White Night Melbourne 2018: All you need to know

WHITE Night Melbourne is back for another year and to ensure you don’t miss a thing, here’s our guide to what’s on, how to get around and the best places to eat and drink.

Teigan Kozina

11 min read

February 16, 2018 - 1:54PM

News

Don't miss out on the headlines from News . Followed categories will be added to My News.

MELBOURNE will come alive this Saturday, February 17as White Night returns for its sixth year.

The weather should be clear although on the cool side, so bring a jacket. There is a top of 28 degrees predicted for Saturday, dropping to about 15 degrees overnight.

<i>Rhythms of the Night </i>projected onto the Royal Exhibition Building at a previous White Night. Photo: Eugene Hyland

Rhythms of the Night projected onto the Royal Exhibition Building at a previous White Night. Photo: Eugene Hyland

THE BASICS

In 2018 White Night Melbourne will take place on Saturday, February 17 from 7pm to 7am Sunday morning.

Throughout the year other Victorian cities will host their own White Night events, details are as follows:

Ballarat: Saturday, March 17 from 7pm — 2am

Bendigo: Saturday, September 1 from 7pm — 2am

Geelong: Saturday, October 13 from 7pm — 2am

WHAT IS IT?

White Night takes its inspiration from the Nuit Blanche event which originated in Paris and has now spread to a number of cities across the globe. It is a twelve hour overnight celebration of creativity held in Melbourne’s CBD and includes performances, events, installations, music, illuminations and street performances.

IS IT FREE?

Most of the events are free however some may be ticketed. Check the official program for details.

LOCATIONS

White Night encompasses Melbourne’s CBD, with the event precinct stretching from the Melbourne Museum and Carlton Gardens to the National Gallery of Victoria on St Kilda Road. Event locations will consist of cultural institutions, public spaces, laneways, parklands and city streets. Check the program for further details.

GETTING THERE

Car

It is not recommended to travel to White Night by car as roads will be closed, there will be large crowds of pedestrians to navigate and parking is limited. Central CBD car parks will not be accessible during the event. If you still want to risk it check this map of road closures and plan your trip accordingly.

A better idea is to park further out and utilise the transport hubs close to the event area which will be serviced by taxis and buses. Check the map for locations.

If you don’t mind walking, you can park at the following Wilson Parking locations which will be open 24 hours:

Riverside Quay:2 Riverside Quay, Southbank

Eureka:70 City Road, Southbank

Southgate:Southgate Avenue, Southbank

90 Victoria Parade:90 Victoria Parade, East Melbourne

Parkade:34-60 Little Collins Street, Melbourne

Park Hyatt:St Andrews Place, East Melbourne

32 Flinders Street:32 Flinders Street, Melbourne

Collins Place:28 Flinders Lane, Melbourne

Bicycles

Bicycles are not permitted within the event precinct. If riding, leave your bicycle in a secure location near a transport hub and use public transport or a taxi to access the event.

Public transport

If taking public transport be aware that demand may be very high. Allow extra travelling time in case of delays or capacity issues.

Trains

If taking the train be aware that Flinders Street station will have a one way exit via Southbank and Elizabeth Street. Consider avoiding Flinders Street in favour of Melbourne Central Station as the former becomes highly congested on White Night.

7pm — 11pm: Trains on all lines will run every 15 to 30 minutes

11pm — 3:30am: Trains on all lines will run every 30 minutes

3:30am-6:30am: Trains on all lines will run every 60 minutes

Trams

Every tram route will run all night except for the City Circle and routes 78 and 82.

Be aware that there will be stop closures in White Night precincts from 5pm Saturday to 8am Sunday. Visit the Yarra Trams website for a full list of service changes.

5pm — 1am: Trams will run every 5 to 10 minutes

1am — 3am: Trams will run every 15 to 20 minutes

3am — 8:20am: Trams will run every 30 minutes

Bus

Due to road closures, there will be two bus hubs in the CBD, operating from 5pm to 8am Sunday morning.

