Mount Dandenong Tourist Road & Pit-stops
When people come to Melbourne, they may begin with traditional places to visit in the city. They may also think about what to explore in areas fewer people venture to see.
As you drive along Mount Dandenong Tourist Road, you may stop in the villages of Sassafras and Kallista on the way up the winding mountain road. Each town offers a number of artisan shops and small art galleries, cafes and old buildings. Local people are friendly. Some have been known to invite passing tourists to their personal homes for tea!
Olinda is a really quaint village located 44km east from the centre of Melbourne. The best route is by car, though tourist groups also pass though in vans. It makes an appealing pit-stop amidst the bushy and scenic Dandenong Ranges. Kitchenware and giftware shops may catch your eye along the centre village road. A number have recently been refurbished. Olinda offers older structures like a historic church and mill which make great places to discover on your way up Mount Dandenong. If you're a golf enthusiast, the course situated on Olinda-Monbulk Rd is worth a few rounds. Its not uncommon to see people stopped on the side of the road photographing koalas and other wildlife nearby.
While in the area, Mount Dandenong is a village only few kilometres north of Olinda. Places are so close, it makes sense to explore more than one, especially if you're on route to hike in the Dandenong Ranges. Why not take in some human culture local to the area before you venture into the wilderness?
Opposite the Mt Dandenong Hotel is the Mountain Ash Trading Company which sells Australian-made personal and home care products. They are unique. Also in the area is A Bowl of Roses, a gift shop known for handpainting and embroidery. It's another picturesque spot. I've seen avid photographers do their best to capture memorable moments there.
The historian in you may be interested to learn that the Wurrundjeri people originally inhabited this area, moving on to Yarra Valley where they passed their summers on the banks of the Yarra River. The first European known to set foot in the Dandenongs was botanist Daniel Bunce who was drawn from Melbourne by the image of the looming western slopes in 1839. Guided by a party of Aboriginal people he climbed Mt Corhanwarrabul (628 m) and Mt Dandenong (633 m) the two highest peaks in the ranges. Bourkes Lookout is now situated atop the former.
Local artists and writers venture through the Dandenong Ranges to be inspired by their surroundings to create. You may be lucky to run into some sketch artists at work as well. The hiking trails themselves vary in length and level of difficulty. Choose the signs which guide you along the most suitable trails for your level of physical fitness. Don't forget your water bottle! The birds and other wildlife may surprise you.
