How to Spend Winter Evenings in Melbourne

If you’re studying in Melbourne, you may be getting tired of these cold (ish) winter months. If this season has you reaching for your duvet and binge-watching shows on Netflix, read on to get ideas on some worthwhile events to get you out and about during these colder months.  From festivals to markets, indoor events to hot springs, there’s plenty going on in and around this bustling city.

Get cultured!

Image credit: Phillip Capper (Flickr)

National Gallery of Victoria (NVG)

Another great way to inject some culture into the dull winter evenings is to head to the NVG. Every Friday night until the beginning of the October, it's providing exclusive access to MoMa at NGV;130 years of Modern and Contemporary Art, featuring work dating back to the nineteenth century up to the current day.

This year the museum is bringing in a string of different gigs each Friday to perfectly compliment your late-night art session.  Expect music from rising hip hop star REMI, super smooth Maurice Brown, classically trained Linda May Han Oh as well as many more.  

Tickets also include access to the exclusive bar and dining area, so head over to www.ngv.vic.gov.au to book your ticket before they all sell out!

Queen Victoria Winter Night Market

The winter night market held at Queen Victoria Market is back this year, offering even more stalls, extra luxury seating and new immersive events. Every Wednesday until the end of August, you can expect to find street food stalls from well known Melbourne institutions such as 400 Gradi and Southside Smokers, as well as food from up-and-coming restaurants WonderBao and Arancini Siciliana - all of which will have you coming back every week to try something a little different.

Book a table on the website in advance, at no cost, to guarantee prime seats to enjoy your food in front of some of the best live music Melbourne has to offer.

New to the market this year is the six-course degustation (mystery tasting session) on offer.  Carefully paired with Mitchelton wines, you will be provided with six different courses from all over the world. The menu changes weekly, so why not treat yourself a few times? It’s well worth it!

Melbourne International Film Festival

Melbourne Film Festival has been an annual event for over fifty years, so no wonder it attracts people from all over Australia and the world. Showcasing a variety of features such as international movies, family friendly films, art house cinema and many more, there is bound to be something to suit your taste.

Prices vary from showing to showing, but you can find all the information from ACMI, Federation Square, which is also where you can buy your tickets.  If you’re keen to catch a couple of showings at different venues across Melbourne, consider buying a Mini Pass, which is the best value for money and also gives you access to a variety of master classes and lectures!

Get outdoors

Watch an AFL game

Victorians are well known for their avid following of the Australian Football League, so immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere whilst watching a game and indulging on a good old Aussie meat pie.

If you are after the real experience, head to the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), the biggest stadium in the southern hemisphere, to watch the match. If you’d rather go somewhere closer to home, your local pub is bound to be showing the match, along with some great value beer deals! The Precinct Hotel in Richmond is a classic water hole during the AFL season. With six large screens and drink deals starting from AU$5 it’s the perfect place to get the real ‘Aussie experience’. Top tip; don’t forget to go in your team’s colors, or you might feel a bit left out.

Go skiing

Sometimes it’s easy to forget that it actually snows in Australia! Luckily for us, snow rarely hits the cities but there’s plenty up in the mountains. Just a three-hour drive outside of Melbourne you can reach Mount Buller, a popular spot for a weekend getaway in the mountains. If skiing or snowboarding isn’t your thing, grab a hot toddy from one of the bars whilst appreciating the breath-taking views on offer.

The snow season runs until September 2^nd, so you still have plenty of time to embrace life in the snow for a weekend, and come back to Melbourne feeling refreshed. 

Relax in natural hot springs

Just an hour’s drive from Melbourne, the natural hot springs on the Mornington Peninsula provide a luxurious escape from the muggy city air.  Located at the top of a hill, the springs offer a 360-degree sweeping view over to Sorrento and Point Nepean.  After spending some time in the hilltop baths taking in the surrounding views, warm up in the Moroccan Hamm am, Saunas or the Barrel Baths – the choice is yours! And with prices starting from $20 for students, it’s an absolute steal.

Main image credit: Chris Phutully (Flickr)