Spring brings a fresh energy to Melbourne. The days get longer, gardens stun, outdoor dining returns and the city’s already busy events calendar starts filling up fast. It’s the perfect time to get outside, explore a new neighbourhood, catch a game or concert and make the most of everything happening across the city.
From beautiful gardens and bushland to exciting games, food events, art and some seriously big names in music, there’s plenty to see and do this spring. And with so much happening across Melbourne, choosing the right place to stay can make all the difference. Base yourself in Southbank and you’re within easy reach of many of the city’s biggest attractions, while still having the Yarra, restaurants and arts precinct right outside your door.
If you’re planning a Melbourne spring getaway, these are what we’d recommend.
EXPLORE GREAT NATURE SPOTS
Melbourne has plenty of ways to enjoy the outdoors, from leafy gardens in the middle of the city to forests and wildflowers just beyond the suburbs. Spring is a particularly good time to explore, with warmer days making it much easier to spend an entire day outside.
- Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria: Just across the river from Southbank, the Royal Botanic Gardens are one of the city’s easiest green escapes. Wander through the gardens, explore the different plant collections, settle beside the lake or simply find a quiet patch of grass and enjoy the sunshine. Spring also brings a program of guided walks, nature experiences and outdoor events.
- Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden: Head into the hills for a spectacular display of spring colour. Rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias and other flowers come into bloom throughout the season, making this a beautiful destination for a few hours away from the city.
- Dandenong Ranges National Park: For something a little wilder, explore the forests of the Dandenongs. Walking trails wind through towering trees, fern gullies and waterfalls, with plenty of opportunities to spot native wildlife along the way.
- Albert Park Lake: You don’t have to leave the inner city to get some fresh air. Albert Park Lake is ideal for a morning walk, run or cycle, with Melbourne’s skyline providing an impressive backdrop. It’s also an easy trip from Southbank if you want to spend a few hours outside without committing to a full day trip.
- Brisbane Ranges National Park: Around an hour from Melbourne, the Brisbane Ranges offer a completely different spring experience. The park is particularly known for its wildflowers, which add plenty of colour to the walking trails during the warmer months.
- Yarra River: One of the simplest ways to enjoy Melbourne in spring is to follow the Yarra. From Southbank, you can walk along the river, stop for a coffee or lunch, cross over towards the Botanic Gardens or simply find a spot to sit and watch the city go by.
One of the best things about Melbourne’s nature spots is how easy they are to combine with a city break. You can spend the morning exploring the Botanic Gardens, head into the CBD for lunch and then finish the afternoon with a drink overlooking the Yarra.
And if you’re staying in Southbank, much of this is right on your doorstep. The riverfront gives you an easy starting point for exploring, while the gardens, city centre and surrounding neighbourhoods are all within easy reach.
Spring is also a great excuse to explore Melbourne on foot. Wander through South Melbourne, Southbank, Carlton, Fitzroy or Richmond, stop for coffee, browse a market or find a sunny table for lunch. You don’t always need a packed itinerary: sometimes the best Melbourne days are the ones where you simply head out and see where you end up.
MAKE THE MOST OF WHAT’S ON THIS SEASON
Melbourne’s event calendar is always busy, but spring brings some particularly big dates. The AFL finals, major concerts, festivals, exhibitions and food events give visitors plenty of reasons to make a weekend of it.
And with events spread across the CBD, Southbank, Melbourne Park, the MCG and beyond, staying somewhere central means you can spend less time getting around and more time enjoying the city.
CULTURE
Melbourne’s reputation as Australia’s cultural capital is easy to understand once spring arrives.
Melbourne Fringe Festival runs from 29 September to 18 October, bringing independent theatre, comedy, cabaret, performance, visual art and plenty of wonderfully unexpected ideas to venues around the city. It’s one of the best opportunities to discover Melbourne’s creative side and see something you probably wouldn’t find anywhere else.
For something a little more unusual, the Oddities & Curiosities Expo returns to Melbourne on 21–22 November at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre. Expect a wonderfully strange mix of the unusual and unexpected, with exhibitors showcasing taxidermy, antiques, curiosities, alternative art, jewellery and all manner of fascinating finds. It’s less traditional gallery visit and more a chance to wander into the wonderfully weird side of Melbourne.
Over at the NGV, Margaret Preston is one of the major exhibitions to look out for this spring. The exhibition explores the work and legacy of one of Australia’s most significant modernist artists, bringing together a major selection of her work.
The NGV’s wider spring program also offers plenty to explore, from design and nature to art from across the Asia-Pacific region. And because the gallery is just across the river from Southbank, it’s easy to combine an exhibition with a walk along the Yarra or lunch in the surrounding precinct.
For something that combines art and the outdoors, the Royal Botanic Gardens will also host a range of spring experiences, including outdoor installations, guided walks, nature-focused activities and creative events.
Whether you’re into major exhibitions, independent performance, curious collections or simply wandering around Melbourne’s galleries and creative spaces, spring is a great time to see why the city has such a strong arts scene.
SPORT
If there’s one thing that can take over Melbourne in spring, it’s footy.
The AFL Finals Series builds towards the AFL Grand Final at the MCG on 26 September, bringing fans from across Australia into the city. Grand Final week creates an atmosphere that spreads well beyond the stadium, with events, entertainment and packed pubs and restaurants throughout Melbourne.
