Family-Friendly Hotels in Glen Waverley, Melbourne
Glen Waverley is a quiet suburb in Melbourne's south-east, and it works well for families who want space, parking and easy food rather than a central city hotel. The Kingsway restaurant strip and The Glen shopping centre are close by, Jells Park offers a lake, trails and playgrounds, and the Glen Waverley train line runs straight into the CBD. For day trips, the Dandenong Ranges are a short drive east. The seven stays on this page include apartments at Quest Glen Waverley and Domi Serviced Apartments, an indoor pool at Skygarden Luxury Condo and a pool at Novotel Melbourne Glen Waverley.
Leafy and residential, Glen Waverley is a suburb about 20 kilometres south-east of Melbourne's CBD, best known for its multicultural food scene along the Kingsway and for its schools and parks. It feels calm and practical, with wide streets, shopping centres and plenty of parking, and it sits close to Monash University. For visitors it is not a destination in itself but a comfortable base, with the city a train ride away and the Dandenong Ranges close enough for a day trip.
Where to stay
Apartments, Pools and an Easy Suburban Base
A suburban base suits families visiting Melbourne for several days: rooms are larger, parking is easier and evenings are calmer than in the CBD. In Glen Waverley, the choice depends mostly on whether you want to cook. I look first at kitchens and separate living areas, then at a pool for children, and finally at parking and the walk to the station, which decides how easily you can reach the city, Monash University or the Dandenong Ranges without stress.
Apartments give families the most room here. Quest Glen Waverley, the best rated stay on this page at 8.8, offers fully furnished, self-contained apartments with a kitchen and laundry, a fitness centre, an outdoor barbecue area and secure parking. Domi Serviced Apartments, rated 8.3, has air-conditioned units with a kitchenette, a balcony and a private bathroom, plus a terrace. I would choose Quest for a week or more with children, as a full kitchen and laundry make a real difference, and Domi for a shorter stay when a kitchenette is enough for breakfasts and simple dinners after a day out.
For children who want to swim, two properties stand out. Skygarden Luxury Condo offers aparthotel-style living with an indoor swimming pool, a sauna, a steam room and a fitness centre, which keeps the pool useful through Melbourne's cool winters. Novotel Melbourne Glen Waverley, rated 8.3, has a pool and spa and wellness facilities, and it presents itself as a convenient base for the Dandenong Ranges and local wineries. I would pick Skygarden for a winter visit and the Novotel for a classic hotel stay with a restaurant and services on site, especially for a short family break.
Three practical hotels complete the list for families on a short visit. ibis Melbourne Glen Waverley, the most reviewed property here with 1,685 reviews, has modern rooms, a bar, a bistro, a daily buffet breakfast and a guest laundry. The Waverley International Hotel offers air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi and onsite parking, and some suites have a spa bath and a separate living area, useful when children go to bed early. Glen Inn, between Glen Waverley and Monash, offers air-conditioned rooms with free parking, a short drive from the major freeways and close to shops. All three keep the car close, which helps with day trips.
Its surroundings make this suburb a good base. The Kingsway is known for its many Asian restaurants, which makes family dinners easy and varied, and The Glen shopping centre covers everyday needs. Jells Park, a short drive away, has a lake, walking and cycling trails, picnic areas and playgrounds. Trains on the Glen Waverley line reach the city centre directly, so you can leave the car at the hotel for museum days. With a car, the Dandenong Ranges and the Puffing Billy steam railway make a classic family day out to the east.
A traveler's takeI would book Quest Glen Waverley for a family stay: the self-contained apartments have a full kitchen and laundry, the barbecue area suits a relaxed evening and secure parking takes the stress out of day trips. My advice is to eat at least once along the Kingsway, where the choice of Asian restaurants is wide, and to spend a morning at Jells Park, whose lake and playgrounds suit children of all ages.
Family-friendlyQuest Glen Waverley
★4.4Self-contained apartments with kitchen, laundry and gym in Glen Waverley
Why guests love itQuest Glen Waverley offers fully furnished, self-contained apartments with a kitchen and laundry, which suits families and longer stays. There is a fitness centre, an outdoor barbecue area and secure parking. It sits in Melbourne's south-eastern suburbs, a practical base for exploring that side of the city. I would choose it for the kitchen and laundry, which take much of the effort out of travelling with a family.
