Maroondah: The best and worst suburbs to live in during coronavirus lockdown
Maroondah residents are restricted to staying within a 5km radius of their homes under the State Government’s latest coronavirus restrictions. But are you in a ‘good’ suburb to be in lockdown or a bad ‘suburb’.
Outer East
Don't miss out on the headlines from Outer East. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Maroondah residents can only stay within a 5km radius of their homes after the State Government introduced Stage 4 coronavirus restrictions until mid-September.
Most suburbs have good access to shopping centres and other goods and services which are staying open, but for those on the borders, it's a little tougher.
Our guide is based on entering each suburb into our 5km radius interactive tool, which you can find further down.
Here’s our guide to some of the best and worst Maroondah suburbs to live in during the coronavirus lockdown.
BEST
HEATHMONT
There might be a few abandoned eyesores around town, but Heathmont residents are in a brilliant position to cope with lockdown life.
Based on the 5km radius search, residents can access major shopping centres Eastland and Westfield Knox, as well as their local shops in Heathmont Village and nearby at Ringwood East.
Aside from the local gem HE Parker Reserve, parks including Jubilee Park, Eastfield Park, Ringwood Lake and Marie Wallace Reserve in Bayswater are in the radius, as is Maroondah Hospital and Knox Private Hospital for any emergencies.
Train travel as far as Boronia, Mitcham and Ringwood East should be OK.
RINGWOOD
Ringwood residents are also well placed for lockdown life, depending on how close you are to the town’s centre.
Within the 5km radius, Ringwood residents can go as far as the outskirts of Vermont, Mitcham and Nunawading in the city of Whitehorse, Wantirna and Bayswater in the city of Knox, and even a bit of Park Orchards and Donvale in Manningham.
All the amenities of Eastland and Ringwood Square shopping centre are nearby, and Heathmont Village and the Bedford Rd and Ringwood East shops are accessible, too.
Train travel from Ringwood railway station out as far as Ringwood East, Mitcham or Bayswater is OK.
RINGWOOD EAST
Ringwood East residents have plenty of shopping options within their radius, including their local shops near the railway station, Bedford Rd, Croydon Main St, North Ringwood Shopping Centre and Eastland.
Heathmont Village, Wantirna Mall and the Mountain High centre in Bayswater are also accessible.
Most of the areas’s main parks can also be reached including Dorset Recreation Reserve, Croydon’s Town Park and Cheyong Park.
CROYDON SOUTH
Out of all the Croydon suburbs, Croydon South comes out tops and is arguably the best placed for shopping and other services.
Shops as far as Eastland and Ringwood North shopping centre are OK, as Croydon Main St and the services at the ‘Five Ways’ intersection near Mooroolbark.
Most of Bayswater, Kilsyth and Kilsyth South is OK to travel to, and you could take a train ride from Ringwood through to Mooroolbark or Bayswater railway stations.
Think of the start of EastLink and the end of the Ringwood Bypass as your boundary.
BAYSWATER NORTH
Bayswater North residents who need to use public transport are serviced well — you can travel by train down to Boronia, out to Croydon, and Ringwood railway station is just inside your zone.
Things aren’t as ideal for the big shopping centres — Westfield Knox is off limits, and the radius cuts through Eastland.
But shopping strips in Boronia, Heathmont, Ringwood East, Croydon and Croydon South are fine.
Forest Rd at The Basin and the corner of Mount Dandenong and Canterbury Rds in Montrose are your boundaries.
WARRANWOOD
Warranwood residents have a bit of their zone taken up by bushland going into Park Orchards, Warrandyte and Wonga Park in nearby Manningham.
But for shopping, Croydon Main Street and Arndale are OK, and most of Croydon’s parks and Ringwood Lake park make it in.
Ringwood East’s shops and Maroondah Hospital are within reach, and Eastland just sneaks in too, but only if you enter off Warrandyte Rd.
RINGWOOD NORTH
Like Warranwood, Ringwood North residents also have a fair chunk of their radius taken up by Manningham bushland.
But Park Orchards and a bit of Donvale can be reached and most of Croydon, including the parks and shops on Main St sneak in your zone.
Ringwood North residents can also comfortably use their local shopping centre and Eastland, and train travel to Mitcham, Heathmont and Croydon is OK.
A good rule of thumb for your boundaries would be the Springvale Rd turn off to EastLink (towards Donvale), and the corner of Maroondah Hwy and Croydon Rd.
WORST
CROYDON
Bad news for Croydon residents wanting an Eastland fix — your radius falls just short of the Ringwood shopping centre.
In fact, the next biggest shopping centre, Chirnside Park in the Yarra Ranges, only just sneaks in, with one of its carparks outside the radius.
But there are plenty of smaller shopping options closer to home including Croydon Main St, Arndale shopping centre and the Eastfield shops.
The radius covers nearby suburbs Kilsyth and Warranwood, along with a bit of Wonga Park — and you can travel by train into Mooroolbark if you want.
Maroondah Hospital is not far away, and Ringwood Lake reserve is also just inside the boundary if you want to stretch your legs there.
KILSYTH SOUTH
If you think Croydon is hard done by — spare a thought for Kilsyth South residents.
Maroondah Hospital is outside its radius, as are major shopping centres Eastland and Westfield Knox, Croydon Main St and the Chirnside Park Shopping Centre.
The biggest collection of shops can be found at Boronia Mall or residents can also go to Bayswater’s Mountain High Centre.
A huge Woolworths supermarket and pharmacy is next to Club Kilsyth, while there’s a Shell service station, KFC and Hungry Jacks on the corner of Dorset and Canterbury Rds.
The ‘five ways’ intersection and its shops and services on the edge of Mooroolbark also just sneak in.
Kilsyth South’s radius covers a good chunk of Montrose and The Basin, and some bushland near Mount Dandenong.
CROYDON NORTH
Like their neighbours, Eastland is off limits for Croydon North residents, with Chirnside Park shopping centre the biggest one inside.
And unless you want to do a return trip from Croydon to Mooroolbark (the next station up), there’s not much access for train commuters.
Wonga Park, most of Mooroolbark and a bit of Kilsyth fit in your zone if you need any services out that way.
Dorset Recreation Reserve or the Town Park are probably the best options for stretching your legs.
CROYDON HILLS
Bad luck Croydon Hills residents — Eastland’s just outside your radius, which also cuts through Ringwood Lake park.
A big part of Warrandyte South and Wonga Park takes up space in your zone as well.
But shops and services in Ringwood North, Ringwood East and Croydon are fine, and Maroondah Hospital is also within the radius.
And anything in Mooroolbark along Manchester Rd is OK, up to its Maroondah Hwy intersection.
MORE: MAROONDAH’S MOST ACTIVE CASES BY POSTCODE
SAFETY FEARS AT CROYDON TESTING SITE