Winter in Melbourne
I’ve been thinking of Melbourne lately. The coastal capital of Victoria, food obsessed, multicultural culture, trams travelling along the tree lined boulevards, the modern Federation Square, the iconic Flinders Street Station, Docklands, Lygon Street and all the travel gems that make winter in Melbourne one of our favourite places to visit.
Flinders Street Station
No matter what you do, winter in Melbourne offers an amazing travel experience and is a beautiful time to stay. Known as the cultural capital, the city is a contrast of 19th century buildings and strikingly modern developments. It has it all stylish, arty, dynamic, cosmopolitan and edgy and winter offers no shortage of beauty. Just take an umbrella and wear a few layers and get out and explore the best of Melbourne in winter. Take the free city tram and between showers get off and explore quieter streets and sidewalk cafes, capture architecture, graffiti lane, Docklands, Queen Victoria Markets or the Arts Centre.
We enjoyed wandering the inner city’s tranquility of Carlton Gardens, Fitzroy Gardens and Cook’s Cottage, Royal Botanic Gardens, Victoria’s Shrine of Remembrance and enjoyed the architecture and beauty of Her Majesty’s, Princess Theatre and Palais Theatre.
Melbourne Art Centre
Embrace food traditions like Spanish donuts or kransky’s at Queen Vic markets, dim sims at Sth Melb markets and cake and coffee at Brunetti’s. As you enter on Lygon Street your mouth will water at the sight of the luscious cakes and be hit by the smell of good coffee. Lift your jaw off the floor and ask for a table because if you are like us, you will be there a while.
Second to food, Melbourne is renowned for its shopping precincts like city laneways and Cathedral Arcade, Chadstone, Westfield Doncaster, Chapel Road, Bridge Road, Fitzroy and DFO.
Chadstone Shopping Centre
Another great spot for winter in Melbourne is St Kilda, a bohemian, seaside suburb, home of Luna Park, Palais Theatre and Acland Street. There’s so much to do in St Kilda or should I say taste? Acland Street is cake land, a street with four amazing cake shops and restaurants. It’s a great place to stop and have a lazy rainy day coffee and decadent cake on a comfy couch for some street side people watching.
On a Sunday I recommend you get a takeaway and head to the Sunday Esplanade Markets. There you’ll find an open air gallery and local artist and craftspeople selling one of a kind jewellery, souvenirs and gifts. Luna Park, St Kilda’s iconic landmark has been drawing tourists for over 100 years with free entry through Mr Moon’s giant mouth for a day of fun. I am always drawn to Carousels and the decorative Luna Park Carousel is no exception. The crown in the jewel of Luna Park is the heritage listed War and Peace carousel. The carousel is the largest and most elaborate in the Southern Hemisphere with a Limonaire Freres Organ hand carved in art nouveau style.
Carousel at Luna Park
It is also a great spot to take advantage of winter in Melbourne and board an iconic tram, maybe the Number 16 down St Kilda Road or take the Route 96, Melbourne’s busiest with 35,000 passengers a day and listed by National Geographic amongst the planet’s top 10 trolley car rides.
A short drive from Melbourne, escape the city life and head into the lush haven and spectacular scenery of Dandenong Ranges, Sherbrooke, Olinda and my favourite, Sassafras. The charm of this storybook village is has an alternative vibe and a quaint English cottage feel, softened by mist in winter. Sassafras is a gorgeous little township and the perfect place for day trip and two of the most famous places here are Miss Maple’s Tea Room and the teapot shop, Tea Leaves.
Sassafras
If you want to head further than Dandenong Ranges the popular resort of Mt Buller about 3 hours way is well worth the trip. A drive through the Black Spur in Yarra ranges to Bonnie Doon, Mt Donna Buang or the Mornington Peninsula, Phillip Island or Great Ocean Road all offer spectacular scenery in winter too.
