Dandenong Ranges are home to sprawling tracts of National Park, offering breathtaking scenery, walking tracks and charming public gardens. Day trippers love taking the Puffing Billy train; or enjoy high tea and scones in one of the charming hillside villages.

Every culture has their own set of superstitions; such as believing that mirrors hold your soul or seeing a black cat crossing your path is an omen of bad luck. In Dandenongs, certain events are considered unlucky.

1. The Puffing Billy

Dandenong Ranges are home to one of the world’s greatest steam train experiences: Puffing Billy. A legendary icon in Victoria, this heritage railway has brought people together for over one hundred years while creating memorable experiences for all those who ride aboard its historic trains.

Puffing Billy steam train offers an unforgettable journey through Melbourne’s temperate rainforests and charming villages of the Dandenong Ranges, beloved by Melburnians as well as visitors from further afield. Experience firsthand Sherbrooke Forest or gaze upon rolling hills of Yarra Valley while riding this legendary train from one century ago! It provides a memorable journey.

Built during the early 1900’s when full-sized broad gauge Victorian railway systems became financially prohibitive for communities such as those of Dandenong Ranges, narrow gauge lines offered a low cost alternative allowing access to outlying areas.

Puffing Billy was one of four narrow-gauge lines opened in Victoria during this era. Running between Belgrave and Gembrook, Puffing Billy is now considered one of the world’s premier preserved railways.

Today, the Andrews Labor Government is taking steps to protect this historic attraction by introducing new legislation into Parliament that will modernise the Emerald Tourist Railway Act 1977 and ensure it can continue as an attraction with sustainable operations in future years.

This work complements Yarra Ranges Council’s efforts in developing a cultural strategy for its area, which include commissioning two significant and ground-breaking reports: Ridgewalk A History of Culture, Artists and Creativity in the Dandenongs and William Ricketts Sanctuary in the Dandenongs. Both reports will help inform future development of the railway, new planning initiatives as well as interpretation initiatives designed to further increase cultural significance while offering world-class experiences to locals alike.

2. The 1000 Steps Kokoda Walk

Dandenong Ranges National Park is home to Melbourne’s iconic bushwalking trail – The 1000 Steps or Kokoda Track Memorial Walk is one of Melbourne’s premier bushwalking routes, beloved by fitness walkers, history fans and tourists for its combination of natural beauty and physical challenge. Additionally, this walk serves as a reminder of those Australian soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice fighting along WWII’s Kokoda Trail.

Steps were originally constructed from tree fern trunks laid over wet areas to ease the hike of troops participating in the campaign, before eventually being replaced with wooden palings and later, more permanent concrete steps in 1950. A memorial dedicated to those who died along the trail was established by Australian veterans of Kokoda campaign and is lined by 14 plaques commemorating those lost along its trail.

As its name implies, this track can be very steep at points. Therefore, it is suitable for people with reasonable fitness and good hiking shoes who enjoy hiking uphill. Although the climb may be tiring at times, rest stops are available along the route to help recharge batteries; be sure to bring plenty of water as there are no drinking fountains along this trail.

Although the 1000 Steps are open year-round, their best experience comes when the weather is both warm and dry – therefore it is always wise to pack waterproof gear just in case conditions turn wetter than planned.

There are multiple ways to access the 1000 Steps, but we recommend public transportation whenever possible. Take the Belgrave Line train from Melbourne CBD and stop off at Upper Ferntree Gully station near its trailhead; follow Mount Dandenong Tourist Road until it reaches Mount Dandenong Tourist Car Park which offers free entry.

The 1000 Steps are well worth the effort, yet can become overcrowded on weekends. To ensure a good experience when visiting on one of these occasions, arrive early and expect to wait a few minutes for parking space if needed. Otherwise, they are easy to reach from Melbourne city and an excellent option for daytrips through Dandenongs.

3. The Dreamtime

The Dandenong Ranges have an enchanting spiritual energy, drawing many white witches and pagans. Nickole Hedley leads a coven of nine witches from across Victoria that practice elements of Wicca beliefs; more than half the residents practice elements of Wiccan practices themselves while numerous cafes advertise psychic services as well.

Aboriginals believe the world began in The Dreamtime or Everywhen; an idea which goes far beyond our perception of time and space. According to this belief, time, space, past and future all connect in an endless cycle and are interdependent.

Legends of the Dreamtime are integral parts of Indigenous culture and identity, explaining where all living organisms, such as plants and animals, as well as natural phenomena come from. Additionally, they outline moral laws and cultural customs, teaching respect for land and its people.

These stories are passed from generation to generation through word of mouth and totems, songs and artwork. Many popular legends tell the tales of rivers, waterfalls and mountains being formed; others examine their spiritual power or powerlessness – such as that of Rainbow Serpent; an ancestral being who creates rivers by dipping his tail in and out of the earth and brings rain as vital life-sustaining resources – thus giving rise to various landscape features we take for granted today.

The Dreamtime is a philosophy that recognizes the significance of maintaining harmony between physical and spiritual realms, teaching humans that each has an integral role to play in maintaining equilibrium between these realms. According to Aboriginal beliefs, we all should explore The Dreamtime world in order to gain greater knowledge about its influence on our environment, fellow humans and the spirits that reside here.

Dreamtime stories vary considerably across locations, yet several common threads run throughout. Dreamtime tales reflect the beliefs and customs of local communities or families living there, so may feature specific landmarks as focal points – for instance in Tanami Desert stories relating to women such as Mina Mina Jukurrpa (Women’s Dreamtime). It centers on sacred sites for both Napanangka and Napangardi women.

4. The Dandenong Ranges National Park

Dandenong Ranges National Park is an oasis for both wildlife and natural beauty. Boasting temperate rainforests and towering mountain ash trees, visitors have the opportunity to spot local species like wallabies and koalas in their natural environment.

Melbourne National Park is conveniently located within easy driving distance, making it an easy stop on any city break. Its many tracks offer varied hiking experiences ranging from leisurely strolls through fern gullies to challenging climbs over cliff faces and mountains, as well as popular birdwatching spots featuring cockatoos, rosellas, and kookaburras aplenty!

All through the park you will find lush vegetation and breathtaking views of the Great Dividing Range, featuring Mount Dandenong and Mount Sassafras’s captivating mountain peaks – both are worth seeing – along with numerous plant species including endangered and rare ones – Dandenong Ranges National Park is an important site for conservation, making it a must-see stop on any visitor’s itinerary.

Prior to European colonisation, the Dandenong Ranges served as summer hunting grounds for Bunurong and Woiwurrong Aboriginal tribes. Botanist Daniel Bunce made one of his first recorded explorations into these hills during 1840s before wholesale clearing began for timber harvesting and farming purposes. With roads and railways constructed such as Puffing Billy Narrow Gauge Train Line from Ferntree Gully beginning operation in 1900 and numerous forest reserves established before creating national park status in 1987, tourism became increasingly prevalent within these hills.

Many of the towns and villages east of the national park are historical landmarks, with some remaining unscathed by urbanisation. Most started as small farm settlements but became holiday getaways as rail and car transport improved; Dandenong Ranges suburbs saw rapid development from 1920s onwards.

Rich soils of this region make it the ideal environment for cultivating fruits and berries, with strawberries, cherries and blueberries flourishing prolifically throughout. Berry picking is a favorite activity during harvest season in Dandenong Ranges – another source of local pride! In addition to fruit growing opportunities, wineries produce abundant harvests here as well as numerous breweries that host regular tasting sessions for wine enthusiasts.