Dandenong Ranges

Visit the Dandenongs for a Range of Experiences

Less than an hour’s drive from Melbourne are the beautiful Dandenong Ranges – just begging to be explored. Drive up scenic winding roads to quaint hilltop villages where you’ll indulge in quality local food and explore craft stores and artist studios. Take some time to walk through lush, renowned gardens and trails amongst the mountain ash forests. Ride on Puffing Billy – Australia’s favourite steam train and one of the finest preserved steam railways in the world – this is a highlight for many international visitors.

Take a Ride on Puffing Billy

The age of steam was arguably the most romantic of all the periods of modern transport history, with incredible feats of locomotive engineering conveying passengers up and down the country in billowing clouds of vapour. These days are gone across most of Australia, but not in the Dandenong Ranges. This is where you will find Puffing Billy – one of the most unique of all Victoria’s attractions.

Ride Puffing Billy steam train on one of the best-preserved railways of its type found anywhere in the world, and experience a whole new side to Victoria in the process.

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Things to do in the Dandenong Ranges

The Dandenong Ranges are packed with small towns and villages which provide unique charm and magic to the region. They don’t come much smaller than Sassafras, but that does not mean that there isn’t a lot to see here. In fact, Sassafras is home quaint antique stores, cafes, galleries, and is nestled amongst the lush ferns and gullies right in the centre of the Dandenongs.

Fruit Picking with the Family

When it comes to things to do in the Dandenong Ranges, tasting the local fruit might not be high up on the lists of most people. However, this is a pity, as not only is this area home to some of Victoria’s tastiest fruit produce, there is also ample scope for those who like to pick their own directly from the tree, turning a delicious experience into a fun day out for all.

There are even options for wild picking of fruits such as apples and raspberries – the Dandenongs region really is a paradise for those who enjoy the sweeter things in life. Let us know if fruit picking is something you’d love to include in your Dandenongs tour!

Witness the Merging of History and Nature at One of the Region’s Charming Sculpted Gardens

When art, design, culture, and history combine with nature, the result is a sculpted garden, and there are a couple of renowned sculpture gardens to be found across the Dandenong Ranges region. Some of these gardens are geared towards creating a charming

environment in which visitors can relax in comfort – such as those found at the Cloudehill Gardens and William Ricketts Sanctuary with its links to Australia’s Aboriginal culture. Others retain more of a connection to the natural ecosystems which surround them and offer an easy and fun means of accessing a charming natural landscape. We can count the local Cool Climate Gardens, Botanic Gardens, and the intriguing Secret Gardens, in this second category. Whatever your personal preference when it comes to exploring the great outdoors, all of these gardens are highly recommended and can easily be included in a Dandenong Ranges itinerary.

Fern Gullies and Towering Rainforest

Almost as soon as you start climbing the Dandenongs, you’ll be surrounded by its towering eucalypts, gorgeous tree ferns and lush gullies with gentle streams and beautiful forest. In between its charming towns, it’s icon Puffing Billy, and the incredible views of metropolitan Melbourne from the summit of Mt Dandenong, the Dandenong Ranges comprise stunning drives, walks, and the opportunity to breathe in simply some of the freshest air in the world.