There’s a whole world of winter wonder outside Melbourne city. From regional festivals in charming towns to natural spectacles and alpine adventures, Victoria offers plentiful cold season delights. Here are eight not to miss winter experiences across the state of Victoria in 2025
Ballarat Winter Festival & Sovereign Hill “Winter Wonderlights”
The gold rush city of Ballarat embraces its chilly reputation with a Winter Festival from 5–27 July 2025. For three weeks, Ballarat transforms into a frosty wonderland of events and activities celebrating the town’s signature season. You can glide around a pop up ice skating rink in the city, indulge in a hot chocolate or mulled wine from specialty cafes, and cozy up by outdoor fire pits.
The highlight is Sovereign Hill’s Winter Wonderlights (4–27 July), where the 1850s gold mining township museum is illuminated each evening with a spectacular light and sound show. Wander the open air museum’s cobbled streets as Victorian style buildings glow with colorful projections and faux snow falls over Main Street. Carolers sing, brass bands play, and the atmosphere is pure “Christmas in July” magic.
All daytime Sovereign Hill activities are included, then after dark the Wonderlights show lights up the facades at 6 pm nightly. Ballarat’s Winter Festival also features a new Spiegeltent with live entertainment and cabaret this year. Don’t forget to visit local landmarks like the Art Gallery of Ballarat or cozy heritage pubs while you’re in town Ballarat really shines in winter.
East Gippsland Winter Festival
Make the journey to East Gippsland (in Victoria’s far east) to experience one of Australia’s largest and most diverse winter festivals. Spanning an entire month (20 June – 20 July 2025), the East Gippsland Winter Festival is a region wide celebration of light, art, music, food and local culture. More than 100 events are held across charming towns like Lakes Entrance, Bairnsdale, Bruthen, and Omeo.
Highlights include spectacular lantern parades where handmade illuminated sculptures (giant squids, sea dragons and more) light up the night, outdoor projection art on buildings, live music popping up in unexpected places, and winter solstice bonfire celebrations by the beach. Foodies will love long table forest dinners and farmgate tasting tours, while adventure seekers can join guided hikes to waterfalls or even winter swimming events for the brave. It’s an immersive way to “embrace the chill of the season” amid East Gippsland’s natural beauty.
The festival showcases the community’s creativity and resilience (many events are inspired by the local landscape and Indigenous heritage). If you’re up for a scenic road trip, heading east for this month long festival will reward you with memorable winter moments .
Frida Kahlo Exhibition in Bendigo
The Bendigo Art Gallery is hosting an exclusive blockbuster exhibition Frida Kahlo: In Her Own Image and winter 2025 is your last chance to see it before it closes on 13 July. This intimate exhibition, direct from Mexico’s Museo Frida Kahlo, features photographs, personal items and letters offering a rare glimpse into the iconic Mexican artist’s life. It’s the first time this collection has been shown in Australia, and it has been drawing art lovers to Bendigo since autumn.
Bundle up and take the train or drive to Bendigo (about 1.5 hours from Melbourne) to experience Frida’s world from family portraits and Casa Azul images to displays of her elaborate Tehuana dresses. Bendigo itself is a charming regional city with grand Victorian architecture stemming from its gold rush history.
After the gallery, warm up with a coffee on View Street or visit one of Bendigo’s famous bakeries for a treat. Be quick if you want to catch Frida tickets are selling fast and once it closes in mid July, she’s heading back to Mexico.
Hit the Ski Slopes in the High Country
Winter means snow, and Victoria’s alpine resorts are in full swing from June through September. A trip to the snow covered High Country is a must do winter adventure. Popular resorts like Mount Buller, Falls Creek, and Mount Hotham offer terrain for all skill levels from gentle beginner slopes to challenging black runs.
Not a skier or boarder? There’s still plenty of fun: try tobogganing or snow tubing, build a snowman, or go snowshoeing among snowgums. Many resorts also offer unique experiences like twilight snow grooming tours and dog sled rides through the powdery trails
After a day on the slopes, embrace the après ski culture. Cozy up by the fireplace in a ski lodge with a hot drink, or even indulge in an alpine spa (both Dinner Plain and Falls Creek have outdoor hot tubs and spa retreats). Keep in mind the snow season peaks in July–August, so accommodations can book up plan ahead.
Whether it’s a weekend trip or a longer ski holiday, Victoria’s winter mountains promise exhilarating fun amid gorgeous alpine scenery. As the official guide notes, Victoria’s snow season typically lasts from June to late September, so there’s ample time to shred, ski and play in the snow.
Whale Watching on the Coast
Winter in Victoria is prime time for whale watching, as majestic whales migrate north from Antarctic waters to breed. From May to October, over half the world’s whale species can be found along Victoria’s southern coastline, with June–August being peak viewing months.
