The Summer Guide to Melbourne 2019–20
Slap on your sunscreen and get out there — clear blues, secluded bush spots and ice-cold beers await.
Summer in Melbourne is nothing short of glorious. When it finally kicks in it's clear mornings, sunny afternoons and evenings that stay bright and burning long after you've escaped the office. It's fish and chips at Half Moon Bay, Saturday arvos at Fitzroy Pool and golden sunsets seen from CBD rooftops. We could go on, but you get it: summer is a truly jump-out-of-bed-in-the-morning time to be in Melbourne.
But, hey, we're spoilt and sometimes we forget just how damn special this time of year is. That's why, together with BATI and RATU byRum Co of Fiji, we've put together the Summer Guide, a shortlist of the best this city has to offer December through to March, from rooftop bars and beaches to backyard barbecues and way, way beyond.
So whether you're drinking piña coladas by the beach or putting away a dark and stormy a cool corner of a beer garden, go forth and frolic. Summer is the ultimate Melbourne pop-up and it waits for no one.
The essentials
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The Ten Best Beaches in and Around Melbourne
Whether you're looking for a quick dip in the bay or an all-day adventure to the surf coast, there are plenty of great Victorian beaches to hit up.
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The Best Summer Day Trips from Melbourne
Secluded beaches, rolling vineyards and air-conditioned art galleries are all just a road trip away from Melbourne during the warmer months.
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The Best Rooftop Bars in Melbourne
Rise above the burning concrete and escape to the echelons of summer delight.
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The Best Things to Do in Melbourne This Week
This week in Melbourne, you can watch past Eurovision contestants perform live, shop at garage sales across the city and get around an epic bottomless brunch in the CBD.
What to do
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How to make the most of the weather
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News
The Ten Best Swimming Holes Near Melbourne
Don't stick to the rivers and the lakes that you're used to — check out these fab swim spots just a few hours' drive from Melbourne.
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News
The Ten Best Beaches in and Around Melbourne
Whether you're looking for a quick dip in the bay or an all-day adventure to the surf coast, there are plenty of great Victorian beaches to hit up.
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News
The Five Best Rivers for Swimming In Near Melbourne
Skip the overcrowded sands of Port Phillip Bay in favour of floating upstream at these Victorian rivers.
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News
Five Epic Multi-Day Hikes to Conquer Near Melbourne
Walk your way through the most beautiful parts of Victoria (while staying at remote campgrounds) during these multi-day hikes near Melbourne.
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News
The Nine Best Coastal Walks Near Melbourne
It's time to get off of the couch and onto the coast by hitting up some of these seaside walking trails.
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News
The Best Picnic Spots in Melbourne
Wait till the weather is just right, then fill your esky with cold beer, natural wine and an oversupply of snacks and get picnicking.
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News
Arbory Afloat's Pool Has Finally (Officially) Opened for Summer
Take a dip then kick back with cocktails in one of the private poolside cabanas.
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News
Airbnb-Like Pool-Sharing Service Swimply Has Launched in Australia Just in Time for Summer
Don't have a pool? Now you can splash around in someone else's.
Where to fuel up
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Guide
The Best Bars in Melbourne with Beer Gardens and Boozy Courtyards
Save cosy pub corners for the depths of winter — it's time to drink a brew out in the open at these fab Melbourne beer gardens.
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News
The 18 Best Bottomless Brunches in Melbourne
Swap your muesli for a mimosa and your coffee pot for endless flutes of champagne at these outstanding bottomless brunch spots in Melbourne.
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News
Where to Find the Best Ice Cream and Gelato in Melbourne
Whether you like your gelato and ice cream scoops creamy, salty, vegan or served with hot chips, you can find them here.
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Guide
Melbourne's Best Dog-Friendly Bars, Cafes and Restaurants
All of your friends — most importantly, those furry ones with four legs — are welcome at these pet-friendly food and drink haunts.
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Guide
The Best Japanese Cafes, Restaurants and Bars in Melbourne
From sashimi to yakitori and ramen and katsu, here are some of the best places to fill up on Japanese nosh.
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News
Three Summery Rum Cocktails to Make the Next Time Your Mates Come Round for Drinks
These refreshing drinks only require a few ingredients and can be thrown together without raising a sweat.
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News
A Bunch of Gin and Tonic Gardens Are Popping Up Around Australia This Summer
Mix, match and experiment with making different varieties — including at the DIY garnish stations.
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News
Summertime Social Is Melbourne's New Summery Rooftop Oasis with Boozy Ice Cream and Lawn Games
There'll also be fried chicken, pop-up bars, retro caravans and live music.
