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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.
March to May.
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.
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).
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.
Cheap Flights
Melbourne flights from $90 return
Available on select dates from April - November 2020. Sample fare is Hobart-Melbourne with Jetstar. Other flights depart from Adelaide, Sydney, Gold Coast and more.
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Virgin Australia
Australia-wide flights from $89 each way
Available on select dates until December 2020 to Gold Coast, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and more. Sample fare is Ballina-Sydney. T&Cs apply.
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Trip.com
Melbourne stays from $13/night
Available on select stay dates until December 2020. Sample rate is for Nomads Backpackers. T&Cs apply.
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Wotif
Melbourne flights from $147 return
Available on select dates in April and August 2020. Sample fare is Sydney-Melbourne with Jetstar.
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Trip.com
Up to 27% off Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium ticket
Available from May - June 2020. T&Cs apply.
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Hotels.com
Up to 42% off Melbourne stays
Available on select stay dates until December 2021. T&Cs apply.
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Oaks Hotels & Resorts
Up to 20% off long stays
Available on stays from 30 March - 16 June 2020. Destinations include Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Broome, Sunshine Coast and more. Minimum stay of 14 nights required. T&Cs apply.
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Klook
Great Ocean Road tandem skydive from $274
Available from 2 April - 31 May 2020. Package includes tandem skydive with a tandem jump master, professional guide, safety equipment, transfers and more.
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Skyscanner
Melbourne flights from $40 each way
Available on flights until December 2020. Sample fare is Adelaide-Avalon with Jetstar.
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TourRadar
Up to 30% off Australia and New Zealand tours
Available on select dates until December 2022. Destinations include Adelaide, Darwin, Byron Bay, Fiji, Auckland and more.
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Kayak
Australia-wide flights from $87 return
Available on select dates from March - July 2020 to Hobart, Melbourne, Gold Coast and more. Sample fare is Melbourne-Adelaide with Jetstar.
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Hertz
Up to 15% off prestige vehicles in Australia
Available on rentals from 1 March - 31 October 2020. Destinations include Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, Adelaide, Brisbane and more. T&Cs apply.
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Hertz
Up to 20% off advance bookings
Available on rentals until 15 December 2020 across Australia including Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, Adelaide and more. Prepayment required. T&Cs apply.
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Hertz
Up to 20% off Australia rentals
Available on weekend rentals from 1 March - 31 October 2020. Destinations include Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, Adelaide and more. T&Cs apply.
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Virgin Australia
Melbourne flights from $95 each way
Available on select dates from May - June 2020. Sample fare departs from Launceston. T&Cs apply.
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Luxury Escapes
Up to 37% off Victoria getaway with flights
Available for travel until 18 December 2020. Package includes return economy flights, accommodation at The Mitchelton Hotel Nagambie – MGallery by Sofitel, breakfast and more. Valid for 2 persons. T&Cs apply.
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CruiseAway
Up to 50% off local cruises with P&O Cruises
Available on select dates from July 2020 - May 2021. Destinations include Brisbane, Sydney, Airlie Beach, Cairns, Melbourne and more. T&Cs apply.
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Expedia.com.au
Hunter Valley stays from $70/night
Available on select stay dates in 2020. Sample rate is for a stay at Hunter Valley Travellers Rest.
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Skyscanner
Melbourne flights from $59 each way with Jetstar
Available from August - September 2020. Sample fare is Sydney-Melbourne. Other flights depart from Adelaide, Perth and more.
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Expedia.com.au
Melbourne stays from $50/night
Available on select stay dates in 2020. Sample rate is for a stay at Great Southern Hotel Melbourne.
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Lastminute.com.au
Melbourne stays from $50/night
Available on select stay dates in 2020. Sample rate is for a stay at Elizabeth Hostel.
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Expedia.com.au
Up to 20% off last minute Australia stays
Available on stays until 31 March 2020. Destinations include Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Canberra, Hobart and more.
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Expedia.com.au
Up to 48% off Australia hotels
Available from March - May 2020. Destinations include Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, Gold Coast and more.
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Adrenaline
Up to 22% off scuba diving
Available on select 2020 dates in Cairns, Gold Coast, Sydney, Byron Bay, Perth and more.
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Adrenaline
Up to 50% off rally driving
Available on select 2020 dates in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane and more.
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I Want That Flight
Melbourne flights from $90 return
Available on flights from March - October 2020. Sample fare Hobart-Melbourne with Jetstar.
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Oaks Hotels & Resorts
Up to 25% off stays + extra 5% off with code
Available on stays from 2 March - 31 August 2020 on a two-bedroom. Destinations include Brisbane, Queenstown, Mackay, Sydney, Gold Coast and more. Minimum of 2 nights stay required. T&Cs apply.
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Trip.com
Up to 20% off Melbourne Zoo ticket
Available until 19 September 2020. T&Cs apply.
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Skyscanner
Australia-wide flights from $40 each way
Available on flights until December 2020 to Sydney, Brisbane, Hobart, Perth, Gold Coast and more. Sample fare is Adelaide-Melbourne with Jetstar.
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Kayak
Melbourne flights from $107 return
Available on select dates from March - October 2020. Sample fare is Sydney-Melbourne with Jetstar.
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Agoda
Extra 10% off Melbourne stays with code
Available on select stay dates. T&Cs apply.
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Luxury Escapes
Up to 33% off Melbourne getaway with flights
Available from 22 March 2020 - 31 March 2021. Package includes accommodation at Mantra Lorne, return economy flight, breakfast and more. Valid for 2 people. T&Cs apply.
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Luxury Escapes
Up to 29% off Victoria getaway with flights
Available on stays from 1 April 2020 - 30 June 2021. Package includes accommodation at Jackalope, return economy flight, breakfast and more. Valid for 2 people. T&Cs apply.
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Wotif
Up to 50% off Easter getaways
Available on select dates from March - May 2020. Destinations include Sydney, Melbourne, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Cairns and more.
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Adrenaline
Up to 28% off hot air balloon experiences
Available on select dates until December 2020. Fly over Gold Coast, Hunter Valley, Byron Bay, Yarra Valley, Melbourne, Adelaide and more.
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P&O Cruises
$49 deposits + free premium drinks package
Available for 7-night cruises on select sail dates from July 2020 - January 2022. Destinations include Airlie Beach, Moreton Island, Sydney, Hobart, Melbourne and more.
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Lastminute.com.au
Up to 50% off Australia hotels
Available on select stay dates until April 2020. Destinations include Sydney, Cairns, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane and more. T&Cs apply.
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Viator
Melbourne Star Observation Wheel Admission from $36
Available until 18 March 2021. T&Cs apply.
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Luxury Escapes
Up to 33% off Great Ocean Road escape with flights
Available for stays until 31 March 2021. Package include return economy flights, accommodation at Mantra Lorne, breakfast and more. Valid for 2 persons. T&Cs apply.
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Accor Hotels
Up to 25% off Australia stays
Available for travel until 31 December 2020 when you 2 nights or more. Prepayment required. Destinations include Sydney, Adelaide, Cairns, Canberra and more. T&Cs apply.
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| Last checked | Code description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Mar 2020 | Up to 25% off stays + extra 5% off with code | MYO**** |
| 24 Mar 2020 | Up to 20% off Melbourne Zoo ticket | DOT**** |
| 23 Mar 2020 | Extra 10% off Melbourne stays with code | MEL**** |
| 10 Mar 2020 | Extra $20 off South Australia flights | SA2**** |
| 24 Mar 2020 | Up to 75% off Australia-wide stays + Extra 8% with code | BOO**** |
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