Toorak

The elegant suburb of Toorak is where you'll find most of Melbourne's higher-priced real estate and a fair sprinkling of Australia's most successful residents.

The village
Toorak Village is an inviting place to shop with quality fashion boutiques, books and homeware stores, sunny street cafes and delectable food outlets as well as flower shops, supermarkets, beauty parlours and pharmacies, all within a lively and genuinely friendly 'village'. The Toorak Village Festival of Sculpture is an annual highlight in May, where sculpture of all shapes and sizes is found in the windows and along the pavements.

Como House
Not far away from the Village, perched high above the Yarra River, is the beautiful Como House and Garden. With one of Melbourne's finest gardens, an inspiring historic mansion and an impressive collection of antique furniture, this National Trust property provides a glimpse into the lifestyle of its former owners, the Armytages, one of Australia's wealthiest pioneer families.

Hawksburn specialties
Hawksburn Village, on Malvern Road, was traditionally the haunt of the serious cook, with its specialty meat, fish, bread and vegetable purveyors. Now it caters for everyone. The accent is on fashion, with some of the biggest names in the business  and stylish tots, tweens and teens don't miss out either. Plus it has its share of smart restaurants, friendly cafes and gourmet retailers, proof that food and fashion do go hand in hand.

How to get there
By tram: Number 8 from Swanston Street to Williams Road (and a 7-10 minute walk to Como House and Garden) and Toorak Village (about 25 minutes); Number 72 from Swanston Street to Malvern Road (about 30 minutes).

By train: From Flinders Street to South Yarra Station (connecting with Number 8 tram to Como House and Toorak Village).