DINE OUT
In the realm of dining, options are endless for residents of Yarra Park. Beyond what’s on offer within Yarrabend itself, Fairfield’s vibrant Station Street is just a short stroll from home, a precinct brimming with trendy eateries, plentiful food stores and bakeries that are coveted throughout wider Melbourne. Alphington’s own collection of restaurants and cafes is also yours to discover, including stylish new Asian eatery Benjamin’s Kitchen and the Alphington Food Store, a local institution.
Calling all dog-owners, coffee connoisseurs and lovers of delicious culinary creations. Hoppa and Joe is Fairfield’s quintessential brunch spot. The eatery is the brainchild of hospitality whiz Kirsten Taylor, who was formerly the general manager at cult café Chez Dre in South Melbourne. Brought to life in 2016, the café is cosy yet modern, designed by Taylor herself. Sit yourself down within the bright, plant-filled interiors and peruse the expertly devised menu.
Oasis Bakery opened 20 years ago as a humble little Lebanese cake shop in Murrumbeena. Since then, it has grown leaps and bounds, expanding into a Middle Eastern café, restaurant, grocery store, deli and cooking school - all run by the dedicated Makool Family. A sure-fire Melbourne institution, its cult following grew so much, the family decided to open a second Oasis in the inner-north.
PARKS & RECREATION
Lending itself to an outdoor lifestyle, Alphington is set to a leisurely, laidback pace – awash with a variety of recreational hubs and leisurely retreats. On weekends, start your morning off with a hit of golf at the prestigious Latrobe Golf Club, home to a 70-hectare course dotted with leafy gums and picturesque billabongs. For a jog or bike ride surrounded by greenery, Studley Park and Yarrabend Park are both close at hand, or head to Alphington Park where a football and tennis club are found.
Established in 1908 as a picnic, camping and refreshment spot, Fairfield Boat House is a stately Edwardian establishment with a rich history and quaint heritage charm. The building was given a facelift in 2010, and ever since, has served as a riverside dining destination as well as a boat-hiring venue. Rent one of their hand-built rowing skiffs (the only ones in the southern hemisphere) or a kayak, and take a ride along one of the most picturesque stretches of the Yarra. Lush gums flank either side of the river, which is dotted with magnificent species of birdlife like the elegant black swan.
Afterwards, rest and refuel at the cafe with a drink and bite to eat. The menu is comprised of classic breakfasts and hearty lunches including pumpkin soup, vegan coconut curry and beer battered fish and chips. There’s also an impressive selection of wines and cocktails on offer as well as a scrumptious Devonshire Tea – especially enjoyable in the cooler months of the year.
EDUCATION & AMENITY
While luscious trees and rippling rivers make it easy to forget you’re just minutes from urban life, Alphington’s well-serviced public transport and myriad of prestigious schools come as a welcome reminder. Just a 9-minute walk from Yarra Park, Alphington Primary is an exceptional choice for those embarking on their journey into the schooling world. A safe, engaging and caring environment, the school creates self-confident young adults who are thoroughly ready for high school. And when that day comes, the suburb offers various options. Alphington Grammar and Ivanhoe Grammar are two esteemed private schools just minutes from Yarrabend. Both offer world-class facilities, exemplary learning programs and outstanding co-curricular activities.
If the need to venture out and about arises, Alphington Station is a 9-minute walk from Yarra Park. Sitting as part of the Hurstbridge line, a train from here will carry you swiftly into the city in just 20-minutes. For those who prefer to drive, it’s only a 15-minute journey to both University of Melbourne and RMIT. Stopping at Clifton Hill, Collingwood and Jolimont Station along the way, accessing Melbourne’s foremost cultural hubs couldn’t be easier.
