Things to do in Kew
A curated neighbourhood guide — walks, culture, food, and local favourites.
The heart of Kew's retail and café scene, centred around High Street and Cotham Road. It has an independent, neighbourhood feel — think boutique homewares, a good butcher, and sit-down cafés rather than chain stores.
A large bushland reserve where the Yarra River bends sharply, offering walking and cycling trails through remnant native bush. The Boathouse at Studley Park — a heritage tea house on the river — is a genuine local institution.
A winding, tree-lined road along the Yarra River escarpment that is one of Melbourne's great cycling and running routes. On weekends it fills with cyclists from across the city who come for its challenging climbs and river views.
Kew's residential streets contain some of Melbourne's finest Victorian and Edwardian architecture. Canterbury Road and the avenues off it reward a slow walk for anyone interested in heritage homes and garden design.
A striking Victorian Gothic complex completed in 1872 and now converted to residential apartments, the grounds and exterior remain open to view and are Heritage Victoria–listed. It's a genuinely fascinating piece of Melbourne social history.