Melbourne/Eastern suburbs
The Eastern suburbs of Melbourne include Boroondara, Box Hill and Glen Waverley, Manningham and Nillumbik, Ringwood and surrounds. Stretching from almost inner suburbs of Kew, Hawthorn and Camberwell in Booroondara to the outer cities like Maroondah and the Dandenong Ranges.
Districts
| City of Whitehorse Box Hill |
| City of Monash Glen Waverley |
| City of Maroondah Ringwood — a major activity centre in Melbourne's outer north-east — along with Croydon and Bayswate |
| City of Knox Rowville and Scoresby |
| City of Boroondara Boroondara is well-known among Melbournians for its tree-lined streets, expansive parks and traditional English character. Areas such as Kew and Canterbury possess trees of English origin, while newer suburbs settled in the 1960s such as North Balwyn and Ashburton possess more native Australian fauna, such as the abundant gum trees. Famous schools include Xavier College, Trinity Grammar and Genezzano FCJ in Kew, Fintona Girls' School in Balwyn, Camberwell Grammar in Canterbury and Scotch College in Hawthorn, which was established in 1851.
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| City of Manningham Close to the northern suburbs. |
Get in
Boroondara is generally blessed for public transport. It is served by six tram routes, three railway lines, 16 train stations and an abundance of fairly frequent bus routes. A map of Boroondara's public transport network is available on the PTV website.
The Belgrave/Lilydale line provides a fast, direct rail service from the City Centre to middle Boroondara, with stations at the major centres of Hawthorn, Camberwell and Canterbury. The line also connects Boroondara to Box Hill in Whitehorse and Ringwood in Maroondah. The Alamein line generally only operates to the city in the peak, with a transfer at Camberwell Station required during other times.
Tram routes 48 and 109 run from Collins St in the city to the northern part of Boroondara, including Kew, Balwyn and North Balwyn. Routes 70 and 75 operate from Flinders St in the city to the southern parts of Boroondara, including Hawthorn and Camberwell. While tram routes 16 and 72 also operate from Swanston St in the city, they take long detours via the southern suburbs and are not a direct service; they are useful for getting into the area from neighbouring Stonnington.
Bus routes 200 and 207 are useful for reaching Boroondara from the inner north along Johnston and Lygon Streets or neighbouring Manningham and Doncaster. Routes 302 and 304 operate express along the freeway from the city and fill in a gap in the tram network along Belmore Rd.
The Eastern Freeway runs along the northern border of Boroondara, providing convenient access to Kew, East Kew and North Balwyn. Citylink and the Monash Freeway provide the southern border, making access simple to areas in the south. Studley Park Rd, Bridge Rd, Victoria St and Swan St also provide major river crossings from the inner east.
While the Manningham area infamously has no train or tram services, it is surprisingly well-connected to the city and surrounding regions by buses. Most of the buses which serve the main roads are the silver-coloured SmartBuses, which offer real-time arrival information, extended operating hours and on-board announcements of the next stop. They generally operate every 15 minutes or better on weekdays, and every 30 minutes on weekends and at night.
The major public transport hub in the area is the 1 Doncaster Park & Ride.
The 907 SmartBus runs from Lonsdale Street in the city to Doncaster, and is the fastest way to reach Westfield Doncaster and the Park & Ride. The 905 SmartBus services Bulleen and Templestowe from the city, while the 906 SmartBus is the quickest way to reach The Pines, East Doncaster and Warrandyte. The 903 SmartBus operates as a cross-town route, connecting the area to train stations at Heidelberg and Box Hill, while also stopping at the Heide Museum and Westfield Doncaster. Other useful SmartBuses in the area include the 901 (from Melbourne Airport), the 902 and the 908.
Get around
The tram and bus networks form a convenient grid, generally making connections from one part of Boroondara to another simple. Tram routes 48, 109, 70 and 75, and frequent bus routes 200/207 and 302/304 are useful for east-west travel. Tram routes 16 and 72, along with regular bus route 624, provide an option for north-south travel. Bus routes 548, 284 and 285 are also an option for north-south travel although operate less frequently.