How to get out of the city
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News
The Best Summer Day Trips from Melbourne
Secluded beaches, rolling vineyards and air-conditioned art galleries are all just a road trip away from Melbourne during the warmer months.
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News
Ten Incredibly Epic Australian Beaches You Need to Swim in at Least Once in Your Life
We've got some of the most idyllic white-sanded and blue-hued beaches in the world — and these are the ones you should add to your bucket list.
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Guide
The Best Cafes on the Mornington Peninsula for 2024
Take a break from beach walks and wine tastings to refuel at one of these top-notch cafes.
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News
Ten Incredible Australian Islands for When You Want to Get Off the Mainland
You don't need to travel to Bali or Thailand to have an island holiday — these adventurous and relaxing spots are just off the coast of Australia.
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News
Ten Extremely Australian Big Things Worth a Detour on Your Next Very Long Road Trip
Giant watermelons, potatoes and lobsters named Larry might sound ridiculous, and they are — but that doesn't stop them from being among our most loved landmarks.
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News
Seven Things You Didn't Realise You Could Do in Gippsland
From scenic camel rides to renting your own island.
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News
NSW's Cabarita Beach Has Been Named Australia's Best Beach for 2020
Two inland beaches have made the Tourism Australia list for the first time, too.
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News
Cabn Lets You Stay in Your Own Tiny Solar-Powered House in the Victorian Wilderness
Pack a book, turn off your laptop and escape to this solar-powered, secluded tiny house.
Where to stay cool
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News
Twelve Films and TV Shows You Need to Stream This Month
Spend your couch time watching Rashida Jones navigate a sci-fi mystery in Japan, Nicolas Cage face a post-apocalyptic future and a gripping Australian romance-scam thriller.
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News
Twelve Films and TV Shows You Need to Stream in June
Spend your couch time watching the delicious return of 'The Bear', Glen Powell playing a fake hitman and Lily Gladstone's latest excellent performance.
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News
Twelve Films and TV Shows You Need to Stream in April
Spend your couch time watching Andrew Scott step into Tom Ripley's shoes, a shattering docuseries about Nickelodeon's kids TV hits and Colin Farrell as a PI.
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Twelve Films and TV Shows You Need to Stream in March
Spend your couch time watching Adam Sandler in space, a stunning Oscar-winning documentary, girl group-fuelled sitcom hilarity and Noel Fielding's latest show.
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News
Twelve Films and TV Shows You Need to Stream in February
Spend your couch time watching the new 'Mr & Mrs Smith', one of this year's Oscar Best Picture nominees and a stellar new space thriller.
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Twelve Films and TV Shows You Need to Stream in January
Spend your couch time watching an Oscar-nominated true tale, the 'Boy Swallows Universe' TV series and the stunning return of 'True Detective'.
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Twelve Films and TV Shows You Need to Stream in December
Spend your couch time watching a meditative animated gem about the end of the world, medical nightmares, a hilarious new British sitcom and a documentary about Alfred Hitchcock.
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News
Twelve Films and TV Shows You Need to Stream in October
Spend your couch time watching documentaries about David Beckham, The Wiggles and ONEFOUR — and the return of French caper 'Lupin'.
How to relive the best of the year
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News
The 11 Best Books of 2020 to Read This Summer
Use your time off to get deep into the winner of this year's 2020 Miles Franklin Award or a gripping memoir on the dark reality of Silicon Valley.
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Guide
Melbourne's Best New Restaurants of 2019
These are the places that you need to try — or revisit — as soon as you can.
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News
The Ten Best Books of 2019 to Read This Summer
Use your time off to get deep into this year's Man Booker Prize winner and a timely nonfiction work on Australian bushfires.
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News
The Ten Best Films of 2019
This year we reviewed close to 150 films — and this devious South Korean masterpiece and hard-to-watch Australian thriller are among the absolute best.
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News
The Ten Best New TV Shows of 2019
From melancholy animation and offbeat sketch comedies to a grim drama based on a real-life tragedy — and they're all available to stream.
Which bars and restaurants to hit
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Arbory Afloat 2019
This time, the Yarra's floating bar has Miami-inspired cabanas and an onboard pool.
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Patient Wolf Distilling Co
Sip clever gin cocktails just metres from where the gin was made at one of Victoria's largest independent gin distillery.
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Portsea Hotel
The Mornington Peninsula spot boasts new bars, a pizza menu and killer views over the bay.
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Moon Dog World
This giant, very OTT brewery bar in Preston is like a boozy theme park you'll never want to leave.
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Adelphi Hotel Pool & Deck
You don't have to be staying at the hotel to make use of its rooftop pool and bar.
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Peaches - CLOSED
Here you can pair stunning city views with 90s pop-themed cocktails and fried chicken sangas till 3am.