The best things to do in Melbourne in February

Werribee Open Range Zoo is bringing back its Sunset Safari for a seventh season, inviting visitors to embark on an immersive safari adventure at dusk when the animals tend to be at their most active.  Every Saturday until February 22, visitors can hop on a bus at the zoo and watch as the summer sun sets and illuminates the open range. You'll get to witness majestic animals like zebras, ostriches, giraffes and lions as they roam the savannah, and learn from zoo guides about efforts to protect them from endangerment and extinction. And for the first time ever you'll be able to spot a precious southern white rhino calf, with baby Jabulani joining the herd of adult rhinos. “Sunset Safari comes around just once a year and it’s getting better and better,” says Dr Mark Pilgrim, the Werribee Open Range Zoo director. “It’s a truly unforgettable experience and such a wonderful opportunity to see these iconic animals up close during Melbourne’sdazzling summer evenings.” In addition to the after-hours safari tour, you can also explore the walking trails (among meerkats, monkeys and wild dogs) at dusk and catch live performances of drums, song and dance. Food and beverage options include an African-inspired barbecue, à la carte dining and cocktails at Hippo Beach (these are all sold separately). The Sunset Safari experience runs from 5.30pm to 9pm on Saturday nights, and costs $62 for adults and $32 for children. Head to the Zoos Victoria website to purchase your tickets.  Looking for...

It's officially that time of year again when the Moonlight Cinema returns to Melbourne for the summer. There's just something special about snuggling into a bean bag and catching a film under the stars in the Royal Botanic Gardens – with an ice cream or wine in hand, of course.  Australia's favourite outdoor cinema has dropped its summer screening schedule, with blockbusters, nostalgic favourites and comedies on the program. Highlights include Gladiator II, The Substance, Better Man, A Complete Unknown and Wicked (and yes, there's even a sing-along session). Starting from February 11 to coincide with Valentine's Day, there will be a string of romcoms that are guaranteed to warm your heart. Grab your beloved or your bestie and catch everything from classics like Notting Hill and The Notebook to new releases We Live in Time and Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy.  Those looking to splurge can opt for either the Platinum Experience, which includes a deluxe double bean bed (including a blanket you can take home!) for two with waiter service or the Singapore Airlines Gold Grass, with a prime position in front of the screen and an exclusive menu of delicious treats. The Official Aperol Spritz Bar is also returning, so you can sip on that iconic orange cocktail all summer long. Screenings kick off at sundown and even your pooch is welcome. Tickets are now available via the website. Want more fun in the sun? Here are the best things to do in Melbourne this December.

From the story’s origins hundreds of years ago, to its transformation into the classic 1991 Disney film, Beauty and the Beast really is a tale as old as time. In its musical form, the production hasn’t been seen in Melbourne since the ’90s, when Hugh Jackman famously performed as Gaston in his first professional role. Fast forward three decades and we’re once again seeing a Melbourne stage transformed into the provincial town and Baroque castle we know so well. Only this time round, the lavish set design is augmented with cleverly integrated digital screens. It’s just one of several updates that ensure this reimagined production of the beloved fairytale keeps up with the times. From the moment the curtain rises, it’s clear this is a large-scale musical with all the belles, whistles and big bucks. Visual splendour is the MO here – think kaleidoscopic costumes, gasp-inducing illusions and spectacular lighting – and it’s easy to see why this show broke box office records at Brisbane’s QPAC.  However, all that Disney investment would be useless without the gifted cast. Shubshri Kandiah exudes whimsy-with-a-backbone as bookworm Belle, charming us with her sweet songs and sassy moments – though the folks in her provincial town just don’t get it.  Brendan Xavier’s beast is alternately ferocious and boyish. His startled squeals and hair-twirling moments help make Belle’s dramatic change in feelings a touch more believable. Both leads shine in their solo numbers, with Xavier’s ‘If...

