Just an hour’s drive from Melbourne, the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges make ideal day trip and weekend getaway destinations. Nature enthusiasts can explore temperate rainforests dotted with fern gullies and towering mountain ash trees.

Children can interact with Australian wildlife at Healesville Sanctuary or walk an easy 2.4-kilometer round-trip trail leading to Sherbrooke Falls, flanked by fern-covered Sherbrooke Gardens. Florists should plan their trip during early spring for Tesselaar Tulip Festival or autumn for Bendigo’s Kabloom of Autumn Festival – two events which feature magnificent floral displays.

1. Puffing Billy Steam Train

Dandenong Ranges are an idyllic region just one hour outside Melbourne, featuring breathtaking natural landscapes and charming villages. Character-filled dwellings host an extensive collection of cafes, restaurants and artisanal boutiques that attract visitors from near and far; nature enthusiasts will especially love exploring its pristine forests, expansive gardens and scenic walking trails that cover this area.

Puffing Billy, Australia’s oldest and best-preserved heritage steam train, provides an unforgettable journey through one of the world’s most scenic mountain tracks – you’ll witness lush fern gullies and towering Mountain Ash trees as you ride. In addition, several old railway stations such as Belgrave and Lakeside can be visited throughout the day to discover local countryside or charming towns nearby the track.

Sherbrooke Forest offers another highlight, where you can stroll among the treetops and discover waterfalls. If traveling with children, plan your visit around either Kabloom tulip festival or Sherbrooke Forest Fungus Season for spectacular displays of color and texture.

Dandenong forests provide inspiration to many local artists, and you can watch them at work at UP Gallery in Sassafras or Burrinja Cultural Centre in Belgrave. You may even want to try your own hand at creating artwork in one of the workshops available!

Are you in search of retail therapy? Stop by Olinda Markets for some shopping therapy or just to browse their stalls selling fresh local produce. Additionally, visit the Olinda Library where you may discover your next favourite book; or stop at The Little Owl to pick up handmade souvenirs created just for you!

Visit Cameo Cinema, a grand 1930s venue with Art Deco features. The theatre shows mainstream, art house and classic films over summer with outdoor screenings available. Nearby Mount Dandenong Lookout provides breathtaking vistas of both city and Port Phillip Bay; additionally there is an onsite garden, hedge maze and bistro that serves breakfast through to dinner service.

2. SkyHigh Mount Dandenong Lookout

Dandenong Ranges are an irresistibly picturesque attraction. Their lush forests, stunning vistas and many picturesque parks, gardens, and lookouts provide an irreplaceable getaway from Melbourne city life.

Puffing Billy Steam Train has long been one of Melbourne’s premier tourist attractions since 1900; generations of Melburnians and visitors alike have boarded this heritage-listed steam train for an enjoyable journey through lush vegetation.

Healesville Sanctuary is another prime choice for wildlife enthusiasts, offering close encounters with native Australian animals in their natural environment and even joining in an interactive “meet the handler” session. You may see kangaroos, wombats, dingoes, koalas or platypuses.

SkyHigh Mount Dandenong Lookout on the uppermost reaches of the ranges provides spectacular views of Port Phillip Bay and metropolitan cityscape, making it an ideal location for picnics, barbecues, lunches with a view and barbecues. There is also a restaurant, two cafes, maze and English garden available here for visitors’ use – for maximum effect come visit at sunset when city lights twinkle beneath you!

Walking trails abound in the nearby state forest, including Mathias and Olinda Falls. Additionally, this park serves as an exceptional birding location with numerous species such as cockatoos, king parrots, rosellas and more residing there. Sherbrooke Forest Picnic Ground offers another convenient picnic stop.

Belgrave Treetops Adventure offers an exciting way for active adventurers of all ages to experience nature by means of ziplines, tightropes, and tunnels strung high in the trees. Perfect for kids as well as adults alike, this exciting experience allows participants to discover forests and mountains alike in a fun yet thrilling fashion!

