What Fun Things To Do In Summer In Melbourne?

Melbourne's temperatures are rising as summer approaches. With the help of our pals at, we've compiled a massive list of the best activities for the summer.

frees up a tonne of time by pre-preparing delicious, convenient, and healthy meals while you're out exploring the city, ticking off all. These meals are ideal for those days when the heat becomes unbearable and you just want to stay inside with the air conditioner, a good book, and a good meal.

The good news is that there is no shortage of ways to enjoy the summer in Melbourne, no matter how tight your budget may be. You can spend less than ten pounds at the Brighton ocean baths, on an Aperol Spritz at a beachside pop-up, or on two and a half halloumi pies from A1 Bakery in Brunswick, provided you have a willing dining companion.

Things To Do This Summer In Melbourne

The Melbourne summer is unparalleled. When faced with seemingly infinite options, it can be difficult to decide where to begin. Here are some of the coolest things going on in Melbourne this summer, whether your idea of a good time is taking in a tennis match between the pros, partying at a music festival, or doing some serious retail therapy.

Spend The Day At St Kilda Beach.

St. Kilda Beach in the summer may be crowded with budget travellers, but the atmosphere is undeniable.

Drink at the historic Esplanade Hotel (where a good band may be playing), ride the Big Dipper roller coaster at Luna Park, and then relax on the beach and people-watch. Of course, that was before we caught the tram home.

Eat Cheap

This summer, Melbourne is becoming a hub for pop-up shops and restaurants, and nothing beats a day at the beach with a cocktail and some snacks. Oysters are $2 on Tuesdays at the Exchange Beach Club pop-up at Port Melbourne Beach, and Furphies, Aperol Spritzes, and prosecco are $6 from 3 to 5 p.m., Monday through Wednesday.

You want some more of that Aperol, don't you? The Sgroppino, a famous Italian cocktail made with lemon sorbet, limoncello, vodka, and Italian sparkling wine, costs $10 at Baby,Aperol Spritzes, glasses of rosé, and beers are on sale for $6.50 at a local Italian restaurant to celebrate the return of spritz season.

When you order from A1 Bakery in Brunswick, you can count on paying less than $10 for your Lebanese pie or pizza. Prices range from $1.50 for a za'atar pizza dusted to $9.50 for a falafel pizza topped with tomato, black olives, onion, spinach, capsicum, Turkish beef sujuk (sausage), Danish feta, and halloumi. There must be a lot of people there.

The price of a meal at Good Times in Fitzroy North might go as high as $16, but there is always a $9 pasta special. A handwritten menu is posted on the wall, and it includes the day's specials. And for something sweet, try the Portuguese tarts at Casa Nata in Thornbury. Each of the pastéis de nata costs four dollars.

Melbourne Music Week

It would be hard to find a better way to show your support for Melbourne's thriving local music industry than by visiting Melbourne Music Week and seeing all the shows you missed when the city was under lockdown. So get some shut-eye before the ten-day schedule that includes more than 300 performers at 65 separate events.

The bulk of MMW will occur during these ten days in December, but the festival will continue into January and February with major shows by artists like Georgia Maq from Camp Cope, Indigenous and ladies band Kardajala Kirridarra, and a night of electronic music put together through Butter Sessions.

There will be a special evening at MPavilion for opening weekend guests to pay their respects to the land's traditional owners and custodians. Live performances by Kee'ahn, Emma Donovan & The Putbacks, and Squid Nebula will follow the awards presentation.

An Afternoon in Naarm, featuring up-and-coming First Nations performers, and The Push, an all-ages show featuring Melbourne's finest up-and-comers, are just two of the seven live performances scheduled for opening weekend. Check out Melbourne Cocooned, an immersive sound-healing experience, or Rich Moffat's interactive mindfulness session if you're looking to reset your mind.

MMW is also transforming the basement of Max Watts into the MMW Club, where you can witness a wide variety of Melbourne bands and collectives perform all week long. Performances by electro-jazz musician Elle Shimada, post-punk band Pinch Points, and DJ Carl Cox, who helped expose Australia to the house movement, are just a few of the highlights.

