Beauty of the Dandenong Ranges

Photo: visitorsbureau.com.au

People like to stay inside in the warm during winter. But this can become boring, and you might want to get out and see something different from your own four walls.

The mountains around Melbourne have a special beauty in the winter time. They are also quieter, there are few outdoor activities and not so many people are out. A drive around the Dandenong Ranges, between Belgrave and Monbulk, can help relieve the closed-in feeling of being at home all the time.

You'll find many wonderful little shops and eating places which are open all year round. At Miss Marples Tearoom in Sassafras, or the Tea Rooms in nearby Kallista, to name only a couple, you can get hot soups, warm scones or larger meals at reasonable prices. Many of the towns in this area have a variety of shops, selling antiques, jewellery, arts and crafts.

Because winter is cold, it's a better time than summer for any activity that needs physical effort. There many places in the Dandenongs where you can enjoy an easy stroll. In Olinda, for instance, you can visit the National Rhododendron Gardens. There is no entry fee, and these beautiful gardens are ideal for a walk. My advice is to ask the shopkeepers and tea room people about their local area.

If you like a more energetic walk, there are a couple of tracks you can visit. The Eastern Sherbrooke Forest Walk, near Kallista, is a 6.6 km walk through ferny bushland. Here you have a chance to see native animals like lyrebirds, wombats, wallaby, echidna, possums and powerful owls.

Near Upper Ferntree Gully and Upwey is the Kokoda Track Memorial Walk, or “Thousand Steps Walk”. It is a memorial to the Australian soldiers who fought and died on the real Kokoda Trail in New Guinea during the Second World War. At 3 km it is shorter than the Sherbrooke Forest Walk, but be warned: it is very steep, especially towards the top. Here also it is possible to see native animals, or you can simply enjoy the beautiful forest.

On the southern side of the ranges, you can enjoy towns like Emerald and Gembrook. Emerald Lake Park used to be the home of the Nobelius family. In the 19th Century they grew trees and plants for export, and were the biggest exporters of trees in the southern hemisphere. The Park has a large lake where you can fish, and a small museum with fascinating relics of the early days of settlement.

From Gembrook you can ride the old steam train “Puffing Billy” to Belgrave and back. There are a number of stops along the way, including Emerald Lake Park, where you can board if you want.

There is really quite a lovely world waiting for you to discover in the Dandenong Ranges, even in these cold winter days. You can see maps and more information at visitdandenongranges.com.au.

Span Hanna