Viator
Australia skydiving experience from $79
Available on select dates in 2020. Destinations include Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, Cairns and more.
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Melbourne
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When is the best time to visit Melbourne?
Weather, price and peak seasons considered, we’ve got the goss on when to travel to Melbourne for the perfect balance of all three.
The cosmopolitan city of Melbourne was voted the second best destination in Australia at this year’s TripAdvisor Traveller’s Choice Awards, so naturally you shouldn’t pass up a chance to spend some time shopping its markets, indulging in its world-class fare and digging its underground music scene.
When it comes to the best time to visit though, weather and price might play a part in the decision making process. If you want all the glory without the rain or peak price tag, we’ve uncovered the best time to visit. Read on to find out when and why.
Best time to visit Melbourne
March to May.
Why
March to May is an ideal time to visit Melbourne as it’s after the city’s hottest and wettest months. By travelling during autumn you’ll miss the sweltering 40℃ summer temperatures and sporadic rain showers and instead experience drier and slightly cooler temperatures with average highs of between 18℃ and 25℃.
The city is busy with tourists year-round but gets particularly crowded in December and January, when families and students flock to the city for their summer holiday.
Overview
Melbourne generally has a mild climate. Its summers are hot with average highs in excess of 25℃ in January and its winters are cold with average highs of 13℃. While rain falls year-round, the city experiences its most intense showers from September to February.
Regarded as one of Australia’s most cosmopolitan cities, Melbourne plays host to many annual cultural events, including the world-renowned Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Such events, in addition to its sprawling zoo, lush botanical gardens and vibrant bar and restaurant scene, keep the city busy year-round.
You’ll also need to be mindful of major sporting occasions that take place in the city if you want to avoid the crowds and peak prices. Each year, tens of thousands of sports fans flock to see the Australian Grand Prix (March), Australian Open (January) and Melbourne Cup (November), in addition to the AFL Grand Final (September) and international cricket, rugby league and rugby union matches.
Melbourne is a popular destination for Australian and international tourists and is best avoided during school holiday periods (December and January).
Weather and prices
Best time to visit Melbourne, weatherwise: November to May.
Cheapest time to visit Melbourne: Look for flight and hotel deals in August and September as there are fewer major events taking place in the city.
Best time to visit Melbourne for…
- Shopping: March to May is the best time to visit Melbourne’s shopping centres, luxury boutiques and charming food and flea markets.
- Lavender farm tours: Taking a lavender farm tour in October or November gives you the best chance to see flowers in full bloom.
- Sightseeing: Melbourne is well known for its sprawling zoo and leafy botanical gardens, as well as art galleries, theatres and opulent Victorian-era buildings. All are best explored from March to May.
- Seeing penguins on Phillip Island: If you want to see Phillip Island’s famous penguin colony try doing so from March to May. These are much quieter months than the peaks of December and January.
- Snow sports: Less than a three-hour drive from Melbourne, Mount Baw Baw and Mount Buller are two of Australia’s premier ski resorts. Both are best visited during the July to September snow season.
- Wineries: October and November are the best months to pay a visit to the five diverse wine regions little more than an hour’s drive from Melbourne CBD. Many wineries hold annual festivals during these months, including Geelong’s “Toast to the Coast”.
- Hot air ballooning: You can go hot air ballooning year-round in Melbourne although the best months are from March to May and September to November when the weather is a bit more predictable.
Latest Melbourne travel deals
Viator
Experience Oz
Australia hot air balloon experience from $229
Available on select 2020 dates in Gold Coast, Cairns, Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane and more. T&Cs apply.
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Groupon
Up to 89% Australia activities
Available as birthday gifts on select 2020 dates. Activities include getaways, attraction admission, spas, classes and more. T&Cs apply.
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Skyscanner
Queensland flights from $85 each way with Virgin Australia
Available on select dates from August 2020 - March 2021 to Brisbane, Cairns, Canberra, Melbourne, Sunshine Coast, Hamilton Island and more. Sample fare is Gold Coast-Sydney.
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Groupon
Up to 10% off local deals
Available on select dates and activities including tours, hotels, cruises, getaways, spas and more. Destinations include Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane and more. T&Cs apply.
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Skyscanner
Australia-wide flights from $65 + one free date change
Available on select flights until 31 October 2020 with Jetstar. Destinations include Sunshine Coast, Whitsundays, Perth, Cairns, Hobart and more. Sample fare is Sydney-Ballina Byron.
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Skyscanner
Domestic flights from $99 each way with Virgin Australia
Available on select flights from August 2020 - May 2021 to Sydney, Brisbane, Hobart, Perth, Darwin, Melbourne and more. Sample fare is Sydney-Gold Coast.
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Cudo
Up to 10% off local experiences
Join the newsletter and use promo code at checkout. Minimum spend of $49 required and valid for new subscribers only. T&Cs apply.
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City Sightseeing
Melbourne Zoo + Melbourne hop-on hop-off tour from USD$57.73
Available from October 2020 onward. Vouchers are valid for 12 months after date of purchase. T&Cs apply.
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City Sightseeing
SEA LIFE Aquarium + Melbourne hop-on hop-off tour from USD$60.58
Available from October 2020 onward. Vouchers are valid for 12 months after date of purchase. T&Cs apply.
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City Sightseeing
Melbourne hop-on hop-off tour from USD$32.07
Available from October 2020 onward. Vouchers are valid for 12 months after date of purchase. T&Cs apply.
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Wotif
Up to 11% off Australia hotels + free cancellation
Available on select 2020 dates and hotels in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Gold Coast, Adelaide, Cairns, Perth and more. Offer available to logged-in Wotif account holders and Wotif newsletter subscribers. T&Cs apply.