Head down the Great Ocean Road or to Gippsland’s coast for a chance to spot southern right whales, humpback whales, or even the occasional blue whale close to shore. One of the best places is Logans Beach in Warrnambool, nicknamed the “whale nursery” it has a viewing platform where southern right whale mothers and calves often come within a few hundred meters of shore.
Further west, around Portland and Port Fairy, sightings of blues and orcas have been recorded. On Phillip Island and Wilsons Promontory, you might catch migrating humpbacks there are even dedicated winter whale spotting cruises from Phillip Island.
Dress warmly, pack binoculars, and be patient: seeing a whale breach or a tail slap is an awe inspiring reward. Many coastal towns also celebrate the season with whale festivals and information boards to help you identify what you see. This Winter Whale Trail is a reminder of Victoria’s rich marine life and a truly breathtaking natural spectacle.
Soak in Natural Hot Springs
What better way to warm up on a crisp winter day than by soaking in a thermal hot spring? Victoria boasts several natural hot springs where you can relax in mineral rich waters while steam rises into the cold air. The most famous is Peninsula Hot Springs on the Mornington Peninsula, about 90 minutes from Melbourne.
With over 70 globally inspired bathing experiences from hilltop pools with ocean views to cave pools and a Turkish hammam it’s an award winning spa destination that’s especially magical in winter. In fact, many say the best time to visit Peninsula Hot Springs is during the winter months ( June–August) when the crowds are thinner and the contrast between hot water and chilly air is delightful.
Further afield, new facilities like Metung Hot Springs in East Gippsland and Deep Blue Hot Springs in Warrnambool offer picturesque geothermal bathing by lakes and oceans. And up in Victoria’s spa country around Daylesford and Hepburn Springs, historic bathhouses use warm mineral waters renowned for their therapeutic properties.
Whether you choose a rustic outdoor pool or a deluxe private bath, a soak in geothermal springs is the perfect winter wellness treat soothing muscles and lifting spirits when the weather is cold.
Puffing Billy’s Train of Lights
All aboard for a one of a kind night train ride through the winter forest! The Puffing Billy Railway in the Dandenong Ranges (about an hour from Melbourne) is running its special Train of Lights again in July 2025. This historic steam train (dating to 1900) has been decked out with thousands of colorful LED lights, illuminating the surrounding bushland as it chugs through the Dandenong Ranges National Park at night.
The Train of Lights journey is a 2.5 hour round trip from Lakeside Station to Gembrook and back. Along the way, you’ll pass by lit up treetops, see glowing designs projected onto the dark forest, and watch villages light up with neon hues as the train rolls past. Mid journey, there’s a 55 minute stopover at Gembrook where you can stretch your legs by warming open fire pits, grab a hot chocolate or roast marshmallows, and enjoy live acoustic music before the return ride.
Puffing Billy’s Train of Lights operates only for a few weeks (4–20 July 2025) and tends to sell out, so book your tickets early if you want to experience this enchanting winter excursion. It’s a fantastic outing for families, photographers, or anyone who wants to feel like a kid again riding an old steam train under a galaxy of lights.
Alpine Hot Springs and Stargazing at Dinner Plain (Bonus pick)
If you’re up for a higher altitude hot springs experience, consider a trip to Dinner Plain village near Mt Hotham. At an elevation of 1,580m, Dinner Plain gets plenty of snow and it’s home to a unique onsen retreat. Imagine soaking in a 40°C outdoor Japanese style onsen while snow drifts around you! Dinner Plain’s Onsen Retreat and Spa features a large outdoor hot spring pool and indoor thermal baths, perfect for après ski relaxation.
By night, the combination of high altitude and clear winter skies makes for stunning stargazing you can often see the Milky Way splashed across the sky. Many winter nights, the village organizes guided stargazing sessions or you can simply find a quiet spot and look up at the dazzling stars (best on a new moon night). The contrast of hot springs and icy surroundings, followed by a celestial show overhead, is pure winter bliss.
Finish the night with a hearty meal at a local alpine tavern. This off the beaten path experience proves that Victoria’s winter magic isn’t just along the tourist trails sometimes it’s found in a hot pool on a mountaintop, under a billion stars.
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From festive town celebrations to natural winter wonders, regional Victoria has no shortage of cold season charm. This winter 2025, consider venturing beyond Melbourne to discover roaring fires in country pubs, snow dusted landscapes, and unique events that only happen at this time of year. Embrace the adventure as the East Gippsland festival motto suggests, “embrace the chill” and you’ll be rewarded with cozy memories to last a lifetime.
