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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.
I Want That Flight
Domestic flights from $38 each way
Available for flights from February - December 2020. Sample fare is Melbourne-Hobart with Tigerair. Destinations include Brisbane, Melbourne, Cairns, Adelaide, Perth and more.
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I Want That Flight
Domestic flights from $38 each way
Available for flights from February - December 2020. Sample fare is Melbourne-Hobart with Tigerair. Destinations include Brisbane, Melbourne, Cairns, Adelaide, Perth and more.
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Flight Centre - Holidays
Melbourne 3-night stay + flights from $375
Available for travel from 5 February - 31 March 2020. Includes accommodation at Mantra St Kilda Road, return flights from Adelaide with Jetstar, 15% off Food and Beverage and more.
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Budget Air
Domestic flights from $150 return
Available on select travel dates from February - March 2020. Sample fare is Melbourne-Sydney with Jetstar. Destinations include Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and more.
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Skyscanner
Australia-wide flights from $35 each way with Jetstar
Available for travel from March - October 2020. Destinations include Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Whitsunday, Gold Coast, Ballina, Launceston and more.
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Skyscanner
Qantas sale: Australia-wide flights from $99 each way
Available for flights on select dates between April - November 2020. Sample fare is Adelaide-Kangaroo Island. Destinations include Adelaide, Melbourne, Port Lincoln, Sydney, Gold Coast, Canberra, Brisbane and more.
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Skydive Australia
$30 off St. Kilda with code
Available on dates from 18 January - 2 February 2020 at Skydive Melbourne only. T&Cs apply.
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Hotels.com
Up to 40% off Australia hotels
Available for stays on select dates. Destinations include Sydney, Melbourne, Surfers Paradise, Adelaide, Perth, Wellington, Auckland, Gold Coast and more. T&Cs apply.
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Kayak
Melbourne flights from $200 return
Available for flights from 20 January - 2 February 2020 with Jetstar. Sample fare departs from Sydney.
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Expedia.com.au
Up to 50% off last minute deals on Australia hotels
Available on select dates in February 2020. Destinations include Sydney, Melbourne, Gold Coast, Brisbane and Perth.
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Skyscanner
Melbourne flights from $197 return
Available for flights from 20 January - 2 February 2020 with Jetstar and Tigerair. Sample fare departs from Adelaide.
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Contiki
Up to 20% off worldwide tours
Available for travel on select 2020 dates. Destinations include Italy, France, Germany, Iceland, Greece, Las Vegas, Vancouver, Banff, Hanoi, Phuket, Laos, Kyoto, Osaka, Cairns, Sydney, Darwin and more. T&Cs apply.
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Adrenaline
Up to 54% off helicopter ride experience
Valid on select dates. Destinations include Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sydney and more.
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365 Tickets
15% off Melbourne Star tickets
Available on select dates until 31 March 2020. Ticket includes single flight in Melbourne Star.
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Cheap Flights
Melbourne flights from $87 each way
Available on select 2020 dates. Sample fare is Sydney-Melbourne with Jetstar. Other flight departs from Cairns, Adelaide, Perth, Gold Coast, Darwin and more.
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Adrenaline
Up to 50% off water sports activities
Available on select 2020 dates for activities like jet boat ride, whale watching, shark dive, kayaking, harbour cruise and more.
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Booking.com
Melbourne stays from $57
Available on select travel dates. Sample rate is for The Melbourne Connection Travellers Hostel. T&Cs apply.
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Contiki
Up to 15% off Australia tours
Available for travel April - December 2020. Destinations include Cairns, Sydney, Darwin, Alice Springs, Uluru, Byron Bay and more. T&Cs apply.
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Wotif
Up to 40% off worldwide hotels + Extra 8% off with code
Available on select hotels on any travel date, as long as it's booked by 31 January. Destinations include Australia, New Zealand, Bali, Hawaii, Thailand and more.
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TFE Hotels
New Year sale: Up to 25% off + extra 10% off members
Available for travel until 7 January 2021. Destinations include Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth and more. T&Cs apply.
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Skydive Australia
Skydive from $249
Available on select 2020 dates across New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Perth and York. Sample rate is from Hunter Valley. T&Cs apply.
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Trafalgar Tours
Up to 10% off Australia and New Zealand tours
Available on select 2020 dates. Destinations include Cairns, Tasmania, Great Barrier Reef, Uluru, Auckland and more. T&Cs apply.