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Avis
Up to $10 off Victoria truck rentals
Available on rentals until 31 January 2021. Minimum rental length of 1 day and maximum rental length of 5 days applies. T&Cs apply.
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Kayak
Australia-wide flights from $96 return
Available on select dates from July - August 2020 to Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Townsville, Perth, Gold Coast and more. Sample fare is Melbourne-Sydney with Jetstar.
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Avis
Up to $20 off Victoria truck rentals
Available on rentals until 31 January 2021. Minimum 2 days rental required. T&Cs apply.
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Klook
Up to 14% off Mornington Peninsula day tour from Melbourne
Available until 9 January 2021. Includes 2-hour bay sail and lunch, park entry, gondola ride and more. T&Cs apply.
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Klook
Up to 10% off unlimited attractions Melbourne City card
Available until 9 January 2021. Attractions include Melbourne Zoo, Eureka Skydeck, Icebar Melbourne, Melbourne River Cruise, hop-on hop-off tour and more. T&Cs apply.
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Klook
Up to 10% off hot air balloon flight in Melbourne City
Available until 31 August 2020. Includes 1-hour flight experience, one-way inner city pickup in Melbourne, free digital photos and more.
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Klook
Up to 10% off Yarra Valley hot air balloon flight with wine tour
Available until 31 August 2020. Includes 1-hour flight experience, buffet breakfast, wine tasting tour, free digital photos and more.
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Adrenaline
Up to $30 off skydiving experience
Available on select 2020 dates in Sunshine Coast, Airlie Beach, Melbourne, Gold Coast, Sydney, Byron Bay, Brisbane and more. T&Cs apply.
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Klook
Up to 10% off Yarra Valley hot air balloon flight
Available until 31 August 2020. Includes 1-hour flight experience, return transfers in Yarra Valley inner city, free digital photos and more.
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Contiki
Up to 15% off Australia tours
Available on select 2020 and 2021 dates to Byron Bay, Uluru, Perth, Whitsundays, Melbourne, Adelaide and more. Plus lock in your tour for $99 when you book by 1 September 2020. T&Cs apply.
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isango!
Up to 9% off Australia: Philip Island day tour
Available until December 2020. Includes hotel pick up and drop off, transfers, penguin parade and visit to Moonlit Sanctuary, guide and more.
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isango!
Up to 10% off Australia: Great Ocean Road day tour
Available until December 2020. Package includes hotel pick up and drop off, transfers, guide, koala viewing and more.
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Skydive Australia
Australia skydive from $199 + free $20 merchandise voucher
Available on jumps from 7,500 ft. to 15,000 ft. Destinations include Sydney, Hunter Valley, Cairns, Melbourne, Perth and more. T&Cs apply.
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Skydive Australia
Up to $30 off Australia tandem skydive
Available on all dates when you use the code. Destinations include Sydney, Hunter Valley, Cairns, Melbourne, Perth and more. T&Cs apply.
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RedBalloon
Up to $30 off Australia getaways
Available on select travel dates to Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Blue Mountains, Cairns, Canberra and more.
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RedBalloon
Driving experiences from $30
Available on select dates on activities like rally driving, go karting, quad biking, and more. Destinations include Sydney, Brisbane, Cairns, Perth, Melbourne and more.
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Luxury Escapes
Up to 48% off Melbourne getaway with flights
Available for travel until 30 June 2021. Package includes return airfare, accommodation at QT Melbourne, breakfast and more. Valid for 2 persons. T&Cs apply.
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Lastminute.com.au
Up to 52% off Australia hotels
Available on select stay dates from July - August 2020 in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Canberra, Adelaide, Brisbane and more.
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RedBalloon
Melbourne school holiday activities from $36
Available on select dates and activities like zoos and animal interaction, SEA LIFE adventure, kayaking, rally driving, glamping, abseiling and more.
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RedBalloon
Australia school holiday activities from $18
Available on select dates and activities like hop-on hop-off bus tours, zoos and animal interaction, treetop adventures and more. Destinations include Sydney, Perth, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Melbourne and more.
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Groupon
Up to 20% off LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Melbourne
Available until 31 May 2021. T&Cs apply.
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Lastminute.com.au
Up to 52% off Australia hotels
Available on select stay dates from July - August 2020 in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Canberra, Adelaide, Brisbane and more.
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Budget Car Rental
Up to 20% off car hire
Available on pre-pay bookings from 1 April - 31 August 2020 at Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Perth and more. T&Cs apply.
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Budget Car Rental
4th day free car hire
Available on rentals from 1 April - 31 August 2020 at Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Perth and more. Minimum rental period of 4 consecutive days. T&Cs apply.
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Budget Car Rental
Free car hire upgrade
Available on rentals from 1 April - 31 August 2020 at Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Perth and more. Minimum rental of 2 consecutive days. T&Cs apply.
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Budget Car Rental
Get 3rd day free on Australia rentals
Available on rentals until 31 August 2020 in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and more. Minimum of 3 days rental required. T&Cs apply.
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Budget Car Rental
7th day free car hire
Available on rentals from 1 April - 31 August 2020 at Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Perth and more. Minimum rental period of 7 consecutive days. T&Cs apply.
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Groupon
Up to 15% off SEA LIFE Melbourne
Available until 31 May 2021. T&Cs apply.
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Popular Melbourne Travel Deals coupon codes
| Last checked | Code description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Jul 2020 | Up to 10% off local deals | LOC**** |
| 9 Jul 2020 | Up to 10% off local experiences | CUD**** |
| 9 Jul 2020 | Up to $10 off Victoria truck rentals | MPP**** |
| 9 Jul 2020 | Up to $20 off Victoria truck rentals | MPW**** |
| 10 Jul 2020 | Up to $30 off Australia tandem skydive | RES**** |
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