Shopping
Whether you're looking to revamp your wardrobe or treat yourself to some retail therapy, there's a whole list of malls and shopping centers for you to peruse.
1. Chadstone, the fashion capital ($$$)
1341 Dandenong Rd, Chadstone VIC 3148, Australia
2. Bourke Street Mall ($$)
231 Victoria Road, Melbourne, Melbourne VIC 3078, Australia
3. Melbourne Emporium ($$)
287 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
4. The District Docklands ($$)
440 Docklands Dr, Docklands VIC 3008, Australia
5. Collins Street ($$$)
Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
6. St Collins Lane ($$)
260 Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
7. Crown Casino Retail ($$$)
260 Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
8. Melbourne Central ($$)
Cnr La Trobe St &, Swanston St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
9. The Strand ($$)
250 Elizabeth St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
10. DFO South Wharf ($$)
20 Convention Centre Pl, South Wharf, Victoria 3006, Australia
Dressing for the Seasons
You may have heard of Melbourne being nicknamed the city with "four seasons a day". There is some truth in this - the weather can be unpredictable. For this reason, it's usually recommended that you dress in layers that you can peel off whenever there is a sudden change in temperature.
Like an onion. A weather-resistant onion. Ogres have layers and so will you.
Here we've put together some suggestions on what to wear in each season to give you a better idea of what to pack!
Summer (Dec-Feb)
Summer days have an average temperature of 25°C to 30°C during the day, and 16°C-14°C during the night. The hottest days are usually in the months of Jan and Mid-Feb, with temperatures soaring above 32°C into the 40’s.
What to pack:
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Lightweight clothing (eg. cotton, linen)
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Lightweight jacket (eg. raincoat, windbreaker)
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Miscellaneous : Sunglasses, caps, sunscreen, umbrella
Autumn (March-May)
Average temperatures of 15°C - 20°C but it fluctuates throughout day and night. Days are usually sunny with occasional periods of light wind.
What to pack:
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Light outer coat (eg. sweater, cardigans, windbreaker)
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Thin innerwear (eg. cotton short-sleeves, cotton long sleeves)
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Long pants (eg. leggings, sweatpants, jeans)
Winter (June- Aug)
Average temperatures of 6°C - 14°C. It's usually cold and cloudy, with frequent cold strong winds.
What to pack:
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Best to dress in layers (eg. t shirt + hoodies/ sweaters)
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Long pants (eg. sweatpants, joggers)
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Warm outerwear (eg. down feather jackets)
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Wind & water repellent outerwear (eg. windbreaker, light raincoat)
Spring (Sep-Nov)
Average temperatures of 12°C - 20°C. Spring is known to be the most variable season in Melbourne, and the weather can change quickly from sunny to being cold and windy. October is the wettest month with the heaviest rainfall.
What to pack:
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Thin outerwear (eg. cardigans, sweaters, windbreaker)
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Umbrella/ Water and wind repellent jackets
**Disclaimer: The information in this guide is up to date as of December 2021. It is a compilation of our research and lived experiences as international students in Melbourne, but we do not claim to represent the University of Melbourne or any other organisation aside from the Singaporean Students’ Society. We can provide tips and pointers, but it is always best to do your own research and refer to official sources!