Ginger - we jump in the car and we are at the Frankston Waterfront in about 10 mins. It has a bit of a boardwalk which they are extending, and a great playground. It has woeful 'restaurant' there (sorry) but a nicer one at the other end of the beach. We drive through Karingal (where smiles's sister lives) - that's kinda where i do most of my groceries/butcher etc. Karingal has an awesome park for kids (Ballam Park)
About 3 mins walk from my house there is a lovely school called Woodlands Primary.
There are 2 very good reasons why the Bayside shopping centre does not have free parking - firstly, it is minutes from the train, so all the commuters would park there all day and people like me would never get a spot, and secondly, it is minutes from the beach, so again, shoppers would be competing with beachgoers in the summer.

Oh god, listen to me - i sound like the 'I love Frankston' lady I need to go and get a life now.

If you ever wanted to take a look around...I'd be happy to help. Honestly.