Mount Dandenong
Mount Dandenong, sometimes styled as Mt.
Dandenong, is a township and suburb of the Greater Melbourne area in Victoria, Australia, 44 km (27 mi) east of the Melbourne central business district (CBD), located within the local government area of the Shire of Yarra Ranges. Mount Dandenong recorded a population of 1,271 at the 2021 census.
Getting to Mount Dandenong
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.
Worth seeing
- 01Puffing Billy
This historic steam train is the most popular attraction in the Dandenong Ranges.
- 02Kokoda Memorial Track
- 03William Ricketts Sanctuary
William Ricketts is a well known Australian artist, and this, his previously private retreat, is dotted with amazing sculptures blended into the natural environment.
- 04National Rhododendron Gardens
- 05Emerald Lake Park
52 hectares of parklands featuring the beautiful Lake Treganowan as well as gardens and natural bushland.
Things to do
Trees Adventure - Glen Harrow Park, Old Monbulk Rd, Belgrave,. 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.
Where to 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.
Text adapted from Wikipedia and Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: Wikimedia Commons (see Commons), Wikimedia Commons.