Melbourne is a bustling, coastal city that gives tourists a great taste of Australian culture.
Often referred to as Sydney’s fun little sister, Melbourne is an excellent vacation spot with beaches everywhere the eye can see.
The capital of the state of Victoria is the perfect place to experience what life is like down under.
Does It Snow In Melbourne?
Yes, it does snow in Melbourne.
However, it very rarely happens.
If you are trying to plan out your wardrobe for an upcoming visit, you won’t need to worry about snow.
The winter months in Australia are June, July, and August.
During winter in Australia, the average lowest temperature is about 45 degrees Fahrenheit and the highest is about 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
June is the first month of winter in Australia.
You shouldn’t expect any temperature above 58 degrees Fahrenheit or anything below 46 degrees Fahrenheit.
July is the second month of winter and is often the coldest of the winter months.
A frosty day in July can be anywhere around 45 degrees Fahrenheit, while a milder day will get to about 57 degrees Fahrenheit.
By August, the weather begins to get warmer, with daily averages between 46 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
During this month, you are most likely to see the most precipitation, with the monthly average being nine days.
If you are from a colder climate, you probably won’t need more than a light jacket.
Those who are sensitive to colder climates should probably bring a warmer coat, but there’s no need for a full winter coat.
Those who are looking for colder climates and snow will want to look towards Northern Victoria.
Cities like Falls Creek are more likely to have snow.
This resort town is nestled right near Mount Hotham, which is a popular spot for skiing.
Winters in Falls Creek are much colder than the winters in Melbourne.
Falls Creek can be hit with lows of 29 degrees Fahrenheit during August.
The warmest that their winter days get is 39 degrees Fahrenheit.
Although most think all of Australia is hot and arid, this mountainous town never sees even 70-degree weather.
When Was The Last Time Melbourne Got Snow?
The last time Melbourne experienced snow was 16 years ago in 2005.
Due to the lack of city-level preparation for such an event, schools and highways were completely shut down.
Nobody needs snow tires for their cars in Melbourne, so nobody was prepared for the snow.
Snow in Melbourne is extremely rare, with decades in between the times that snow has actually fallen in Melbourne.
Before the snowstorm of 2005, the last snowstorm to hit Melbourne hadn’t been since June 25th, 1986.
The time before that occurrence was in 1951.
The snowstorm of 2005 left 120 elementary school students stranded at their school and forced them to sleep at the school overnight.
Many of the roads surrounding the school had been closed down due to all the car accidents that the snowstorm caused.
While it may technically snow in Melbourne, it is so rare for it to actually happen.
That means in the last 70 years, it has only snowed in Melbourne three times.
When planning to visit Melbourne, don’t count on there being any snow.
In the rare occurrence of snow and ice, Melbourne goes into a lockdown-like state due to the danger that icy roads and inexperienced drivers bring.
Australians who live in the northern part of Victoria are more used to snow and icy climates.
What Is The Water Temperature In Melbourne?
The temperature of the ocean off the beaches of Melbourne depends on the temperature of the day.
While each month has an average temperature, it is rare for the water temperature to be below 58 degrees Fahrenheit.
The water will never be warmer than 68 degrees Fahrenheit.
The ocean is warmest during January, with an average of 65.5 degrees Fahrenheit and a high of 67.2 degrees Fahrenheit.
The water stays consistently warm from January until March.
The waters begin to get a little cooler from April to May, averaging about 64.2 degrees Fahrenheit in April and 62.8 degrees Fahrenheit in May.
The biggest dip in temperature happens in June and stays low until August.
During the winter months, the water can get as cold as 57.6 degrees Fahrenheit, which normally happens in July.
The monthly averages for the winter months are 60.4 degrees, 59 degrees, and 58.5 degrees Fahrenheit.
September through November are still chilly months for the water.
September tends to average about 58.3 degrees Fahrenheit.
October doesn’t even go up by a whole degree from the previous month.
November is when the waters begin to hit 60 degrees Fahrenheit again, averaging at about 61.7 degrees Fahrenheit.
By the time December rolls around, summer is starting once again for Australians.
This brings back the warm ocean waters, with most days having waters of 63.3 degrees Fahrenheit.
Many Australians spend their holiday season by the beach.
Even during the warmest months of the year, the beaches of Melbourne are still going to be cooler than your average swimming pool.
The ocean tends to be much cooler than what people expect, so make sure to bring plenty of towels, thin blankets, and a light jacket.
Which Month Is The Rainiest In Melbourne?
The two months that experience the most rain in Melbourne are July and August.
On average, July and August will both have about 16 days of precipitation.
It is rare for Australia to experience any form of precipitation other than rain due to the warmer temperatures.
April through June is quite a rainy season.
This early autumn month has the least rain out of the three months, averaging about 12 days in the month.
April will see about 2.2 inches of rainfall, giving it the highest amount of rainfall.
May and June both experience 15 days of precipitation each.
At this point of the year, half of the month’s weather is rain.
September and October are still seeing nearly half of all their days having rainy weather.
Each month has about 15 and 14 days of rain.
January and February are the least rainy months of the year for Australia.
They experience rain about eight days of rain in each of these months, making their summer the least rainy season.
When visiting Melbourne, it is extremely important to have an umbrella on you, unless you don’t mind getting caught in the rain.
Keeping a light, waterproof jacket isn’t a bad idea either.
Melbourne’s weather is known for switching quickly and without notice.
Why Is Melbourne’s Weather So Inconsistent?
