Dandenong Ranges National Park — Attraction in Melbourne

Beautiful forest walks!

I’ve been three times, twice entering from Upper Fern Tree Gully, and once from Belgrave (both by metro rail). Belgrave gets you close to the Sherbrooke forest area, and a number of paths good for spotting a variety of birds, including lyrebirds. The upper fern tree gully station brings you less than a mile’s walk to the base of the Thousand Steps/Kokoda Memorial Walk. The “thousand steps” up into the park are certainly steep, but the feeling of entering the rainforest and climbing up into the ranges is so worth it. There’s two routes up quite close to each other; I recommend both! This area is popular and you will always see other people, but one can still hear the sounds of bird calls echoing from the trees.

Once you get to the top of the thousand steps, there is a campground nearby (with public restrooms). From that campground you can head further into the forests, and it gets much quieter.

During and after rain, some tracks do get very muddy, but I found hiking in the light rain to still be enjoyable, and many of the larger paths were not so muddy. The terrain is fairly hilly, but none of the peaks in the areas nearby the metro rail are very high on their own.

As a solo hiker, the area felt...

🌿 Dandenong Ranges National Park – A Nature Lover’s Paradise 🦋🌳

Just a short drive from Melbourne, Dandenong Ranges National Park is a breathtaking escape into lush forests, scenic trails, and rich wildlife. Whether you’re an avid hiker, a nature enthusiast, or simply looking for a peaceful retreat, this park is the perfect getaway.

The park is home to some of Victoria’s most stunning hiking trails, from gentle walks to more challenging climbs. You can wander through towering mountain ash trees, past fern-filled gullies, and along serene creeks while breathing in the fresh mountain air. Popular tracks like the 1000 Steps Kokoda Memorial Walk and Olinda Falls Trail offer unforgettable views and tranquil surroundings. 🥾🍃

As you explore, you’ll encounter many types of animals and birds, including lyrebirds, cockatoos, wallabies, wombats, and possums. It’s a haven for photographers, wildlife lovers, and anyone who enjoys being close to nature. 🐨🦜

Whether you’re visiting for a day hike, a picnic, or simply to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere, Dandenong Ranges National Park is a magical destination where nature, adventure, and wildlife come...

A very beautiful national park! I visited the 1000 Steps track and learned about the history behind it. The hike up was quite challenging for me, as I’m not a very experienced hiker, but I managed to complete it within an hour. If you want an easier time, I’d definitely recommend training on a StairMaster beforehand. The steps were a little slippery, and it was more crowded than I expected.

Afterwards, we continued up to One Tree Hill—though there was definitely more than one tree there 🤣. From there, we had originally planned to walk back down via the Lyrebird Track, but instead decided to push on to Proserpina Bakehouse. That trek was extremely tiring, as it was quite hilly and steep in parts, and we had to race against the Bakehouse’s closing time! Then again, I should mention that I’m a pretty inexperienced hiker.

During the trek, we saw many animals, including crimson rosellas, kookaburras, sulfur-crested cockatoos, black-tailed cockatoos, and even an echidna. I feel pretty lucky to have spotted the echidna! For the birds, make sure to look carefully in the trees.

You can see the route I took in one of the pictures attached to...