Melbourne – it’s a place where you’ll never have a bad meal, will leave a coffee snob, can experience four seasons in one day and where spending hours aimlessly wandering through a labyrinth of laneways and boutique shops will make for delightful afternoon!
What Melbourne may lack in terms of stunning landmarks (like those in neighbouring Sydney), it more than makes up for with its diverse culture, cool attitude, buzzing nightlife, and all-round good vibes.
There are still plenty of iconic and historic buildings to see. Just a few of these include the State Library, Flinders Street Station and the Old Melbourne Gaol, not to mention amazing shopping throughout the city from big brands, small boutiques and up and coming designers.
Despite many thinking that Australia is a sunny destination all year round, down south in Melbourne the winters can be a little chilly! Average daily temperatures range between 6 -16°C during winter, so still warmer than a European or North American winter in most places!
In winter many Melburnians escape to sunnier Queensland and overseas visitors are more likely to choose a northern hemisphere destination for their overseas trip, making the winter months the best time to visit to escape the crowds, hang with the locals and soak up the lifestyle. While it’s colder than usual in the winter months, Melbourne’s mood lends itself to the cooler weather, with cosy cafes, big sporting events, and dark and moody bars around every corner.
Café culture at its finest
Melbourne’s coffee and brunch culture is next level. You can almost walk into any hole in the wall coffee shop or neighbourhood corner café and be guaranteed one of the best coffees of your life and a menu with Melbourne favourites and unique creations.
Smashed avocado on toast is a staple in any café and every one puts its own spin on this cult favourite – with each iteration a little fancier than the last.
Australians love craft beers and spirits such as gin or whiskey and Victoria is also home to many top-notch wineries, so be sure to check out these local drinks with some very interesting flavour combinations.
Winter after dark
Head to the Queen Victoria Market’s (QVM) Winter Night Market. Every Wednesday between June and August the iconic QVM comes alive at night with countless street food stalls serving delicious dishes from all over the world. You’ll also find open fires to keep warm, live music and a silent disco.
The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) runs NGV Friday Nights between June and October, where you can visit the gallery at night, see some of Australia’s best bands perform live in the great hall or dine at a pop-up bar.