Even if you don’t have a ticket to the big game, being in Melbourne during Grand Final week is an experience in itself.
And for visitors staying in Southbank, the MCG is within easy reach, making it a convenient base if you’re heading to a game or simply want to soak up the atmosphere around the city.
Then, in October, it’s time to get moving yourself.
The Nike Melbourne Marathon Festival takes place on 10–11 October, with thousands of runners taking over Melbourne’s streets. The marathon route passes some of the city’s best-known sights, including Albert Park Lake and the St Kilda foreshore, before finishing with a lap around the MCG.
For cyclists, Around the Bay returns on 18 October. There are several rides to choose from, including the famous long-distance route around Port Phillip Bay, as well as shorter options for riders who’d rather take things at a more relaxed pace.
Whether you’re watching from the sidelines or getting involved yourself, spring gives Melbourne plenty of reasons to get active.
GASTRONOMY
Melbourne doesn’t need much encouragement when it comes to food, but spring brings even more reasons to explore the city’s dining scene.
The Melbourne Royal Show runs from 24 September to 4 October at Melbourne Showgrounds, bringing together rides, entertainment, animals, competitions and plenty of food. With dozens of food vendors, there’s everything from classic show favourites to more creative bites to try.
For something with a distinctly Victorian flavour, the Victorian Salami Festival takes place on 3 October, celebrating local producers and one of Australia’s great food traditions.
If you’re happy to venture a little further afield, the Peninsula VineHop Festival returns to the Mornington Peninsula in November, combining local wine, food, music and producers. It’s another great excuse to turn a Melbourne stay into a longer getaway.
But you don’t need a food festival to discover Melbourne’s food scene. From Carlton’s Italian classics and Richmond’s Vietnamese favourites to the restaurants, bars and cafés tucked into Fitzroy, Collingwood and South Melbourne, each neighbourhood has its own flavour. If you’re not sure where to start, our Melbourne Neighbourhood Guide rounds up some of the best places to eat, drink and explore across the city, making it easy to find your next favourite spot.
And if you’re staying in Southbank, you don’t have to go far for a great meal. The Yarra is lined with restaurants and bars, giving you plenty of options for an easy dinner after a day of sightseeing, shopping or exploring the city.
MUSIC
Melbourne is in for a seriously big spring on the music front, with pop stars, metal legends, electronic heavyweights and one of the world’s most famous film composers all heading our way.
First up is Jason Derulo, bringing his From the Headline tour to Rod Laver Arena on 21 September. Expect the hits, the dancing and plenty of big pop production from the man behind Want to Want Me and Swalla.
Then it’s time for one of Melbourne’s own. Dom Dolla brings his Australian-exclusive homecoming to Marvel Stadium on 24 September. The Grammy-nominated DJ and producer has gone from Melbourne’s electronic scene to playing some of the world’s biggest festivals, so this one feels like a pretty special return home.
Things get considerably heavier on 6 October when Lamb of God and Trivium bring their co-headline tour to John Cain Arena. Two of metal’s biggest modern names sharing a stage? Melbourne’s metal fans probably won’t need much convincing.
October gets even bigger with Tame Impala, who take over Rod Laver Arena from 14–17 October. Kevin Parker’s psychedelic project has grown from a bedroom recording experiment in Perth into one of Australia’s biggest musical exports.
And then comes a serious dose of nostalgia. Hilary Duff plays Rod Laver Arena on 26 and 27 October, giving fans the chance to revisit the songs that soundtracked the early 2000s: and, yes, there’s a very good chance Lizzie McGuire memories will come flooding back.
For something on a completely different scale, Hans Zimmer arrives on 24 and 25 October with Hans Zimmer Live – The Next Level. With film scores including The Lion King, Gladiator, The Dark Knight and Dune under his belt, this is one for movie lovers as much as music fans.
Then Iron Maiden bring their Run For Your Lives World Tour to AAMI Park on 13 November. The legendary British metal band first toured Australia back in 1982, making this another chapter in a relationship with Australian fans that’s now more than four decades old.
And finally, Harry Styles arrives at Marvel Stadium from 27 November as part of his Together, Together tour. After making the leap from One Direction to one of the world’s biggest solo pop stars, Styles is bringing his latest era to Melbourne with a run of stadium shows.
There’s also something very exciting for electronic music fans, with Tomorrowland’s CORE arriving at Flemington Racecourse on 28 November. Known for its spectacular stage design and immersive festival atmosphere, CORE Melbourne brings a taste of the famous Belgian festival to Australia.
With that line-up, Melbourne’s spring calendar is looking pretty hard to beat, whether your idea of a great night involves a guitar solo, a dance floor, a movie soundtrack or a very nostalgic singalong.
A CITY THAT’S MADE FOR SPRING
Put it all together and Melbourne has plenty going on this spring.
Nature, food, sport, art and entertainment are all happening at once, and you don’t have to choose just one.
Whether you’re visiting for the footy, a major gig, a weekend of eating and exploring or simply a few days of sunshine and fresh air, Melbourne gives you plenty of reasons to stay a little longer. So book yourself a comfortable Southbank stay and enjoy.