Correction (2 October 2026): an earlier version of this page listed places and details we could not stand behind. It has been rewritten, and every place below was checked against its own current information.
A park is a line on a map before it is anything else, so this guide starts with the map. Four of the seven below are in Kew. The other three sit just over the border in Hawthorn and Hawthorn East, and they are here because the council’s own pages describe them well and they are close. Each entry gives where to start, what the City of Boroondara’s page lists, and what the page does not say. We found no distance or grade figures for any loop, so there are no walking routes here: only places, and the playgrounds in them.
Two things to know before you pick. Victoria Park’s council page carries a sports schedule for the summer season, which it says “runs from 1 October 2026 to 30 March 2027”. And the one toilet the council lists for Alexandra Gardens is inside Kew Library, which is closed for upgrades, so we can’t promise a toilet there.
The quick picks
| If you want | Head to | What the council page lists |
|---|---|---|
| Formal lawns, a pond and a rotunda | Alexandra Gardens (Kew) | “expansive lawn areas surrounded by beautiful avenues of mature trees” |
| A big playground with a pump track | Victoria Park (Kew) | Playground upgraded in 2022; a “learn to scoot, skate and ride pump track” |
| A small local playground | Kellett Reserve (Kew) | A 4.8m play tower, swings and a climbing cube |
| A recently upgraded playground | Kate Campbell Reserve (Kew) | “a new play unit with a cubby house” |
| The Rocket Park playground | Central Gardens (Hawthorn) | A 1960s rocket climbing feature, restored in 2022 |
| A park beside a train station | Victoria Road Reserve (Hawthorn East) | Auburn Train Station “about 50m” away |
| An off-lead dog area and a playground | Grace Park (Hawthorn) | Off-lead area, playground, raingarden |
Alexandra Gardens — 70 Cotham Road, Kew VIC 3101
Start at: the council says the gardens are 400 m from Kew Junction shopping centre.
What the council lists: “a fine example of a Federation landscape” (Federation is the garden and building style of the years around 1901), with “expansive lawn areas surrounded by beautiful avenues of mature trees”, a pond and a rotunda. It adds that there are bodies of water at the gardens, and that the grounds are “Suitable for weddings, celebrations, barbecues and other social gatherings like picnics.” The gardens opened in 1908 and are named after Queen Alexandra.
Water and toilets: the council lists toilets “inside Kew Library and only open during library opening hours”. The main library is closed for upgrades and is expected to reopen in early 2027, per the council, so we can’t point you to a toilet here.
The photo shows the kind of garden scene, not Alexandra Gardens itself.
Victoria Park — 450 High Street, Kew VIC 3101
Start at: the council says “Tram 48: Get off at the Victoria Park/High St stop.”
What the council lists: “A large open space in Kew with plenty of sports facilities, including 2 ovals and a fun-filled adventure playground.” The playground was upgraded in 2022 and, in the council’s words, offers “accessible sensory, active and nature play features for children of all ages and abilities.” There is also “a family-friendly learn to scoot, skate and ride pump track”, and covered barbecue areas. For dogs the page lists an “Off-lead dog area” and points to the council’s off-lead park rules. Because the ovals are shared with organised sport, read the summer schedule on the council page before you plan a kick-about.
Water and toilets: the council lists toilets “within the cemetery”.
Kellett Reserve — 22 Malin Street, Kew VIC 3101
Start at: no stop is named on the council text we captured.
What the council lists: the council classifies it as a local playground and calls it “A small but mighty local playground with a variety of swings, a climbing cube and picnic furniture.” The playground page adds “a 4.8m play tower with a view towards the city”. The council spells the name Kellett; OpenStreetMap spells it Kellet.
Water and toilets: not stated in the council text we captured.
Kate Campbell Reserve — 46 Kellett Grove, Kew VIC 3101
Start at: no stop is named on the council text we captured.
What the council lists: “a new play unit with a cubby house”. The council also says the playground has recently received an upgrade, without giving a date.
Water and toilets: not stated in the council text we captured.
Central Gardens (Rocket Park) — 32 Henry Street, Hawthorn VIC 3122
Start at: no stop is named on the council text we captured.
What the council lists: “It is known to many as ‘Rocket Park’.” The playground is known for its 1960s rocket climbing feature, which the council says was restored in 2022. The facilities line reads “Public facilities Barbecue Playground Seating and tables Toilets”.
Victoria Road Reserve — 15 Victoria Road, Hawthorn East VIC 3123
Start at: the council says Auburn Train Station is about 50m from the reserve.
What the council lists: “an upgraded, fenced oval for cricket and AFL, an upgraded pavilion, a playground, public seating and tables”. The fence is described as being around the oval; the council text we captured does not say whether the playground is fenced.
Grace Park — 2 Hilda Crescent, Hawthorn VIC 3122
Start at: the council says it is “a 5-minute walk (300 m) from the number 75 tram stop at Power Street/Burwood Road.”
What the council lists: an “Off-lead dog area”, with a pointer to the council’s off-lead park rules, and a description as “A hive of activity in Hawthorn with a playground, sports facilities, raingarden and organised events.” OpenStreetMap gives the street number as 2B; the council says 2, and we use the council’s.
Weather call: this page carries no forecast. Check the Bureau’s Melbourne forecast on the day, and pack sunscreen.
Quick answers
Which parks near Kew have an off-lead dog area?
Victoria Park in Kew and Grace Park in Hawthorn each list an “Off-lead dog area” and point to the council’s off-lead park rules. The council text we captured for the other five parks on this page lists no off-lead area, so check the sign at the gate.
Which Kew playgrounds have been upgraded recently?
Victoria Park’s playground was upgraded in 2022, per the council. The council says Kate Campbell Reserve’s playground has recently received an upgrade, with no date given. In Hawthorn, the rocket at Central Gardens was restored in 2022.
Is there a park near Kew Junction?
Alexandra Gardens, 70 Cotham Road, is 400 m from Kew Junction shopping centre, according to the council. It has lawns, a pond and a rotunda.
Which of these parks is next to a train station?
Victoria Road Reserve in Hawthorn East: the council says Auburn Train Station is about 50m away. Victoria Park lists Tram 48, and Grace Park is a 5-minute walk (300 m) from the number 75 tram stop at Power Street/Burwood Road.
Is there a toilet at Alexandra Gardens?
We can’t promise one. The council lists toilets inside Kew Library, only open during library hours, and the library is closed for upgrades until early 2027 per the council.
How we checked
On 2 October 2026 we read each park’s page on the City of Boroondara website and quoted its facilities, transport and address wording, and we confirmed each park at a second source, its OpenStreetMap object. OpenStreetMap carries no street address for most of these parks, so the addresses come from the council pages alone. Where the two disagree on a spelling or number (Kellett and Kellet, 2 and 2B Hilda Crescent), we follow the council. The council writes Victoria Road Reserve’s suburb as Hawthorn East with postcode 3123. We found no loop distances or grades, so no routes are described. Council pages change, including sports schedules, so check before you go. The photos are illustrative, from Unsplash: they show the kind of scene, not the parks.
Seen something out of date? Email [email protected] with the page link and what has changed, and we will check it again.
Sources
- Alexandra Gardens: council park page, council parks list, Kew Library page and OpenStreetMap
- Victoria Park: council park page, council parks list and OpenStreetMap
- Kellett Reserve: council playground page, council playgrounds list and OpenStreetMap
- Kate Campbell Reserve: council playground page and OpenStreetMap
- Central Gardens: council park page and OpenStreetMap
- Victoria Road Reserve: council park page, council parks list and OpenStreetMap
- Grace Park: council park page, council parks list and OpenStreetMap
