The Best Summer Activities in Melbourne: 13 Things to Do in Melbourne

There are numerous summer activities in Melbourne to enjoy over the festive season and school holidays. And, this is the perfect time of year to do some exploring and enjoy the outdoors.

The list of things to do in Melbourne on a summers day includes family-friendly options as well as activities for couples and solo adventurers. Nonetheless, many of the attractions in the list below are ideal for all situations.

Be sure to plan ahead, as bookings may be necessary for some of the activities in the list below. Also, you wouldn’t want to miss out on some of these awesome opportunities!

The Best Summer Activities in Melbourne

Spend a Day at Luna Park

Luna Park is Melbourne’s favourite theme park and is set along the St Kilda foreshore. This activity is great for families and couples and is the perfect summer afternoon or night activity.

I would recommend pre-purchasing tickets and visiting this location with some family friends to enjoy all the rides and attractions on offer.

Address: Luna Park, 18 Lower Esplanade, St Kilda VIC 3182

Watch a Movie at the Drive-in

Is there a better way to enjoy a Disney movie than at the Melbourne Showgrounds Drive-In? I can’t imagine so!

Head to the showgrounds from January to February to enjoy a Disney classic such as The Parent Trap, Cars, Moana, The Lion King and many more.

Address: Melbourne Showgrounds, Epsom Rd, Ascot Vale VIC 3032

Head to the Beach

Melbournians are extremely lucky with the beautiful stretch of coastline that we have at our doorstep. Head to one of the inner-city beaches like St Kilda or Port Melbourne for some time in the sun, or travel further down the coast towards the Mornington Peninsula.

There is a vast array of options and plenty of space to sprawl out to enjoy the beautiful weather. Also, be sure to wear reef-friendly sunscreen to avoid polluting the ocean.

Visit One of the Many Markets

Head to one of the iconic Melbourne markets, such as the South Melbourne Market. Moreover, this location is the ideal destination to pick up some local goodies and enjoy a feast for lunch. Also, this is the perfect opportunity to try one of the famous South Melbourne dim sims.

Be sure to visit the official website for more information on the events happening over the summer.

Address: South Melbourne Market, 322-326 Coventry St, South Melbourne VIC 3205

Enjoy a Picnic on the Lush Lawns of a Botanic Garden

One of the best summer activities in Melbourne is to enjoy a tasty picnic at one of Melbourne’s botanic gardens.

Firstly, I’d recommend heading to the Queen Victoria Gardens or the Royal Botanic Gardens for a lovely free day out. Not to mention, this activity is exceptional for families and the perfect chance to meet up with some friends.

After the picnic, take a wander around the gardens to enjoy the beautiful display of flowers and plants. Besides, there are also many educational opportunities for children.

Visit the NGV’s pink pond

The National Gallery of Victoria has set up a stunning hot pink splash pool for everyone to enjoy over the summer period. Moreover, the inspiration came from the natural pink lakes scattered around Australia.

I would recommend stopping in for a quick splash and spending roughly 1 hour here. Besides, children will love playing in the brightly coloured water space.

Address: National Gallery of Victoria, 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne VIC 3006

Go On a Hunt for Christmas Decorations and Displays

Discover some of Melbourne’s best inner-city Christmas lights and displays. Moreover, there are so many beautiful installations around Federation Square, and it is the perfect starting base to enjoy Christmas in Melbourne.

Ride the waves at URBNSURF

URBNSURF is the perfect place for amateur and pro surfers to enjoy a ride on the man-made wave pool. Not to mention, it’s a fantastic spot to cool off on a warm summers day.

URBNSURF provides one of the best summer activities in Melbourne, considering it’s Australia’s first surf park. The unique experience is ideal for lovers of the waves, without the need to road trip to a surf beach location.

Address: URBNSURF Melbourne, 309 Melrose Dr, Tullamarine VIC 3045

Watch a Game of Tennis at the Australian Open

Running from the 17th to 30th of January is the annual Australian Open Tennis Tournament. Moreover, this tennis event is exceptional for lovers of the sport and the perfect chance to watch some of the worlds greatest players.

I’d recommend booking a ticket sooner rather than later to avoid disappointment of missing out!

Address: Melbourne Park, Melbourne VIC 3001

Enjoy Some Live Music at St Kilda Festival

Head to St Kilda Festival anytime from the 5th-13th of February to enjoy free live music, entertainment and try some of the food from the local stalls. Moreover, this is easily one of the best free festivals on offer and is one of the best Melbourne summer activities.

Attend a Summer Nights Drone Show

The Docklands is offering a truly unique experience; A drone show! From the 3rd-16th of January, head to the Docklands between 9:30 PM – 10:30 PM to watch 350 drones light up the night sky.

There are two 8-minute shows with educational stories, information and poems. Finally, this is an epic experience for children as they will be left in awe by the changing lights in the sky.

Address: Victoria Harbour Promenade, Docklands VIC 3008

Immerse Yourself into Art at the LUME

The LUME is currently offering a spectacular display of artwork from Vincent Van Gogh. Take some time wandering around the gallery and enjoy the art coming to life around you; A sensational experience!

Address: The LUME Melbourne, 5 Convention Centre Pl, South Wharf VIC 3006

Soak up the Festivities at Moomba Festival

Moomba Festival is another classic and favourite event that runs over the labour day long weekend in March. Head to the community festival to enjoy parades, fireworks, disco tours, and so much more.

Finally, this family-friendly event is great for children considering it runs from day through to night.

Wrapping Up

In conclusion, there are numerous Melbourne summer activities to enjoy over the warm months. And, these activities are within close proximity to the city. Therefore, if you decide to go on a road trip out of the suburbs, you’re likely to be met with additional theme parks, festivals and other fantastic attractions.

Nonetheless, Melbourne is always pumping, and there are plenty of things to do. Besides, most of these activities are family-friendly, and many are free or low-cost.

Finally, take some time to plan ahead to avoid disappointment. Considering, many of these activities will sell out and will be extremely popular over the summer period.

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