Things to know before you go
Four seasons in one day? It’s quite true especially in spring. Hot or cold, Melbourne is a dry place. Moisturise your skin and bring proper clothing and you’ll be enjoying your trip no matter what weather.
Best season to travel
Every season has its perks:
| Months | Good for | |
| Winter | June – August | Winter sports (ski, snowboard), see snow, whale watching |
| Spring | September – November | Blooming gardens, lots of flowers so it’s fun for photography when visiting gardens |
| Summer | December – February | Berry picking (cherries, blueberries, strawberries) or catch pipis at Venus Bay |
| Autumn | March – May | Seasonal colours of leaves falling, camping, weather is not too hot and not too cold 😉 |
What to wear
No matter what season, a light down jacket is convenient to have because you can usually fold it up when it gets hot in the middle of the day. Melbourne mornings and evenings tend to be cold in most seasons, even if the middle of the day is 30 degrees.
It doesn’t quite snow in the city so even in winter, it never really gets that cold. However, the wind is usually freezing because we are so close to the south pole. So wherever it is windy, like by the sea, expect it to be colder than inland.
In warmer seasons, you can dress light and wear a coat on top to adapt to hourly changes in temperature. 😛
No matter what season, always wear sunscreen! UVA/UVB is terrible in the down under…make sure your SPF is 50+ and put it on any season, even winter. Light SPFs in makeup won’t be enough. If in doubt, just buy an Aussie sunscreen from Coles or Woolworths.
FAQs
✈️ AIRPORT CUSTOMS:
DECLARE ITEMS ON ARRIVAL
Australia is super, super, mega strict on declaring items when you arrive. DECLARE EVERYTHING even if you accidentally brought something that isn’t allowed. They will just take it from you and not fine you.
Prior to going through customs, you fill out the Arrival Card which will ask if you have the following:
- Goods that may be prohibited or subject to restrictions, such as medicines, […] or illicit drugs? > TICK YES IF YOU ARE BRINGING PERSONAL PRESCRIPTION MEDICINE (i.e. even those for managing pain, steroids, etc.) JUST DECLARE IT.
- More than 2250ml of alcoholic beverages, or 25 cigarettes, or 25g of tobacco products > TICK YES IF YOU ARE BRINGING VAPE STUFF (nicotine vapes REQUIRE PRESCRIPTION in Australia).
- Goods obtained overseas […] with a combined total price of more than AUD $900, including gifts? > TICK YES IF YOU ARE BRINGING IN JEWLERY YOU INTEND TO GIFT, even if you don’t know how much they cost. JUST SAY YES IF UNSURE.
- Meat, poultry, fish, seafood, eggs, dairy, fruit, vegetables?
- > TICK YES EVEN IF IT IS PACKAGED OR DRIED FOOD THAT HAS ANY OF THE ABOVE AS AN INGREDIENT. Like packaged dried mango. You can’t bring in packaged food that did not look like a big retailer packed it (don’t bring cheapo asian snacks that are in just transparent plastic with an obscure brand. It has to look very commercial).
- DO NOT BRING DRIED PORK, OR PORK OF ANY KIND. This includes pork flavour cubes for making soup. NO MEAT JERKY OF ANY KIND.
- Grains, seeds, bulbs, straw, nuts, plants, parts of plants, traditional medicines or herbs, wooden articles?
- TICK YES IF YOU HAVE ANY ITEM THAT IS MADE OF REAL WOOD. I once saw them take a “straw” hat that the person bought in Australia and was bringing back into Australia. YOU NEVER KNOW WHICH OFFICER YOU WILL GET WHEN YOU ENTER AUSTRALIA.
- TICK YES if you are bringing things like ground spices, ground chilli, etc. THEY ARE LIKELY TO TAKE IT AWAY.
- As above, don’t bring food that is handmade. Everything has to be from a big commercial brand.
- DON’T BRING REAL FLOWERS OR REAL PLANTS to make your life easier. If it is not native to AU they will not like it.
- Don’t bring any kind of nuts even if it’s edible.
- TICK YES IF you have anything that has an ingredient that falls under this category. Or is made of this category.
- Animals, parts of animals, animal products including equipment, pet food, eggs, biologicals, […] shells, bee products? > TICK YES IF YOU BRING ANYTHING THAT IS MADE UP OF ANY OF THESE ITEMS.
Check the official government page for the latest list of items you can or cannot bring into Australia:
Getting to the airport from the city (and back)
Sky Bus
The Sky Bus is a red bus right outside the Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL) and runs from 4:00am – 1:00am, 7 days per week. No need to pre-book, just buy tickets at the counter. It will drop you off at Southern Cross Station in the CBD.
Uber
There is a very specific pick-up location for Uber. For Terminals 1, 2, and 3, the Pickup Zone is located right outside Terminal 2. For Terminal 4, the Pickup Zone is located on the ground floor of the T4 car park.
Nice to know
- Tap water is drinkable. Bring a reusable water bottle and top it up for free.
- Staff in restaurants and shops are usually friendly; they will always greet and say “how’s it going”. Just reply, “Good, thanks! You?” before checking out or ordering (they are not looking for honesty!).
- There’s public toilets in most places, even train stations, some parking lots, the public market, parks. They will be clean enough, usually.
- Aussies don’t usually have bidets.
- Use the toilet paper to clean your bum. Then you can flush the toilet paper in the bowl (toilet paper ONLY. Do not flush down anything else, no wet wipes, no facial tissues).
- Always walk on the left side.
- Driving is also on the left side.
- Train doors do NOT open automatically. You get 2 types of doors:
- The old levers, that require you to PULL to open once you hear the “ready” sound.
- Buttons you have to tap when green to open the train door.