Things to do in Hawthorn

Explore Hawthorn

Hawthorn restaurants and cafés cover almost every cuisine you can imagine to satisfy all tastes, vibes, and budgets. Besides the cafes on uni campus, here are some of our recommendations for where to eat and drink nearby.

Cheap eats

Looking for a cheap meal? The dining options in Hawthorn on Glenferrie Road and surrounding streets and laneways offer a wide variety of tasty, inexpensive meals right near campus.

All of the popular takeaway chains are here – as are a load of independent restaurants that cater to students via discounts, lunch specials and daily deals.

Where to shop

If you’re looking to reward yourself for acing an exam, or simply keen to kill some time, the bustling Glenferrie Road has you covered for shopping in Hawthorn.

Stores include supermarkets, local grocers, boutique stores selling the latest fashion, bookstores, travel agents and more. Take a wander and you’ll quickly discover all the gems this one-stop shopping strip has to offer.

Where to relax

If you’re looking for things to do in Hawthorn when you are craving a break from the books, you’ll be spoilt for choice. For instance, you can unwind by watching an eclectic mix of the latest blockbusters, foreign flicks, indie productions and classics at Lido Cinemas. Students are eligible for discount tickets on Wednesdays. Plus, there’s a sweet rooftop bar too!

If immersing yourself in Mother Nature is more your thing, head around the corner to Central Gardens. Lush lawns, abundant trees and barbecue facilities are all available – so soak up some sunshine and kick your feet up for a few hours. 

Students enjoy time out in Hawthorn's Central Gardens.

Sports and recreation activities

As an enrolled student, you can swim free at nearby Boroondara aquatic and leisure facilities, including:

• Hawthorn Aquatic and Leisure Centre (HALC)
• Boroondara Sports Complex
• Ashburton Pool and Recreation Centre
• Kew Recreation Centre.

Swim free at the Hawthorn Aquatic and Leisure Centre.

You can also use the gym and personal training facilities at discounted rates thanks to Swinburne Student Life. Indoor and outdoor pools, gym facilities, group fitness classes and a health clinic are all available.

Swinburne Student Life also sponsors a free learn to swim program at HALC. For information about this program, contact Swinburne Student Life Sport at sport@swinburne.edu.au. Visit the Swinburne Student Life portal to discover our other sport offerings.