Arrive at the corner of Flinders Lane and Hosier Lane on pretty much any day of the week and you’ll run into a throng of tourists jostling to get ‘the shot’ of Melbourne’s ever-evolving street art hotspot. No two visits to this spray can alley are ever the same, but from December 12 there’ll be another more stable artistic delight to enjoy on the famous corner. To those in the know, Sandra Powell and Andrew King have become shining lights of the Aussie street art scene, known for supporting up-and-coming artists through acquisitions for their extensive private collection 15 years in the making.  Street art legend Rone says the pair, often known as ‘Sandrew’, have been “champions of Melbourne’s street art community for over a decade”. Now, they’re drawing on their personal collection to create a ripper of a free exhibition, running from December 12 until May 2025 at 167 Flinders Lane (right on the aforementioned iconic corner).  The Outsiders Melbourne will feature more than 100 works from Sandrew’s collection, including art never before displayed in public. Expect gems from local names like Rone, Adnate, Sofles, Vexta, Fintan Magee, Meggs, Kaff-eine and more.  On the international side, feast your eyes on art from Barry McGee, Vhils, Swoon, Invader, Shepard Fairey, Ron English, Elle and an entire room dedicated to Banksy himself. Fans of the mystery artist will be pleased to know that this exhibition will also see his new work ‘Firework’ on display in Australia for the...

Melburnians, it’s time to get dotty, because NGV International is playing host to the largest collection of Yayoi Kusama’s work ever seen in Australia. The exhibition (aptly named Yayoi Kusama) will take over the entire ground floor of the gallery, with works from the artist best known for her unique use of dots. Opening on December 15, this world-premiere exhibition will feature more than 180 works, including an NGV-specific piece transforming the iconic Waterwall and an installation of giant balloons in the Great Hall called 'Dots Obsession'. Many of the works coming to Melbourne for this impressive exhibition have never been seen locally before, including the Australian debut of 'Dancing Pumpkin', a towering five-metre-tall bronze sculpture that visitors can view by walking underneath. As if five metres wasn’t tall enough, Melbourne will also score the Aussie premiere of Kusama’s six-metre-tall tentacle-esque sculpture, named 'The Hope of the Polkadots Buried in Infinity Will Eternally Cover the Universe'.  We’re particularly excited about the global premiere of a brand new Yayoi Kusama infinity room work, which will be part of a collection of immersive spaces included in the exhibition. Kusama’s infinity rooms employ the clever use of mirrors to create an illusion of never-ending space, making for a fun and mind-bending experience for visitors of all ages. Lucky for us, the artist has created a new room just for Melbourne!  Even more fortunately for Melburnians, it...

Would-be detectives, can you solve this simple mystery? Which of British crime writer extraordinaire Agatha Christie’s 66 novels is her best seller?  If you’ve plumped for one featuring St Mary Mead’s most famous resident, Miss Marple, or her crime-fighting colleague, Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot, then you’re as busted as the many, many murderers they’ve flushed out of hiding.  In fact, it’s And Then There Were None (trust us, do not look up the original title), one of Christie’s handful of books featuring no recurring characters. That’s because there aren’t many left standing after a group of ten perfect strangers are summoned to a mysterious, storm-lashed island and promptly accused of murder most horrid.  As gripping a whodunnit as it’s possible to be, the tightly-plotted head-scratcher has long captivated readers the world over. Unsurprisingly, it’s been adapted oodles of times, including multiple films, radio and TV shows, including being spoofed on Family Guy.  Well, hold on to your alibis, because stage and screen luminary Robyn Nevin kicks off a new national tour of Christie’s play at Melbourne’s hallowed Comedy Theatre. Nevin has form, having previously steered Christie’s The Mousetrap, also produced by John Frost for Crossroads Live, to great success. And she has a spectacular cast on hand to bring the accused to (quite probably temporary) life.  Deadloch actor Mia Morrissey, who also depicted Mimi Marquez in Rent, is Vera Claythorne, a PE teacher at an...

You know what may have knocked out the previous iteration of Asia TOPA (aka the Asia-Pacific Triennial of Performing Arts), the vast multi-disciplinary festival combining theatre, music, dance and more from across the Asia-Pacific region. But as the ancient Chinese proverb from the Huainanzi puts it, “Bad luck often brings good luck.”  All good things come to those who wait, after all, and the 2025 program is absolutely stacked with astounding works of wonder. Radiating out across the city from the festival’s hub at Arts Centre Melbourne, the three-week celebration of cultural collaboration is spread across three key streams. Kicking off the festival is a free block party-style event in the heart of the CBD, in a crossover with Fed Square. Glass Beams are headlining a diverse night of live music, with their hypnotic mix of cosmic rock, jazz and psychedelic-funk that combines Indian and western sounds. The trio will be joined by Japanese born, Melbourne-based DJ Shio and Tokyo-based experimental pop band Tam Tam. Judging by the high vibes at other recent free gigs at Fed Square recently, it's sure to be a evening with big energy, find all the deets here.  Nightlife kicks off an exciting new focus on connecting younger audiences to the arts through a big Brat summer vibe, including a dedicated dance party space at the Arts Centre dubbed Club 8 after the floor on which it’s located and its luckiness in Chinese numerology.  The go-off nights will be curated by a revolving...

