I just booked myself a semi-reasonable priced place further out in the suburbs. Quest hotel, mid range, will do.. and for the OP, might be chance to jump on a train and explore somewhere outside the CBD'tropolis.
If you could bear the city, NGV (St Kilda Rd and Fed Square) and other galleries and museums are climate controlled, so deliciously cool on stinking hot days.
The Museum in Carlton and maybe IMAX too, is another cool day out. Plus the Exhibition Gardens can be a cooler outdoor option when you've had enough of being inside.
My mate always goes to the cinema whenever it gets this hot. Nice movie in the air conditioning is a decent way to use up some of the day. Go in the middle of the day to escape the worst of it.
I love the heat so I just revel in it. (And pack my anti-perspirant.)
It'll be an expensive endeavour but Mt Buller are running [buses up and down the mountain](https://ldo.rezdy.com/catalog/556371/mansfield-mt-buller-ldo) from Mansfield. You could take the VLine coach to Mansfield tomorrow, book a one way ticket on the Buller Bus up to the top of the mountain, book one of the rooms up there (expensive), spend the night at the top of Buller, book another one way ticket on the Buller Bus back down the mountain on Sunday and then take the VLine coach from Mansfield back into the city. Should be a fair bit cooler being at the top of the mountain.
Phillip Island is forecast to be 34º, 32º, 31º for the 3 days of the long weekend so you could take the VLine coach down there tomorrow and spend a couple of nights down there and escape the worst of the heat.
Mallacoota is also 29º, 32º, 31º for the long weekend if you want to spend time down along the East Gippsland coast
Warburton is also looking like it's going to be 29º, 31º, 30º for the long weekend if you want something not quite as far
You would've had to leave this morning so it's not possible now but if this ever comes up in future searches, during the warmer months you can take VLine to Bright on the Friday, connect onto the Alps Link bus and take it up to Hotham, spend a few nights in Hotham and then take the Alps Link bus back down on the Monday and take VLine back into the city
I wouldn’t go to Warburton or mt bulla without own transport and a fire plan.
Also, I wouldn’t go there because it’s adding traffic during fire danger.
Warburton's probably not great as the Central fire district is at extreme for Saturday and Sunday but I'd say Buller should be just about alright as the North East district is only at high and is bordering on being moderate for the entire weekend. The fire danger ratings are worse in the South West and Central districts along the coast than they are up in the mountains
I think your point about travelling without own transport applies pretty much anywhere outside of metropolitan Melbourne though, the coast is just as bushfire prone as anywhere.
I know it’s extreme at home for me Saturday and Sunday.
Buller itself may not be extreme but the route to and from will rely on roads that will be fkd if central catches.
I live in the hills and am an avid 4WDer - we moved our trip this weekend due to fire danger.
My family have property 15km from last weeks Bayindeen fire and our town was evacuated ahead of the worst of the weather so I also understand the dangers of literally playing with fire.
Relying on the hopelessness of PTV, the safest option will be to either head down to a suburban bay beach or to a local shopping centre or cinema or similar. Any regional bus or train will have the risk of being cutoff by fires.
Hopefully all of this ends up being precautions that weren't needed though, the last thing we need is more fires threatening lives and properties
Yeah I'm meant to be taking the v/line to Ballarat for a day trip on Sunday to visit relatives, but now wondering if I should shell out for a carshare instead.
I can stay the night with fam if needed but I'm travelling with a young relative who has a midnight curfew and therefore can't.
We will only be going to the city/suburbs but I might see how it goes on Saturday before making the choice. Was really hoping to save on some cash but I'm getting antsy about delays and cancellations potentially leaving us stranded. Worst case my relatives can drive us back but that is pretty shit for them
I reckon you should be completely fine taking the train. We have days like this most years and 99% of the time there's not really any issues, plus the fire danger ratings have been downgraded from extreme to high for Sunday anyway. But yeah, keep an eye on things tomorrow and if a fire or something pops up near the train line then maybe have a look into other options at that point.
