Correction (10 October 2026): an earlier version of this page listed places and details we could not stand behind. It has been rewritten from scratch: every place below was confirmed at two independent sources on 9 October 2026, and every price was copied from the page it was published on.
Free first, always. Five places made this weekend plan: three in Kew East, one in Kew and one in Balwyn North, so it is in and around the suburb.
Each was checked against at least two sources. Hours say whose listing they come from. The only prices we could read are Freeway Golf Course’s, and they are printed exactly as the site shows them.
The quick picks
| If you’re after | Head to | Order this | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday cafe stop | Bean Thief | see below | not printed here |
| Op shop browse | Vinnies Kew East | see below | not printed here |
| Free park and playground | Hays Paddock | see below | not printed here |
| Saturday toy library session | Kew Toy Library | see below | not printed here |
| A public round of golf | Freeway Golf Course | MID-WEEK 18-HOLES | $42.50 |
Bean Thief — 773 High Street, Kew East VIC 3102
Bean Thief is at 773 High Street. Its own site lists Monday to Saturday 6am to 4pm and Sunday 6:30am to 4pm. AGFG lists Child Friendly, Takeaway, Breakfast, Alfresco Dining and Free Wifi. The site carries no recent date, so treat the hours as a guide.
Time needed: open from 6am on Saturday and 6:30am on Sunday, per its own site.
Vinnies Kew East — 735 High Street, Kew East VIC 3102
Vinnies Kew East is at 735 High Street. The shop’s own page says it offers a great variety of homewares, fashion and electrical goods. It lists Saturday 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM and Sunday 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. We have not printed holiday hours, since the page itself looks out of date on those.
Rain backup: a shop is an indoor option, with Sunday opening from 10:00 AM on its listing.
Hays Paddock — 25-27 Longstaff Street, Kew East VIC 3102
Start here, because it costs nothing. The council says its facilities are free for all park visitors and not bookable. It lists a barbecue, a basketball half-court, exercise equipment, an off-lead dog area, a picnic shelter, toilets and an all-abilities playground with a billabong theme. It also mentions an archery range and two sportsgrounds.
Free first: the council says the car park is off Longstaff Street, and the park is a 5-minute walk from the number 48 tram.
Kew Toy Library — 152 Pakington Street, Kew VIC 3101
Kew Toy Library is at 152 Pakington Street in Kew. Its site advertises Stay & Play sessions in 2026. The contact page lists Saturday 9.30am to 2.00pm, plus weekday sessions. It is membership-based as far as we can tell, and we did not read a joining page, so ask before you turn up.
Plan it: Saturday is the weekend slot on the contact page, 9.30am to 2.00pm.
Freeway Golf Course — 47-49 Columba Street, Balwyn North VIC 3104
Freeway Golf Course is in Balwyn North, not Kew East. Its site says it is 100% public access every single day. It prints MID-WEEK 18-HOLES $42.50 and WEEKEND + P/HOL 18-HOLES $45.50. It says bookings open up to 8 days ahead online. This one is a paid outing, not a free one.
Listed prices (copied from freewaygolf.com.au/play-golf on 9 October 2026):
- MID-WEEK 18-HOLES: $42.50
- MID-WEEK 9-HOLES: $32.00
- WEEKEND + P/HOL 18-HOLES: $45.50
- WEEKEND + P/HOL 9-HOLES: $34.00
Plan it: book online first, as the site describes, and check the rates above against the site.
Quick answers
What is free to do in Kew East on a weekend?
Hays Paddock is the free pick. The council says its facilities are free for all park visitors and not bookable, and lists a playground, a barbecue, a picnic shelter and an off-lead dog area.
What time does Vinnies Kew East start trading on Sunday?
The shop’s own page lists Sunday trading from mid-morning, and Saturday opening slightly earlier. The hours are in the Vinnies Kew East entry above. Check with the shop before going.
How much does Freeway Golf Course cost?
Freeway Golf Course prints MID-WEEK 18-HOLES $42.50 on its site. It also prints WEEKEND + P/HOL 18-HOLES $45.50. For a shorter round it prints MID-WEEK 9-HOLES $32.00.
Can I get a Sunday coffee at Bean Thief?
Yes, per Bean Thief’s own site, which lists Sunday opening for the cafe at 773 High Street; the exact hours are in its entry above. The site carries no recent date, so confirm before you go.
How we checked
We checked every place on this page against at least two independent sources on 9 October 2026: OpenStreetMap, the places’ own websites, the Australian Good Food Guide and council pages. Every price is copied exactly as printed on the page linked under Sources, on 9 October 2026. Menus, prices and opening hours change, so check with the venue before you go. The cover photo is illustrative, from Unsplash, and does not show any place on this page.
Seen something out of date? Email [email protected] with the page link and what has changed, and we will check it again.
Sources
- Bean Thief: openstreetmap.org/7314535515, thebeanthief.com.au, agfg.com.au/the-bean-thief-50934
- Vinnies Kew East: openstreetmap.org/12410872578, vinnies.org.au/vinnies-kew-east
- Hays Paddock: openstreetmap.org/29060206, boroondara.vic.gov.au/hays-paddock, boroondara.vic.gov.au/hays-paddock-playground-kew-east, boroondara.vic.gov.au/playgrounds-boroondara, boroondara.vic.gov.au/public-recreation-facilities
- Kew Toy Library: openstreetmap.org/4959754692, kewtoylibrary.org.au/contact, kewtoylibrary.org.au
- Freeway Golf Course: openstreetmap.org/25453148, freewaygolf.com.au/contact-us, freewaygolf.com.au, freewaygolf.com.au/play-golf
