Need a break from the everyday grind?
Keen for a metro change of scenery after months on the road exploring regional Australia?
Maybe you’ve snapped up tickets to a concert, festival, or event, and want to make the most of your interstate trip?
Image Credit: Josh Robenstone, Visit Victoria
No matter the reason, Melbourne is a fun city to explore on a cold winter’s day. The CBD is packed with all kinds of treasures—gardens, shops, galleries, restaurants, exhibitions, workshops, markets, you name it. Then, beyond the free tram zone, you’ll find exciting excursions and day trips.
Image Credit: Emily Godfrey, Visit Victoria
Ready to shake off those winter blues with a piping hot coffee and a fresh pastry from the world-famous Lune Croissanterie in hand? Don't worry, we've got you covered. Read on for our guide to winter in Melbourne, with cosy caravan parks for the ultimate weekend getaway.
Image Credit: Ray Reyes, Visit Victoria
The Best Things to See and Do in Melbourne's Winter Wonderland
Sample the Queen Victoria Market
Image Credit: Josh Robenstone, Visit Victoria
The Queen Victoria Market is open by day on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and weekends with a wide range of fresh produce, gourmet products, clothing, gifts, and more. In winter, it comes alive on Wednesday nights for the Winter Night Market, where you can sip mulled wine as you stroll past food vendors, live music, and retail stalls.
Watch an AFL Game
Image Credit: Michelle Couling, Melbourne Cricket Ground
AFL is the winter sport of choice in Victoria, and with 10 professional teams in the state, one’s bound to be playing during your visit. A match under the roof of Marvel Stadium or in the stands of the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) is a great holiday addition. When it’s not game day, venture to the MCG to tour its famous grounds or the interactive Australian Sports Museum.
Cruise the Yarra
The winding Yarra River is the heart of Melbourne, so booking a cruise is a fantastic way to see iconic landmarks, from Southbank to Melbourne Park.
Hit the Tan or Yarra Walking Track
Image Credit: Rob Blackburn, Visit Victoria/Melbourne Convention Bureau
Put on your puffer jacket like a true Melburnian, embrace the crisp air, and get your heart pumping outdoors. Walkers and runners alike love ‘The Tan’, the famous loop track around the Royal Botanic Gardens, or you can walk, run, and cycle beside the Yarra.
Explore the Royal Botanic Gardens
Image Credit: Accordion, Visit Victoria
The Royal Botanic Gardens are beautiful in every season and weather, especially when you can grab a table at The Terrace café next to Ornamental Lake to enjoy food and drink with a view. From Friday 20 June to Sunday 10 August 2025, watch the gardens light up the dark night sky at the Lightscape immersive light experience.
Wander Laneways and Go Shopping
From laneways covered in street art to restaurants spilling onto the footpath, the CBD is packed with creative and culinary expression. From Hosier Lane to Degraves Street, you’ll want to keep your phone handy as you browse each street (and all the shops in between). Make sure to grab a cup of coffee, chai, hot chocolate, or matcha latte to keep your fingers warm and toasty.
Browse Galleries and Museums
Image Credit: Near and Far, Tourism Australia/Visit Victoria
After exploring the city's street art, head to the gallery walls. Melbourne has more than 100 art galleries, with headliners like the globally minded NGV International to the local focus of The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia. For more history and culture, head to Melbourne Museum or ACMI (the Australian Centre for the Moving Image).
Catch a Theatre Show
Image Credit: Robert Blackburn, Visit Victoria
Melbourne has many places to enjoy live theatre, from Arts Centre Melbourne to the East End Theatre District. On a winter night, nothing beats rocking up to the marquee lights outside spectacular buildings like the Princess Theatre, Her Majesty’s Theatre, and Regent Theatre, ready to sink into a comfy seat and be whisked away into a musical or play.
See a Panorama from the Melbourne Skydeck
Take the high-speed lift to level 88 of the Melbourne Skydeck, the highest observation deck in the city, with 360-degree views. You can add extras onto your admission, like an all-ages, Melbourne-themed virtual reality experience in the Voyager Theatre or stepping onto the Edge—a transparent glass cube suspended above the cityscape.
