Five winter activities for students to enjoy in Melbourne

While the winter months in Melbourne can get chilly, there’s no need to hibernate while you wait for summer. Especially when there’s so much to explore near RMIT’s City campus!

From June to August, there are plenty of incredible activities on offer to keep you entertained as an international student in Melbourne. From roaring fires in laneway cafes, to live performances in unexpected places, here are five activities to experience while Melbourne is a winter wonderland.

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1. Watch a movie at Melbourne International Film Festival

If movies and screen culture are your thing, we’ve got you covered! Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) takes place each year in August, and has been running since 1952, making it the premier film festival in Australia and one of the world’s oldest. With hundreds of features and short films from all corners of the globe being shown, the festival program inspires debate and discussion. Its long history contributes to Melbourne’s reputation as a city of culture, and for a number of years, RMIT has partnered with MIFF to help deliver the festival.

An RMIT building — the Capitol Theatre — has become one of the festival’s feature venues. With its spectacularly ornate Chicago-gothic style, The Capitol is one of Melbourne’s most beloved cinemas and an architectural icon.

In 2024, Al Cossar, Artistic Director of MIFF, spoke about the significance of the cinema.

“It is a beating heart of a place, and what is clear from the point of view of a festival such as MIFF, is that memories are made in rooms such as this.”

Over the decades, the Capitol Theatre has adapted with the times, transforming from a pure cinema to a high-tech education hub and contemporary auditorium for film, music, dance and theatre.

Three RMIT students taking in the Capitol Theatre

2. Satisfy your appetite at the Winter Night Markets

As the largest open-air market in the Southern Hemisphere, Queen Victoria Market is an iconic landmark in Melbourne. And from the beginning of June to the end of August, it comes alive with the Winter Night Markets. With over 50 food stalls and trucks, and over 60 retail stalls, you can enjoy the cool weather by wandering the laneways of the 147-year old market, huddling around open fires, taking in live entertainment, and feasting on a selection of global street food.

From Filipino BBQ to Greek souvlaki, there are many cuisines on offer, reflecting the richness and cultural diversity of Melbourne.

And the best part? Queen Victoria Market is walking distance from RMIT’s Melbourne City campus — meaning you can grab a friend or two and make an evening of it after class!

3. Experience a game of Australian Rules Football

Footy (the local’s term for Australian Rules Football) is a way of life in Melbourne – and experiencing the city in the grip of footy fever is a must-do on your bucket-list.

Footy is a simple game – get the ball and kick it through the posts more times than your opposition across four quarters and you win. You’ll pick up the rest of the rules along the way!

Played in the cooler months from March to September, games are mostly held on Friday nights, Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Over 23 weeks of the year, 18 teams from across the country battle it out for a spot in the final eight. Finals often see crowds of over 90,000 fill the MCG, and in September, knockout finals culminate in a Grand Final – when the stands of the stadium reach overflowing.

Whether you're going to the MCG or Marvel Stadium (both of which are a short tram or train ride from RMIT’s City campus!), watching a game of Aussie Rules is a uniquely Melbourne experience. Grab a scarf and beanie in your chosen team’s colours, and join the buzzing crowds headed to cheer on their favourites!

4. Witness the spectacular RISING Festival

RISING is a festival of new art, music, and performance that takes place in the heart of Melbourne over the month of June.

RMIT has an ongoing partnership with RISING, and this year, we’re once again contributing to an adventurous program that promotes cultural participation through art, education and innovation. Featuring hundreds of local and international artists, RISING’s expansive program spills into laneways, arcades, underground basements and theatres around Melbourne, transforming the city into a winter playground.

Last year, RMIT partnered with RISING and community radio station SYN to produce ‘High Rise’: a suite of radio programs hosted by a group of RMIT students. The programs delved into the diverse offerings of RISING, and captured why Melbourne appreciates and celebrates art and music like no other city.

This initiative provided students with the opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of radio broadcasting, gaining industry experience while promoting Melbourne's rich cultural scene.

5. Hit the slopes of Victoria’s alpine region

If you get the urge to travel during the winter months and are keen to explore outside of Melbourne, Victoria’s snowfields are a winter wonderland. From Falls Creek to Mount Hotham, you can try just about any snow sport you can think of: snowboarding, skiing, tobogganing... even dog sledding!

Approximately four hours away by car, the alpine region is a popular winter destination for outdoor and adventure lovers. RMIT’s Snow Sports Club facilitates group trips for beginners and those with experience. These trips to the mountains are always memorable, and learning is part of the fun.

As you take a few tumbles on the slopes, remember that your peers are there to help pick you back up! And if snow isn’t really your thing, but you’re interested in group trips with other students, RMIT Kirrip runs regular outings around the city and in regional Victoria, so you can discover new places, learn about local hotspots, and enjoy the vibrant culture of Melbourne — all while meeting new people and finding your community.

Story: Sophie MacGillivray

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