O’Donohue Picnic Ground is a small picnic area on Sherbrooke Lodge Road and a starting point for the walk to Sherbrooke Falls. Its lawn and forest-edge facilities make it useful for a picnic before walking, or for a brief break away from the mountain villages.
The picnic ground and the falls route offer quite different levels of access. An accessible toilet and suitable tables are available at the picnic area, while the path to the waterfall has slopes and steps that limit access.
A Small Picnic Base in Sherbrooke Forest
Bring lunch for the tables or lawn, with barbecues and toilets available at the picnic ground. Some tables have an open side that allows a wheelchair user to sit at the table. The relatively compact area makes it convenient to organise food and walking equipment before entering the forest.
Plan around the weather rather than relying on a sheltered indoor alternative. A picnic rug, warm layer and packed food give more flexibility than expecting a cafe at the ground. Take all rubbish away and leave the table ready for the next group.
The Sherbrooke Falls Outing
Follow the signed O’Donohue Track towards Sherbrooke Falls and use the trailhead map for the distance of your chosen return route. Allow around an hour for a short falls outing. Allow longer for children, photographs and damp conditions. Read the map at the start and follow the falls signs rather than turning onto a longer forest circuit by mistake.
The attraction is a small cascade surrounded by forest. Tree ferns, tall trees and the creek approach are part of the experience, with stronger water flow often following rain. That same rain can make the track and viewing steps slippery.
Although this is one of the easier access points to the falls, some gradients exceed 1 in 10. The falls viewing platform is reached by a narrow staircase. It is therefore unsuitable as a wheelchair route or a promise of an easy walk for every visitor with limited mobility.
Parking and Accessible Facilities
Access the picnic ground from Sherbrooke Lodge Road. There are no designated accessible parking spaces. Visitors who need additional vehicle transfer space should consider the car park arrangement before committing to the visit.
The unisex accessible toilet has wheelchair space beside the toilet, grab rails and an accessible basin. Combined with the open-sided tables, this can support a picnic visit even when the forest walk is unsuitable. Call Parks Victoria on 13 1963 if you need details for a particular mobility aid.
Time, Conditions and Nearby Stops
Entry is free. Allow around one to two hours for lunch and the falls outing, or less for a picnic alone. Visit during daylight and check Parks Victoria’s current conditions before travelling. Follow temporary closure signs and any posted vehicle gate times.
Dogs and other pets are not allowed in this part of Dandenong Ranges National Park. Recognised assistance dogs have separate entry arrangements. Keep wildlife wild by watching quietly without feeding birds or approaching animals.
Sherbrooke Picnic Ground is another nearby starting point on Sherbrooke Road. They are separate sites, so check the destination rather than assuming both names lead to the same car park. Kallista and Sassafras can provide a village stop after the forest visit.
O'Donohue Picnic Ground FAQs
Where does the falls walk start?
Start from the picnic ground on Sherbrooke Lodge Road and follow the signed O'Donohue Track. Check the return branch on the map so you finish at your own car park rather than the separate Sherbrooke Picnic Ground.
How long should I allow?
Allow around an hour for a short falls walk and longer for children, photographs or wet conditions. Read the trailhead map for your chosen route distance, then add time for a picnic if making this a half-day forest outing.
Is the picnic area accessible?
Open-sided tables and a unisex accessible toilet support a picnic visit, but there are no designated accessible parking bays. Check vehicle transfer space and the approach before deciding whether it meets your group's needs.
Can a wheelchair reach Sherbrooke Falls?
The forest route has gradients exceeding 1 in 10 and a narrow staircase at the viewing platform. The accessible picnic facilities do not make the falls route accessible; plan the picnic and forest walk separately.
What should I expect at the waterfall?
Sherbrooke Falls is a small cascade in a fern-filled gully. The forest is much of the attraction, with water flow varying after rain; take time along the approach and use shoes with grip on damp tracks and steps.
Can I bring a dog?
Pets are prohibited in this national-park precinct, including on the falls walk. Recognised assistance dogs have separate entry requirements; contact Parks Victoria if those arrangements affect your visit.
Do You Have a Question to Ask?