Croydon childcare, one stop along the Lilydale line
Meraki ELC Mooroolbark — rated Exceeding the National Quality Standard, next door to Croydon.
Croydon and Mooroolbark are next-door neighbours on the Lilydale line, and plenty of Croydon, Croydon Hills and Croydon South families already pass through Mooroolbark each day. Meraki ELC Mooroolbark on Manchester Road is our closest centre to Croydon. It is rated Exceeding the National Quality Standard, and our long-standing team has been part of the local community since 2019.
Why Croydon families choose Meraki Mooroolbark
- •Croydon and Mooroolbark are neighbouring stations on the Lilydale line
- •Rated Exceeding the National Quality Standard
- •Funded Three and Four Year Old Kindergarten inside long day care
- •Five chef-prepared meals daily, included
- •Child Care Subsidy (CCS) accepted
About Meraki Mooroolbark
Meraki Early Learning Centres — Mooroolbark is located at 101-103 Manchester Road, Mooroolbark VIC 3138. We're open monday to friday, 6:30am – 6:30pm, caring for children aged 6 weeks to 6 years. Our practice is grounded in slow pedagogy, child-led learning and respectful relationships with families.
Programs available to Croydon families
3 Year Old Kindergarten
Funded program led by qualified Early Childhood Teachers.
4 Year Old Kindergarten
Free Kinder — preparing children for school with confidence.
Long Day Care
6 weeks to 6 years, 6:30am–6:30pm with all meals included.
Chef-Prepared Meals
Five nutritious meals daily, freshly made on-site.
Childcare near Croydon
Meraki ELC also welcomes families from these nearby suburbs.
Getting there from Croydon
By train, Mooroolbark is the next station after Croydon on the Lilydale line. By car, Maroondah Highway and Mt Dandenong Road are the main links between Croydon and Mooroolbark.
Why Croydon families choose Mooroolbark
Community, continuity and confidence are what our Mooroolbark centre is known for. Children keep the same familiar educators as they move from the nursery into kinder, and families get to know the team well over the years.
Croydon South families who travel towards Knox sometimes find Meraki Bayswater an easier fit — both centres offer the same hours and funded kinder.
Programs to explore
Long day care from 6 weeks to school age, plus funded Three and Four Year Old Kindergarten led by qualified Early Childhood Teachers. Kinder runs inside long day care, so there is just one drop-off.
About Croydon
Croydon's Main Street shopping strip and its many parks and reserves make it a popular suburb for young families, with the Dandenong Ranges visible on the horizon.
Useful pages for Croydon families:
Croydon parent questions
How far is Meraki from Croydon station?+
Meraki ELC Mooroolbark is one stop along the Lilydale line from Croydon — at 101–103 Manchester Road, Mooroolbark. We recommend checking your door-to-door trip in a maps app.
Is Meraki Mooroolbark rated Exceeding?+
Yes. Meraki ELC Mooroolbark is rated Exceeding the National Quality Standard.
Is there funded 4 year old kinder near Croydon?+
Yes. Meraki Mooroolbark runs funded Four Year Old Kindergarten, led by a degree-qualified Early Childhood Teacher, inside long day care.
Everything parents ask first
Meraki Mooroolbark at a glance
Hours, ages, rooms, fees, subsidy and funded kinder — the details Croydon families compare before booking a tour.
| Address | 101-103 Manchester Road, Mooroolbark VIC 3138 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (03) 9727 3806 |
| Opening hours | Monday to Friday, 6:30am – 6:30pm (closed weekends and public holidays) |
| Ages cared for | 6 weeks to 6 years |
| Care types | Long day care, funded 3 Year Old Kinder, funded 4 Year Old Kinder, school-readiness program |
| Rooms | Nursery, toddler and kindergarten/preschool rooms grouped by age |
| Meals | All meals and snacks included in the daily fee, prepared on-site by our chef |
| Fees | Daily fee includes meals, nappies-free of extra charges and all program costs — call for the current daily rate |
| Child Care Subsidy | Approved service — eligible families can receive up to 90% CCS off the daily fee |
| Free Kinder funding | Victorian Free Kinder funding applied to 3 & 4 Year Old Kindergarten places |
| Enrolment | Enrolling now — book a tour to check current-day availability or join the waitlist |
Fees, Child Care Subsidy & Free Kinder
Meraki Mooroolbark is a government-approved child care service, so eligible families can claim Child Care Subsidy of up to 90% off the daily fee through Services Australia. Our 3 & 4 Year Old Kindergarten places also carry Victorian Free Kinder funding, which reduces kinder costs further.
Because funding rates change each year, we quote current fees directly — call (03) 9727 3806 and we'll work out your likely out-of-pocket cost per day.
What's included in the daily fee
- Breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and a late snack, cooked fresh on-site
- Funded 3 & 4 Year Old Kindergarten programs led by qualified Early Childhood Teachers
- All learning resources, art materials and incursions
- Sunscreen, hats and bed linen
- Daily updates, photos and learning documentation through our family app
No hidden extras for meals, nappies or program costs.
Getting here from Croydon
Parking & drop-off
On-site parking directly off Manchester Road, with pram-friendly access to the front entry.
By train
A short drive from Mooroolbark Station on the Lilydale line, convenient for city commuters.
By bus
Manchester Road bus routes connect families from Lilydale, Croydon, Kilsyth and Chirnside Park.
Childcare in Croydon — parent questions
How much does childcare cost at Meraki Mooroolbark?+
Our daily fee covers everything your child needs for the day — all meals and snacks cooked on-site, nappies and wipes, sunscreen, hats, bed linen and every program cost including our funded kindergarten programs. Fees change with Victorian and Commonwealth funding, so call (03) 9727 3806 for today's daily rate and we'll estimate your out-of-pocket cost after Child Care Subsidy.
Can I use the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) here?+
Yes. Meraki Mooroolbark is an approved child care service, so eligible families can claim Child Care Subsidy of up to 90% of the daily fee through Services Australia. Your rate depends on family income and activity level — we'll help you set up your enrolment confirmation in myGov.
Is funded kindergarten available at Meraki Mooroolbark?+
Yes. We deliver funded Three Year Old and Four Year Old Kindergarten led by qualified Early Childhood Teachers, with Victorian Free Kinder funding applied. Kinder runs inside our long day care hours, so there are no separate drop-offs or mid-day pick-ups.
Do you have vacancies for Croydon families?+
Availability changes weekly and varies by age group and day of the week. Call (03) 9727 3806 or book a tour and we'll confirm which days are open in your child's room, or add you to the waitlist for your preferred days.
What are the opening hours and when are you closed?+
We're open Monday to Friday, 6:30am to 6:30pm — long hours that suit shift work and city commutes. We're closed on weekends and Victorian public holidays.
How do I get to Meraki Mooroolbark and is there parking?+
On-site parking directly off Manchester Road, with pram-friendly access to the front entry. A short drive from Mooroolbark Station on the Lilydale line, convenient for city commuters. Manchester Road bus routes connect families from Lilydale, Croydon, Kilsyth and Chirnside Park.
Book a tour from Croydon
Come and see why local families are choosing Meraki Mooroolbark. Tours take around 30 minutes and you'll meet our team.