It’s not often Melbourne can boast the sunniest skies in all the land, but tomorrow Victoria will see the mercury rise to over 40-degrees. Now, we like a scorcher as much as the next bloke, but there are limits. So, if you’re not stoked about sweating, these five handy escapes will help you beat the heat and have a good time into the bargain.
Splashland
If you love the sun, but still need a way to chill, at Splashland you can find the best of both worlds. The pop-up inflatable waterpark returns to Caufield Racecourse, with eight watery rides on offer, including a new addition this year, Launch Pad, which – you guessed it – launches you into the air as you slide down one of two lanes. And if the heat gets too much, simply take shelter under one of the park’s umbrellas, grab a cold one from one of the selection of food trucks, and kickback to a selection of live entrainment. There are two sessions a day, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm, so book ahead of your visit.
At Caufield Racecourse, 1 Station St, Caufield East
Arboria
If you’re looking to escape the city, as well as the heat, this is one the most convenient, not to mention innovate, options. This expansive inflatable sculpture, located at Federation Square, is part bouncy castle, part art installation. With a network of vividly coloured tunnels connecting a series of vast domed chambers, this otherworldly immersive experience is the brainchild of UK-based company Architects of Air and artist Alan Parkinson. Visitors will be whisked far from the Melbourne CBD without moving an inch, as a soundscape of Ecuadorian cloud forests fills the space with exotic noises. And best of all, it’s fully air-conditioned.
At Federation Square, CBD
The Pool
This architecture exhibition uses that most ubiquitous of backyard luxuries, the humble swimming pool, to explore a range of diverse and probing questions about contemporary Australian culture and the nature of how human civilisation connects with and takes control of the landscape. Back in 2016, the show was a hit exhibition at the Venice Architecture Biennale, but beyond its artistic creds, it also boasts one particularly advantageous installation: a functioning pool that invites gallery visitors to take a dip – a perfect combination of culture and cooling to explore on a roasting hot afternoon.
At NGV Australia, Federation Square, CBD
Supafish
Feeling like braving the heat, but want a stylish hang out to do it in? This 38-metre, fishy floating art bar is the latest addition to the Southbank, brought to you by the hospitality geniuses behind Ponyfish Island, Andrew Mackinnon and Grant Smillie. The pair have recruited an impressive team for this pop-up, including a collaboration with the Mexican maestros at Hotel Jesus and Mamasita to create a gourmet grazing menu of Mexican delights. So, beat the heat with a frozen Margarita, tuck into some refreshing ceviche, and enjoy the river views in style.
Via Southbank Boulevard, between Ponyfish Island and Sandridge Bridge
NGV Triennial
If you need a total escape from the solar assault, you can hardly do better than a trip to the NGV, which is currently offering one of its most ambitious undertakings to date. Its newly established international art festival, featuring the work of more than 100 artists from 32 countries, represents one of the most comprehensive surveys of contemporary artistic practice ever mounted in Victoria. But what makes this grand undertaking particularly remarkable, is that it’s absolutely free.
At NGV International, 180 St Kilda Road, Southbank
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