Rainy Day? Hurray!

If you know anything about Melbourne, you know it’s famed for its ‘four seasons in one day’ weather. It’s not an exaggeration, believe us.

You may wake up to birds singing, fling your curtains open and let the glorious sunshine beam through your window and warm your soul, but just wait until you’re walking down the street in your shorts and sandals, contemplating treating yourself to an ice cream; that’s when the heavens will open.

Luckily though the Melbournians, like the clever little hipsters they are, have adapted to the unpredictable temperament of their weather system so there’s heaps of ways to fill your day with fun activities without filling your shoes with rain. Here’s a few of our favourites to stop your retreating to your sofa to binge watch a box set.

National Gallery of Victoria

For those artistic souls, this magnificent, grey giant of an art gallery is a must. An institution that puts Melbourne on the map, it has recently hosted the works of Jess Johnson, Jean Paul Gaultier and David Shrigley. The next artists to grace its walls are Indian-born Subodh Gupta and Danish contemporary artist Jeppe Hein. You could easily pass a good three hours here appreciating the art, longer still if you take a culinary interlude at the Gallery Kitchen.
180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne

Yum Cha

Yum Cha in Melbourne is not merely a meal; it’s a full day activity. There are countless dumpling houses all over the city so the toughest part will be selecting your purveyor. We recommend the renowned David’s in Prahran. For $38 per person on Saturdays, or $40 on Sundays, a superb selection of head chef David Zhou’s favourites will be served to your table until you say stop. Yes that’s right, until you say stop. From pork and prawn shu mai to chilli pork dumplings and the incredible white chocolate dumplings, you may find you have more room in your belly than you thought! Sittings are 11.30am and 1.30pm.
4 Cecil Place, Prahran

Scienceworks

Take a short jaunt over the West Gate Bridge and you’ll find the world famous Scienceworks – an offshoot of Museum Victoria. The modern venue has a wide range of exhibitions, tours and even planetarium shows that will capture the minds of all ages. Special event ‘Discover the Night Sky’ opens on 5th May and will see astronomer Tanya Hill explaining some of the wonders of the universe. With museum entry only $14 for adults, and free for everyone else (yes including uni students), why not go stargazing in the comfort and warmth of the inside!
2 Booker St, Spotswood

Cinema Nova

A classic rainy day affair, but this time with a little twist, Cinema Nova is a stalwart supporter of art-house film so you’re guaranteed to see something new and unusual. For a real treat, partake in their in-cinema dining (full three-course meal) or high tea sessions (with sparkling wine or Pimms). If the rain falls on a Monday you can get your ticket at a discounted rate, leaving you with enough cash for a sweet treat on Lygon Street after.
380 Lygon St, Carlton

The State Library

Without the distraction of sunshine enticing you outside for fun, rainy days are often the most productive. This library is a particularly good place to get your head down or pass a few hours enjoying a book. Upstairs boasts the architecturally stunning La Trobe reading room where you can take a seat at one of the long heritage tables and listen to the rain fall on the stunning glass dome. The huge collection of texts means you’ll never run out of material and the ground floor eatery Mr Tulk will keep the energy (and caffeine) levels well up. Open until 9pm on weekdays, there’s no excuse for lazy rainy days!
328 Swanston St, Melbourne

Emporium Melbourne

Been saving for a rainy day? Well no better time like the present, and no better place than Emporium. The city’s newest, sleekest shopping centre is home to 225 stores such as UNIQLO, Topshop and Aesop, as well as a massive range of eateries in the food court. It also connects to Myer, David Jones and The Strand via enclosed tunnels and sky bridges so you can immerse yourself in retail and forget all about the rain.
287 Lonsdale St, Melbourne

Eatery Hopping

If there’s one thing Melbourne excels at, it’s eateries. Why not choose a suburb and stroll the streets (under the cover of the awnings), choosing different venues for different courses. Say you choose Windsor for example: coffee at Two Lost Boys then Fonda for lunch, Gelato Messina for dessert and top it all off with a craft beer at The Woods of Windsor. Pretty ideal don’t you think?