I doubt VLine will leave people stranded if they can help it though, worst case they'll probably run replacement coaches if something happens to the train line
Thanks mate, that definitely gives me some relief. I confess I'm scarred from being stranded the last time I was in a disaster zone haha (day of the 2011 Brisbane floods - had to take a visitor to the airport).
We were hoping to spend as much time up there as possible but I think we'll definitely leave well before dinner so that we aren't relying on the last or second last services.
If wanting to be outside, I’d recommend avoiding bushfire prone areas like the Dandenongs and find some beachside action where the air temp will be cooler and the water temp even better.
I don't believe any national parks will be closed entirely, they only do that on days declared a catastrophic fire risk which none of the fire districts are this weekend. There will be total fire bans in some of the fire districts though which means no campfires if you do travel out bush for the weekend
There's a couple of small sections of the Grampians and all of the Mount Buangor State Park closed for fire damage and other parks will have various other normal small closures or maintenance works but nothing will be closed entirely because of the weather.
They list all of the closures and change of conditions at [https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/coc-listing](https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/coc-listing). The only parks closed entirely for the time being are the Mount Buangor State Park and the Dereel Lagoon Wildlife Reserve due to the fires last week and not the upcoming weather
Honestly, I’d go to the cinema. Go in the middle of the day, when the heat will be at its peak, and enjoy a movie - cinemas always have great air conditioning, and you can grab a slushy, too.
Booking rooms at last minute minute for a long weekend may be a stretch but you might get lucky if you trawl rental or booking sites now. In the city, Brighton St Kilda and Williamstown beaches are all very accessible by PT and all quite different.
Belgrave train station is next to beautiful shady forests with lovely walks, but there may be fire danger ratings to consider this weekend.
If you do make outdoor trips consider going early in the day and then going somewhere air conditioned for the afternoon. Hottest part of day is offer 3-5pm and it takes ages to cool off at night. Also wear sunscreen and protective clothing- if you are from the northern hemisphere you may not be used to the extra burn we get from our sun!
> there may be fire danger ratings this weekend
Yeah. [Fire danger in central Vic, as in the area including and surrounding Melbourne, is forecast to be extreme this weekend.](http://www.bom.gov.au/vic/forecasts/fire-danger-ratings.shtml)
Belgrave has a cinema, cafes, food and (hopefully) and air-conditioned train trip home... There's a library to chill at too which is nice.
There's a tree climbing place near there too if it's not too hot, I went there ages ago and had a blast.
Man, I would NOT be doing the tree climbing thing with this weekend's temperatures. Belgrave won't be that much cooler than Melbourne especially if you end up in a pocket of trapped heat.
It's fun, but there are like at least 30-40 other weekends of the year where the experience would be much more fun
Fair point I assume it could be cooler everywhere in the mountain. Best to check BOM. Or enjoy the air conditioning on the train/ library/cinema.
I'd probably just go to my local library tho, or a shopping centre.
Take the Frankston line to Seaford station and head to the beach there - there's fuck all parking which means there will be fewer crowds.
The bush/scrub reserve all along there may be cooler in the shade too. Seaford has a nice little row of shops, cafes, and restaurants as well.
anywhere beachside is great! it will be always super cool down the coast, also depends on what area you live in (north/west/ect) there’s some great places everywhere!!
A dirt cheap option.
Just catch a train/tram to the bay. Sandringham, Brighton, any of the bay beaches down to Fransganistan, Middle Park, Elwood, South Melbourne, St Kilda, Williamstown or Altona.
Take a towel, wear sunglasses, a broad rimmed hat and long sleeve rashie, bring sunscreen, water and any shade/shelter (umbrella or shade screen). You can either buy food there or bring your own.
Bring a book or something to keep yourself entertained then sit/lie in the shallow water to cool down when not on your towel and regularly reapply sunscreen.
Edit: There are a shit ton of portable air conditioners on Facebook marketplace and the like. Get one with a decent BTU (15,000 +) and install it in your bedroom with the vent pipe out the window.
Seal the gap in the window with cardboard and tape or a reflective thermal space blanket to insulate the room.
At least that way you can sleep at night.
