Samantha Allemann

While sleepy Templestowe doesn’t get the glory of its more well-known neighbours Eltham and Doncaster, there’s a lot to love about this suburb. Located 16km north-east of Melbourne’s CBD, Templestowe has many sprawling nature parks to enjoy, as well as great family-friendly cafés and restaurants. What’s Templestowe known for? Westerfolds Park holds a prominent position in Templestowe, just off busy Fitzsimons Lane, with 123 hectares of parkland by the Yarra River. Another popular place to breathe in the fresh air by the Yarra River is Petty’s Orchard, a 44-hectare apple orchard open to visitors. Why do the locals love it? Morgana Eastman-Santi, manager of Power Plant Café, says Templestowe’s parks and playgrounds are its stand-outs. “People love the green areas like Westerfolds Park, and Wombat Bend is wonderful for children and has an amazing playground,” she says. How do I get to Templestowe? Not the most well connected by public transport, you’re limited to bus services as there aren’t any trains or trams. The 281 bus runs from Templestowe to Deakin University in Burwood via Box Hill, while the 905 service shuttles between the city and the Pines Shopping Centre, stopping off through Templestowe. There are also great walking tracks for those on foot, such as the Main Yarra Trail which starts at Westerfolds and ends in Southbank 33kms later. What’s nearby? The leafy, a bit hippy yet affluent Eltham is north of Templestowe, with Lower Plenty to the west. Doncaster is to t

Located in Melbourne’s east, Ringwood is a great spot to indulge in retail therapy or enjoy the free delights of its lake and parks. What’s Ringwood known for? Eastland Shopping Centre and Ringwood Lake are most likely to spring to mind, both offering some R&R in the suburb. With lots of great schools in the area, Ringwood is a family-orientated suburb that has lots to offer in sporting clubs and facilities. There are also many fantastic eateries, pubs and bars to choose from. Why do the locals love it? Melanie Briant from café Mister Fox says there’s lots to do in Eastland. “Holey Moley Mini Golf there is great, and Ringwood Town Square [dining precinct] is really nice,” she says. “Mister Fox is connected to Ringwood Golf Course which has been voted one of the best public golf courses in Victoria, and Aquanation is also popular.” How do I get to Ringwood? Ringwood is well served by public transport, with three train stations. Ringwood station stands directly opposite Eastland, with Heatherdale station and the smaller Ringwood East station close by. Both the Belgrave and Lilydale lines will get you to Ringwood station and Heatherdale station, while only the Lilydale service stops at Ringwood East. There are lots of bus routes too and it's very easy to reach the suburb by car. What’s nearby? Mitcham and Nunawading are neighbouring suburbs to the west, while Wantirna and Heathmont are below. Croydon is also nearby, and if you go north you’ll soon be in Warrandyte. Map of Ri

The beauty of Heidelberg is no new revelation. The Heidelberg School, a 19th-century Australian art movement, made it famous as it was often the location for the Impressionist paintings by the likes of Arthur Streeton and Walter Withers. Artists might still paint ‘en plein air’ and use the sprawling parklands as their muse, however, these days Heidelberg is also known for its array of multicultural cafés and restaurants.   Jump to a section: EAT DRINK COFFEE SHOPPING THINGS TO DO What’s Heidelberg known for? As well as playing a central role in the Heidelberg School movement, this suburb is today known for being the location of the Austin Hospital. Heidelberg is also known as being a confusing triptych of sorts with its siblings Heidelberg West and Heidelberg Heights. While these two areas are considered less popular than Heidelberg itself, they’re becoming more desirable due to their proximity to the city and inner suburbs. Why do the locals love it? Mary Martell, a volunteer at social enterprise café the Sycamore Tree, says the “variety of cafés and great public transport links” are what make Heidelberg great. “I enjoy walking my dogs Magnus and Hugo around the area,” she says. Keep an eye out for some more of Mary’s recommendations throughout the article. How do I get to Heidelberg? Unless you want to battle the traffic on Rosanna Road and Burgundy Street, take public transport instead. Heidelberg train station is directly opposite the Austin Hospital and just off vibran