Family Friendly Suburbs on a Budget
Melbourne is a vibrant city that offers a variety of family-friendly suburbs to choose from. If you're on a budget, there are several suburbs that offer a great quality of life, with good schools, a variety shopping options, and public transport links, at an affordable price. Here are six of the best budget family-friendly suburbs in Melbourne that you should consider:
Altona Meadows
Located in the western suburbs of Melbourne, Altona Meadows is a quiet and family-friendly suburb that offers excellent value for money. The suburb is well connected to the city via public transport, with Laverton or Westona train station and a commute to the CBD of around 60 minutes. By car, it can take as little as 45 minutes depending on traffic over the Westgate Bridge and time of day.
There are several good schools in the area, including Altona Meadows Primary School and Queen of Peace Parish Primary School. Shopping options include Central Square Shopping Centre, which has a Coles and Aldi, as well as number of smaller retailers.
Outdoorsy families will love the parks in the area including Truganina Park overlooking the bay and the Laverton Creek Trail, which are great for a family day out. The area is also known for it’s very popular dog beach.
Bonbeach
Located in the southeastern suburbs of Melbourne, Bonbeach is a lovely beachside suburb that is perfect for families who are looking for a sea change at an affordable price. The suburb is well connected to the city via public transport, with a train station that runs on the Frankston line. The commute to the CBD via train takes around 50-60 minutes (shorter via express train), and by car, it takes around 50 minutes depending on time of day.
Bonbeach Primary School is the local school, and it holds a popular farmers market monthly on a Sunday. Cafe wise there are also a couple of local hidden gems like Bonbeach Tuck Shop perfect for an early morning coffee pre-school drop off.
The suburb is known for its laid-back vibe and its beautiful beach, which is crystal clear and calm, perfect swimming for young families on a lazy afternoon.
Ringwood
After a tree change? Ringwood is a suburb located approximately 23 km east of Melbourne's CBD. The suburb is well-connected to public transport, with a train station that offers regular services to the CBD. The commute via train takes around 50 minutes. Driving to the CBD takes around 45 minutes via EastLink depending on the time of day.
The suburb is known for its shopping options, with Eastland Shopping Centre being one of the largest shopping centers in the area. The center is home to over 350 retailers, including major department stores, Holey Moley Mini Golf and a busy dining square perfect for family friendly dinners.
Ringwood is home to several parks and playgrounds, including Ringwood Lake Park, which offers picnic areas, walking trails, and a large lake.
The suburb has a mix of housing styles, including post-war homes, townhouses, and newer apartment complexes.
Hidden gems in Ringwood include the Ringwood Farmers' Market, which is held every Saturday, and the Ringwood Community Garden, which offers a place for locals to grow their own produce. Aquanation is also very popular with families and Ringwood Gold Course is a highly rated public course.
Cheltenham
Located in the southeastern suburbs of Melbourne a stone’s throw away from the beach, Cheltenham is a family-friendly suburb that offers a great quality of life at an affordable price. The suburb is well connected to the city via public transport, with a brand new train station that has express trains in peak times. The commute to the CBD via train takes around 30-40 minutes, and by car, it takes around 50 minutes.
There are several good schools in the area, including Cheltenham Primary, Le Page Primary and Kingston Heath. In terms of Secondary Schools many families opt for Cheltenham Secondary or for girls the single sex Mentone Secondary School.
Cheltenham is split into 2 distinct areas, the more expensive being south of the Nepean Highway and the more affordable being north.
The southern parts of the suburb are close to Beaumaris Bay which has Mentone life saving club, a beautiful costal walking track and popular dog beach. The northern parts are in close proximity to the Highett Wave Pool, Southland Shopping Centre and some stand out playgrounds.
