Explore the regioN
Step back in time at Australia’s oldest and best-preserved heritage steam railway, Puffing Billy, situated in the picturesque Dandenong Ranges and only 60-minutes from Melbourne CBD.
With lush fern gullies brushing past the open side carriages and Mountain Ash trees towering overhead, Puffing Billy makes for a wonderful opportunity to relax and breathe in the fresh air whilst the train makes its way through the temperate rainforest.
Discover wonderful wildlife and spectacular landscapes made for adventure while sitting on the carriage sill of Puffing Billy’s open-side carriages; a truly iconic experience that cannot be found anywhere else in the world.
Located adjacent to Lakeside station sits Puffing Billy’s new state-of-the-art Lakeside Visitor Centre. Featuring a modern café with the best produce on offer in the region, a dedicated gift shop featuring locally designed treasures and a gallery of steam artifacts in the Lakeside Hall, the Visitor Centre offers guests a cultural hub with world class facilities. Open daily with free entry to passengers and visitors.
PUFFING BILLY RAILWAY
A curated space of texture, form and light, MoM is the perfect place for a romantic escape, one of quiet solitude, or for the backdrop to your wedding preparations. Based in the Dandenong Ranges, east of Melbourne, this tastefully styled home sits amongst beautiful established gardens and ancient trees. Soak them in from the comfort of the outdoor bath house, and enjoy the displays of autumn colours, spring and summer blooms, and the magnificent winter magnolias.
MAGNOLIAS ON MERNDA
Nestled at the north end of Belgrave Village and adjacent to Sherbrooke Forest. Belgrave B&B offers luxury accommodation in the Dandenong Ranges.
Owned and hosted by Dianne and Ross, Belgrave B&B offers accommodation in two private spa suites, creating a warm, relaxed atmosphere for couples as a romantic getaway or weekend escape.
Cedar Suite and the Golden Elm Suite are beautifully appointed Edwardian-style self-contained accommodations, with modern luxuries.
BELGRAVE BED AND BREAKFAST
Villa d'Amour offers a luxury escape for couples who want to swap the fast pace of modern city living for the peace and tranquillity of the breathtaking mountains.
Beautifully designed and elegantly decorated, this charming self-contained Villa is set in a magnificent English style garden and provides the perfect sanctuary to rest, recharge and reconnect.
VILLA D’AMOUR
Our lavender farm is in the Yarra Valley at the foothills of Mt Dandenong, a 1-hr drive from Melbourne.
Back in 1991, Annemarie planted out a small plot of lavender on land which had once been a cherry orchard. It began as a hobby, but soon people began coming up the driveway, asking what time we were open til – they wanted to come and see the lavender growing.
And so over the years the farm gradually expanded & now has over 10,000 lavender plants and is visited and much loved by tourists from around the world.
The lavender grown on the farm is harvested annually between Nov-Jan, early morning, by hand, using a traditional sickle. The harvested bunches are then taken to the Drying Shed where they are hung to dry before being stripped on a machine. The stripped lavender is sifted three times to remove any unwanted leaves, sticks and dust. Our dried lavender is used in cooking, as decoration, and in household and beauty products.
WARRATINA LAVENDER FARM
Cameo Cinemas has been an iconic home of cinema in the Dandenongs since it opened with MGM’s David Copperfield on November 22, 1935. It continues to offer an eclectic range of content, a sophisticated food menu and boasts an outdoor cinema blessed with natural beauty.
CAMEO CINEMA
Where The Wilde Things Are is a store like no other, where you will find the most beautiful & unique handmade treasures & accessories from both near & far, sourced sustainably from our travels, both around Australia and the world.
With a 30+ year background in jewellery & textile design, specialising in bridal headpieces - check out my instore poster of Muriel's Wedding featuring one of my pieces- our current brand has evolved into the treasure house of gorgeous pieces displayed for your shopping pleasure.
We are dog friendly destination where your pooch (or llama or kitty) will be welcomed with home made treatos.
WHERE THE WILDE THINGS ARE
The Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden is Victoria's premier cool-climate garden. With breathtaking views over the Yarra Valley, the garden features important collections of rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias and more, in a setting of native and exotic trees. Seasonal changes ensure the garden is a year-round delight.
Meander down to Serenity Point where the sculpted landscape opens to stunning views over the Yarra Ranges and beyond. A network of paths criss-cross the Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden and highlight the ever-changing seasonal landscape.
The Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden is home to a staggering 15,000 rhododendrons, 12,000 azaleas, 3,000 camellias and 250,000 daffodils clothed in colour in spring and autumn. The garden houses Australia’s largest collection of Australian and overseas raised hybrids of rhododendrons that cannot be replaced, re-bred or re-imported.
The 1000 Steps / Kokoda Memorial track was built in the early 1900s, as a memorial and reminder of the famous Thousand Steps track in Papua New Guinea, location of the World War 2 battle in 1942.
The Thousand Steps-Kokoda memorial walk is the busiest hike in the Dandenong Ranges. It is a stunning walk, steep, narrow and not quite 1000 steps. Many people use the track as a fitness challenge but it deserves respect, this is an important memorial and the signage along the way is well worth pausing to read.
An alternative challenge to walking the 1000 Steps is the Fire Trail/Glasgow Track. It goes straight up the mountain to the summit of Mt Dandenong. No steps, just lots of rocks to clamber over and some great views too.
