly and unpredictable. | |
| September | 10-18°C, cool with increasing sunshine and wind | moderate | moderate |
⚠ Can be very windy. | |
| October | 12-20°C, mild with a mix of sun and showers | moderate | moderate |
⚠ Classic Melbourne weather – four seasons in a day. | |
| November | 14-22°C, pleasantly warm with sunny spells | high | high |
⚠ Crowds and prices increase significantly around Melbourne Cup. | |
| December | 16-24°C, warm and increasingly sunny | peak | peak |
⚠ Holiday season brings peak crowds and prices. |
Annual events worth timing your trip around
The first Grand Slam tennis tournament of the year, attracting top international players and fans.
Melbourne's largest community festival, featuring parades, fireworks, and family-friendly activities.
A celebration of Victorian food and wine, with events across the city and region.
A national day of remembrance, with dawn services and commemorations.
One of the world's largest comedy festivals, showcasing local and international comedians.
A series of prestigious horse racing events, culminating in the famous Melbourne Cup on the first Tuesday in November.
Festive decorations, markets, and events leading up to Christmas and New Year's Eve fireworks.
Insider timing tips
- •Melbourne is famous for its 'four seasons in one day' weather, so pack layers regardless of the month.
- •While summer (Dec-Feb) is warm, it can also bring unpredictable heatwaves that might affect outdoor plans.
- •The shoulder seasons (March-April and October-November) offer a sweet spot with milder weather and fewer peak-season crowds, though prices can still be high during major events.
- •Winter (June-August) is generally cold, wet, and grey, making it best suited for indoor activities and those seeking budget travel.
- •Major events like the Australian Open, Melbourne Cup, and school holidays can significantly inflate accommodation and flight prices, even outside peak summer.
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