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.

Get in
The eastern suburbs are generally well-serviced by public transport.

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 hubs in the area are, ,

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






Box Hill

 * The Box Hill Hawks are a local Australian rules football club, playing in the Victorian Football League and are based at the Box Hill City Oval. They are affiliated with the Hawthorn Hawks.
 * The Whitehorse Pioneers compete in the Eastern Football League.
 * Box Hill United Soccer Club competes in the National Premier Leagues Victoria 2.
 * Box Hill has an 18-hole golf course, located at 202 Station Street.



Eat
The is 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. Take the Lilydale, Belgrave or Alamein line to Camberwell station



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.

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.

Go Next
Popular destinations accessible from the Eastern suburbs include the Yarra Valley wine region, Warburton, and Healesville Sanctuary.