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Melbourne / This week

What's on
25 June – 1 July

Worth leaving the house for.

Winter school holidays kick off on Saturday and Melbourne is stacked: the Socceroos' final group stage match hits Fed Square on Friday lunchtime, Fondue Chalet at Fed Square closes for good on Saturday (last chance, don't sleep on it), and Lightscape goes daily from Saturday. This is one of the best weeks of the Melbourne winter — no excuses to stay on the couch.

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Updated 24 June 2026 · Next update 1 July · Archived edition

If you only remember three things

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Sport

Socceroos v Paraguay — World Cup Live Site

The Socceroos' last group stage match screens free at Fed Square and AAMI Park on Friday 26 June at 12pm — get in early, it will fill fast.

Winter classic

Lightscape — Royal Botanic Gardens

School holidays start Saturday and Lightscape goes daily from 27 June — book a weeknight session now before it becomes a nightmare.

Last chance

Fondue Chalet, Fed Square

The French alpine pop-up closes Sunday 28 June — this is genuinely your final weekend for bubbling cheese and mulled wine in a wooden chalet.

If Saturday were mine…

I'd do this.

Healesville Fireside Wine Trail, Saturday night

The Fireside Wine Trail takes over Healesville on Saturday 27 June, 5pm–10pm. Your ticket gets you a souvenir glass, unlimited tastings across Barrique, Healesville Hotel, Four Pillars Distillery, Payten & Jones, Jayden Ong Winery, and Giammarino Wines, plus a complimentary shuttle between all six stops. It's about an hour's drive from the CBD or book the Eltham/Lilydale return shuttle for a no-fuss night. Book via Humanitix — wineyarravalley.com.au/fireside-festival-2026.

Twenty-eight Yarra Valley wineries, six venues, one hop-on shuttle — the Yarra Valley's best winter night out.

Before you leave home

The stuff you'll be annoyed nobody told you.

  • Winter school holidays start Saturday 27 June — Lightscape, Dinos at the Zoo and family events will get significantly more crowded from this weekend.
  • Book anything you've been putting off right now.
  • Puffing Billy's Train of Lights kicks off Friday 26 June but is completely sold out — don't bother trying; instead, head to a free roadside vantage point in the Dandenong Ranges if you're keen to see it roll past.

The week, properly

The good stuff, with a reason.

Friends at a rooftop table with the city lights behind

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If you want a proper night out

  • Valley Sounds — Opening Night with Clare BowditchThursday 25 June · Clocktower Centre, Moonee Ponds · 7pm–late · FreeFree community music festival kicks off with ARIA-winner Clare Bowditch in conversation, DJ sets and vintage rock from CJ Cummerford and the Supertones.Great low-key Thursday night in Moonee Valley — catch multiple acts across two weekends at local pubs and bars.
  • Postmodern Jukebox — The Future Is Vintage TourFriday 26 June · Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne, Southbank · 7:30pm · From $188Scott Bradlee's ensemble turns modern pop hits into jazz-era swing and vintage soul for a genuinely theatrical Friday night at Melbourne's best concert hall.Dress in your vintage best as per the show's brief — it genuinely adds to the atmosphere.
  • NGV Friday Nights: CartierSaturday 27 June · NGV International, St Kilda Road, Melbourne · 6pm–10pm · $50 adult / $44 concessionNearly 400 Cartier jewellery pieces after dark, with live music from rotating residencies, MSO performances, French food, champagne and film screenings.Best for a polished Friday date night or group catch-up — pair with dinner on St Kilda Road beforehand.
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  • Lightscape 2026 — Royal Botanic GardensNightly from Friday 26 June (Wed–Sun; daily from Sat 27 June for school hols) · Royal Botanic Gardens, Birdwood Ave, South Yarra · 5:15pm–11pm (timed entry every 15 mins) · $36–$46 adult (off-peak Wed/Thu), $40–$46 Fri–SunTwo consecutive Victorian Tourism Awards gold winner — a 2.1km trail of world-class light installations through the Gardens, with mulled wine and hot chocolate on the way.Now accessible directly from the new ANZAC Station. Go midweek for cheaper tickets and smaller crowds.
  • Fireside Wine Trail — HealesvilleSaturday 27 June · Six Healesville venues (Barrique, Healesville Hotel, Four Pillars + more), Healesville · 5pm–10pm · Ticketed (includes glass, tastings + shuttle)Twenty-eight Yarra Valley wineries packed into six warm venues with fireside food, live music, and a hop-on hop-off shuttle — the Yarra Valley's unmissable winter night.About 60–70 minutes from Melbourne CBD. Book your return shuttle if you don't want to drive.
  • Fondue Chalet — Last WeekendThu 25 – Sun 28 June (final days) · Federation Square, Melbourne CBD · Booked sessions throughout evening · From $79 per person (private chalet for 6–8 guests)The French alpine dining pop-up — private wooden chalets, cheese fondue or raclette, mulled wine and fire pits — shuts for good this Sunday, 28 June.Genuinely hard to find a spot at this late stage — check the website daily for cancellations.
A crowd walking towards the MCG on game day

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Game on

  • Hawthorn v GWS GiantsFriday 26 June · MCG, Richmond · 7:40pm · From ~$35The Hawks (9-1-4) welcome GWS for a rare MCG visit — Hawthorn are chasing the top four and this is a must-win to keep the pressure on.Tickets via AFL.com.au or Ticketek
  • Collingwood v RichmondSaturday 27 June · MCG, Richmond · 4:15pm · From ~$35An MCG derby with genuine edge — Collingwood looking to hold off a charging pack while Richmond try to salvage pride late in a tough season.Tickets via AFL.com.au or Ticketek
  • North Melbourne v EssendonSunday 28 June · Marvel Stadium, Docklands · 3:15pm · From ~$35The Roos (7-7) have won seven for the first time since 2019 and snapped a 12-game losing streak against Essendon earlier this year — they'll want to make it two in a row.Tickets via AFL.com.au
Candlelit pasta in a cosy bistro

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If you're eating out

  • QVM Winter Night Market — Thursday 25 JuneMarketFree entry every Wednesday 5–10pm at Queen Victoria Market: global street food, fire pits, duelling pianos and the best mid-week winter ritual in the city — arrive before 6pm to beat the queues.
  • Fondue Chalet — Final WeekendDealThis is it: the last days of Fed Square's French alpine pop-up — fondue or raclette, mulled wine, marshmallows on the fire, and private chalets from $79pp (groups of 6–8).
  • Fireside Wine Trail — 28 Yarra Valley WineriesMarketOne ticket, six Healesville venues, 28 wineries, souvenir glass and a hop-on shuttle — this is the Yarra Valley doing winter properly on Saturday night.
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  • Lightscape Trail-Side Food & DrinksNew openingMulled wine, hot chocolate and winter eats are available along the Lightscape trail inside the Botanic Gardens — no need to eat before you go.
A family strolling through the Royal Botanic Gardens

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If you're spending nothing

Where I'd eat this week

Book something good.

QVM Winter Night Market — Thursday 25 June. Free entry every Wednesday 5–10pm at Queen Victoria Market: global street food, fire pits, duelling pianos and the best mid-week winter ritual in the city — arrive before 6pm to beat the queues.

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Do future you a favour

Book this now.

Valley Sounds — Opening Night with Clare Bowditch · Thursday 25 June · Clocktower Centre, Moonee Ponds. Free entry, check venue for registration

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None of that your thing?

Tell me what you're in the mood for and I'll give you something better.

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