The Dandenong Ranges is a national park surrounding Mt Dandenong in Melbourne. Mt Dandenong can be spotted from most parts of Melbourne as a series of hills 40klms to the east of the city, the antennas that can be seen on top of Dandenongs are mostly for Melbourne’s television and radio stations.
The Ranges National Park consist of several parks and forests including Sherbrooke Forest, Doongalla Reserve, Ferntree Gully National Park, Olinda State Forest and the Mt Evelyn Forest. The park is well known for protecting a population of lyrebirds as well as other fauna.
Attractions around the area include the Historic Puffing Billy steam train, SkyHigh Mount Dandenong Observatory and William Ricketts Sanctuary (a park featuring works of the famous Australian sculptor).
Taking a drive along The Mount Dandenong Tourist Road that starts at Ferntree Gully is the best way to see the area. Dotted along this road is several bed and breakfast’s, antique shops, Devonshire tea houses and restaurants, one of the most well known restaurants is the Bavarian themed Cuckoo Restaurant at Olinda.
Getting to the Dandenongs is best done by car, taking Ferntree Gully Rd off the Monash Freeway will take you past the Caribbean Gardens and onto Burwood Hwy to Puffing Billy at the foothills of the Dandenongs. Once the Eastlink freeway opens in 2008 you will also have access from the Eastern Freeway via the Burwood Hwy, the Ranges are about a 1hr Drive from the city. Train services also run to Belgrave where Puffing Billy’s Belgrave station is also located, Puffing Billy continues on to Emerald, Cockatoo and Gembrook.
