There’s lots to love about living in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, here’s just a few.
Growing café culture
Travel through any eastern suburb of Melbourne and you’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to finding a place worthy of stopping to get your caffeine fix or tantalise your tastebuds. Within this growing medley of café’s there’s a sub-culture of kid-friendly ones sprouting so keep your eye out for those if you have little ones in tow.
Looking for something new or off the beaten path to try?
- The Hatter and the Hare, Bayswater – located in an industrial district
- Mr Ristretto, Lilydale – serves unusual latte’s
- Frank’s Cakes, Ferntree Gully – get your Italian cake fix here
- Little Hugh, Nunawading – another gem in an industrial area
- The Bakers Wife Camberwell – warehouse meets culinary delights
- The Public Brewery, Croydon – technically not a café but still worthy of this list
Recreation options
If you’re looking for something to do, the choices are endless. The eastern suburbs is home to adult and kid friendly recreation options. Here’s a few to try:
- rock climbing at Hardrock in Nunawading
- Yarra Ranges Museum, Lilydale
- watch the miniature racing cars at Boronia
- pick up a bargain at the Camberwell market
- TunzaFun, Knox Ozone – extreme indoor fun for a rainy day
- enjoy a movie at a smaller, boutique cinema – Belgrave or Croydon cinema, Palace in Balwyn
- take the dog to one of the many off lead dog-friendly parks – Croydon, Knox, Lilydale Lake
- take in some art at Wyreena Community Arts Centre, Croydon
An abundance of parks and open spaces
Enjoy brisk heart-pumping walks, a family picnic, a river stroll or a bike ride in one of our beautiful eastern suburbs parks. You might want to try:
- Ruffey Lake park – lake, picnic area, playground
- Jells park – lake, picnic area, playground, walking tracks
- Blackburn Lake Sanctuary – lake, walking tracks, playground, picnic area
- Surrey Park – ex quarry, remote controlled boats can often be seen here
- Halliday Park – playground, picnic area
- Lilydale Lake – bird spotting walk, off lead dog area, playground, picnic area
- Warrandyte state park – endless options
Extensive transport options
The past ten years has seen those living in the eastern suburbs become more connected than ever. We enjoy options such as:
- public transport choices – railway, bus, tram, taxi, NightRider bus, Telebus
- the airport bus
- Eastlink/eastern freeway
- underground railway crossings
- plenty of multi lane roads
Proximity to the beach/bush/mountains/CBD
Within an hour of most eastern suburbs, you can be at a beach, a mountain or in the hustle and bustle of the city centre. Some easy to reach destinations you might consider are:
- Olinda or Sassafras or for a spot of lunch
- 1000 steps in Ferntree Gully
- a day spent on the Mornington Peninsula
- a leisurely stroll along the river at Warrandyte
- the weekly Saturday morning market at St Andrews
- a winery hop in the Yarra Valley
- a day trip to Healesville Sanctuary.
