Moving to Forest Hill (2026)
Moving suburbs is one of the biggest decisions you will make. This guide puts every essential for Forest Hill in one place — the GP you will register with, the supermarket you will default to, the cafe that becomes your regular, and the park where you will walk the dog.
Forest Hill at a Glance
| Need | Forest Hill |
|---|---|
| Estimated rent (1BR) | $260–$360/week |
| Restaurants | 0 |
| Cafes | 3 |
| Schools | 8 |
| Parks | 11 |
| Medical | 6 |
| Supermarkets | 0 |
| Pharmacies | 2 |
Your First Week in Forest Hill
Day 1-2: Set Up Healthcare
Register with a GP immediately — do not wait until you are sick.
Forest Hill has 6 medical facilities:
| Facility | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Peter James Centre | 321-345 Burwood Highway | +61 3 9881 1888 |
| Forest Hill Medical & Dental Centre | 490-524 Springvale Road, Forest Hill | — |
| Dorevitch Pathology | 204 Canterbury Road, Blackburn South | — |
| Capital Radiology | 399-401 Burwood Highway, Vermont South | — |
| Capital Radiology Nuclear Medicine | 405 Burwood Highway, Vermont South | — |
| Melbourne Pathology | 249 Canterbury Road, Forest Hill | — |
Pharmacies: Chemist Warehouse, Direct Chemist Outlet
Day 2-3: Find Your Supermarket
Day 3-4: Explore the Food Scene
Forest Hill has 0 restaurants and 3 cafes. Start with these:
Morning coffee:
- The Coffee Club
- The Jolimont — 73 Jolimont Road, Forest Hill
- Bella Barista
Day 4-5: Set Up Transport
- Get a Myki card — available at any train station, 7-Eleven, or PTV hub
- Myki Money vs Myki Pass — Money for occasional use, Pass for daily commuters
- Daily cap: $10.60 (Zone 1+2) — you will never pay more than this per day
- Register your Myki at ptv.vic.gov.au — protects your balance if lost
Check PTV Journey Planner for your specific commute from Forest Hill.
Day 5-7: Walk the Neighbourhood
Forest Hill has 11 parks. Find the one closest to your place and make it your default walk:
- Mahoneys Reserve
- Forest Hill Reserve
- Glen Valley Reserve
- Melbourne Water Pipe Reserve
- Wren Close Reserve
- Ngarrak Nakorang Wilamn Reserve
If You Have Kids
Forest Hill has 8 schools. Check your zone at findmyschool.vic.gov.au.
| School | Address |
|---|---|
| Vermont South Special School | 22-30 Livingstone Road |
| Forest Hill College | 178-198 Mahoneys Road |
| Emmaus College | 487-503 Springvale Road |
| Livingstone Primary School | 25-29 Livingstone Road |
| Mount Pleasant Road Primary School | 105-107 Mount Pleasant Road, Nunawading |
Cost of Living in Forest Hill
| Expense | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Rent (1BR) | $260–$360/week |
| Groceries (weekly, single) | $80–$120 |
| Myki transport (monthly) | ~$165 |
| Utilities (monthly) | $150–$250 |
| Internet (monthly) | $60–$90 |
| Flat white (daily) | $4.50–$5.50 |
See our detailed Cost of Living Guide for the full breakdown.
Should You Move to Forest Hill?
Read our Honest Guide for the unfiltered pros and cons based on real data.
Related Guides
- Best Restaurants in Forest Hill
- Best Cafes in Forest Hill
- Best Bars in Forest Hill
- Cost of Living in Forest Hill
- Forest Hill Neighbourhood Guide
- Family Guide to Forest Hill
- Is Forest Hill Safe?
- Forest Hill Transport Guide
Last updated: March 2026. This guide is refreshed when OpenStreetMap data changes — new openings, closures and corrections are reflected automatically. Found something wrong? Let us know.
Sources
- OpenStreetMap Contributors — openstreetmap.org — accessed March 2026
- ABS Census 2021 — abs.gov.au/census
- REIV Quarterly Median Prices — reiv.com.au
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