What to do during your stay in the Dandenong Ranges?
Your choices are endless...
There’s a scenic lookout only a short walk from Holly Lodge where you can get a feel for the beautiful area you’re visiting – or, for the best view on a clear day, visit the Mt Dandenong Observatory. The Dandenong Ranges are scattered with small towns and villages full of galleries, antique and craft shops, nurseries, tea houses, cafes and restaurants. You can enjoy the country atmosphere or walk through the towering forests and tree fern gullies. Feed the kookaburras, parrots and lorikeets, play golf at the Olinda Golf Course or catch your own rainbow trout. Your choices are endless.
There are walking tracks, cycling paths and horse riding trails. You can enjoy a picnic at any of the picnic grounds nestled amongst the tall trees of the National Park and Sherbrooke Forest, ride the historic Puffing Billy steam train, explore the rain forest or spectacular European style gardens including the National Rhododendron Gardens. There are country houses and historic homes – many open to the public and of course you shouldn’t miss the William Ricketts Sanctuary with its kiln-fired clay sculptures of Aboriginal figures discreetly set among rocks, fern trees and Mountain Ash. In September the Tesselar Tulip Farm in Sylvan is awash with colour. Day trips can include a tour of the Yarra Valley Wineries or cuddling a koala at the Healesville Animal Sanctuary.
Wildlife and scenic walks in the Dandenong Ranges
The Dandenong Ranges are a nature lover’s paradise. More than 350 plant species have been recorded in the area, along with 130 bird species including lyrebirds, crimson rosellas and eastern whip-birds, 31 species of mammals such as wallabies, bandicoots, echidnas and possums, 21 reptile species, 9 amphibians and 47 species of flora including native orchids. The best way to enjoy and interact with this abundant wildlife is to walk.
Most walks start from the many picnic grounds scattered throughout the Dandenong Ranges. Some popular walks include the challenging 1000 steps in the Ferntree Gully National Park and the Living Bush Nature Trail from the Ferntree Gully picnic ground, Sherbrooke Falls from the Sherbrooke Picnic Ground and Grants Picnic Ground at Kallista.
If you are visiting the Kalorama/Mt. Dandenong area or staying in one of the charming B and B’s like Holly Lodge, consider exploring the mostly deserted walking tracks of the Mt. Evelyn, Olinda or Doongalla sections of the National Forest. You can enjoy gentle or more challenging walks through dry and wet fern-gully forested areas of the Mt. Evelyn section. A good place to start is from the water tank on Inverness Rd. opposite Gumbirra B and B.
Holly Lodge is an ideal location to launch walks along Ridge Rd. to the Observatory at Mt. Dandenong, Burke’s Lookout, the Kyeema Memorial Cairn or the Doongalla Estate. A short drive or walk to the nearby Olinda Falls Picnic Ground will give you access to the bubbling rock waterfalls along the Olinda Creek.
If you’re going walking, be sure to take a map, wear good walking shoes, a hat and sunscreen. Taking your mobile phone is also a good idea. Be sure to observe National Park guidelines such as fire restrictions, treating the local flora and fauna carefully, leaving cats or dogs at home, not littering, and riding mountain bikes only on designated trails. All that’s left is to choose your spot and start walking in the wild.
For general information and literature contact Parks Victoria on 131 963 or, if you require more detailed information contact the Dandenong Ranges Tourism Office at Upper Ferntree Gully on (03) 9758 7522.
(References: Park Notes, Parks Victoria.)