The Moonlight Cinema in the Royal Botanic Gardens (Image: Moonlight.com.au)

One of our favourite things to do is to watch a movie under the stars on a barmy summer’s night. With summer upon us here in the southern hemisphere, now is the time to book a place at Melbourne’s Moonlight Cinema.

Due to kick off tomorrow night, the romantic setting in Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens will host a range of movies from tonight through to the end of January. Tomorrow’s movie, Rush, tells the story of Niki Lauda and James Hunt’s rivalry before the 1976 Formula One Championships.

The Moonlight Cinema is one group offering the cinema under the stars expereince around Australia; the Sydney season kicks off next week.

Cookie’s Rooftop Cinema

However there are other options if you wanted things a bit more low key. Several years ago I went to watch The Hangover at the smaller screen above Cookie. On the rooftop of this popular Melbourne restaurant and bar is what I think is the ultimate urban Melbourne experience; watching a movie while surrounded by grungy laneways, old buildings and towering skyscrapers.

Ben and Jerry’s Open Air Cinema at St Kilda Melbourne (Image: Open Air Cinemas)

Additionally, American ice cream company Ben and Jerry’s host an open air cinema experience just next to Melbourne’s St Kilda beach. Needless to say, there is plenty of their delicious ice cream on hand – served up until the end of December.

So take your pick! Gardens, laneways or the bayside – either way, the open air cinema is a perfect Melbourne summer experience. Sessions usually go ahead in the case of wet weather – and really, what could be more iconically Melbourne than sitting in the rain freezing cold in the height of summer? On a serious note however, sessions are occasionally cancelled in the event of extreme weather.

For more information and for tickets, go to the websites of Maltesers Moonlight Cinema, Cookie’s Rooftop Cinema or Ben and Jerry’s Open Air Cinema.