Dandenong Ranges National Park South Visitor Guide

The southern section of Dandenong Ranges National Park covers Ferntree Gully, the oldest area of the national park, One Tree Hill in the west and Sherbrooke area in the east. Enjoy magnificent scenery of the Mountain Ash forests while driving through the park, go for a walk or spend some time in one of the picnic areas. You might even be lucky enough to hear the call of the park’s most famous inhabitant, the Superb Lyrebird.

Opening hours The Kokoda Track Memorial Walk represents an area of historical significance and every effort is undertaken to retain this heritage. Dandenong Ranges National Park is open every day, including weekends and public holidays. The 1000 Steps are very popular with people exercising and can get busy during weekends and summer evenings. Opening times apply to vehicle traffic for the One Tree Hill Picnic Ground, which has an automatic gate in operation and is open 6.00am to 9.00pm daily. Ramblers Track Loop – 1.5km, 45mins return The Ferntree Gully entrance of the 1000 Steps has automatic boom Take this short walk to experience the lush surroundings of the gates that close at 9.00pm, preventing access to the 1000 Steps and Ferntree Gully Creek.The area is home to both the Rough and Soft Kokoda memorial walk (can exit at any time over road spikes). tree ferns. Crimson Rosellas and possums favour the newly forming The Eagles Nest and Valley picnic grounds close at 6pm during fern fronds as a food source. Daylight Saving and at 4.00pm at other times of the year. Leaving from the children’s playground at the Ferntree Gully picnic Getting there area, follow Ramblers Track up the hill. Turn left, where the track connects with the lower section of the Kokoda Track Memorial Walk The national park is located about 40km east of Melbourne. From to return to the picnic ground. the city take the Eastern Fwy (M3) and exit onto Springvale Rd (Route 40). Turn left onto Burwood Hwy (Route 26) which merges on to the Mount Dandenong Tourist Rd just past the Upper Ferntree Lyrebird Loop – 4km, 2hrs return Gully Railway Station. This walk passes through remnant Cool Temperate Rainforest and If you are using public transport there is easy access to the Ferntree Wet Forest, offering a welcome relief in hot weather where some area from the Upper Ferntree Gully Railway Station. Bus services plants interlink overhead to provide shade. also stop at the station. Starting at the back of the Ferntree Gully car park, Lyrebird Track is a The Sherbrooke area can be accessed via Sherbrooke Rd off the steep climb up to the One Tree Hill Picnic area that avoids the busy Mount Dandenong Tourist Rd or via the Monbulk Rd between 1000 steps. From there, continue down Ramu Avenue, turning left Belgrave and Kallista. into Link Track and then right, back down Lyrebird Track to the Things to see and do picnic ground. Walking Sooty Owls and Superb Lyrebirds can often be sighted and heard in this area. The corridor is also a favourite spot for Goulds Wattle and Kokoda Track Memorial Walk (incorporating the 1000 Chocolate Wattle Bats, which can be spotted in the evenings. Steps walk) – 3km, 1hr one-way uphill only This steep walk starts at the back of Ferntree Gully car park. Created Belview Loop – 4.5km, 2.5hrs return in the early 1900s, the 1000 Steps Walk was originally made from tree fern trunks laid along the wetter areas of the track to make the This walk passes through open Shrubby Foothill and Grassy Dry climb a little easier. These were replaced by wooden palings, and Forest. You will notice cleared areas on both sides of the track – more permanent concrete steps were installed in 1950. these are known as “fuel breaks” and were created following the 1968 wildfires which burnt significant areas of the hill to reduce the The veterans of the Kokoda campaign adopted this park as their risk of severe fire and enable easy access for fire vehicles. memorial site in 1998. The similarity of the walk to the first 100 metres of the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea resulted in the Swamp Wallaby, Possums and Gliders frequent this area, together establishment of fourteen plaques along the walk, dedicated to the with the Blue-tongue Lizard known to wander the drier slopes. Australian Military Forces who fought and died on Kokoda. The 1000 Start at Lyrebird Track, which is a steep climb to Link track. Follow Steps represent the ‘Golden Staircase’, a name given by Australian Link track to Belview Terrace. Turning left, continue to the bottom of soldiers to the 2000 steps cut by the Australian Army Engineers and the track and turn left into School Track. This will bring you back to others into the track between Uberi and Imita Ridge. the picnic ground near where you started the walk.