Melbourne’s rapidly changing weather is infamous and can be a hassle to deal with.
The cause for Melbourne’s wacky weather is its position in the world.
Melbourne is on the shore of one of the coldest oceans, the Antarctic Ocean, also known as the Southern Ocean.
The cold, dry winds from the Antarctic Ocean chill the coastal city while Australia’s location on Earth has the city getting intense beams of sunlight.
When clouds cover the sun, they are taking away some of the ultraviolet light that would normally be hitting the ground and warming up the town.
Melbourne’s weather relies heavily on the clouds.
The strong winds from the ocean push the clouds along rapidly while the moisture in the area creates more clouds.
The more south you go, the windier it will be.
The windiest months are July and August, which happen to also be the coldest and rainiest.
This results in very widely varying weather.
Those who are planning to go to Melbourne for a warm, sunny vacation may want to shoot for December or January.
What Should I Wear In Melbourne?
Melbourne is a fun-loving city with weather that likes to switch on a dime.
When you are packing your clothes for a trip to Melbourne, you should take into consideration what you plan on doing, where you plan on going, and what the weather may be like.
The key to staying comfortable in your clothing while in Melbourne is to wear layers and carry a backpack with you in case you don’t need an additional layer.
Due to Melbourne’s quickly changing weather, it can be hard to predict exactly what a day is going to be like.
By choosing to wear layers, you are making your outfit more adaptable and looking fabulous while doing it.
Just make sure that your layers are easy to carry around or can be folded into a backpack.
The best kind of jacket you can wear during July and August is a windproof jacket.
Windbreakers are lightweight, able to be stuffed in a backpack if necessary, and can even be tied around your waist.
While in Melbourne, you should also be wearing plenty of sunscreen.
Local weather reports will inform you of the UV Index, which is used to measure ultraviolet radiation intensity.
Even at the bare minimum, you are going to need sunscreen with a sun protection factor of 30 or more.
Don’t forget to include hats and sunglasses when packing your bag.
Hats keep the sun from burning your scalp and ears.
Sunglasses will make a great addition to any vacation outfit while also protecting your eyes from sun damage.
For rainy days, you’ll want to pack a waterproof jacket and keep an umbrella with you.
Many umbrellas are small enough while folded to fit inside purses and side pockets of backpacks.
Proper preparation can save you from the rain and sun.
Best Sights To See In Melbourne
Melbourne is packed to the brim with things to do.
You can spend an entire month in Melbourne and still not see all that this partying city has to offer.
Melbourne has attractions and events for every type of traveler.
Those who are in love with flowers or looking for the perfect selfie backdrop should visit the Royal Botanical Gardens Victoria.
The Melbourne Gardens was established in 1846 and has been a place of relaxation and research for 175 years.
There are well over 8,000 species of plants across the 93.9 acres that make up the garden.
A total of 31 different botanical collections create different scenery and sculptures.
You’ll want to go early in the day because the garden closes at 5:00 pm.
Tourists who are looking to learn more about Melbourne’s darker history will want to go to Old Melbourne Gaol.
The museum’s building used to be the holding place for some of Melbourne’s most infamous criminals, such as Ned Kelly.
The tour will take you through the haunting halls of the prison where countless prisoners were held, and 133 hangings took place.
This tour is perfect for people who love to watch true crime shows.
ArtVo is an art museum that specializes in interactive optical illusion.
They encourage patrons to get as many photos with their “trick art” as possible. Despite only starting in 2016, ArtVo has made a name for itself as one of Melbourne’s most popular attractions.
Melbourne is also home to the Eureka Skydeck.
This viewing deck will send you over 935 feet into the air in 38 seconds.
This is the tallest tower in the Southern Hemisphere.
The Eureka Skydeck has 88 floors and offers tourists a place to see Melbourne from above, allowing patrons to get a 360-degree aerial view.
Is Melbourne Expensive?
Yes, Melbourne is an expensive town to visit, just like most major cities across the world.
Melbourne was ranked the 99th most expensive city to live in.
While Melbourne is less expensive than Sydney, it is still more expensive than other major Australian cities such as Perth, Brisbane, Canberra, or Adelaide.
When looking through hotel prices, you will notice that Melbourne is expensive to stay in.
Luckily, you can save money on other parts of your trip in order to balance out the total cost of your trip to Melbourne.
Using public transport is one of the best ways to save money in the city.
You will avoid having to pay parking fees or buying gas after wasting a majority of it in traffic jams.
There are also a lot of inexpensive and unique places to eat in Melbourne.
Because you are in a major city, groceries are going to be more expensive than usual.
For example, a dozen eggs is going to cost you $3.39, and a gallon of milk is going to cost $4.56.
Even getting food from international restaurant chains is going to be more expensive than usual.
Melbourne As A Vacation Destination
Melbourne is the perfect city in Australia to visit if you are sensitive to high temperatures.
The cooler climate is easier for many tourists to handle than more hot and humid places such as Sydney.
Melbourne has a unique and youthful spirit to the city when compared to places like Sydney, Perth, or Brisbane.
There is plenty to do in the city of Melbourne.
You just need to make sure that you are dressed accordingly.
Before you leave your hotel room, make sure that you’ve brought a jacket in case it gets cooler and expect to be wearing jeans rather than shorts.
With a little preparation, you can avoid spending your vacation shaking like a leaf from the slightly chilly weather.
Melbourne has weather as wild as the memories you’ll make.
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