Roaming with Red

Summer – the season of long days and warm nights. Maybe I’m biased as a Summer lover but, to me, Melbourne flourishes in Summer. There is an electrifying atmosphere that seems to take over the city as Melbournians flock outdoors to enjoy the heat while it lasts. Couple this with the excitement of Christmas and New Years, Summer in Melbourne is a hub of movement and excitement. From long evenings sitting in a park with friends to days at the beach ending with Fish and Chips on the sand, there is no shortage of things to do in the Summer months. If you found yourself overwhelmed for things to do, below are a few ideas to get you started!

Have a Picnic at One of Melbourne’s Many Beautiful Gardens

When the sun is shining and the temperature is in the mid to high 20-degrees, there is nothing better than gathering with family or friends, or both, for a picnic in the gardens. Melbourne city and its surroundings are bursting with green oasis’ to enjoy in the Summer heat.

Enjoy a lazy afternoon by the lake at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne City, as the flora and fauna blooms around you. Take a leisurely stroll through the sprawling gardens, showcasing both local and international flora and fauna. Alternatively, take a punt down the lake that is the centre piece of the garden, imagining life from another era.

Alternatively, if you want to see the incredible landscapes and flora of Australia, take a trip to Cranbourne Gardens. Surrounded by kilometres of bushland walking and cycling tracks, Cranbourne Gardens provides a beautiful look into how native and non-native plants can flourish together. You can spend hours wondering through these beautifully crafted gardens! As a word of warning, these gardens are a little further out from the city than the Royal Botanic Gardens and are easiest accessed with a car.

 If you’re looking for something a bit more ‘local’ but still in the city, try Fitzroy Gardens or Princes Park or a picnic at Studley Park Boathouse. These green spaces are less curated and are a popular spot for Melbournians to enjoy all year round. Imagine you’re a local as people run past for their daily exercise or dogs enjoy the open air around you.

Shop ‘Til You Drop at an Inner-City Market

One of Melbourne’s biggest strengths is its foodie culture. And the food markets dotted around the city and its surrounding suburbs are a true testament to this. Walk the market stalls and enjoy the sights and sounds of these bustling hubs of activity. There’s nothing quite like the electrifying atmosphere mixed with the smell of freshly baked pastries and the sight of fresh fruit and veg!

If you want to see THE Melbourne market, visit the Queen Victoria Market at the Carlton end of the city. In operation since 1878, this is one of the most famous markets in Melbourne and will often play host to many special events during the Summer months. From the outdoor fresh produce stalls to the cheese and deli section, it’s a great introduction to the Melbourne foodie scene!

However, you haven’t fully experienced the Melbourne foodie scene unless you’ve ventured slightly further away from the city. If you are really into fresh produce and good food, I would highly recommend you visit either the Prahran Market or South Melbourne Market or both! Located in the inner-city suburbs, these markets provide the best of both worlds, mixing produce with delicious food stalls and coffee roasters. It’s also a great opportunity to explore Melbourne beyond the city confines and enjoy the life and activity of the surrounding suburbs.

Savour the Night with a Drink at a Rooftop Bar

What’s a city without its nightlife? While Melbourne still hasn’t fully recovered from COVID, the fun and electric atmosphere that used to fill the city is certainly returning. Rooftop bars and beer gardens come to life during Summer, as people flock to savour the long, humid nights that Summer can bring.

There are honestly too many bars to choose from that you almost can’t go wrong, but cult favourites like Naked for Satan, Goldilocks and Johnny’s Green Room are always bustling with people, and for good reason. Sit back, sip on a specialty cocktail and enjoy the views and the atmosphere that these bars provide.

Alternatively, if you’re not a fan of heights, many bars include outdoor seating areas to enjoy all Summer long. Try Leonard’s House of Love, if you’re craving beer and fried chicken, or Arbory Afloat, if you’re looking for an Instagrammable spot on the Yarra River.

