Things to Do in Melbourne in August
August weather, activities, events & insider tips
Low Season · Budget Friendly
August Weather in Melbourne
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
58°F (14°C)
High Temp
42°F (6°C)
Low Temp
1.5 inches (38 mm)
Rainfall
70%
Humidity
Is August Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + Footy finals fever grips Melbourne in August - AFL matches at the MCG sell out fast. But the city's pubs spill onto sidewalks with supporters wearing team scarves, and the roar from 100,000 fans carries all the way to Richmond Station.
- + Whale-watching along the Great Ocean Road peaks now - southern right whales cruise 200 m (220 yd) off Logan's Beach, and the winter swells carve cliffs so sharply you can taste salt spray on the air from the viewing platform.
- + Truffle season turns the Yarra Valley into an earth-scented playground. Join dawn dog hunts among oak groves, then eat fresh shavings on scrambled eggs at winery cellar doors still quiet enough that the winemaker pours your second glass.
- + Hotel prices stay shoulder-low; you'll likely pay 20-30% less than September school-holiday rates and still get rooms with rooftop spas that steam in the 10°C (50°F) night air.
Considerations
- − Days are short - sunrise after 7 AM, sunset before 6 PM - so any outdoor sightseeing needs to be front-loaded to the morning or you'll be photographing brightly lit laneways in the dark.
- − Melbourne's famous "four seasons in one day" is three seasons in August: cold wind, sudden sun, then sideways drizzle; you'll carry a coat at lunch and be sweating in it by 3 PM.
- − Some bay-side operators cut August sailings to the heads. If you're set on swimming with dolphins or sailing the inner harbour, check winter timetables rather than assuming daily departures.
Year-Round Climate
How August compares to the rest of the year
| Month | High | Low | Rainfall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 27°C | 14°C | 1.5 inches |
| Feb | 26°C | 14°C | 1.6 inches |
| Mar | 24°C | 12°C | 1.5 inches |
| Apr | 20°C | 10°C | 1.7 inches |
| May | 16°C | 8°C | 1.4 inches |
| Jun | 14°C | 6°C | 1.6 inches |
| Jul | 13°C | 5°C | 1.3 inches |
| Aug | 14°C | 6°C | 1.5 inches |
| Sep | 17°C | 7°C | 1.8 inches |
| Oct | 20°C | 8°C | 1.9 inches |
| Nov | 22°C | 10°C | 2.4 inches |
| Dec | 24°C | 12°C | 2.1 inches |
Best Activities in August
Top things to do during your visit
AFL Football Match Day at the MCG
August is elimination-final month. Even if you can't score a ticket, walk from Federation Square to the ground two hours before bounce-down - brass bands, meat-pie steam mixing with wet-wool scarf smell, and a stadium light show that turns the fog orange. Dress in layers: the concrete stands funnel wind straight off the Yarra.
Booking Tip: AFL releases seats 3-4 weeks ahead. Public allocation sells out in hours. If you miss out, sports bars around Richmond Station screen matches on projector walls and pour local craft pints cheaper than stadium prices.
Yarra Valley Truffle Hunt & Brunch Tours
Winter soil means Perigord truffles are ripe. Join a handler and trained spaniel prowling between oak rows at dawn, the ground hard enough to crack under boots. Afterwards eat truffle-laced omelettes in a glass-walled cellar door while kangaroos watch from the misty vineyard edge.
Booking Tip: Hunts run rain or shine - wear waterproof boots and book mid-week if you want the dog mostly to yourself. Most experiences wrap up by 11 AM, leaving the afternoon free for pinot tastings.
Great Ocean Road Winter Whale-Watching Drive
Leave Melbourne at 7 AM to reach Logan's Beach, Warrnambool, by 10:30 AM; the viewing platform sits 15 m (50 ft) above a nursery bay where southern right cows teach calves to tail-slap. August surf sends spray over the pier at Port Fairy, and the coastal tea-trees bloom purple against iron-grey swells.
Booking Tip: Self-drive is fastest, but small-group day tours let you nap while someone else handles the Great Ocean Road's winter cambers. Pack binoculars and a thermos - the wind off the Southern Ocean cuts straight through denim.
Laneway Coffee & Street-Art Walking Loop
Start at 9 AM when Hosier Lane still smells of fresh aerosol; August's low sun slants down brick walls and makes neon paint glow. Duck into 20-year-old cafés like Degraves for ristretto that arrives scalding hot - perfect hand-warmer while you photograph paste-ups before the lunch crowd swivels mirrors off glass towers.
Booking Tip: Free to wander, but a guided walking tour explains the code behind stencils you'll miss solo. Tours depart from Federation Square and finish in time for an early lunch of hot jam doughnuts from the Queen St caravan.
Phillip Island Penguin Parade Evening Trip
Winter ocean temps make little penguins extra hungry, so August birds often waddle ashore before 7 PM under flood-lit sky. Sit on the sand dunes, knees tucked into jacket hem, while 1,000-plus birds dash between your boots - their chirps sound almost electronic against the surf hiss.
Booking Tip: Book the underground viewing platform (see current options in booking section below) to watch penguins eye-level; it sells out even in low season. Bring a wool beanie - Summer Breeze blows straight off Bass Strait and temperatures drop 5°C (9°F) after sunset.
Where to Stay in Melbourne in August
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for August travellers.
August Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
Early to mid August
Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF)
Two weeks of cinema across the CBD: world premieres at Forum Theatre's gothic interior, VR installations in Federation Square, and late-night cult screenings that finish with dumplings in Chinatown. Industry Q&As often spill into nearby bars where you might end up debating cinematography with directors over Victorian pinot.
Late August
AFL Finals Series Preliminary Finals
If Carlton or Collingwood make the cut, the city colour-splits into navy blue or black-white stripes. Even taxi drivers discuss team selection. Live sites at Birrarung Marr screen matches on 15 m LED walls with food trucks pouring mulled wine to keep hands warm.
Packing Checklist
Bookmark this page — your progress is saved between visits
Need the full list with shopping links?
Climate-specific gear, brand recommendations, and what to leave at home.
View Melbourne Packing List →Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
Myki cards work on regional V/Line buses too - load 20 bucks and you can ride to the Mornington Peninsula wineries for the price of a single latte.
Hop on the free tram that circles the CBD. Ride the whole loop. You'll clock landmarks and eavesdrop on suits. Climate control included. No need to tap off.
August restaurant week hits mid-month. Cumulus Inc and other booked-out spots slash prices for set menus. Reservations open at 10 AM two weeks ahead. They vanish in 90 minutes. Set an alarm.
Bureau forecasts 4°C (39°F) overnight? Be at South Melbourne Market by 7:30 AM. Dim sim vans drop extra batches. Dough stays stretchy-hot. Worth the frostbite.
Avoid These Mistakes
Winter does not empty NGV. Blockbusters stay open. Weekend queues can hit 45 minutes. Book a timed ticket before breakfast. Skip the shiver.
Ugg-style boots in rain equal soggy feet. Sheepskin drinks water. Tram floors turn muddy by noon. Choose leather or waterproof synthetics. Stay dry.
Dawn balloon rides hinge on wind. Winter flights cancel more than summer ones. Book a laneway breakfast as backup. Morning saved.
Book Experiences in Melbourne
Top-rated things to do in Melbourne this August
Explore More Activities in Melbourne
Didn't see anything interesting yet?
Browse Viator's full catalog of tours, day trips, food experiences, and private guides in Melbourne.
See All Melbourne Tours on Viator