Forest Hill VIC 3131
Forest Hill / Getting around
Transport

Getting around from Forest Hill

Springvale Road runs through the middle of the suburb and links the Eastern Freeway to the north with the Monash Freeway to the south. EastLink is a short drive east. Nunawading and Blackburn train stations are just to the north, SmartBus 902 runs along Springvale Road, and the Route 75 tram runs from nearby Vermont South into the city.

Freeways

Eastern Freeway (~4.4 km north). The direct route into the CBD, about 17 km west.

EastLink (~4.2 km east). Runs south to Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula.

Monash Freeway (~6.5 km south). Connects to the city and out to Gippsland.

Illustration of a freeway overpass with cars, a train and green hills
Tram

Route 75: a direct tram to the city

Route 75 starts at Vermont South, about 2.5 km from central Forest Hill, and runs along Burwood Highway past Deakin University, then through Camberwell, Hawthorn and Richmond's Bridge Road into the CBD. It ends at Central Pier in Docklands.

At 22.8 km, it is the longest route on Melbourne's tram network. That means a single tram takes you to Flinders Street station, Federation Square and Docklands with no changes. The route was extended to Vermont South in July 2005.

  • StartsVermont South, on Burwood Highway
  • EndsCentral Pier, Docklands
  • Key stopsDeakin University, Camberwell Junction, Bridge Road, Flinders Street station, Federation Square
  • Late nightsNight Network trams on Friday and Saturday nights
Route 75 timetable
Illustration of a modern low-floor tram on Burwood Highway with overhead wires and gum trees 75
Train

Two stations on the Lilydale and Belgrave lines

Nunawading station (~1.7 km north). The closest station, on Springvale Road. It was rebuilt in 2010 in a cutting beneath Springvale Road when the level crossing was removed. It has step-free lift access, a café and waiting room, a car park, bike storage, and a direct link to the Box Hill to Ringwood bike path. It's in Myki Zone 2.

Blackburn station (~2.5 km north-west). On the same lines, with trains running under Blackburn Road since its level crossing was removed in 2017.

Both lines run through Box Hill and Camberwell to the City Loop.

Illustration of a suburban train arriving at a station platform set in a cutting below a road bridge
Bus

Bus links

SmartBus 902 runs the length of Springvale Road through Forest Hill. It's a long cross-town route between Chelsea station and Westfield Airport West, and stops at Nunawading station on the way.

Route 735 connects Nunawading station to Box Hill station and its shopping precinct.

Route 765 also serves the Forest Hill district.

Plan a trip with PTV

Rail, now and next

Suburban Rail Loop East. Trains are due to run by 2035, with new stations at Box Hill and Deakin Burwood, both about 5 km from Forest Hill. The line will connect the eastern suburbs to Monash University, Clayton and Southland without going through the city.

Health and education

Forest Hill urgent care clinic (in the suburb). Walk-in care for non-life-threatening conditions on Springvale Road, covered by Medicare.

Deakin University (~5 km). The Melbourne Burwood campus.

  • Eastern FreewayNorth via Springvale Road
    ~4.4 km~7 min drive
  • EastLinkEast, to Frankston
    ~4.2 km~8 min drive
  • Monash FreewaySouth via Springvale Road
    ~6.5 km~12 min drive
  • Nunawading stationLilydale and Belgrave lines, Springvale Road
    ~1.7 km~20 min walk
  • Blackburn stationLilydale and Belgrave lines
    ~2.5 km~6 min drive
  • Route 75 tramVermont South terminus, Burwood Highway
    ~2.5 km~5 min drive
  • Suburban Rail Loop EastBox Hill and Deakin Burwood stations, by 2035
    ~5 km~12 min drive
  • Deakin UniversityMelbourne Burwood campus
    ~5 km~12 min drive
  • Melbourne CBDWest via the Eastern Freeway
    ~17 km~35 min off-peak

Approximate straight-line distances from central Forest Hill, with typical off-peak travel times. Peak-hour trips take longer.