Across nearly two dozen venues in Melbourne, you can enjoy everything from roller discos to the Carlton International Jazz Festival to the Live Music Safari to cinema screenings and audio-visual displays and more.

MMW presented a three-month schedule last year that was attended by 72,000 people and contributed over $6 million to the local economy. The event will return to its more compact shape, but its original goal of reviving our metropolis remains. The MMW website is where you can check the full schedule and purchase tickets for both paid and unpaid events. Proof of full Covid-19 vaccination or a documented medical exemption is required for attendance.

Visit The Drive-In

Do you fancy going to the movies? Select a night that works for you. On Tuesdays, admission to Dandenong's Lunar Drive-In is only $10, and if you remain for a second performance, it's only $5 more. On Monday through Wednesday, a car can be filled for $25, covering as many as seven passengers (if they can lawfully sit in the vehicle) for less than $4 each, and on other days of the week, the price drops to $30. If you're craving some classic American movie fare, stop by the diner or throw an esky in the trunk.

Have A Picnic

It began in the spring and hasn't let up, so it looks like this will be the summer with the most picnics ever. We have compiled a list of the greatest picnic locations in the city where you can park your old blanket or picnic mat without breaking the bank.

To get away from the city, you can travel to Hanging Rock in the Macedon Ranges in just over an hour. Picnic at Hanging Rock, a novel and later film about a group of schoolgirls who mysteriously disappear on Valentine's Day in 1900, brought the location to widespread attention.

Don't let the myth deter you, though; there are trails to the top that are suitable for hikers of all ages and abilities. Spectacular scenery, as well as sheltered picnic areas and a cafe. The park has a sliding scale fee structure, with pedestrian entry starting at $4 and vehicle entry starting at $10.

This handy manual contains all the information you need to plan the perfect picnic, from the best places to eat, to the best picnic gear, to the surprising social politics of picnicking.

Regrettably, Melbourne is not renowned for its beaches. For this reason, during the warmer months, Melburnians flock to the city's parks.

During the warmer months, locals and visitors alike flock to Melbourne's grassy public areas like Princes Park near Carlton, Fawkner Park in South Yarra , Albert Park by the lake, and Edinburgh Gardens in Fitzroy to have picnics, socialise with neighbours, and feel the cool grass between their toes.

See Some Sport

Known as "Australia's sporting capital," Melbourne is known for putting on a great show. The Australian Open and the Boxing Day Test are two of the most anticipated events of the summer in Melbourne.

Even if you're not a sports fanatic, you should visit a major tournament to soak in the electric atmosphere. The Australian Open hosts free concerts close to the arena so that those who can't afford tickets may still experience the event.

Pidapipo Serves Ice Cream.

Carlton's Lygon Street is the epicentre of Melbourne's Italian dining scene, and as such, it also has some of the city's finest gelato. Pidapipo has become widely known as the place to go for the truly tough and sticky material.

Sometimes the line extends down the block, that's how popular it is. After making your flavour choice (pistachio is highly recommended), head back towards the city and finish your day with a visit to the magnificent Melbourne Museum.

Be One With Nature

There are several places in and around Melbourne where you may get in touch with nature and feel like you've gotten away from it all without leaving the city. A new dry garden, with more than 3,000 cacti and succulents, many of which were imported from South America and Arizona in the United States, has been unveiled at the Royal Botanic Gardens, which is already a sight to behold.

These three walking paths in Melbourne will take you through stretches of native forest, along cliff tops with views of sandy beaches and rock pools, and up north to a sustainable environmental park.

Chinese New Year In Melbourne

Celebrate the New Year in Chinatown this coming summer. New Year's Eve celebrations, a street bazaar, and an open-air movie screening are just some of the activities that will be available. Experience authentic Chinese culture at this event, whether it's through sampling a new dish or taking part in a time-honoured ritual. Everyone can find something they'll enjoy to eat, see, and do.

The Great Outdoors With Beers

Melbourne is home to some of Australia's best watering holes, including pubs, beer gardens, and rooftop bars. It's possible to spend a wonderful afternoon travelling between popular establishments like the city's Madame Brussels, Fitzroy's Naked for Satan, and Richmond's brand-new Corner Hotel beer garden. As an alternative, head to one of the many outdoor bars along the Yarra River in the city's historic laneways, located just south of Federation Square.