Major east-west thoroughfares for vehicles are Earl St/Belmore Rd, Barkers Rd and Burwood Rd. North-south roads include Denmark St/Princess St, Auburn Rd and Burke Rd, although the latter is regularly heavily congested.
Boroondara streets are also generally very walkable and very pleasant, with well-kept footpaths on both sides of the street.
See
- 1 Maranoa Gardens, Yarrbat Ave Balwyn VIC 3103 (Catch the route 109 to Parring Road, then a short walk to the gardens), ☏ +61 3 9278 4444, boroondara@boroondara.vic.gov.au. Mon-Fri (7:30am - 4:00pm) Sat-Sun & public holidays (12:00pm - 5:00pm) closed on Good Friday and Christmas Day. One of Australia's oldest native gardens. Located next to Beckett Park in the leafy suburb of Balwyn, the gardens provide visitors with a large range of native plants in different sections. Free.
- 2 Canterbury streets (Take the Belgrave/Lilydale line to Canterbury station. By car, driving along the Eastern Freeway and then onto Burke Road.). A number of residential streets in Canterbury are renown for their streetscapes and gentle elegance. There are two main groupings of streets that are worth walking along: from Wentworth Avenue to Hopetoun Avenue, and the area between Maling Road, Prospect Hill Road and Wattle Valley Road.
- 3 Maling Road, Maling Road, Canterbury VIC 3126 (Take the Belgrave/Lilydale train to Canterbury station), ☏ +61 434 382 920, info@malingroad.com.au. A lovely quaint shopping village established in the 1800s with an 'old world charm'. Many small boutique shops line the street, with most of the original buildings still intact.
- 4 Melbourne Tram Museum (Hawthorn Tram Depot), 8 Wallen Road Hawthorn (Trams 70 and 75: Stop 29), info@hawthorntramdepot.org.au. 11AM-5PM, 2nd & 4th Sat each month (only 2nd Sa in December). Twenty-one historic, fully-restored trams reside in the museum, including one of the first electrified trams from 1906, several versions of the iconic W-class tram of the 1930s and the original prototype of the "modern" Z-class from 1975. The museum is housed in the now-defunct Hawthorn Tram Depot, which was opened in 1916 in the American Romanesque architectural style. $1-2 donation.
- 5 Hawthorn Town Hall (Hawthorn Arts Centre), 360 Burwood Rd, Hawthorn (Glenferrie Station or Tram 16: Stop 73), ☏ +613 9278 4770, townhallgallery@boroondara.vic.gov.au. Tu-F 10AM-5PM, Sa Su 11AM-4PM. This grand town hall was completed in 1890 in the Second Empire style as the seat of government for the former City of Hawthorn. It now houses an art gallery, a performing arts centre, a youth hub amongst various other functions. Free.
- 6 Coles North Balwyn, 1-9 Doncaster Rd, Balwyn North (Tram 48: Stop 45), ☏ +613 9859 1221. 6AM-midnight daily. While the current refurbished building is nothing spectacular, it was the site of the first free-standing Coles supermarket in Australia in 1960, with the chain later growing to become the largest supermarket chain in Australia.
- 7 Box Hill Town Hall (Whitehorse Town Hall).
- 8 Monash University.
- Ramsay Street from Neighbours.
- 9 Schwerkolt Cottage. Schwerkolt Cottage is a pioneer cottage built around 1880.
- 10 Heide Museum of Modern Art, 7 Templestowe Rd, Bulleen (Train to Heidelberg Station (Hurstbridge Line), then 903 SmartBus towards Mordialloc; alight at Bridge St stop and 5-min walk through park on left), ☏ +61 3 9850 1500, info@heide.com.au. Tu-Su 10AM-5PM. A world-famous contemporary and modern art museum set amongst the Yarra River floodplains in Bulleen. Offers three separate galleries, including one in the original 1870s farmhouse. Home to works of many artists, including Sidney Nolan, Albert Tucker and Joy Hester. There is also a free-entry outdoor sculpture garden which can be visited at any time. A café and gift shop are also located on-site. Free guided tours daily at 2PM. $16 adults, $14 seniors, $12 concessions, children (<12) and sculpture park entry free.