Family-friendlySkygarden Luxury Condo
★4.2Aparthotel living with indoor pool, sauna, and family-friendly amenities
Why guests love itSkygarden Luxury Condo offers aparthotel-style living for families who want facilities on site. There is an indoor swimming pool, a sauna, a steam room and a fitness centre, plus indoor and outdoor play areas for children, a garden and barbecue facilities. Free private parking is included. I would choose it for the play areas and the pool, which make a long stay with children much easier than in a standard hotel room.
Family-friendlyDomi Serviced Apartments
★4.2Family-friendly aparthotel with kitchenettes and balconies in Glen Waverley
Why guests love itDomi Serviced Apartments in Glen Waverley are family-friendly aparthotel units with air conditioning, a kitchenette, a balcony and a private bathroom each. Free WiFi, a terrace and an outdoor seating area are included. The listing says it suits longer stays and self-catering, and that it is well located for exploring Melbourne's eastern suburbs. More than 500 guests rate it 8.3. My advice: use it as a base for the eastern suburbs, not for the city centre.
Family-friendlyNovotel Melbourne Glen Waverley
★4.2Family-friendly city stay with a pool and spa near Melbourne
Why guests love itNovotel Melbourne Glen Waverley is a family-friendly hotel in the south-east suburbs with a pool and spa and wellness facilities. It is a convenient base for the Dandenong Ranges and local wineries, with plenty of dining and a cinema complex nearby, and a direct train to the city centre. The surroundings are urban and can be busy, so it is not a secluded retreat. Rated 8.3 by more than 600 guests, I would choose it for a city-plus-day-trips holiday.
Family-friendlyibis Melbourne - Glen Waverley
★3.8Modern, family-friendly hotel near shopping and transport in Glen Waverley
Why guests love itThe ibis in Glen Waverley is a sensible choice for families who want to reach Melbourne without paying for the centre. The Glen shopping centre and Glen Waverley Railway Station are a short walk away, and the hotel has a bar, a bistro, a daily buffet breakfast and a guest laundry. Rooms are modern with flat-screen TVs and work desks. Rated 7.6 by more than 1,600 guests, it is a practical rather than special stay, and that is its appeal.
Family-friendlyThe Waverley International Hotel
★3.8Family-friendly accommodation with spa baths and easy access to Melbourne
Why guests love itThe Waverley International Hotel offers air-conditioned rooms and suites for a relaxed stay in Glen Waverley, 20 km from Melbourne's city centre. Some suites have a spa bath and a separate living area, which gives families more space. Free WiFi, on-site parking, a daily continental breakfast, laundry facilities and dry cleaning are included. A 7.6 score from 1,583 reviews is modest, so I would choose it for the suites and practicalities.
Family-friendlyGlen Inn
★3.7Family-friendly stays with free parking and easy freeway access in Glen Waverley
Why guests love itGlen Inn in Glen Waverley, Melbourne, is a three-star, family-friendly stay with air-conditioned rooms, free WiFi and free parking. It sits between Glen Waverley and Monash, a short drive from major freeways and close to shopping and entertainment. Self-contained apartments with fully equipped kitchens are available for longer stays. More than 550 guests rate it 7.3. My advice: book an apartment for a longer family stay.
Local tips
- 1Book Quest Glen Waverley or Domi Serviced Apartments if you want a kitchen and space for a stay of several days.
- 2Choose Skygarden Luxury Condo for its indoor pool if you visit Melbourne in winter, when outdoor swimming is rarely an option.
- 3Take the train on the Glen Waverley line for days in the CBD, and leave the car at the hotel to avoid city parking.
- 4Plan a family dinner on the Kingsway, known for its wide range of Asian restaurants close to the station.
- 5Keep a morning for Jells Park, with its lake, trails and playgrounds a short drive from the hotels.
- 6Drive east to the Dandenong Ranges for a day trip, with the Puffing Billy steam railway a favourite with children.