Listen To Classical Music.

The Sidney Myer Music Bowl has become a summer tradition thanks to the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra's free performances there. The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra will perform for three nights in January and February, setting the mood for solitary summer nights under the stars.

Gallery Hop

For the price of a single Myki ride, you may experience some of the city's most acclaimed works of art. You may walk through the NGV's permanent collection—more than 70,000 works of art by artists including Picasso, Dali, and Australia's own Sally Gabori—at no cost. Free admission is also being offered to the venue's second blockbuster triennial, which will run from December 19, 2020, to April 18, 2021.

The Australian National Gallery (NGV) is located nearby at the Ian Potter Centre at Federation Square, and admission is likewise free. Currently showing is a major exhibition of the work of the fearless Indigenous artist Destiny Deacon, whose works blend sadness with a hint of dark comedy.

Some of Australia's most acclaimed modern artists have contributed to the transformation of a former CBD retail arcade into an immersive public arcade at West Side Place in the city. For the next three months, the storefronts that will soon be restaurants and cafes will instead serve as a free art exhibition.

The Monash Gallery of Art is located somewhat further away; it is only devoted to Australian photography. The William and Winifred Bowness Photography Prize 2020 finalists are now on display there. The gallery does not charge an admission fee, however appointments are encouraged and visitors are only allotted an hour per visit.

Visit The NGV And Enjoy The Air Conditioning.

As you enter this world-class art centre, you'll feel refreshingly cool thanks to the cascading water across the front glass.

The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) is Australia's premier cultural institution. There are two galleries housing it, and they are close enough to each other for a leisurely stroll. You will find outstanding examples of both Australian and international classic and modern art. Visiting the permanent exhibits doesn't cost anything.

Laneway Festival In St. Jerome's

Get your February off to a great start at the St. Jerome's Laneway Festival, where you may dance to some of your favourite songs. The daylong festival will feature performances by musical acts like Charli XCX, Ruel, Ocean Alley, and The 1975. Attending a music festival is always a good time, so don't pass up the chance to dance all day and night.

Do A Market Tour

Farmers Markets in Melbourne can be found all over the city, but typical stops include Carlton North and Coburg elementary schools, as well as Albert Park's Gasworks Arts Park.

The Melbourne Food Hub, an initiative dedicated to sustainable food production, will soon have demos and a commercial kitchen at the Alphington market, which is held every Sunday morning. The markets are great places to grab some breakfast because they usually include hot food stands and mobile coffee shops. Animals on a farm, good coffee shops, and art galleries are all perks that you may encounter. And at any market you visit, you can try out samples for free.

You may view the schedule below. Each month on the second Saturday, the sculpture park at the Heide Museum of Modern Art plays host to a makers market. It's a joint effort with the Rose Street Artists' Market, which has a regular spot in Fitzroy and also moves across the city on weekends.

The Camberwell Sunday Market has been going strong for decades, making it the perfect spot to go if you enjoy browsing for deals and discovering hidden gems in second hand stores. It's open on Sundays from 7 AM to 12:30 PM, but you should arrive early to secure the finest selection.

A Yarra River Barbecue

It's tragically accurate. Melbourne lacks Sydney's glistening harbour. However, the brown Yarra River is an absolutely great place to have a picnic with friends. The best way to spend a day is to get some food from the Botanic Gardens food court and sit back with a drink while watching the rowers practise their moves on the river.

Take A Dip

All around the area surrounding Melbourne, you may find stunning natural swimming holes. In less than an hour, you may reach Laughing Waters, which is located along the Yarra River. There are several swimming holes and little rapids a short distance into the jungle. Riverbank and parking areas tend to fill up quickly on busy days, so plan accordingly.

You can go swimming in the ocean at Brighton Baths. There is a saltwater outdoor pool available for casual swimming, and it costs $6 per day for adults and $5 per day for children. Umbrellas are available on the private promenade, and there are also locker rooms and showers. Enjoy a leisurely swim, or use the pool's Olympic size to get in some serious laps. Please check the website for seasonal hours of operation.

