Dandenong Ranges

see also:

Montrose
- Montrose Reserve
Kalorama
- Kalorama Memorial Reserve
- Forest reserve
- Olinda Falls Reserve
  - access via Falls Rd north of Olinda from Mt Dandenong Tourist Rd between Kalorama and William Ricketts
Mt Dandenong
- William Rickets Sanctuary
- access via Ridge Rd:
  - Jennings Reserve
  - Dcnr aboretum
  - Observatory
  - Singleton Reserve
Olinda
- National Rhododendron Gardens
  - open 10am - 5pm every day except Xmas Day
  - Café Vireya is open from 14 September until 17 November 2013
  - cherry blossoms early-mid Sept.
  - wedding photography permit $150-170 for 1hr
- Bartlett Olinda State Forest Reserve
  - access via Falls Rd from past the Rhododendron Gardens
- from Chalet Rd then Silvan Rd:
  - RJ Hamer aboretum
    - wide variety of trees planted 1978
    - walking tracks
    - Valley Picnic Ground in the Olinda Forest just past most northern point of arboretum
  - Bartlett Olinda State Forest Reserve (east aspect)
    - primarily a dry forest with Messmate and Narrow-leaved Peppermint eucalypts, with moist gullies
    - Eagle Nest picnic ground
Sherbrooke
- Alfred Nicholas memorial Gardens
  - open 10am - 5pm every day except Xmas Day
- George Tindale memorial gardens
  - open 10am - 5pm every day except Xmas Day
- Sherbrooke forest
Monbulk
- Pirianda gardens
  - open 10am - 5pm every day except Xmas Day
  - large blackwoods and mountain ash towering over the natural fern gullies
  - terraced gardens on steep slopes
  - particularly beautiful in autumn when the trees change colour to the many hues of orange, red and yellow
Emerald
- Emerald lake Park
- Wright Forest
- Butterfield Conservation Reserve
  - north of Emerald on the Emerald-Monbulk Rd
Aura Vale
- Aura Vale Lake Park
  - northern tip of Cardinia Reservoir
Selby
- Black Hill Reserve
Belgrave
- Puffing Billy steam train to Emerald
- Belgrave Lake Park
Upper Ferntree Gully:
- Mount Dandenong Tourist Road:
  - walks:
    - Parkweb notes (pdf)
    - Ramblers Track Loop: 1.5km 45min return
    - Living Bush Nature Walk 2.5km 1.5hrs return
    - Kokoda Track Memorial Walk including 1000 steps: 3km, 1.5hrs return, need some fitness!
    - Lyrebird Loop walk: 4km 2hrs return; steep grade!
    - Belview Loop walk: 4.5km, 2.5hrs return; steep grade!
    - Circumnavigate One Tree Hill: 3.7km, 1.5hr loop;
  - takes you to:
    - the Sherbrooke Rd turnoff and Sherbrooke forest
    - or continue on to Sassafras and Olinda