Best Time to Visit Melbourne

Australia · Oceanic climate · Data averaged from 2020-01-01 to 2024-12-31 (5 years)

Best time to visit Melbourne — city climate guide photo
City photo: Reinis Traidas from Riga, Latvia — via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

Recommended Months

Based on temperature comfort, low precipitation, and sunshine hours, the best time to visit Melbourne is:

January → February → December

January scores 58/100 — the highest-rated month for travel.

Monthly Ratings (0-100)

Scores are weighted: temperature comfort (50%), low precipitation (30%), sunshine (20%). Higher is better.

MonthOverall ScoreTemp ComfortPrecipitationSunshineBar
January 43 86 0 0
February 41 82 0 0
March 38 75 0 0
April 29 58 0 0
May 21 42 0 0
June 17 34 0 0
July 16 32 0 0
August 20 40 0 0
September 24 48 0 0
October 27 54 0 0
November 34 68 0 0
December 38 75 0 0

Monthly Temperature Comfort

MonthMean TempComfort Level
January 20.3°C (68.5°F) Warm (18-24°C)
February 19.4°C (66.9°F) Warm (18-24°C)
March 18.0°C (64.4°F) Warm (18-24°C)
April 14.7°C (58.5°F) Mild (10-17°C)
May 11.5°C (52.7°F) Mild (10-17°C)
June 9.9°C (49.8°F) Cool (0-9°C)
July 9.3°C (48.7°F) Cool (0-9°C)
August 10.9°C (51.6°F) Mild (10-17°C)
September 12.5°C (54.5°F) Mild (10-17°C)
October 13.8°C (56.8°F) Mild (10-17°C)
November 16.5°C (61.7°F) Mild (10-17°C)
December 18.0°C (64.4°F) Warm (18-24°C)

Monthly Precipitation Rating

MonthRainfall (mm)Rainy DaysRating
January 95.1 mm 13.0 Wet
February 40.9 mm 12.0 Moderate
March 47.3 mm 17.0 Moderate
April 88.2 mm 18.2 Wet
May 60.7 mm 15.2 Wet
June 69.8 mm 18.6 Wet
July 58.5 mm 17.8 Moderate
August 58.0 mm 19.0 Moderate
September 68.6 mm 18.0 Wet
October 117.9 mm 19.2 Very Wet
November 91.1 mm 18.0 Wet
December 74.4 mm 16.6 Wet

Monthly Sunshine Rating

MonthSunshine (hrs/day)Rating
January 10.8 hrs Excellent
February 10.9 hrs Excellent
March 9.5 hrs Excellent
April 8.2 hrs Excellent
May 7.3 hrs Good
June 6.6 hrs Good
July 6.6 hrs Good
August 8.1 hrs Excellent
September 9.1 hrs Excellent
October 9.4 hrs Excellent
November 10.5 hrs Excellent
December 11.5 hrs Excellent

Season-by-Season Breakdown

Spring (Mar-May)

Temperature: 14.7°C (58.5°F)

Rainfall: 65.4mm avg

Sunshine: 8.3 hrs/day

Humidity: 75.0%

Rainy Days: 16.8/mo

Mild transitional weather — comfortable for most activities.

Summer (Jun-Aug)

Temperature: 10.0°C (50.0°F)

Rainfall: 62.1mm avg

Sunshine: 7.1 hrs/day

Humidity: 80.0%

Rainy Days: 18.5/mo

Mild transitional weather — comfortable for most activities.

Autumn (Sep-Nov)

Temperature: 14.3°C (57.7°F)

Rainfall: 92.5mm avg

Sunshine: 9.7 hrs/day

Humidity: 71.8%

Rainy Days: 18.4/mo

Mild transitional weather — comfortable for most activities.

Winter (Dec-Feb)

Temperature: 19.2°C (66.6°F)

Rainfall: 70.1mm avg

Sunshine: 11.1 hrs/day

Humidity: 67.5%

Rainy Days: 13.9/mo

Mild transitional weather — comfortable for most activities.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best time to visit Melbourne?

Based on our data-driven analysis, the best months to visit Melbourne are January, February, December, when temperatures are comfortable, rainfall is lower, and sunshine is plentiful. January scores 58/100, the highest-rated month.

What is the hottest month in Melbourne?

January is the hottest month with an average temperature of 20.3°C (68.5°F).

What is the coldest month in Melbourne?

July is the coldest month with an average temperature of 9.3°C (48.7°F).

When is the rainy season in Melbourne?

October is the wettest month with an average of 117.9mm of precipitation. Melbourne experiences about 203.0 rainy days per year. The driest month is February with 40.9mm.

What should I pack for a trip to Melbourne?

Packing recommendations depend on the season of your visit. Based on the climate data, pack lightweight, breathable clothing if visiting during the warm months (January is hottest at 20.3°C). For cooler months, bring layers and a warm jacket (July averages 9.3°C). A waterproof jacket or umbrella is recommended year-round as Melbourne receives 870.0mm of annual precipitation. Sun protection is important, especially during months with high UV index.

Writer's Note — James Cooper

Melbourne's data reveals Australia's most unpredictable major city — four seasons in a day isn't a cliché, it's a statistical reality. I tracked a week there in November: 28°C Monday, 14°C Tuesday with rain, 22°C Wednesday. Annual mean of 15°C masks wild daily swings. The numbers favor February-March: 20-22°C, low rain, manageable UV. October-November is statistically pleasant but unpredictable. Summer (December-February) can hit 40°C; winter (June-August) dips to 6°C. Melbourne averages 600mm of rain spread evenly — 50mm monthly — so always carry a layer. The data says spring (October) is the smart traveler's pick.

Data Source: Open-Meteo historical archive (2020-01-01 to 2024-12-31). Daily measurements aggregated into monthly climate normals. Coordinates: -37.81°, 144.96°. Timezone: Australia/Melbourne. Last updated: 2026-07-30.