Dandenong Market offers fresh produce and unique gifts from around Victoria. Stalls feature an abundance of products, and you can sample some of the region’s signature cuisine at one of many food vendors. Plus, performances by local musicians take place often! Popular activities at the Dandenong Market also include touring Mont De Lancey homestead for an authentic recreation of pioneer life in Dandenong Ranges; or visiting an art gallery.

3. RJ Hamer Arboretum

Cloudehill Gardens (formerly the National Rhododendron Garden) are an aesthetic delight, situated on the eastern slopes of Dandenong Ranges. Boasting an exquisite series of “garden rooms,” separated by stone walls and finely clipped hedges, visitors are easily lost in its beauty. Copper beech trees, flower-flecked meadows and the Water Garden all provide vibrant scenes to capture on camera – vibrant copper beech trees, flower-dotted meadows and tulips create stunning scenes to capture on film! Visitors also take pleasure in relaxing along paths dotted with sculptures lining billowing shrubs as they stroll past sculptures along paths dotted with sculptures as they pass vibrant copper beech trees, billowing shrubs lined by billowing shrubs dotted by billowing shrubs lined by calla lilies tulips along their routes while picnics on Grant’s picnic ground while feasting on fresh fruits & veggies while taking in nature’s sights and sounds!

RJ Hamer Arboretum offers visitors looking to indulge their love of plants an idyllic spot to do just that – this parkland features exotic flora planted in plantations designed to resemble forests, covering over 100 hectares. Nature enthusiasts must visit RJ Hamer Arboretum to immerse themselves in Victoria’s gorgeous scenery!

Healesville Sanctuary in Dandenong Ranges is an absolute must for visitors interested in experiencing Australian wildlife up close. Visitors can see kangaroos, wallabies and many more creatures roam freely in their natural environment – as well as participate in “Meet the Handler” sessions that occur throughout each day!

Healesville Sanctuary boasts more than just a zoo; visitors will also enjoy visiting the Yarra Valley Winery and Yarra River Botanic Gardens to sample delicious wine or local products – no surprise then, that Healesville and Dandenong Ranges have become such popular weekend retreats from Melbourne residents.

Dandenong Ranges are full of exciting things to do for travelers of every kind – there’s something special waiting to be explored at every turn! Explore Mount Dandenong or Sherbrooke Forest or soak up panoramic views of Melbourne skyline at SkyHigh; there is much to discover in this beautiful region so grab a map and start discovering!

4. Sherbrooke Forest

Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges region is an idyllic playground for families. Offering attractions geared to both kids and grown-ups alike, its proximity to Melbourne makes this destination accessible. Take a trip back in time at Mont De Lancey Homestead; browse local art at galleries; or peruse fresh produce and crafts at Yarra Glen Farmers Market – there are so many activities here you’ll never have any reason for boredom!

Explore temperate forests and lush gardens filled with wildlife in these picturesque surroundings. Trails wind along the rolling hillsides, with plenty of sights along Sherbrooke Forest Walk offering spectacular sights abounding – mountain ash trees, tree ferns and even native birds may make appearances along your walk!

Sherbrooke Forest is also home to waterfalls. You’ll find Sherbrooke Falls nearby the O’Donohue and Sherbrooke Picnic Grounds; then follow the Eastern Sherbrooke Forest Walk for a scenic route that traverses this park, where you’ll come face-to-face with some of its most stunning flora – keep an eye out for its signature call if lyrebirds appear along its trail!

Warburton Adventure Company offers outdoor enthusiasts an abundance of adventurous pursuits such as river tubing and abseiling, while those seeking relaxation will find day spas and bath houses near Sherbrooke as well as unique treetop houses like Billabong Falls with fireplaces and hot tubs for just that purpose.

The region’s lush forests serve as a source of inspiration for many local artists and makers, whose works can be found at galleries like UP Gallery in Sassafras or Burrinja Cultural Centre in Belgrave. Or you can enhance your own creativity at one of the region’s workshops and retreats such as Linden Gardens Rainforest Retreat or booking yourself into an elegant cottage in Hepburn Springs.