West bus hub (Queen Street) routes:

216, 219, 220, 232, 234, 235, 236, 605

Night bus routes 941, 942, 944, 945, 951, 952

East bus hub (Spring Street) routes:

200, 207, 250, 251, 302, 304, 305, 905, 906, 907, 908

Night bus routes 955, 961, 966, 969

Night Coaches

There will be night coaches servicing regional areas, all services depart from Southern Cross Coach Terminal.

Bendigo: Departs 1:05am, 2:05am

Ballarat: Departs 1:10am, 2:10am

Geelong, Seymour, Traralgon: Departs between 2am and 2:15am

MAPS

Here is a useful interactive map that displays events, works and amenities.

Download a program map that you can print out and carry, or download a map detailing all the road closures during the event.

FOOD

The event area has been divided into four food precincts while food trucks will also be in designated areas.

PRECINCT ONE — CARLTON GARDENS

Epocha Restaurant

49 Rathdowne Street, Carlton

5:30pm until late

Melbourne Museum restaurants

11 Nicholson Street, Carlton

7pm — 7am

PRECINCT TWO — LA TROBE STREET TO COLLINS STREET

Mr Tulk Cafe

State Library of Victoria, 328 Swanston Street

Open until 7am

Guzman Y Gomez

289 — 299 Swanston Street

Open until 7am

Schnitz QV

176 Lonsdale Street

Open until 7am

Din Tai Fung

Emporium, level 4, 287 Lonsdale Street

Open until late

Diesel Lounge Bar

202 Little Lonsdale Street

Open until 7am

Boilermaker House

209 Lonsdale Street

Open until 6am

Mezcalito Agave Bar

233 Lonsdale Street

Open until 7am

Touche Hombre

233 Lonsdale Street

Open until 7am

Starbucks

Melbourne Central

Open until 7am

Asian Beer Cafe

Melbourne Central

Open until 5am

Melbourne Central Lion Hotel

Melbourne Central

Open until 7am

Father’s Office

249 Little Lonsdale Street

Open until 5am

Beneath Driver Lane

Basement, shop 3 Driver Lane

Open until 7am

Whiteheart

22 Whiteheart Lane

Open until 1am

PRECINCT THREE — COLLINS STREET TO BIRRARUNG MARR

Lustre Bar

Level 1, 252 Flinders Lane (enter via Centre Place)