Mt Buller
Just like during winter in Sydney, there’s just so much to do during winter in Melbourne you won’t even have time to notice if there are grey skies. Regardless what you do, you will find Melbourne has a very contemporary space and style that combines old world charm and modern luxury perfectly. And the perfect place to stay would be Sofitel Melbourne on Collins.
Have you experienced winter in Melbourne? Did you find it as pretty as we did? If you want to check out another place that is gritty, lively and is truly magical in winter, then read about the charm of winter in Belgrade.
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Wow what a great post .I Like Melbourne. Images are very beautiful . Thanks for your sharing..
Thanks Anand, we love Melbourne too and find it a very photogenic city. Thank you for your comment.
Good job summarizing Melbourne- especially the food obsessed. I think breakfast and coffee in Melbourne are right up there- I can’t think of a place that beats it. Inner city Melbourne always has something happening.
Elizabeth recently posted…Chiloe and Patagonia Roast Lamb with Chimichurri Sauce
You have got that so right Elizabeth, I just love Melbourne and the suburbs and can’t wait to get back there again.
I’m drawn to carousels, too, and the Luna Park Carousel looks gorgeous. What’s more fun is you get to walk through Mr. Moon’s giant mouth to get to it.
Connie Reed recently posted…Kingsley Inn: A Night of Elegant Comfort
This is a fun place, just a quick walk from those decadent cake shops. Connie even on a rainy day we enjoyed ourselves there.
I’m making a mental note about Acland street – you had me at cake!!
Bryna | Bryna’s Window recently posted…Making Friends With Wallabies
Bryna I have been there many times and still keep forgetting to take a photo, they are amazing.
Hi Lyn, This brings back memories – the last time I visited Melbourne was in the 1990s and in winter as well! This was way before the street art was prevalent in the city. Love your photos especially the one with autumn leaves :-). Thanks for sharing #MondayEscapes.
Cheers,
Kat
Kat I’m glad you enjoyed our photos which bought back your winter memories. Melbourne in the 90’s would have been quite different in some areas. I did not see Melbourne until 1998 and immediately fell in love with the place and try and visit frequently.
Your post makes it look so beautiful and idyllic! But this winter was exceptionally harsh, even after living there for 10 years, this July I went back for my first winter in 12 years and oh boy, FREEZING! No matter how beautiful!! Definitely agree with 4 seasons in one day – pack everything. #MondayEscapes
Keri recently posted…Meet kangaroos at Uralla Wildlife Sanctuary
Yes Australia is having some very harsh weather and the east coast is certainly getting its share of it. I recall the winters when I lived in Gippsland, very pretty but so cold and foggy. Thanks for your comment Keri
We didn’t make it to Melbourne when we visited Australia. Now that I have a friend living there, I bet I’ll just have to visit next time I’m on the continent. It looks like such a lovely mix of things to do, especially all the cafes and cake places. I’d love to visit Philip Island, too. I had no idea it got cold enough to go skiing, though. Thanks for linking up with #WkendTravelInspiration.
Michele {Malaysian Meanders} recently posted…Wonderfully Wacky Wall Drug
Philip Island is a gorgeous spot, it gets quite chilly there too. The snow regions are well worth the visit when you return to Australia Michele, I am sure you’ll love Melbourne.
I really enjoyed the words that accompanied your lovely photos. They reminded me about how much I love Melbourne and I wanted to be doing the things you were suggesting. Like hopping off the tram between showers and exploring. A lovely post. 🙂
budget jan recently posted…Townsville to Gold Coast by Caravan and WikiCamps Australia
Thanks Jan, I am glad you enjoyed my post. Melbourne is a very pretty and popular city.
I visited Melbourne for the first time in May for a long weekend. We only got to explore the inner city but fell in love! It was cold enough in May though! So much more to do that you have highlighted, can’t wait to get back!
Sally recently posted…Falling In Love With New York City
The inner city is great for a long weekend. There is so much to do, glad I highlighted some things to do when you get back.
Brrr! That looks a little chilly, but I can handle rain and cold if I am in a city. There is always something to do if the weather is bad. I would so much love to visit Melbourne.You have done a great job with those tempting photos.
