What we love about Aspendale: Celebrating Victoria’s south-eastern beachside gem
WANT to live the relaxing beachside lifestyle while still only 50 minutes from the CBD? Then one of Melbourne’s best kept secret suburbs is the place to be.
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WANT to live the relaxing beachside lifestyle while still only 50 minutes from the CBD? Then one of Melbourne’s best kept secret suburbs is the place to be.
There’s a lot to love about the coastal hub of Aspendale and it’s not just its proximity to the soft golden sand and twinkling blue water of the beach.
Just 28kms from the city, Aspendale is a little coastal destination that’s big on character, and the locals love to rightly brag that living in Aspy makes you feel like you’re permanently on holiday.
From the family-friendly community to the pristine dog-friendly beach, we’ve compiled a list of all there is to love about living in this often little-known suburb.
WHAT WE LOVE ABOUT FRANKSTON
WHY WE LOVE WERRIBEE
WHAT’S NOT TO LOVE ABOUT BERWICK
THE FOOD
Aspendale is home to a whole host of tasty dining spots that include cute cafes, pizzerias, fish and chip hot spots, even a Mexican cantina. So we’ve highlighted just a few of Aspendale’s best eats.
The Kitchen Table
The Kitchen Table is a popular café with the locals for its kid-friendly and dog-friendly approach to food service.
The café has a built-in blackboard to keep the kiddies occupied and the furry member of the family is always welcome.
Butch and Sundance
Known for their tasty food and friendly service, Butch and Sundance is a popular Aspendale stop.
The staff are determined to serve up a delicious coffee every time and will always make the effort to remember you and your coffee order. And the food is delicious.
It’s also a great stop for busy parents who can pop in for a Butch and Sundance take home meal to feed the family.
Laura St Fish n Chips
When you think beachside eating, you think fish and chips and the local families of Aspendale have a nice little spot to get their chip hit.
Laura St Fish n Chips has a great menu with affordable prices, offering the usual fish menu faves along with specialty snacks like banana fritters, pumpkin cakes, deep fried mars bars and even South Melbourne dim sims.
THE BEACH
Aspendale is one of the few suburbs along the bay where you can live practically on the sand. How many people can say they walk out their back door and step onto the soft stuff? Residents of Aspendale, that’s who.
Coming home to a walk along the beach and looking out over the crystal clear water is a relaxing sight for many Aspy locals after a long work day in the bustle of the CBD, and many claim theirs is the “best beach along the bay”.
After Brighton, Aspendale is the next closest beach to the CBD where you can own one of Melbourne’s coveted and colourful beach boxes. But be prepared to pull out your wallet, the quick-selling sand houses aren’t going under the hammer for less than $100k these days.
We can’t forget the furry members of the family and owning a dog is almost a must in this suburb. Dogs are welcome to join you for a run in the waves but only during specific times of the day.
THE COMMUNITY
Just try walking along the beach or in the streets of Aspendale and not have a total stranger nod a hello. There’s a real sense of small town community among the locals and they like it that way.
Aspendale is also a suburb that prides itself on supporting its retiree community. The City of Kingston offer a huge host of activities aimed at getting the seniors of Aspendale socialising and staying active, from line dancing and bingo days to indoor bowls and gentle exercise classes.
THE AMENITIES
The schools in Aspendale are a big part of what attracts so many families to the area and all types of educational options are covered including public, catholic and special needs schools.
And there are two childcare centres for parents with young bubs to choose from.
Getting in and out of Aspendale is easy with the Frankston line running straight through the suburb and the station just a short walk for most residents.
There are great scenic tracks for cyclists or a lazy walk for those looking for something less strenuous.
Aspendale even has its very own golf course. Rossdale Golf Club is described as “a picturesque course weaving through corridors of pines, eucalyptus and coastal banksias” right on Aspendale residents’ door step.
THINGS TO DO
Being a City of Kingston suburb, there’s plenty of fun activities Aspendale families can get stuck into.
The nearby Chelsea library offers a Book Busters session each week for “kids in grades 4, 5 and 6 who love books and reading, activities, snacks, meeting new friends and having fun in the library”.
Pre-kinder Gumnuts and playgroup sessions are on offer for parents and bubs to get social.
Families can get fit together at the nearby Chelsea activity hub with fun exercise classes, or sign up for the ‘Messy Family Fun Afternoon’ which includes crafts, games, food and family sharing time.
Nearby Cheltenham offers holiday programs for kids who like to cook, do crafts, watch movies and be social.
The Fizzle and Pop show at the Clarinda Library gives kids a chance to experience “the magic of science with fun, creative demonstrations, lots of hands-on opportunities for willing participants and heaps to see and wonder about.”
Families can bring their furry friends along to the Kingston Pet Expo which includes competitions, animal displays, face painting and a sausage sizzle.
And there’s plenty for the big kids to do too, like the Mordialloc Food, Wine and Music Festival, the Kingston Harvest Festival and the Kingston Farmers Market.
Time to start checking out those property listings, a move to Aspendale might be in order.
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