Dandenong Ranges

See also: Great Dividing Range

The Dandenong Ranges are a group of hills forming the eastern boundary of Melbourne, Australia, about 35 km east of the central city. They can be seen from most parts of Melbourne, and are easily identifiable as a group of three hills with large television towers.

Understand

Four chunks of the ranges form the Dandenong Ranges National Park, whose highest peak is TV tower-topped Mount Dandenong itself (633 m). The valley between the hills has the pleasant towns of Olinda, Sassafras and Kallista, and the wineries of the Yarra Valley are just to the north. Although there is a suburb called Dandenong in Melbourne, it is 30 km from the mountain of the same name. Make sure you double check!

• Parks Victoria office, Lower Picnic Ground, Ferntree Gully, Mt Dandenong Tourist Rd. Has park and track maps.

Get in

By train

The Dandenongs can be reached by Belgrave line Metro trains from Melbourne in just over an hour. Outside rush hour, you may need to board a train to Lilydale and change at Ringwood. Two park information centres are near Upper Ferntree Gully station (one on the Railway Rd side, the other 10 min away at the Ferntree Gully picnic grounds), while Puffing Billy (see below) leaves from near Belgrave.

Alternatively, take the train to Croydon on the Lilydale line, and continue by Ventura bus 688 to Mt Dandenong and Olinda. The service is infrequent, but it's the only way of reaching either on Sundays.

By car

As ever in Australia, a car will come in handy for touring the area, especially on weekends. The main route through the Dandenong Ranges is via the Mount Dandenong Tourist Road. It ranges from Upper Ferntree Gully (at the junction with Burwood Highway) in the south and winds through the ranges via Ferny Creek, Sassafras, Olinda, Mount Dandenong and Kalorama before terminating at Montrose, at a junction with (the similarly named, but different) Mount Dandenong Road. The road is a pleasant drive through tall forests and should take approximately 35 minutes (depending on traffic).

Get around

Ventura Bus Lines runs several buses in the area. All are in Metlink Zone 2 and run very infrequently, so check schedules beforehand.

• Bus 694: Belgrave-Olinda-Mt Dandenong. Monday-Saturday.
• Bus 695: Belgrave-Gembrook. Daily.
• Bus 698: Upper Ferntree Gully-Olinda-Mt Dandenong. Monday-Friday peak hours only.

It is possible to travel by train to Upper Ferntree Gully or Belgrave station. From there, several walks are available throughout nearby Ferntree Gully National Park, (see below). There are a plethora of walking tracks throughout the Dandenong Ranges that can be reached by bus. Maps are located from the Information Centre at Upper Ferntree Gully.

Cycling is possible, but only for intermediate and advanced cyclists.

Running is also possible.

See

• 1 Puffing Billy. This historic steam train is the most popular attraction in the Dandenong Ranges. It runs on its original 24-km mountain railway track from Belgrave to Gembrook, through the beautiful lush bush of the ranges.  
• 2 Kokoda Memorial Track (1000 Steps), Burwood Highway and Mt Dandenong Tourist Road, Upper Ferntree Gully. Named in memory of the notorious Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea, this is a steep 1.5-km-long staircase that combines hiking through near-jungle conditions, with historical plaques documenting the battles against the Japanese and horrific conditions endured by Australian soldiers and their allies. At the top of the hill is the One Tree Hill picnic ground and a series of trails leading in all directions. Very popular on weekends!  
• 3 William Ricketts Sanctuary, Mt Dandenong Tourist Rd.. Daily 10AM-4:30PM (except Christmas Day). May be closed during fire bans. William Ricketts is a well known Australian artist, and this, his previously private retreat, is dotted with amazing sculptures blended into the natural environment. Free entry.  
• Mt Dandenong Scenic Lookout on the 633-m summit is accessible by road and looks out across all of Melbourne
• Flower farms
• Devonshire tea houses with friendly parrots
• Mt Dandenong Arboretum. Unlike many arboreta in Australia, there is a focus on Southern Hemisphere conifers here. 
• 4 National Rhododendron Gardens. Daily 10AM-5PM except Christmas Day.  
• Eastern Dandenong Ranges Trail. A 17-km-long trail follows the Puffing Billy steam railway through the Eastern Dandenong Ranges starting at Clematis and finishing in Gembrook offering a full range of experiences for users: hills, forests, farms, rural villages and picnic facilities. (updated Oct 2021)
• 5 Emerald Lake Park. 52 hectares of parklands featuring the beautiful Lake Treganowan as well as gardens and natural bushland. The park has 10 km of walking trails, paddleboats, fishing, picnic tables and shelters, a wading pool open during summer, playgrounds, an environment centre, a model railway and amphitheatres which you can book to use. (updated Oct 2021)

Do

• Trees Adventure - Glen Harrow Park, Old Monbulk Rd, Belgrave, ☏ +61 3 9752 5354. This is a tree rope and ziplining company. Glen Harrow Park is one of the parks it operates in. You can use ziplines, climb or jump from very high up in the trees. There are also lower courses for children or scared adults. (updated Jun 2020)

Eat

Unless you're touring by car, you'll need to bring along your own supplies: there's a supermarket and a few basic eateries next to Upper Ferntree Gully station. The National Park has half a dozen picnic grounds with barbecues, shelters and water, as well as a cafe.

Drink

The Royal Hotel is across the road from Upper Ferntree Gully train station. There are also some bars in Belgrave, such as Sooki Lounge which features live bands - check the gig guide.

Sleep

• 1 Linden Gardens Rainforest Retreat, 1383 Mt Dandenong Tourist Rd, Mount Dandenong (on the main Tourist Rd opposite William Ricketts Sanctuary), ☏ +61 3 9751 1103. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11:30AM. Luxury boutique accommodation in the Dandenong Ranges with four luxe design driven suites on 3 acres of rainforest and woodland gardens. Enjoy a cooked breakfast delivered to your door and lots of extras to make your stay a memorable one. From $290. 
• 2 Lakeside Cottage Luxury B & B (Bed and Breakfast), 11 Tereddan Drive Kilsyth Sth 3137 (from Eastlink Freeway head East onto Canterbury Road for 9.5 km; turn right into Liverpool Rd, travel 1.3 km, turn right Tereddan Drive; travel 400 m to Lakeside Cottage), ☏ +61 3 9761 9791, bookings@lakesidecottage.com.au. Check-in: 2PM. A luxury bed and breakfast cottage set in 5 acres of botanical gardens with a private lake with fountain and bridge over the lake stunningly silhouetted in lights at night, sitting at the gateway to the Dandenong Ranges and Yarra Valley region. Featuring a comfy King Bed, oval spa, gas log fire and sunny conservatory overlooking the rose gardens Breakfast provisions included. From $260.