Watch movies under the stars at Moonlight Cinema Melbourne

Watch movies under the stars at Moonlight Cinema Melbourne

Whether you’re looking for a romantic night out, some family friendly entertainment, something different to do with friends or just a relaxed evening on your own, Melbourne’s Moonlight Cinema is the perfect way to spend an evening in one of the world’s most livable cities. With sessions six days a week from Tuesday to Sunday showing everything from new releases to cult classics, there’s something for movie lovers of any taste along with VIP experiences, hot food and snacks, beverages and beanbags for hire. Who’s in?

Getting there

Located on the Central Lawn at Melbourne Gardens inside the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne's Moonlight Cinema is easily accessible from the CBD.

From Fraser Place Melbourne:

By public transport, walk over to Swanston Street and hop on any tram in the Flinders St direction (except the number 1 service) and get off at Park St. From there, it’s a leisurely stroll through the gardens to the cinema.

By foot, the cinema is about 45 minutes from the hotel. Walk down Exhibition St, past Birrarung Marr on Batman Avenue, cross the Swan St Bridge and through the Botanic Gardens.

From Flinders St Station: 

By public transport, catch any tram heading back over the Princes Bridge (except the number 1 service) and hop off at Park St. From there, walk through the gardens to the cinema.

By foot, all you need to do is cross the Princes Bridge and walk through the Botanic Gardens to the cinema – it should take around half an hour.

What’s on?

Moonlight Cinema keep their website updated with monthly programmes and showtimes plus a range of seasonal promotions, deals and special events. Keep an eye on their season guide for more info – the cinema’s popularity among both locals and tourists means that tickets sell fast, especially for special events. Get your tickets early and avoid missing out on this unmissable experience!

Food and drinks

What’s a movie without indulging in some treats? Moonlight Cinema allows BYO, so you’re more than welcome to bring your own food and drinks (including alcohol) to the movie. They also offer a tantalising menu of light meals, snacks, soft beverages and alcohol to keep you nibbling away to your heart’s content. Just remember, the venue is completely cashless so you’ll need to bring along a debit or credit card to buy food and drinks. They’ll also stop serving the food once the film begins to avoid disruptions, so arrive early and get your orders in!

Premium packages

If you’re feeling a little bit like spoiling yourself, the venue has a bunch of premium packages to help you have the ultimate night under the stars.

Connoisseur Lounge: Perfect for summer and sweet-toothed moviegoers. Get a reserved bean bed in an exclusive area and enjoy a divine Connoisseur ice cream. 

Gold Grass: The aptly named Gold Grass ticket secures you a bean bed in a prime location on the lawn and a team of hosts will take and deliver any food and drink orders (normal charges apply) from you while you sit back and relax.

Platinum Experience: The ultimate date night. The Platinum Experience comes with tickets for two with a double bean bed in a prime viewing area, two blankets to keep and a food and drinks package delivered to you on the lawn.

Be mindful of the weather

An obvious consideration for outdoor cinemas in the weather, and nowhere more so than in notoriously unpredictable Melbourne! Locals regularly joke about getting four seasons in a day, and for good reason: what starts as a mild, sunny day can turn into a downpour in the blink of an eye. The open parklands can get a breeze and temperatures often drop lower than expected in the evenings (even outside of winter) so be sure to bring appropriate clothing and something warm just in case.

The good news is that the cinema typically stays open even if it’s raining, and only cancels if the weather is deemed unsafe for the staff and moviegoers. This means you’re less likely to get a last-minute cancellation from the venue, but you’ll also forfeit your ticket if you skip your session due to the rain. Should your session be cancelled, you’ll get a text message and an email to let you know. You can then transfer your tickets to another day, with refunds only issued for showings in the last month of the season. Check out the Moonlight Cinema weather policy for more detailed information.