Things to Do in Melbourne in March
March weather, activities, events & insider tips
Shoulder Season · Good Value
March Weather in Melbourne
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
75°F (24°C)
High Temp
55°F (12°C)
Low Temp
1.5 inches (38 mm)
Rainfall
70%
Humidity
⚠ UV index 8 requires aggressive sun protection - higher than most summer months due to clearer skies
Is March Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + Melbourne's autumn colors begin appearing in late March - the plane trees along Collins Street turn gold while the city's parks show the first reds and oranges before the rest of Australia catches up
- + Cr season for local produce - apples, pears, and the last of the summer tomatoes appear at Queen Victoria Market, where stallholders have been trading since 1878
- + Footy season starts with the AFL's opening round - the MCG fills with 100,000 fans and the city atmosphere shifts from summer-lazy to electric with anticipation
- + Room rates drop 25-30% from peak summer pricing. But beaches like St Kilda and Brighton still hit 24°C (75°F) most afternoons - you get summer weather with shoulder-season prices
Considerations
- − UV index hits 8 - higher than summer months due to clearer skies, meaning sunburn happens faster than most visitors expect, on the bay beaches
- − Weather turns on a dime - 35°C (95°F) one day, 16°C (61°F) the next. Locals joke about experiencing 'four seasons in one day' but March is when it's true
- − The first autumn storms roll through mid-month, bringing horizontal rain that makes Flinders Street's intersections feel like wind tunnels
Best Activities in March
Top things to do during your visit
Yarra Valley Wine Region Tours
March harvest season means cellar doors are buzzing with activity - you'll taste grapes being crushed while sipping last year's vintage. Morning fog lifts by 10am, revealing rolling hills dotted with kangaroos. The region's 80+ wineries are 45 minutes from the city. But the temperature drops 5°C (9°F) so pack layers.
Booking Tip: Book 5-7 days ahead for weekend tastings. Look for tours that include Domaine Chandon for sparkling wine and smaller family-run vineyards that don't appear on major booking sites.
Great Ocean Road Coastal Drives
March delivers the year's clearest visibility for viewing the Twelve Apostles - morning fog clears earlier than summer, and the afternoon light turns the limestone golden. The Great Ocean Road's 243km (151 miles) of coastline sees 40% fewer tour buses than January, meaning you might have Loch Ard Gorge to yourself.
Booking Tip: Self-drive gives you flexibility for sunset at the Apostles (best light is 6:30-7pm), but full-day tours include stops at koala-spotting locations and hidden beaches tourists miss.
Melburnian Laneway Food Tours
The city's famous laneways - Hosier, AC/DC, and the anonymous alleys between Flinders Lane and Bourke Street - hit their stride in March. Temperatures are good for the outdoor tables that spill from converted warehouses, and the European-style cafes don't require summer's aggressive air-conditioning that ruins the atmosphere.
Booking Tip: Breakfast tours start 8am when baristas have time to explain their single-origin beans. Evening food tours pair better with the city's famous laneway bars that open from 4pm.
Phillip Island Penguin Parade
Little penguins return from fishing at sunset year-round, but March offers the best viewing - daylight saving ends so sunset happens during dinner time, and the 4,000 penguins waddle up Summerland Beach just as tours finish. The island's 26°C (79°F) beaches are nearly empty compared to summer.
Booking Tip: Premium viewing platform tickets book out 2 weeks ahead for weekends. General admission works fine on weekdays - arrive 30 minutes before sunset to watch the penguins emerge from the surf.
Mornington Peninsula Hot Springs
Peninsula Hot Springs' 50+ thermal pools are surrounded by tea trees that bloom purple in March. The 36°C (97°F) mineral water feels memorable when the air temperature drops to 18°C (64°F) at sunset. The peninsula's 40+ cellar doors and strawberry farms are in full harvest mode.
Booking Tip: Book the early morning bathing session (7-9am) for the quietest experience. The springs are 90 minutes from Melbourne but worth staying overnight - the peninsula's beaches face west for spectacular sunsets.
Where to Stay in Melbourne in March
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for March travellers.
March Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
Mid March
Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix
The Albert Park street circuit transforms into a 5.3km (3.3-mile) track where F1 cars hit 320km/h (199mph) between the lakes and gardens. The roar echoes across the city for four days, and the Thursday practice sessions are free with general admission - locals picnic on the banks while million-dollar cars scream past.
Early March
Melbourne Food and Wine Festival
For 17 days, the city's obsession with coffee, wine, and farm-to-table produce takes over - think pop-up restaurants in Federation Square, masterclasses with the city's best baristas, and the World's Longest Lunch where 1,600 people eat a three-course meal along the Yarra River.
Labour Day weekend (late March)
Moomba Festival
Australia's largest community festival turns the Yarra into a playground - waterskiing competitions, the Birdman Rally where people in homemade wings jump off a 4-meter (13-foot) platform, and carnival rides that make the city center feel like a country show.
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
Melbourne's trams are free within the city grid (the rectangular area bounded by Flinders Street, Spring Street, La Trobe Street and Spencer Street) - save your Myki card for outer suburbs
The best coffee isn't on the main streets - look for the anonymous doorways between Hosier Lane and Flinders Lane where queues form by 7am
Book restaurants for 6pm or 9pm - Melburnians eat late, and 7:30pm tables book out months ahead at places like Florentino and Attica
Footy matches start 1:10pm or 7:25pm - the MCG's 100,000 capacity means you can usually get tickets day-of, but arrive early for the pre-game atmosphere at the nearby pubs
Avoid These Mistakes
Planning beach days without checking wind - Port Phillip Bay gets brutal southerlies that drop the 'feels like' temperature 8°C (14°F) even when it's 24°C (75°F)
Booking accommodation in Docklands or Southbank for 'city access' - these areas are 15-20 minutes walk from the interesting laneways and cafes
Assuming March means autumn weather - the first half often out-summers summer, and visitors in jeans and jumpers end up buying shorts at 11am
Book Experiences in Melbourne
Top-rated things to do in Melbourne this March
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