- 11 Maroondah Access Gallery. An art gallery.
Parks
- 12 Ringwood Clock Tower and Park.
- 13 Blackburn Lake Sanctuary.
- 14 Yarra Bend Park (Studley Park) (catch the 200 or 207 bus towards Doncaster/Bulleen and alight on Studley Park Rd; if driving, various sections of park accessible from Heidelberg Rd and Studley Park Rd), ☏ +61 3 131963, info@parks.vic.gov.au. Beautiful and large expanse of parkland and bushland only 3km from the CBD. Contains Fairfield and Studley Park boathouses, walking/cycling tracks, historical sites and picnic areas. Free.
Do
- Koonung Creek Trail (Connects with Main Yarra Trail in the west and the Eastlink Trail in the east). A fairly flat and easy bicycle track following the Eastern Freeway through the suburbs of Kew, North Balwyn, Box Hill North, Blackburn North and Nunawading. A pleasant ride which follows parkland, featuring toilets, drink taps and seating along the route. The entire track is a sealed path and is well signed.
- 1 Studley Park Boathouse, 1 Boathouse Road, Kew (Bus 200 or 207: Yarra Bend Park/Studley Park Rd stop), ☏ +613 9853 1828, info@studleyparkboathouse.com.au. From 9AM daily. Established in 1863, the Studley Park Boathouse is the oldest operating boathouse in Australia. The building is hidden amongst the beautiful Yarra River parkland, and houses a café, restaurant and small kiosk. Visitors are also able to hire a canoe, kayak or rowboat to paddle along the Yarra River, or utilise the walking tracks and playgrounds. Free entry; boat hire from $22 for two people for half-hour.
- Race Party, 97 Camberwell Rd, Hawthorn East (parking at rear), ☏ +61398821391, bookings@raceparty.com. Daily 9AM til late. Race Party is a venue for slot car racing with two custom made eight lane 40-m slot car race tracks, suitable for all ages from 6 and up. from $14.
Events
- Box Hill Chinese New Year Festival.
Buy
Eat
- 1 Camberwell Shopping Centre (Take the Lilydale, Belgrave or Alamein line to Camberwell station), ☏ +61 3 9813 4190. One of the oldest centres of Melbourne, Camberwell boasts a large variety of different cuisines in a traditional shopping 'village' feel. The strip shops stretch along Burke Road from Camberwell Junction in the south up to Burwood Road and beyond in the north.
- 2 Mister Bianco, 285 High Street Kew (take the 48 or 109 tram to Kew), ☏ +61 3 9853 6929, info@misterbianco.com.au. It once won a chef's hat award from the Age's Good Food Guide. Features traditional Sicilian cuisine.
Drink
There are a few small areas which offer some nightlife. These precincts include Glenferrie Road (Hawthorn) and Box Hill. The suburbs are not known for their nightlife.
Sleep
- 1 Shoppingtown Hotel, 19 Williamsons Rd, Doncaster (opposite Westfield SC; Buses 902, 903 or 907), ☏ +613 9848 6811, shoppingtown.hotel@alhgroup.com.au. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. The Shoppingtown is the only real hotel-style accommodation in Manningham, and it's right in the heart of Doncaster Hill. While a bit 1960s, it offers comfortable 3½-star rooms and facilities. The hotel also offers a bar and bistro, a nightclub and a cabaret room, hosting various performances and shows regularly throughout the year.
- 2 Warrandyte Goldfields Bed & Breakfast, 1-3 Whipstick Gully Road, Warrandyte (To/from city, Bus 906: Whipstick Gully Rd stop), ☏ +61 3 9844 0666, katsbb@bigpond.net.au. A humble 4-star bed and breakfast in a scenic rural setting, right next to the main shopping strip of Warrandyte. Includes complimentary breakfast, Wi-Fi and Netflix. Double $185/night.
Stay safe
Although the eastern suburbs of Melbourne are much safer than the north or west, you should still show basic common sense with belongings and travel. Some major centres such as Box Hill and Ringwood have occasional issues with crime.
Connect
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