Escape the Summer Heat and Do What All Melbournians Do – Go for Brunch

Staying on the food theme, if there’s one thing Melbournians know how to do well, it’s brunch. Going for brunch has become a simple pleasure and must do for Melbournians and there’s no better time to brunch than when you’re trying to escape the heat. The strong foodie scene means that there is no shortage of good cafes serving fascinating food and delicious coffee. Similar to the above, there are absolutely too many good cafes to name but below are a few suggestions if you need a starting point.

Abacus Bar and Kitchen – located just outside the Prahran Market, food and coffee at Abacus is a great way to start your day. The space is beautifully designed, combining high ceilings, greenery and exposed concrete, with an innovative menu.

Hector’s Deli – a little corner shop in the back streets of Richmond, Hector’s Deli makes one of the best sandwiches in Melbourne. With no real seating space, get your sandwich to go or eat it out the front of the café like a true local.

Lobbs Café – on Sydney Road in Brunswick, Lobbs Café is a classic Melbourne café. With a large interior and delicious but simple menu (which also includes drinks if you’re feeling a boozy brunch), Lobbs is a great way to experience the Melbourne brunch scene.

Experience Melbourne at its Finest at one of the Many Cultural and Sporting Events  

Melbourne is known as the sporting and cultural hub of Australia. From big sporting events, such as the Australian Open, to large cultural events, such as music festivals over New Year’s, Melbourne really does have something for all.

If you manage to time your trip right, ensure you grab a ticket or two to the Australian Open. Whether you like tennis or not, the Open provides much more than just a sporting event. Food stalls take over the entire complex as branded events and musical acts provide entertainment for all. Cricket is also massive in Melbourne during Summer, as the sport takes over the last few weeks in December and into January. Get yourself to the Boxing Day test if you can and experience the atmosphere of a packed MCG (the major sporting ground in Melbourne).

However, it’s not just sporting events that light up the city in Summer. Cultural and art events also take advantage of the longer days and warmer weather. Enjoy an outdoor cinema experience at Curtin House in the city or a Shakespeare play in the middle of the Botanic Gardens!

Eat Fish and Chips on the Shorefront as the Sun Sets

Australia – the land of sun, surf and sand. While Melbourne itself might be a bustling metropolitan city, there’s certainly no shortage of beach to enjoy in the Summer time. Grab yourself some fish and chips, or any other takeaway food that you enjoy, and try and find some space on the busy beaches to watch the sun set. Melbourne really can produce some stunning sunsets, made better by the atmosphere of the crowd around you. Be careful of the seagulls though – they’ll steal your food if you’re not careful!

While St Kilda is usually seen as the place to go, follow the locals and venture a little further down the coastline to Mordialloc or Black Rock. You’ll find more space and less crowds but with beaches that are just as nice, if not even nicer, than St Kilda.

However, as a true Melbournian who loves the ocean, you haven’t experienced a true Melbourne Summer unless you’ve taken a day trip to the coast on a 30+ degree day. The Bellarine Coast and towns such as Torquay at the start of the Great Ocean Road are all easily accessible by public transport and great places to experience the full, Australian beach culture. Alternatively, hit the other side of the bay and enjoy the pristine but wild back beaches along the Mornington Peninsula. While much easier to explore with a car you can still see much of the incredible, Australian coastline via public transport.

In all honesty, the above only scratches the surface of what you can do in Melbourne during the Summer months. The city really does come alive, as the atmosphere noticeably shifts. One word of warning – while most days will be warm and sunny, make sure you still pack some cold and wet weather gear! While Melbourne can swelter and be oppressive during Summer, the weather can also completely change in the flick of a switch. You’ll go from 35 degrees and sunny one day to 18 degrees and pouring with rain the next so ensure you are prepared for all weather! With that said, Melbourne in Summer is a great experience and well worth a trip if you need to escape the cold, Winter months in the Northern Hemisphere.