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G Adventures
Up to 30% off Australia and New Zealand tours
Available for travel 14 February - 1 April 2020. Destinations include Wellington, Auckland, Alice Springs, Adelaide, Melbourne and more.
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Skiddoo
Virgin Australia sale: Domestic flights from $70 each way
Available on select travel from February - August 2020. Destinations include Cairns, Melbourne, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Perth and more. Sample fare is Sydney-Gold Coast.
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RedBalloon
Up to 50% off + Extra 10% off with code
Get an extra 10% off with Finder's exclusive code for discounted experiences including flying, driving, diving, cruises, dining, spa treatments and much more.
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Virgin Australia
Domestic flights from $79 each way
Available for travel between January and October 2020. Destinations include Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra and more. Sample fare is Ballina-Sydney.
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Wotif
Extra 8% off hotels
Available on all dates including over Christmas and New Year. Destinations include Asia, Australia, Europe and more. Must book in advance. T&Cs apply.
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Ola
$20 off first ride
Available on all dates in Sydney, Perth, Melbourne, Gold Coast and Canberra, enter the promo code into your app to redeem. T&Cs apply.
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Budget Air
Extra $5 off your next booking
Subscribe to BudgetAir enewsletter and receive extra $5 discount of your next booking. Destinations include Europe, Asia, Australia and more. T&Cs apply.
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Otel.com
Extra 9% off hotel bookings
Valid on select hotel stays worldwide like Australia, New Zealand, Bali, Thailand, USA, Europe and more on all dates, including over holidays like Easter, Christmas and New Year's Eve. Some restrictions apply.
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Skiddoo
Domestic flights from $184 return
Valid for travel until January 2020. Sample fare is Melbourne–Hobart. Destinations include Canberra, Sydney, Adelaide, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Perth and more.
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Adrenaline
Extra $10 off with code
Available sitewide for activities like whale watching, sailing, jet ski, scuba diving, flying experiences, kayaking and more. Minimum spend of $99. Destinations include Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and all major cities across Australia. T&Cs apply.
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Medina
Subscribe to TFE Hotels eClub and save 10%
Join the TFE eclub now to receive 10% off future bookings in Australia, New Zealand and receive 15% off future European bookings plus bonus extras. T&Cs apply.
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Vibe
Subscribe to TFE Hotels eClub and save 10%
Join the TFE eclub now to receive 10% off future bookings in Australia, New Zealand and receive 15% off future European bookings plus bonus extras. T&Cs apply.
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Travelodge
Subscribe to TFE Hotels eClub and save 10%
Join the TFE eclub now to receive 10% off future bookings in Australia, New Zealand and receive 15% off future European bookings plus bonus extras. T&Cs apply.
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Adina
Subscribe to TFE Hotels eClub and save 10%
Join the TFE eclub now to receive 10% off future bookings in Australia, New Zealand and receive 15% off future European bookings plus bonus extras. T&Cs apply.
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Rendezvous
Subscribe to TFE Hotels eClub and save 10%
Join the TFE eclub now to receive 10% off future bookings in Australia, New Zealand and receive 15% off future European bookings plus bonus extras. T&Cs apply.
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Klook
Melbourne airport transfers from $20
Valid on shared transfers in Melbourne with Skybus. Sample price is from the Avalon airport to Melbourne City. Includes Wi-Fi on board, free city hotel shuttle and more. T&Cs apply.
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Klook
Melbourne airport transfers from $15
Valid on shared transfers in Melbourne with Skybus. Sample price is from the airport to Melbourne City, Southbank Docklands and St. Kilda. Includes Wi-Fi on board, kids travel free and more. T&Cs apply.
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TFE Hotels Collection
Subscribe to TFE Hotels eClub and save 10%
Join the TFE eclub now to receive 10% off future bookings in Australia, New Zealand and receive 15% off future European bookings plus bonus extras. T&Cs apply.
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| Last checked | Code description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Jan 2020 | $30 off St. Kilda with code | ACE**** |
| 16 Jan 2020 | Up to 40% off worldwide hotels + Extra 8% off with code | BOO**** |
| 25 Dec 2019 | Up to 50% off + Extra 10% off with code | RBF**** |
| 10 Jan 2020 | Extra 8% off hotels | BOO**** |
| 28 Oct 2019 | Extra 9% off hotel bookings | AUT**** |
