Moonee Ponds has a breezy feel – it’s not too far from the city but there’s no sense of being cramped. Go for a bike ride by the river then reward yourself with brunch at The Boathouse. Grab coffee at Nabiha, check out some theatre at the iconic Clock Tower or make like a tourist and spend an afternoon at Moonee Valley Racecourse.
There’s plenty of good shopping to be had, from strip shopping on Puckle Street to supermarket shopping at Moonee Ponds Central. Moonee Ponds is easily accessed by train, tram and bus and, being such a family-friendly area, there is a large number of public and private schools.
Sandwiched between Ascot Vale and Essendon, Moonee Ponds has a similar architectural feel with a plethora of beautiful period homes peppering its leafy streets, from grand Edwardians and Victorians to classic California bungalows.
For more compact living, there are modest mid-century flats and tracts of contemporary designer townhouses, as well as ultra-modern apartment developments, many with city or park views.
Whether you’ve got kids or not, Moonee Ponds straddles that vibe of inner-city and outer peace, giving you all the advantages without any of the hassle. Its nifty north-west location is well serviced by public transport and riverside bike tracks, schools are plentiful, as are hip cafes, and housing can span the eras, from Edwardian to split-second designer.