Meet Wildlife at the Zoo and Aquarium
Get your animal fix at Melbourne Zoo, where you can wander around various habitats from the Australian Bush to the Gorilla Rainforest. For something extra special, add an animal experience with incredible creatures like meerkats, giraffes, or butterflies. You can also dive into marine life at SEA LIFE Melbourne, an aquarium filled with tropical fish, sharks, and penguins—including their online sensation, Pesto!
Complete the 1000 Steps Walk
Image Credit: Rob Blackburn, Visit Victoria
The 1000 Steps Walk in Dandenong Ranges National Park is one of the most popular (and challenging) hiking trails in Victoria. It’s best to come midweek or early for fewer crowds and more time soaking up the beautiful nature surroundings.
Take a Train Ride on Puffing Billy
Ride through the fern gullies of the Dandenong Ranges on Puffing Billy, a historic steam train that’s more than 120 years old. From Belgrave Station to Gembrook Station, you'll cross trestle bridges and see stunning rainforest scenery. The journey is sure to entertain the whole family this winter.
Relax at Yarra Valley Wineries
Image Credit: Peter Foster, Visit Victoria
Keen to indulge in a long lunch paired with a glass of wine? Drive for about an hour to reach the Yarra Valley wine region, where you can enjoy exquisite cellar doors, delicious dishes, and maybe even a warm fireplace beside your dinner table.
Enjoy a Day Trip to Sovereign Hill
Located in Ballarat, 90 minutes out of Melbourne, Sovereign Hill is a living museum of the gold rush era, from gold panning to its historic streetscape. If you visit in July, you can catch the illuminations of Winter Wonderlights after sunset.
Embrace the Chill of Snow Season
Image Credit: Jordan Mountain/Mt Buller
Start packing your snow gear, because winter means snowfall in the Victorian High Country. If you’re happy to get up nice and early, Mt Buller is about three and a half hours away. Alternately, smaller alpine resorts like Lake Mountain and Mt Baw Baw are closer to Melbourne. (Tip: If the kids are keen for an ice-cold experience in the city, why not go ice skating at O'Brien Icehouse?)
Where to Stay During Winter in Melbourne?
Discovery Parks - Melbourne
Say “see you later” to pricey, inner-city hotels and “g’day” to Discovery Parks - Melbourne. Thirty minutes from the CBD, this park has a full complement of facilities including a pool, activity room, playground, kiosk, BBQs, camp kitchen, and laundry. With a wide range of campsites and cabins, the pick of the bunch is a Deluxe Three-Bedroom Apartment. These two-storey cabins have a kitchen, modern bathroom, air conditioning, balcony, and lots of space!
Airport Tourist Village Melbourne
Get your Melbourne escape off to a flying start at Airport Tourist Village Melbourne. They have self-contained accommodation – including cosy cabins, villas, and apartments – and powered sites for campers. Work out in the gym, cook dinner on the BBQs, and have fun in the games room. Plus, if you’re catching a plane, they have a free airport shuttle bus for the 15-minute trip from the terminal to your site or cabin.
Lilydale Pine Hill Caravan Park
On the outskirts of Melbourne, Lilydale Pine Hill Caravan Park is your gateway to Yarra Valley wineries, Dandenong Ranges adventures, and all of the city’s amusements. There's a playground, camp kitchens, BBQs, laundry facilities, and fire pits to roast marshmallows over an open fire. Their cabins and sites promise a great winter stay. A Two-Bedroom Deluxe Cabin has a full-size kitchen, private bathroom, air conditioning, and an outdoor deck with a BBQ, bar fridge, and bike storage racks.
Where Next?
Image Credit: LVDI, Tourism Australia/Visit Victoria
Don't let the cold temperature dampen your spirit. There’s so much to do in Victoria this winter—check out more of our travel guides to find your next destination, then book on the G'day Parks app or online.
Image Credit: Near and Far, Tourism Australia/Visit Victoria
