Ten Ways to Keep Cool in Melbourne This Summer

Feeling hot, hot, hot? While summer can be a beautiful thing of balmy evenings, backyard parties and inflatable pool toys, it can also turn at any moment. And when it decides to beat its relentless, fiery heatwaves down on us, the city turns into an apocalyptic state of dripping icy poles, too-hot tram carriages and overall frustration. So where to go and what to do without melting into a puddle? While hiding under the bed waiting for that blessed cool change is tempting, there are many other cooling and less hermit-like options that can help make your summer enjoyable — even when venturing outside feels like stepping into a fire pit.

SWIM UNDER A WATERFALL AT TURPINS FALLS

Water doesn't get any cooler, or more refreshing than this waterfall which flows directly from the Macedon Ranges. While taking a dip in this slightly-above-freezing billabong may require some encouragement and bravery, once submerged you'll be rewarded with instant refreshment and the cool embrace of water. It's also pretty easy to forget about the summer heat when you're pretending to be a mermaid.

SEE A FILM AND STUFF YOUR FACE WITH POPCORN AT CINEMA NOVA

Everyone knows that when Melbourne reaches apocalyptic melting point, the best place to take shelter from the laser beam-like UV rays is in the cool comfort of the cinema. With 16 screens, Cinema Nova is Melbourne's largest arthouse cinema, screening everything from the latest explosive blockbuster to favourite indie flick. So there's bound to be something on that at least partly takes your fancy. Scrooges take note of the Monday special — $7 before 4pm and a mere $9 after means you'll have extra pennies to enjoy popcorn and a refreshing pre-screening beverage at the Nova bar.

GRAB A DOUBLE SCOOP AT GELATO MESSINA

While ice cream hasn't been scientifically proven to reduce one's body temperature, it sure doesn't need rigorous scientific testing to know it can instantly bring a smile to one's sunburnt, sweaty face. The joy-makers at Gelato Messina create delicious A/C for the mouth with 35 permanent flavours and five new ones each week, using the best of smashed up cheesecake, cookies, red velvet and caramel pieces. Too hot for you to brave the wrath of the sun in search of a scoop? They now offer delivery, making home sweeter than ever.

Northcote Aquatic and Recreation Centre via Flickr

TAKE THE PLUNGE AT NORTHCOTE POOL

While cooling down in chlorinated public waters may not sound as appealing as plunging into one of Melbourne's swimming holes, this local pool is a good alternative to embrace your inner fish during summer. Worth travelling to, the Northcote Aquatic and Recreation Centre not only has a sweet 50m outdoor pool, but they also have a separate 25m outdoor pool for kids and beginners. Plus, the pool backs onto a park so there's many a grassy patch to park yourself on for the afternoon. 

Pascal via Flickr

GET YOUR SUMMER READING DONE AT THE STATE LIBRARY

While your ideal version of summer reading may be lying luxuriously on a beachfront, in hot weather the reality that awaits you is most probably a lobster tan and scorching sand — not a peaceful page-turning experience. Instead, you can cooly relax in the air conditioned heaven of the State Library of Victoria, home of 200 million books and Ned Kelly's armour.  This sesquicentennial building has a bunch of tranquil reading rooms, a mesmerising dome and free exhibitions — all blasted with beautiful, beautiful air con. 

HEAD FOR THE HILLS WITH A TRIP TO THE DANDENONG RANGES

For an instant temperature drop, head for the hills of lush ferns, moss-covered beauty and delicious locally-sourced cafe tucker. The cool climate and sheltering forest of the Dandenong Ranges means it is typically a couple of degrees cooler than the city — making it a perfect haven to escape from the heat. If you're feeling energetic from all that mountain air, you may like to explore the area by foot by taking one of their hiking trails, try and steal some spray from Sherbrooke or Olinda Falls, or simply take it easy at one of the many eateries and cafes in the area.

KEEP HYDRATED AT NAKED IN THE SKY

They say hot air rises, but who cares when you're looking out at one of Melbourne's best views in the north, sipping on tasty house-made vodka, snacking on exquisite tapas? As well as the rooftop bar receiving some of the most refreshing summer breezes, the cool ambience and laidback crowd can make summer heatwaves a whole lot of fun.   

Sean Fennessey

STEP INSIDE A 'CAR WASH' AT THE NGV

If you feel nostalgic for days spent swanning through sprinklers in the backyard, this might be the next best thing. As part of the 2016 NGV Architecture Commission, M@ STUDIO Architects have set up a pretend car wash in the NGV's Grollo Equiset Garden for the summer. You'll be able to find your fun easily — just look out for the old-school glittering sign, a pretty translucent ceiling, frolicking in bright pink AstroTurf and kicking back on rubber speed bumps. There's be five 'bays', two hung with red plastic curtains and one equipped with a mist diffuser. Go forth and frolic (or just rest those sweaty, weary bones) within.

PREVENT SCURVY WITH A COLD-PRESSED JUICE AT GREENE ST JUICE CO.

Maintaining your new year's resolution health kick and searching for a refreshing beverage can be a tricky feat. Thankfully clean eaters need not reach for a sugar-filled Boost but instead can sip and slurp at this Prahran juice bar, serving 'holistic nutrition' in the form of cold-pressed organic juices full of healthy raw, organic herbal extracts. The bar itself is a cool place (both literally and figuratively) to sip on your elixir, with natural textures of stone, walnut batten and greenery. 

Dollar Photo Club

GO ARCTIC AND HANG IN A BAR MADE OF ICE

If all else fails, stick your head in the freezer, head into the cool room at the bottle-o or — if you're looking for a full-body experience — the novelty that is Ice Bar may be the only thing to cool you down. Step into the frozen wonderland of -10 degrees of their new Fitzroy premises and grab yourself a cocktail in an ice-cup, relax on a chilly bar-stool and marvel at the specially crafted ice sculptures. But being this cold isn't quite the cheapest perk going around, the $30 entry will give you 30 minutes of Arctic joy. This is for when you're desperate. 

Top image: Dollar Photo Club