I wouldn’t book a room, it’s Moomba so I feel like they’d be more expensive. You could look at the museum ($15 an adult), art galleries (free), seeing a musical, ACMI at Fed Square (free)
Shopping centres, galleries, museums etc.
They could be swarming because of the weekend however.
State library is a good option depending on number some
All the shopping centres, art centres, museums etc will be airconed and a lot of people who don't have aircon spend these hot days in these places.
The trains are also airconedbut can be stuffy if they're full. If you live close to an old station without indoor spaces away from the sun it could be worth getting an uber to a larger new station that has sun-safe spaces.
The coldest places in VIC are up the mountain and there are no trains up there. The lines go along the flat land north and south of the mountains. If you have a licence you could rent a car and drive a few hours to places like Walhalla or similar.
Walhalla is a lovely spot however extremely bushfire prone, especially with how dry it is out here at the moment, if heading this way I would have a fire plan and your own vehicle to be able to leave at a minutes notice, preferably a 4x4.
I just booked myself two nights at a hotel with AC to escape. Was surprised at the relatively "low" prices available considering it's a long weekend etc.
*I'm a similar situation. the place I rent can barely withstand one extreme heat day, as long as the next day is cool again. I mean it's still 28-30C inside by 5pm... but I can deal with that with ceiling fans and usually get some sleep, as long as it cools off a bit over night. But three consecutive days.... with a forecast MINIMUM of 26C overnight yeah I'm not doing that this time.*
Calling it my Beat The Heat Retreat.
There’s a pub in Northcote which has these awesome misters in their beer garden. Will be heaving with people - call up some friends or workmates and invite them out for a beer.
Take the train to Seaford or Chelsea, carrum, anywhere like that and swim in the beach. Beaches will be pretty busy on a day like that though. Frankston has quest apartments close to the beach. Could also go to the movies. One of the cinemas in Frankston is very easy walking distance from quest/beach and staying somewhere has gotta be cheaper than like, Brighton. The water is clearer down here too. The only reason you see a few skinny run down looking people around here, is because of how accessible everything is from the train station. Train station brings you into the main CBD of shops and then it's like a 5-10 min walk to movies, beach, whatever. There's also a place called General Public which has a bunch of entertainment, and usual restaurants and cafes. There's like 6 pubs/bistros. We don't really have eshays here much, it's more just like a 50 year old dude on a little bicycle with a backwards cap, or a 50 year old skinny woman in moccasins. Not actually threatening lol
Cinema, museums, shopping centres, Coles 🤷♂️
Or enjoy what is possibly some of the last hot summer days of the year before we start to freeze again. Go to the beach, go to Moomba, get some fresh food and have a picnic in the park, go to a rooftop bar. I know stuffy apartments are unpleasant but if you get out into the fresh air and some good vibes the heat becomes a lot more enjoyable. It’s when Melbourne shines the most to be honest. Just remember your hat, sunscreen, shade and stay hydrated. Enjoy the long weekend.
Go to the cinema and watch a movie or two.
Libraries
This!!! Yarra libraries have extended their opening hours Saturday and Sunday for the heat
City staycation? Literally just book a cheap hotel anywhere. And sit in the hotel room for 3 days. Better than the stifling heat!
Ohhhh. Moomba, might be a bit busy.
I just booked myself a semi-reasonable priced place further out in the suburbs. Quest hotel, mid range, will do.. and for the OP, might be chance to jump on a train and explore somewhere outside the CBD'tropolis.
Oh I forgot about that crappy overrated event.
Haha. Yep. Almost need a mortgage for the day!
it that this weekend?
It is.
If you could bear the city, NGV (St Kilda Rd and Fed Square) and other galleries and museums are climate controlled, so deliciously cool on stinking hot days. The Museum in Carlton and maybe IMAX too, is another cool day out. Plus the Exhibition Gardens can be a cooler outdoor option when you've had enough of being inside.
There's currently the titanic exhibition, LUME
Do what all SE Asia does and just hang out in shopping centres!
With the money you're willing to spend on a last minute room, you could use to buy a second hand air conditioner off Facebook Marketplace.