Midsumma Festival

During the summer, Melbourne hosts Australia's largest LGBT arts and culture festival: Midsumma. This gathering has the potential to attract a diverse cross-section of the LGBTQIA community.

Midsumma Festival's performances will become your new favourite thing if you enjoy being entertained and laughing. There will be a variety of theatrical productions, visual artworks, lounges, and social events available for attendees to enjoy.

Spend The Night At The Rooftop Cinema.

The Rooftop Cinema is open during the warmer months atop what has been called a "vertical laneway" at Curtin House (there are a variety of fascinating restaurants, cafés, and stores to find on every floor). An amazing evening under the twinkling lights of the city's skyscrapers (Get a drink and some Thai-inspired food from Cookie, located downstairs, before the play).

Visit Moon Dog World

The northern Melbourne suburbs (Preston, to be exact) have been given a gift that will make people of all ages happy. The minute you walk through the door, you know this is not your typical brewery.

Moon Dog has 72 taps of good beer at the main bar, but they also have an indoor waterfall, pinball machines, a jungle, and a Tiki dance bar. This is an excellent place for families, as it provides a playground for children. Additionally, the kitchen will provide delicious burgers, sharing platters, and sweets.

Tea Gardens And Fairfield Park Boathouse

Fairfield Boat Shed is located about 20 minutes from the central business district. Located in a tranquil area by the river, guests can choose to lounge on the banks under a tree while enjoying tea and scones, or they can rent a rowboat, canoe, or kayak and take the water for a paddle.

Storytime Ballet: Australian Ballet's The Nutcracker

This summer, you can see the Australian Ballet bring the enchanted world of The Nutcracker to life. The target audience for this performance includes not only adults but also youngsters as young as three.

The audience is invited to participate alongside the dancers in order to fully experience the production's entrancing narrative. This ballet performance will be both entertaining and informative for your children, making it a perfect summer outing.

Fatboy Slim 

The Fatboy Slim event is not to be missed by anyone who enjoys being completely and utterly captivated by live music. Fatboy Slim, an internationally renowned DJ and producer, is coming to town to perform fan favourites and bring his high-energy, unforgettable live shows to the masses. At this event, there will be additional visual entertainment that will coincide with the music, so get ready to be wowed.

Conclusion

We've listed Melbourne's top summer activities. There's enough to do regardless of budget. Two A1 Bakery halloumi pies and an Aperol Spritz from a beachside pop-up restaurant. Good Times in Fitzroy North's $9 pasta special is a steal despite its $16 meals. Two of the seven live concerts, An Afternoon in Naarm and The Push, feature young First Nations musicians.

Dandenong's Lunar Drive-In and Macedon Ranges' Hanging Rock are Melbourne's premier picnic spots. MMW tickets start at $4 for paid and free. Melbourne is considered Australia's athletic capital. The Australian Open and Boxing Day Test are summer's most anticipated tournaments. The new Royal Botanic Gardens dry garden has about three thousand cacti and succulents.

Spend an afternoon exploring the city's alleys. The second blockbuster triennial is free at the National Gallery of Victoria from December 19, 2020, to April 18, 2021. St. Jerome's Laneway Festival features Charli XCX, Ruel, Ocean Alley, and 1975. Camberwell's Sunday market has thrived for decades. Picnic with friends near the Yarra River.

The Rooftop Cinema is open at Curtin House, a "vertical alley" of restaurants, cafes, and stores. Moon Dog hosts Tiki dance parties featuring a waterfall, pinball games, a jungle, and a bar. Fairfield Boat Shed is a tranquil spot on the River Don in southwestern Sydney. The Australian Ballet will bring The Nutcracker's enchanted world to life this summer. Fatboy Slim will deliver his high-energy, unforgettable live shows and fan favourites in town.