Open until 7am

The Mill House Bar

277 Flinders Lane

Open until 7am

Om Nom Kitchen

187 Flinders Lane

Open until 1am

Garden State Hotel

101 Flinders Lane

Open until 3am

ACMI Cafe

Federation Square

Open until 5am

In A Rush

Federation Square

Open until 3am

Time Out

Federation Square

Open until 7am

Il Pom Italian

Federation Square

Open until 1am

Riverland Bar

Vaults 1-9 Federation Wharf, Federation Square

Open until 3am

Pilgrim Bar

Vaults 15-19 Federation Wharf, Federation Square

Open until 3am

PRECINCT FOUR — ALEXANDRA GARDENS TO NGV

Ponyfish Island

Under Evan Walker Pedestrian Bridge

Open until 5am

Supafish Floating Bar

Sandridge Public Landing & Berth

Open until 5am

Arts Centre Melbourne restaurants

100 St Kilda Road

Open until 7am

Ludlow Bar & Dining Room

6 Riverside Quay, Southbank

Open until 3am

FOOD TRUCKS

Carlton Gardens

Donut Panic

Purely Delish

Mutter Krause

The Greek Trojan Yiros

Curry Up Now

Satay Truck

C’est Chick

T-Rex Bat-B-Que

Taka Taka Kottu

Melbourne Paella

Little Pancake Patch

Grace Coffee & Cake Caravan

Russell Street

Ron’s Handburgers

Kolloni Little Dessert Island

The Little Jeepney

Churros Ole

Elephant Rock

The Kaiser’s Sausages

Naughty Frenchy

196 Below Nitro Ice Cream

Bourke Street

Miss Molly Cakes

Sparrow’s Philly Cheesesteaks

Wvrst

Two Fat Indians

Ghost Kitchen

Mr Burger

Bites on Wheels

Harajuku Crepes on Wheels

Collins Street

Real OG Burgers

Country Fair Poffertjes

Mary and a Little Lamb

Gourmet Creations

Those Guys Food

Loaded Gourmet Hotdogs

Jay’s Yogurt

The Art of Fried Chicken

Himalayan Sherpa

Poncho Mexican Street Food

GLACE

Birrarung Marr

Bigger Than Texas

Real Burgers

Chatime

O Tuga Tastes of Portugal

Corny Mexican

Sweet Mistake

Swaggy’s Ice Cream

The Wright Coffee 2u

Van Go Food Truck

Senor Churro

Dandee Donuts

Alexandra Gardens

Wingster’s

Refresher Truck

Shiva Indian Cuisine

Euros Kebabs and Grills

Wedgies Loaded Wedges

Bretzel.Biz

U Knead Pizza

Mobile Ice Creams

The Gozleme Station

Mr Burger

Manny’s Doughnuts

PROGRAM

Public Opinion Afro Orchestra perform at the Music For A World Stage during the White Night 2015. Photo: Mark Dadswell

MUSIC

No Lights No Lycra Family

Melbourne Museum

7:30pm — 8:30pm, 6am — 7am

Buskers Pitch

Various buskers

Corner of Russell Street and La Trobe Street

7pm — 7am

Buskers Pitch

Various buskers

Between Swanston Street and Russell Street

Verandah Virtuosos

Alice Skye

Melbourne Legacy House Verandah

293 Swanston Street

7pm — 7am

Verandah Virtuosos

Gullveig

Melbourne Legacy House Verandah

293 Swanston Street

7pm — 7am

Verandah Virtuosos

90/10

Ozmosis Verandah

QV Melbourne

7pm — 7am

Verandah Virtuosos

Briar String Quartet

Belleville Verandah

Corner Swanston and Little Bourke Streets

7pm — 7am

Verandah Virtuosos

Tim Hannah/Ensemble Goldentree

Gorman Verandah

135-137 Swanston Street

7pm — 7am

Verandah Virtuosos

Patrick Lefevre

Gorman Verandah

135-137 Swanston Street

7pm — 7am

Verandah Virtuosos

James Sampson

Cabinet Bar & Balcony

Above 146 Swanston Street

7pm — 7am

Verandah Virtuosos

Tap That / Four Play

Macleay College Verandah

55 Swanston Street

7pm — 7am

Uptown Funk

The B# Big Band

Corner Lonsdale and Russell Streets

7pm — 7:50pm

Uptown Funk

The Syncopators

Corner Lonsdale and Russell Streets

8:10pm — 9pm

Uptown Funk

Brian El Dorado and the Tuesday People

Corner Lonsdale and Russell Streets

9:20 — 10:10pm

Uptown Funk

Motor City Sounds

Corner Lonsdale and Russell Streets

10:30pm — 11:20pm

Uptown Funk

Kylie Auldist

Corner Lonsdale and Russell Streets

11:40pm — 12:30am

Uptown Funk

Horns of Leroy

Corner Lonsdale and Russell Streets

12:50am — 1:40am

Uptown Funk

J Williams

Corner Lonsdale and Russell Streets

4:20am — 5:10am

Uptown Funk

Ogopogo

Corner Lonsdale and Russell Streets

3:10am — 4am

Uptown Funk

Off the Leash

Corner Lonsdale and Russell Streets

2am — 2:50am

Uptown Funk

Masco Sound System

Corner Lonsdale and Russell Streets

5:30am — 6:20am

Guerrilla Opera

BK Opera

Melbourne Town Hall Verandah

Swanston Street

7pm — 7am

Queens on Collins

Miss Art Simone and Miss Philmah Bocks

St Collins Lane, 260 Collins Street

Centreway Arcade, 259 Collins Street

Breakfree, 233 Collins Street

Athenaeum Theatre, 188 Collins Street

Regent Theatre, 191 Collins Street

7pm — 7am

The Bells

Five Angry Men

Federation Square

7pm — 7am (tolling every hour on the hour)

World Stage

Lehenda Ukrainian Dance Company