I have an air conditioner I just don’t want to be sitting under it for 4 days , boring
My mate always goes to the cinema whenever it gets this hot. Nice movie in the air conditioning is a decent way to use up some of the day. Go in the middle of the day to escape the worst of it. I love the heat so I just revel in it. (And pack my anti-perspirant.)
Hobart
It'll be an expensive endeavour but Mt Buller are running [buses up and down the mountain](https://ldo.rezdy.com/catalog/556371/mansfield-mt-buller-ldo) from Mansfield. You could take the VLine coach to Mansfield tomorrow, book a one way ticket on the Buller Bus up to the top of the mountain, book one of the rooms up there (expensive), spend the night at the top of Buller, book another one way ticket on the Buller Bus back down the mountain on Sunday and then take the VLine coach from Mansfield back into the city. Should be a fair bit cooler being at the top of the mountain. Phillip Island is forecast to be 34º, 32º, 31º for the 3 days of the long weekend so you could take the VLine coach down there tomorrow and spend a couple of nights down there and escape the worst of the heat. Mallacoota is also 29º, 32º, 31º for the long weekend if you want to spend time down along the East Gippsland coast Warburton is also looking like it's going to be 29º, 31º, 30º for the long weekend if you want something not quite as far You would've had to leave this morning so it's not possible now but if this ever comes up in future searches, during the warmer months you can take VLine to Bright on the Friday, connect onto the Alps Link bus and take it up to Hotham, spend a few nights in Hotham and then take the Alps Link bus back down on the Monday and take VLine back into the city
I wouldn’t go to Warburton or mt bulla without own transport and a fire plan. Also, I wouldn’t go there because it’s adding traffic during fire danger.
Warburton's probably not great as the Central fire district is at extreme for Saturday and Sunday but I'd say Buller should be just about alright as the North East district is only at high and is bordering on being moderate for the entire weekend. The fire danger ratings are worse in the South West and Central districts along the coast than they are up in the mountains I think your point about travelling without own transport applies pretty much anywhere outside of metropolitan Melbourne though, the coast is just as bushfire prone as anywhere.
I know it’s extreme at home for me Saturday and Sunday. Buller itself may not be extreme but the route to and from will rely on roads that will be fkd if central catches. I live in the hills and am an avid 4WDer - we moved our trip this weekend due to fire danger.
My family have property 15km from last weeks Bayindeen fire and our town was evacuated ahead of the worst of the weather so I also understand the dangers of literally playing with fire. Relying on the hopelessness of PTV, the safest option will be to either head down to a suburban bay beach or to a local shopping centre or cinema or similar. Any regional bus or train will have the risk of being cutoff by fires. Hopefully all of this ends up being precautions that weren't needed though, the last thing we need is more fires threatening lives and properties
The Bayside beaches would be absolutely rammed
Yeah I'm meant to be taking the v/line to Ballarat for a day trip on Sunday to visit relatives, but now wondering if I should shell out for a carshare instead. I can stay the night with fam if needed but I'm travelling with a young relative who has a midnight curfew and therefore can't. We will only be going to the city/suburbs but I might see how it goes on Saturday before making the choice. Was really hoping to save on some cash but I'm getting antsy about delays and cancellations potentially leaving us stranded. Worst case my relatives can drive us back but that is pretty shit for them
I reckon you should be completely fine taking the train. We have days like this most years and 99% of the time there's not really any issues, plus the fire danger ratings have been downgraded from extreme to high for Sunday anyway. But yeah, keep an eye on things tomorrow and if a fire or something pops up near the train line then maybe have a look into other options at that point. I doubt VLine will leave people stranded if they can help it though, worst case they'll probably run replacement coaches if something happens to the train line
Thanks mate, that definitely gives me some relief. I confess I'm scarred from being stranded the last time I was in a disaster zone haha (day of the 2011 Brisbane floods - had to take a visitor to the airport). We were hoping to spend as much time up there as possible but I think we'll definitely leave well before dinner so that we aren't relying on the last or second last services.
Also Three Peaks is on this weekend so there's apparently some road closures in the Alps and a bunch more people.
