The Lunar New Year begins early this time around, on 25 January. Careful you don’t miss the fun when Melbourne celebrates the Year of the Rat. This cunning little creature is the first of the Chinese zodiac animals, and by nature loves to lead the pack.
Chinese New Year Melbourne Festival

Lunar New Year
Chinatown’s Chinese New Year Festival

Chinatown’s Chinese New Year
Lunar New Year at Crown Melbourne

Crown’s Hawkers Bazaar
Lunar New Year Family Weekend at Melbourne Museum
Lion Dances, hopping mice and a bone fide rat expert. Melbourne Museum’s Year of the Rat weekend is an event not to be missed. Head along for daily shows, beautiful lantern displays and a special Yum Cha menu at the museum cafe. 8 – 9 February.
Lunar New Year Afternoon Tea
The stately Hotel Windsor’s traditional afternoon tea gets a little Chinese spice from 20 January to 9 February. Their Lunar New Year Afternoon Tea menu features limited-edition treats like confit duck ribbon sandwiches with hoisin and plum sauce. Sweets include sesame mousse spheres with yuzu crémeux. It’s all going to be perfect with a hot pot of Chinese tea. On Saturday 25 January, Lunar New Year’s Day, there’s even a lion-dance performance in the lobby for good luck.

The Windsor’s Lunar New Year High Tea
Lunar New Year at Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium
Watch the underwater dragon dances in Sea Life Aquarium‘s Oceanarium. Take a VR dragon ride under sparkling waterfalls, make a jellyfish lantern and stick your New Year wish on the Penguin Playground wishing wall. Daily 25 Jan to 2 Feb.
Lion Dances at Queen Victoria Market
Shop away the long weekend at Queen Victoria Market on 25 January, and you might just happen upon a stunning Lion Dance. Performances will run at 11am (lower market, Elizabeth Street end) and again at 1pm (upper market, Peel Street end).