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www.parks.vic.gov.au Disclaimer: Parks Victoria does not guarantee that this data is without ﬂaw of any kind and therefore disclaims all liability which 0 0.5 1 Kilometers may arise from you relying on this information. Data source acknowledgements: State Digital Mapbase. The State of Victoria and the Department of Environment and Primary Industries. Cartography by Parks Victoria July 2020 For mobile App search for Avenza PDF Maps Sherbrooke Falls – 2.4km, 1hr return Olympic, Kays and Beagleys Picnic Grounds These three picnic grounds are all easily accessible within a short walk along the Sassafras Creek using the Sassafras Creek Walking Tracks leading from Sherbrooke and O’Donohue Picnic Ground Track. The forest surrounding the grounds is dominated by the provide the easiest walk to the falls through the attractive landscape towering Mountain Ash, Mountain Grey Gum and Messmate of tall Mountain Ash and tree ferns. The falls are most inspiring after (eucalypt) trees. While the mid-canopy contains soft and rough tree rain when the swollen Sherbrooke Creek rushes over the rocks. ferns that provide protection for the delicate fern species on the Hardy Gully Nature Walk – 700m, 45 minutes circuit ground floor. Bike riding Starting at Grants Picnic Ground, this walk takes you back in time to Bike riders are welcome to explore the network of cycling tracks ancient origins – remnant Cool Temperate rainforest which are that wind through the park, including roads, vehicular tracks and threatened throughout the world. Interpretive panels reveal secrets ‘Management Vehicle Only’ (MVO) tracks, unless they have been of the forest. closed to bicycles. Tracks closed to cyclists display a ‘No Bikes’ symbol. Any track may Margaret Lester Forest Walk – 300m, 30min circuit be closed to cycling at short notice, particularly if the track conditions become very muddy, eroded or dangerous. Located at Grants Picnic Ground, this hard-surfaced track has been For further information refer to the maps. especially designed for people with limited mobility. The track follows a steady gradient weaving through spectacular Mountain Facilities Ash forest. There is a café and gift shop at the Grants picnic area and the Ferntree Gully picnic area. Eastern Sherbrooke Forest – 7.1km, 2hr circuit All of the picnic areas have tables. The Grants, Sherbrooke and O’Donohue picnic grounds all have barbecues and toilets. This is a round trip starting and finishing at Grants Picnic Ground. There are accessible toilets at One Tree Hill, Grants, Sherbrooke The route follows Lyrebird Walk, then Neumann Road, passing and O’Donohue, and Grants has three designated disabled parking though cleared areas of bush created by the successive wildfires of bays. the early 1900’s. At Paddy Track Junction turn south and cross Hardy Creek before climbing Welch Track and following Coles Ridge Road Please take all rubbish away with you for recycling and disposal. back to the picnic ground. TrailRider all-terrain wheelchair Most of the walk is through Mountain Ash and Messmate A TrailRider all-terrain wheelchair is available for park visitors with Stringybark forest. There are steep sections on Paddy Road and significant physical disabilities to access various walking trails in the Welch Track which may be slippery when wet. park. The TrailRider chair is fitted with an electric motor to assist operators on hilly trails. Sassafras Creek Walking Track – 17km, 6 hours one way The TrailRider requires a minimum of two operators, however four operators are recommended for long trails or walks with significant Meandering and criss-crossing the cool, clear waters of the gradients. Passengers in the chair must provide their own bike Sassafras, Woori Yallock and Menzies Creeks is this 17 kilometre helmet and wear it when using the chair. track. It passes through fern-filled gullies, eucalypt covered ridges The chair can be borrowed for free at Grants Picnic Area in Kallista and over numerous bridges and boardwalks. and bookings can be made in advance. Please contact the Grants The walk can be undertaken from either direction, starting from the on Sherbrooke Restaurant on (03) 9755 2888. quaint little township of Sassafras, or from Emerald. You can also Be prepared and stay safe break up the walk into shorter sections, stopping off at any of the picnic grounds along the way. The walk is generally moderate to The Dandenong Ranges National Park is closed when there is a easy with some undulating terrain and some steeper sections. SEVERE Fire Danger Rating at local Ferny Creek or Coldstream weather stations or if there are strong winds. Picnics Dandenong Ranges National Park is in the Central fire district. Ferntree Gully Bushfire safety is a personal responsibility. Anyone entering parks This is a large picnic area, just as you enter the park from south and forests during the bushfire season needs to stay aware of west. It offers multiple picnic tables and shelters, barbecues, toilets forecast weather conditions. Check the Fire Danger Rating and for and a playground. There is also a café for last minute supplies or days of Total Fire Ban at www.cfa.vic.gov.au or call the refreshments after a walk. This a gateway to many of the parks most VicEmergency Hotline on 1800 226 226. No fires may be lit on Total popular walks, including the 1000 steps. Fire Ban days. Closure signs will be erected but do not expect an One Tree Hill Picnic Ground official warning. Check the latest conditions at This large picnic ground at the top of the 1000 Steps/Kokoda Track www.parks.vic.gov.au or by calling 13 1963. For emergency Memorial Walk is well-equipped with an electric barbecue, picnic assistance call Triple Zero tables, a shelter and toilets. I provides access to many surrounding (000). If there is a green emergency marker sign near you, read the walks. information on the marker to the operator. Sherbrooke and O’Donohue Picnic Grounds These scenic and peaceful picnic grounds, surrounded by Mountain Ash trees and ancient tree ferns, are perfect for family gatherings or as starting points for the many surrounding walks. Grants Picnic Ground Set in the rainforest and surrounded by trees fern and Mountain Ash, this is a lovely sheltered spot to enjoy a picnic.