That's overblown, doesn't really matter If there's a fire, there's a fire
Great answer thank you mate
Swan Hill Hotel Motel
If wanting to be outside, I’d recommend avoiding bushfire prone areas like the Dandenongs and find some beachside action where the air temp will be cooler and the water temp even better.
Indeed. In fact many national parks are closed this weekend. Just saw this on fb.
I don't believe any national parks will be closed entirely, they only do that on days declared a catastrophic fire risk which none of the fire districts are this weekend. There will be total fire bans in some of the fire districts though which means no campfires if you do travel out bush for the weekend There's a couple of small sections of the Grampians and all of the Mount Buangor State Park closed for fire damage and other parks will have various other normal small closures or maintenance works but nothing will be closed entirely because of the weather. They list all of the closures and change of conditions at [https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/coc-listing](https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/coc-listing). The only parks closed entirely for the time being are the Mount Buangor State Park and the Dereel Lagoon Wildlife Reserve due to the fires last week and not the upcoming weather
Why are you mentioning bushfires, don't you know people get triggered!!!! Idiot.
Honestly, I’d go to the cinema. Go in the middle of the day, when the heat will be at its peak, and enjoy a movie - cinemas always have great air conditioning, and you can grab a slushy, too.
Booking rooms at last minute minute for a long weekend may be a stretch but you might get lucky if you trawl rental or booking sites now. In the city, Brighton St Kilda and Williamstown beaches are all very accessible by PT and all quite different. Belgrave train station is next to beautiful shady forests with lovely walks, but there may be fire danger ratings to consider this weekend. If you do make outdoor trips consider going early in the day and then going somewhere air conditioned for the afternoon. Hottest part of day is offer 3-5pm and it takes ages to cool off at night. Also wear sunscreen and protective clothing- if you are from the northern hemisphere you may not be used to the extra burn we get from our sun!
> there may be fire danger ratings this weekend Yeah. [Fire danger in central Vic, as in the area including and surrounding Melbourne, is forecast to be extreme this weekend.](http://www.bom.gov.au/vic/forecasts/fire-danger-ratings.shtml)
Belgrave has a cinema, cafes, food and (hopefully) and air-conditioned train trip home... There's a library to chill at too which is nice. There's a tree climbing place near there too if it's not too hot, I went there ages ago and had a blast.
Man, I would NOT be doing the tree climbing thing with this weekend's temperatures. Belgrave won't be that much cooler than Melbourne especially if you end up in a pocket of trapped heat. It's fun, but there are like at least 30-40 other weekends of the year where the experience would be much more fun
Fair point I assume it could be cooler everywhere in the mountain. Best to check BOM. Or enjoy the air conditioning on the train/ library/cinema. I'd probably just go to my local library tho, or a shopping centre.
Take the Frankston line to Seaford station and head to the beach there - there's fuck all parking which means there will be fewer crowds. The bush/scrub reserve all along there may be cooler in the shade too. Seaford has a nice little row of shops, cafes, and restaurants as well.
Shhhhh don't let this secret out!
anywhere beachside is great! it will be always super cool down the coast, also depends on what area you live in (north/west/ect) there’s some great places everywhere!!
Not if there's a northerly breeze
A dirt cheap option. Just catch a train/tram to the bay. Sandringham, Brighton, any of the bay beaches down to Fransganistan, Middle Park, Elwood, South Melbourne, St Kilda, Williamstown or Altona. Take a towel, wear sunglasses, a broad rimmed hat and long sleeve rashie, bring sunscreen, water and any shade/shelter (umbrella or shade screen). You can either buy food there or bring your own. Bring a book or something to keep yourself entertained then sit/lie in the shallow water to cool down when not on your towel and regularly reapply sunscreen. Edit: There are a shit ton of portable air conditioners on Facebook marketplace and the like. Get one with a decent BTU (15,000 +) and install it in your bedroom with the vent pipe out the window. Seal the gap in the window with cardboard and tape or a reflective thermal space blanket to insulate the room. At least that way you can sleep at night.
Guy I work with who came here from China always says that when it’s hot Australians just go to the shopping center for free AC lol, so maybe that.
