10 Things To Do In Melbourne When It’s Bloody Cold

Rebecca Russo is a freelance writer, editor, community radio dabbler,…

It’s the dead of winter and those dreaded Antarctic winds have officially hit Melbourne. While these single-digit temperatures might make you want to crawl back into bed and hide under the covers for the rest of the month, you should know… Melbourne is pretty unstoppable in winter.

You can’t spend all of this month inside, so if you’re in need of some ideas on how to while away your precious time before the sun shows its face again, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s ten suggestions to keep you busy.

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Fill up on tasty eats

Nothing trumps a full belly when it’s cold out, so your best option is to head inside for a good old fashioned winter gorge. Take your taste buds for a ride: try piles of meat at Meatmaiden, Asian-fusion at Lucy Liu, parmas galore at Mrs Parmas, fried chicken and beer at Gami, American style burgers at Royal Stacks or some Middle Eastern fine dining at Maha.

Photo: Royal Stacks

Take a hike

Never let winter get in the way of you getting some serious face time with the outdoors. Hiking is the ideal way to warm your frostbitten tooties. Don’t fret if you’re scared of rain; Melbourne is the city that epitomises ‘four seasons in one day’, so take some solace in knowing any downpour will clear up soon enough. Invest in a good waterproof jacket and you’ll be set to check out some of the most picturesque locations this side of the equator. For some walks close-ish to the CBD, try Hanging Rock Reserve, Yarra Bend Park, Werribee Gorge, or the fairytale-like Sherbrooke Forest. Check out more options here.

Photo: Tourism Victoria

Hit up MIFF

If facing cold winds and horizontal rainfall is just too much to handle an indoor activity is always a good choice, and the Melbourne International Film Festival is probably the best time you can have indoors this winter. MIFF is Australia’s finest film festival offering a collection of top-notch movies from Australia and the world. Why not settle in for a confusing Nordic film, a quirky French comedy or a colourful US drama? With screenings all across the city, it’s the perfect way to spend a week day night out. MIFF runs from August 3 – 20, 2017.

Photo: Top Of The Lake, screening at this year’s MIFF

Head deep into Melbourne’s bar scene

Everybody knows Melbourne has almost too many cool bars to try, some even hidden right in plain sight. Seamstress on Lonsdale is great for a cocktail – this former textile factory features low-lighting, three floors of goodies, kitschy wall art and one hell of a menu. Try Hihou on Flinders Lane for sake, umeshu (plum wine) and Japanese whisky, and hop over to Sister Bella in Sniders Lane for a quiet bevvie in the dark.

Photo: Hihou/Facebook

Catch a show

The theatre you say? Why yes, the theatre. Melbourne’s all about it. The Regent Theatre is showing The Bodyguard, then there’s the infamous The Book Of Mormon at the Princess Theatre, and Aladdin at Her Majesty’s Theatre. There’s also a sleuth of productions going on at the Malthouse Theatre in Southbank – honestly, wherever you’re headed, whatever your tastes, you’re bound to find something to delight your senses and have you singing the whole way home.

Photo: Matilda The Musical

Spend the night

Time for a little staycation? We think so. Melbourne is famed for its laneways, so what better way to celebrate the city than staying right in the heart of it? Fraser Place Melbourne is located on Exploration Lane, up near the top east end of the CBD. It’s walking distance from the theatre (see above), an abundance of tasty food, an incredible jazz club, and QV, found just down the way, for a little window shopping. The hotel itself is a hidden gem, housing 112 boutique studio apartments, a killer rooftop terrace, gym and breakfast cafe.

Photos: supplied

Get steamy

The fact that it feels like Superman‘s Fortress of Solitude outside isn’t the most inviting thing in the world. Lucky for you, we’ve found a solution and it starts by taking your precious winter layers off. Pools! Hot springs! Bathhouses! Yup, get some steam up in ya this winter at Collingwood’s Japanese bathhouse or the CBD’s Onsen Ma, or venture further out to Hepburn Springs or the Peninsula Hot Springs for a warm soak. If you’re feeling the winter carb-load and some laps are in order, try these heated pools: Brunswick Baths, Fitzroy Swimming Pool, Prahran Aquatic Centre or the St Kilda Sea Baths. Find more here.

There’s A Locally Famous Tin Shed Outside Of Kalgoorlie Where You Can Play Two-Up All Year

Photo: Mineral Springs Hotel

Meet the bottom of a bowl of ramen

The ramen food trend has swept the nation, and Melbourne’s right on board. Ramen is the ultimate winter food – there’s noodles and veggies involved as well as tasty broth that’ll warm that belly up nice and right. There’s plenty of places in the CBD to do just that. Try Little Ramen Bar on Little Bourke and Ramen Ya on Bourke, Hakata Gensuke on Russell or Fukuryu Ramen on Corrs Lane for a modern twist.

Photo: Little Ramen Bar/Facebook

Get outta town

Winter was made for weekend getaways. To inspire your frozen limbs into action, hit up Halls Gap or Wilson’s Prom for some adventure, Geelong for a little culture, Port Fairy for a sea change, Daylesford for a spa sesh or Healesville for a little zoo action. Check out the best of the best: five amazing Melbourne day trips here, and the eight best winter weekend getaways from Melbourne here.

Photo: Drysdale Cheeses

The snow season is here!

Get thee to the High Country. The only way to pull through this winter is to positively embrace it, so a trip to the snow is the correct way to spend a weekend. Hitting the slopes always seems like a big effort (plus ski hire, lift passes and accommodation don’t come cheap) but you should know, a little investment goes a long way in rekindling your love for the cold. If you want a little more inspo, check out our guide to 48 hours in Falls Creek.