Anda recently posted…The Weekly Postcard: Vancouver, Facts and First Impressions
Yes I agree Anda. I hope you do get to Melbourne one day, I’m glad my photos are tempting you.
I’m not a big fan of traveling anywhere cold because I hate packing bulky clothes. But that was until I traveled somewhere cold and it’s absolutely amazing! Melbourne is no different. 🙂
Pinay Flying High recently posted…Alonissos, The Underrated Greek Island.
Funny you say that, I was the same, now planning on December in Europe. Thanks for your comment.
Lovely colors…
Muza-chan recently posted…Japanese traditional architecture, Samurai residence audience hall
Thanks Muza
I have been reading great things about Melbourne, so much that I’m starting to think that I would love to live there 😀
If I never do, I hope I visit it sometime, looks like such a pretty town!!!
#MondayEscapes
Packing my Suitcase recently posted…Packing for the Oktoberfest
You are right Allane, it is very pretty and a really livable city. I do hope you at least get a chance for a visit.
Hmmm…yeah…I live through Melbourne each winter. And I have to confess, I’m a bit over it this year. Coldest winter in 26 years. BUT, it’s testament to Melbourne’s appeal that we all complain about the weather (constantly) and we all still love the city! And in recent years, there’s been a lot of great stuff programmed over the winter – Winter Masterpieces exhibitions at the NGV, the Glow Festival in Stonnington, the winter festival activities in the city. The Melbourne Writers Festival is in August and is always great. There’s plenty to do and see.
Fairlie recently posted…A sample 13 day Japan itinerary for first-time visitors
I lived in Victoria for two winters, Gippsland winters, so I can sympathise with you Fairlie. But it wasn’t the cold I found the hardest to cope with, it was the fog. Coming from Perth I had never endured fog before, pea soup thick fog that made the daily drive on the Princess Highway to work treacherous, but very pretty. Melbourne does have so much programmed in winter, always plenty to see and do.
so pretty! I’ve only ever seen photos of Melbourne in the sunshine. I just assumed it was always sunny and beach weather. Thanks for showing me a different side to the city!
Shobha recently posted…Paraisopolis, This Side of Paradise
Shobha that is funny that you have only seen photos of Melbourne’s sunshine when it is known as a city with four seasons on one day. But a brolly and a few layers and you will be set to see all sides of this beautiful city.
I see that Melbourne is an all season city! Would really like to visit.
Ruth – Tanama Tales recently posted…Fifth Annual Los Angeles Food Festival
Ruth, Melbourne is beautiful in any season, but I find it especially pretty in winter.
Thanks for the tour of Melbourne! Looks like you made the most of it during your winter trip!
Jennifer (aka Dr. J) recently posted…Top 10 Things to Do on a Weekend City Break in Bologna Italy in June
Glad you enjoyed Jennifer, this is a compilation of photos taken over several trips to Melbourne, one of our favourite places. Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment.
I spent the first 22 years of my life in a city called Bendigo in Central Victoria and visited Melbourne often for concerts, theatre, shopping and sporting events. I also have had a girl’s weekend or two in Melbourne in Winter and always enjoy the change of scenery from tropical Queensland. The culture certainly exceeds any other capital city in Australia but it also offers a variety of other things to do. I learnt how to ski at Mt Buller so your photo brought back another memory to me. Thanks for such great memories.
Kathy Marris recently posted…A – Z of West Australia
Glad I bought back some great memories for you Kathy. I love Melbourne and have a soft spot for the area, having lived in Gippsland for two yeas.
Love Melbourne, always have and always will. You have done a great job sharing what a special place it is. It is a city of 4 seasons in the one day, so winter is a great time to visit.
Paula McInerney recently posted…Grand Old Lady of Canberra needs some Rouge – Hyatt Hotel Canberra
Thank you Paula. I love Melbourne so much too, it has so much to offer and the ‘four seasons in one day’ doesn’t put me off.