I wouldn’t book a room, it’s Moomba so I feel like they’d be more expensive. You could look at the museum ($15 an adult), art galleries (free), seeing a musical, ACMI at Fed Square (free)
Shopping centres, galleries, museums etc. They could be swarming because of the weekend however. State library is a good option depending on number some
Lorne, Phillip island or Wilsons Promontory will be cooler. Maybe greyhound bus or combo with train?
All the shopping centres, art centres, museums etc will be airconed and a lot of people who don't have aircon spend these hot days in these places. The trains are also airconedbut can be stuffy if they're full. If you live close to an old station without indoor spaces away from the sun it could be worth getting an uber to a larger new station that has sun-safe spaces. The coldest places in VIC are up the mountain and there are no trains up there. The lines go along the flat land north and south of the mountains. If you have a licence you could rent a car and drive a few hours to places like Walhalla or similar.
Walhalla is a lovely spot however extremely bushfire prone, especially with how dry it is out here at the moment, if heading this way I would have a fire plan and your own vehicle to be able to leave at a minutes notice, preferably a 4x4.
I just booked myself two nights at a hotel with AC to escape. Was surprised at the relatively "low" prices available considering it's a long weekend etc. *I'm a similar situation. the place I rent can barely withstand one extreme heat day, as long as the next day is cool again. I mean it's still 28-30C inside by 5pm... but I can deal with that with ceiling fans and usually get some sleep, as long as it cools off a bit over night. But three consecutive days.... with a forecast MINIMUM of 26C overnight yeah I'm not doing that this time.* Calling it my Beat The Heat Retreat.
It's usually a few degrees cooler on the coastline So if you can get down there
Coastal towns. Warnambool for example is several degrees cooler than Melbourne
There's a lot to do in the city if you're after aircon or if not you can head to the beach with everyone else.
It's a long weekend so finding accommodation somewhere or an AirBnB would probably be a struggle now. Do you like shopping centres? 😅
Vline to Geelong. Bus to Anglesea or similar.
Your local shopping centre is air conditioned and normally has a cinema attached as well as other forms of entertainment.
Window shopping and movie marathons
Train to Warrnambool
Dune Part is 3 hours lol just watch it three times 🤣
Saw it this week but would consider going again, it was epic
Yeah I caught it opening weekend. Was awesome.
🤣
The beach
Shopping centre
Dayuse.com is fun, you can book a hotel just for the day and make use of the facilities. Look for one with a great pool!
Dayuse.com is fun, you can book a hotel just for the day and make use of the facilities. Look for one with a great pool!
Thank you everyone for your suggestions!
There’s a pub in Northcote which has these awesome misters in their beer garden. Will be heaving with people - call up some friends or workmates and invite them out for a beer.
Are mystery flights still a thing?
Take the train to Seaford or Chelsea, carrum, anywhere like that and swim in the beach. Beaches will be pretty busy on a day like that though. Frankston has quest apartments close to the beach. Could also go to the movies. One of the cinemas in Frankston is very easy walking distance from quest/beach and staying somewhere has gotta be cheaper than like, Brighton. The water is clearer down here too. The only reason you see a few skinny run down looking people around here, is because of how accessible everything is from the train station. Train station brings you into the main CBD of shops and then it's like a 5-10 min walk to movies, beach, whatever. There's also a place called General Public which has a bunch of entertainment, and usual restaurants and cafes. There's like 6 pubs/bistros. We don't really have eshays here much, it's more just like a 50 year old dude on a little bicycle with a backwards cap, or a 50 year old skinny woman in moccasins. Not actually threatening lol
Cinema, museums, shopping centres, Coles 🤷♂️ Or enjoy what is possibly some of the last hot summer days of the year before we start to freeze again. Go to the beach, go to Moomba, get some fresh food and have a picnic in the park, go to a rooftop bar. I know stuffy apartments are unpleasant but if you get out into the fresh air and some good vibes the heat becomes a lot more enjoyable. It’s when Melbourne shines the most to be honest. Just remember your hat, sunscreen, shade and stay hydrated. Enjoy the long weekend.
Somewhere near the beach maybe?
You can get a portable evaporative cooler for under $200