Picture this: a balmy summer night in Melbourne spent filling your belly and quenching your thirst from a selection of global street food stalls, carts, trucks and festival bars. If that sounds right up your alley, then mark November 20 in your calendar, because that's when the Queen Vic Market's much-loved Summer Night Market returns.  This year, more than 100 shops, stalls and bars will light up the open-air market sheds across a bumper 15-week season. Foodie highlights include the candied tanghulu fruit skewers from Swirle, gourmet meatball subs from Mr Baller, savoury Japanese-style pancakes from Kicca Okonomiyaki, lamb, chicken and halloumi-stuffed pita pockets from the Cypriot Kitchen and brownie gelato sandwiches from Lickt. When you get thirsty, head to the Happiness is Mojito Bar for refreshing Mojitos in loads of different fruity flavours. You can also grab a froff from Brick Lane, a vino from Rewine or a Spritz from Bella Spritz. As always, you can expect roving performers, pop-up activities (like sunset yoga!) and a rotating line-up of homegrown talent playing live music on the market's main stage. After sipping and snacking, be sure to explore the dozens of stalls selling locally sourced and handmade products including jewellery, art, skincare, books and homewares.  And for the month of December there'll be a whole lot of holiday cheer to soak up, with Santa and his trusty elf sidekick roaming around and posing for festive pics. Don't miss 'Snow Time', which...

Flowers can brighten up any day, but what can make it even brighter is the simple pleasure of getting to pick them yourself. Beloved community garden CERES is spreading this blooming joy throughout the warmer months, welcoming visitors every weekend to come and harvest a fresh bunch.  On Friday and Saturday mornings from 9.30am, head to the Coburg site for the Festival of Flowers, where you can pick your own blooms at Joe's Market Garden. There are blossoming sunflowers, zinnias and cosmos to choose from, and you'll be able to build a beautiful bouquet with up to ten individual stems. Sessions are $30 and while walk-ins are welcome, bookings are recommended. You can book a spot here.  Plus, there'll also be special floral events held on some Saturdays, including workshops on how to put together the perfect bouquet, flower vase arranging with floral experts and even eco-dyeing tote bag classes for kids. Book your place in an upcoming workshop here.  And because nothing says romance quite like a beautiful bouquet, CERES is also hosting some romantic floral-themed events. Weed Dating is back, with a session running on February 1. On Valentine's Day, there'll be a special evening flower picking session, as well as drinks, wood-fired pizzas and DJs creating a swoon-worthy vibe.  The Festival of Flowers will run until the end of April, with U-pick flower sessions happening every weekend. Find out more on the CERES website.  Are you a floral fanatic? Here's a guide on where to...

Melbourne’s cutting edge digital art gallery, the Lume, is bringing back its beloved opening exhibition for a summer season. Van Gogh will have an encore run starting on Boxing Day, after breaking attendance records in 2021. Last time, the immersive experience attracted a whopping 1.8 million visitors between Australia and New Zealand, making it the region’s most visited ticketed cultural event.  Van Gogh made kaleidoscopic waves through the city when it served as the first-ever exhibition at the digital gallery, re-shaping the way Melburnians experience art. The experience reimagines the now-famous painter's works as projections that completely ensconce you in an 11-metre tall gallery, allowing you to feel like you're in van Gogh's bedroom or under that famous starry night. A mirrored infinity room filled with countless sunflowers also features, which is particularly Instagrammable.  For the return season, the Lume is adding a brand-new virtual reality experience called Finding Vincent. Slip on a headset and learn more about van Gogh’s life, alongside friends or companions.  Within the Lume, visitors can experience art all around them. Instead of looking at paintings on walls or sculptures on plinths, art is projected onto the walls to make you feel like you've stepped inside the paintings themselves. Scents and sounds are also pumped into the gallery to add to the experience.  If you get peckish you can also drop into Terrace Café 1888 where you can snack on delights...