Content Summary

• Melbourne's temperatures are rising as summer approaches.
• With the help of our pals at, we've compiled a massive list of the best activities for the summer.
• The good news is that there are plenty of ways to enjoy the summer in Melbourne, no matter how tight your budget is.
• Here are some of the coolest things going on in Melbourne this summer, whether your idea of a good time is a tennis match between the pros, partying at a music festival, or doing some serious retail therapy.
• St. Kilda Beach in the summer may be crowded with budget travellers, but the atmosphere is undeniable.
• This summer, Melbourne is becoming a hub for pop-up shops and restaurants, and nothing beats a day at the beach with a cocktail and some snacks.
• It would be hard to find a better way to show your support for Melbourne's thriving local music industry than by visiting Melbourne Music Week and seeing all the shows you missed when the city was under lockdown.
• The bulk of MMW will occur during these ten days in December. Still, the festival will continue into January and February with major shows by artists like Georgia Maq from Camp Cope, Indigenous and ladies' band Kardajala Kirridarra, and a night of electronic music put together through Butter Sessions.
• MMW is also transforming the basement of Max Watts into the MMW Club, where you can witness a wide variety of Melbourne bands and collectives perform all week long.
• MMW presented a three-month schedule last year that was attended by 72,000 people and contributed over $6 million to the local economy.
• The MMW website is where you can check the full schedule and purchase tickets for both paid and unpaid events.
• We have compiled a list of the greatest picnic locations in the city where you can park your old blanket or picnic mat without breaking the bank.
• To get away from the city, you can travel to Hanging Rock in the Macedon Ranges in just over an hour.
• This handy manual contains all the information you need to plan the perfect picnic, from the best places to eat, to the best picnic gear, to the surprising social politics of picnicking.
• Known as "Australia's sporting capital," Melbourne is known for putting on a great show.
• The Australian Open and the Boxing Day Test are two of Melbourne's most anticipated summer events.
• Celebrate the New Year in Chinatown this coming summer.
• Experience authentic Chinese culture at this event, whether by sampling a new dish or participating in a time-honoured ritual.
• The Sidney Myer Music Bowl has become a summer tradition thanks to the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra's free performances there.
• For the price of a single Myki ride, you may experience some of the city's most acclaimed works of art.
• You may walk through the NGV's permanent collection—more than 70,000 works of art by artists including Picasso, Dali, and Australia's own Sally Gabori—at no cost.
• The Australian National Gallery (NGV) is located near the Ian Potter Centre at Federation Square, and admission is likewise free.
• The Monash Gallery of Art is located further away, only devoted to Australian photography.
• The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) is Australia's premier cultural institution.
• Get your February off to a great start at the St. Jerome's Laneway Festival, where you may dance to some of your favourite songs.
• Attending a music festival is always a good time, so take the chance to dance all day and night.
• The Melbourne Food Hub, an initiative dedicated to sustainable food production, will soon have demos and a commercial kitchen at the Alphington market, held every Sunday morning.
• Each month on the second Saturday, the sculpture park at the Heide Museum of Modern Art plays host to a market.
• However, the brown Yarra River is a great place to picnic with friends.
• You may find stunning natural swimming holes around the area surrounding Melbourne.
• You may reach Laughing Waters, located along the Yarra River, in less than an hour.
• Several swimming holes and little rapids are a short distance into the jungle.
• Enjoy a leisurely swim, or use the pool's Olympic size to get in some serious laps.
• During the summer, Melbourne hosts Australia's largest LGBT arts and culture festival: Midsumma.
• This gathering has the potential to attract a diverse cross-section of the LGBTQIA community.
• Midsumma Festival's performances will become your new favourite if you enjoy being entertained and laughing.
• The Rooftop Cinema is open during the warmer months atop what has been called a "vertical laneway" at Curtin House (there are a variety of charming restaurants, cafés, and stores to find on every floor).
• The northern Melbourne suburbs (Preston, to be exact) have been given a gift to make people of all ages happy.
• Moon Dog has 72 taps of good beer at the main bar, but they also have an indoor waterfall, pinball machines, a jungle, and a Tiki dance bar.
• Fairfield Boat Shed is located about 20 minutes from the central business district.
• This summer, you can see the Australian Ballet bring the enchanted world of The Nutcracker to life.
• The Fatboy Slim event is to be noticed by everyone who enjoys being completely and utterly captivated by live music.