Dandenong Ranges

The Dandenong Ranges offer a fascinating and idyllic retreat for both tourists and Melbourne urban people who want to feel the mountain air and embrace, even for a while, a more rustic rural life. Visitors flock to the Dandenong Ranges' romantic hilltop villages for an experience of magnificent, majestic forests, views, refreshing scenic gardens and relaxing luxury hideaways.

Visitors are invited to the National Rhododendron Gardens in the Olinda region and they will be greeted by 15,000 rhododendrons, 250,000 daffodils and 12,000 azaleas among other members of a lush environment of flourishing flora? Add to the spectacle the native birds, other interesting creatures of wildlife, the awe-inspiring panoramic views of the Yarra Valley and other distant ranges. It will be such a splendid colorful retreat. Add again to the beauty of nature the aesthetics of many art, handicraft, antique galleries and the vacation may be yearning for an unexpected extension.

Dandenong Ranges Attractions

Relax and have a break from the breathtaking escapades and take a sip first of the famous Dandenong Ranges Devonshire cream tea, which make such a calming yet exciting stay. Then take a ride on Australia’s oldest steam railway, the Puffing Billy and travel through gullies full of ferns, thick forests and gorgeous villages with glorious pasts and fairy tale names such as Belgrave, Emerald and Gembrook. It's like a fairy tale, but everything is real.

It is just the start of the tour, so better explore some more. The bush land of the Dandenong Ranges is a land bursting with natural wonders.

The Dandenong Ranges National Park is home to amazing tall forests and 300 kilometers of walking tracks for exploring. The allure of adventure from green rich gullies to misty mountain ash forests to enchanting places like the Sherbrooke Forest, the Thousand Steps and the Dongalla Homestead await game trekkers.

Some 3215 hectares of the total areas of the Sherbrooke Forest, Doongalla Reserve and Ferntree Gully National Park, which were combined in 1987 to form the Dandenong Ranges National Park, is not just a vast tourist destination. The park, a huge player in environmental conservation, protects a population of famous lyrebirds and other fauna and also the forests and fern gullies of the Ranges. In June of 1997, the Olinda State Forest and the Mt. Evelyn Forest have been included in Dandenong Ranges National Park too.

Romantics wanting an ideal getaway will find one from the many B&Bs hidden amongst the hills, garden-laced guesthouses and comfortable cottages that offer spa baths, open fires and scenic views of flickering city lights and vibrant valleys and fantastic forests.

The Villages of Dandenong Ranges

Olinda is one of the highest Dandenong Range’s villages. It is a small town famed for its beautiful scenic sites. Olinda's scenery and gardens reflect the town's pronounced seasons. The refreshing spring blooms, the dazzling autumn colours, the scintillating summer days and the cool occasional subtle snowfalls are part of Olinda's year round appeal.

Tourists may visit many local galleries and homes of crafts. The Touchstone Craft Gallery sells and promotes jewelry, pottery, leather, glass and ceramics creatively produced by Australian craftspeople. A light but heartfelt taste of the famous Dandenong Ranges Devonshire tea or a home-made pie will give a heartwarming touch.

Aside from the National Rhododendron Gardens, Olinda has some of the other most attractive public and private gardens in Australia like the Cloudehill, William Ricketts Sanctuary and Pirianda Gardens. People may also trek to Olinda Falls and stop by roadside stalls for some home-made preserves, flowers, garden produce, chestnuts, eggs and plants. And as they tour the area, they may try spotting for wildlife creatures like wombats, emus, possums, lyrebirds, echidna, rosella and king parrots.

Cuckoo Restaurant

For a fun homegrown delight, tourists can come to Cuckoo Restaurant, a famed Swiss/Bavarian-themed smorgasbord restaurant. It offers live entertainment with Bavarian Floor Show that includes Yodeling and the Slap Dance. Let’s not include Cuckoo's other main attraction its delicious European Smorgasbord that includes Soup, Seafood Entrees, both Hot and Cold meals like Traditional Roasts, Continental Cakes and Pastries, all prepared and cooked by highly qualified international chefs.
An added attraction will be seeing its cuckoo clock, which is the biggest in the world.

Accommodation & Weekend Destination

For a perfect place to stay, people can choose to lodge in the lovely Loft in the Mill, an award winning luxury boutique accommodation in charming bluestone mill. Each room is equipped and decorated individually. The B&B accommodation features log fires, poster beds, large opulent spa baths, lace-draped beds and private courtyards.

Sassafras, another heralded village of the Dandenong, has always been a favorite weekend destination for city dwellers since the first settlement in the area was established in 1894. Despite being near to Melbourne, Sassafras has kept its original charm that attracts visitors to its restaurants, cafes and tea rooms, specialty and antique shops, quality boutique accommodation and tour drives to national parks and gardens.

Miss Marples has plenty of tea for everybody yet it has become so famous that on weekends, people may have to wait in a queue. This English style cottage café that specializes in home made Devonshire teas inspired by Agatha Christie's character in the Tea Room is also a gallery of Miss Marple memorabilia aside from being a tea room and restaurant.

Now, if people can't wait to be within Dandenong's range anymore, the Dandenong Ranges are just an hour away from Melbourne.