Located just 35 kilometers from Melbourne, “heading for the hills” of the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges is popular with locals and tourists. With rich soil and a pleasant climate, many European immigrants settled in the region in the 19th century, creating what became known as “the food bowl of Victoria”. Many of these original farms and gardens are still productive today. For more than a century, the area has attracted artists, nature lovers and foodies looking for solitude, inspiration and pure indulgence.
Address: 1402 Mt. Dandenong Tourist Road, Mt. Dandenong
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1 Healesville Sanctuary
Healesville Sanctuary is the perfect place to view the full range of unique Australian animals in one compact place. The 30-hectare park is set in a quintessential Australian landscape and offers tourists the opportunity to see the animals up close and personal. Handler encounters include kangaroos, wombats, koalas, emus, dingoes and platypuses and take place at various times throughout the day. “Spirits of the Sky” offers a chance to see birds of prey flying the majestic bracket bird, soaring through the sky. With several dining options, Healesville Sanctuary is also a great place to sample the best of the region’s gastronomic delicacies.
Address: Badger Creek Road, Healesville
Official site: https://www.zoo.org.au/healesville
2 Dandenong Ranges National Park
Exploring the Dandenong Ranges National Park requires time and planning. The park covers 3,215 hectares and is rich in hiking trails, nature and scenery, and the area is very popular with tourists. Although the Dandenong Ranges is filled with excellent dining options, many people enjoy packing a picnic. Grant’s Picnic Ground is a must for tourists interested in birds. Located in the heart of Sherbrooke Forest, it is the only place in the Dandenong Ranges where visitors can feed the native birds. Cockatoos and rosellas flock here, and wild birdseed is available from the kiosk.
It is another tourist oriented area Sherbrooke Picnic Ground where hikers can experience the easy 1.5-mile loop trail to the impressive Sherbrooke Falls. For a more rigorous walk, the 1,000 steps Kokoda Track Memorial Walk is a commemoration of the Australian troops in Papua New Guinea during the Second World War.
Address: 1402 Mt. Dandenong Tourist Road, Mt. Dandenong
Official site: https://parkweb.vic.gov.au/explore/parks/dandenong-ranges-national-park
3 Billy steam train chugging
The romance of yesteryear comes to life with a nostalgic ride through the Dandenong Ranges on the centuries-old steam train – Puffing Billy. Considered one of the best steam trains in the world, it runs every day of the year (except Christmas Day) over a 40 kilometer long track under the steam of a large team of volunteers. Traveling from Belgrave Unpleasant Gembrook, the train strolls through towering native eucalyptus forests with the beautiful rowan ash, over historic wooden bridges and through quaint villages. With open carriages, the intoxicating scent of eucalyptus adds a new dimension to this popular tourist attraction.
Address: 1402 Mt. Dandenong Tourist Road, Mt. Dandenong
Official site: https://puffingbilly.com.au/en/
4 TarraWarra Museum of Art
Specializing in Australian art, TarraWarra Museum of Art is a beautiful example of modern architecture. Blending in with its surroundings yet groundbreaking, the museum offers tourists the opportunity to view a permanent collection filled with iconic artists such as John Brack, Brett Whiteley and Russell Drysdale. Temporary exhibitions are held throughout the year, and with views from every window, the space blends the outside with the inside.
Address: 311 Healesville – Yarra Glen Road, Healesville
Official site: https://www.twma.com.au/
5 Yarra Valley Dairy
A traditional farm, the Yarra Valley Dairy offers tourists the opportunity to pet the cows, goats and sheep responsible for a collection of sublime cheeses. Cheese tastings are available and their signature range includes an Ashed Pyramid goat cheese, Hot Cow chilli cheese and Persian fetta. Lunch in the rustic dining room is popular, especially on Sundays.
Address: 70 McMeikans Road, Yering
Official site: https://www.yvd.com.au/
6 Alfred Nicholas Gardens
Alfred Nicholas Gardens is the perfect garden for all seasons. Covered with rhododendrons and azaleas in the spring, hydrangeas and native ferns in the summer, vibrant foliage of beech and maple trees in the fall, and sometimes a dusting of snow in the winter, the garden attracts more wedding photos than any other place in the Dandenong Ranges. The gardens are named after their owner, Alfred Nicholas, creator of the Aspro, and there are many footpaths leading down to the ornamental lake.
Location: Sherbrooke Road, Sherbrooke
7 William Rickett’s Sanctuary
Hidden from the world in a small garden full of ferns, rowan trees and rocky outcrops, William Rickett’s Sanctuary is one of the best kept tourist secrets in the world. Dandenong Ranges. In combination with the natural environment, more than 90 intricate ceramic sculptures representing the area’s Aboriginal culture are creatively displayed in the foliage.
Address: 1402 Mt. Dandenong Tourist Road, Mt. Dandenong
8 Cloudhill Gardens
With a history dating back to the 1890s, Cloudehill Gardens are laid out in a series of “garden rooms” separated by stone walls and finely clipped hedges. Although spectacular in any season, the ancient Japanese maples attract many tourists in the fall. The gardens often host innovative sculpture exhibitions and music performances, especially in summer.
Address: 89 Olinda Monbulk Road, Olinda
9 Sassafras Village
Sassafras is a model village packed with charm and history. Every day of the week, tourists love the collection of antique shops, cozy cafes and art galleries. Have a morning or afternoon tea Miss Marple’s Tea Room is considered the ultimate Dandenong Ranges experience. Visitors will find a good range of accommodation in the village and the immediate area.
10 Olinda Village
In the ‘garden belt’ of the Dandenong Ranges, Olinda is a great overnight stop for visitors. Located near the Cloudhill Gardens and the beautiful National Rhododendron Gardensthe narrow streets are filled with galleries, B&Bs, restaurants and other attractions.
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