RJ Hamer Arboretum

RJ Hamer Arboretum spreads across the hills above the Yarra Valley at Olinda, combining forest walks with an open lookout and picnic facilities. Its planted tree collections form patches of woodland rather than conventional garden beds, so the landscape changes as you move between different stands.

Come for a short stop at Woolrich Lookout or allow more time to walk downhill into the arboretum. The open views and deciduous trees make it especially appealing in autumn, although the slopes and long unsealed paths require more preparation than a level garden stroll.

Tree Collections and Seasonal Views

The 101-hectare arboretum contains more than 150 native and exotic tree species, including gums, oaks, willows, birches and maples. Separate plantings give sections different textures and colours, with a broader view of that patchwork available from the upper picnic area.

Autumn colour generally builds through April and into early May, but weather influences the timing. Visit midweek if possible during the popular leaf season, and look for contrasts between changing deciduous trees and the evergreen forest.

Spring brings fresh growth and flowering trees, summer offers fuller canopies, and winter exposes branches and views that foliage hides. Mist can make a woodland walk atmospheric while also obscuring the distant ranges, so clear-weather views should not be assumed.

The arboretum’s name honours former Victorian Premier Sir Rupert Hamer. An avenue of Japanese cedar leads towards the main car park, providing a first impression of the planted tree landscape. Its forest-style design gives the outing a different character from the more intensively planted gardens elsewhere around Olinda.

Choosing a Walk Through the Arboretum

A Short Lookout Visit

Start at the Chalet Road car park beside Woolrich Lookout. The nearby viewing and picnic area lets you enjoy the landscape without committing to a lengthy circuit. Allow roughly 30-60 minutes for a relaxed stop, longer if you bring lunch or spend time photographing the changing light.

Even a short visit involves outdoor conditions. Bring a jacket when the hills are cool and keep children beside you on slopes and near roads. The view can be enjoyed independently of any longer walk.

Longer Woodland Walks

For more time among the trees, use the marked paths and consult the map before leaving the upper area. Mathias Road and Yallambie Way are broader unsealed routes, while secondary tracks can be narrow, steep and affected by fallen branches.

Select a route that matches your ability and available daylight. A path that heads downhill early in the outing will require an uphill return, so allow for the climb back rather than judging the whole walk by its first few minutes.

Wear shoes with grip and carry water. Wet leaves and muddy ground change footing after rain. Keep track of junctions and turn back if the route becomes unsuitable; there is no need to complete a large circuit to appreciate the tree collections.

Woolrich Lookout Picnic Facilities

Tables, electric barbecues and toilets are provided near the Chalet Road car park. This is the practical place to organise lunch and use facilities before walking further into the reserve.

Bring your own food and drinking water, and plan to take every item of rubbish home because bins are not provided. Use the installed electric barbecues rather than bringing a solid-fuel barbecue or lighting a fire.

The lookout car park fills during busy autumn and spring weekends. Use marked spaces and keep access clear. An early or weekday visit can make the stop easier, while a full car park is a reason to choose another garden rather than park on vegetation.

Dogs, Wildlife and Walking Access

Dogs are welcome on a lead within the arboretum. Its boundary matters: the surrounding Dandenong Ranges National Park does not permit pets, so a connecting forest track may take you outside the dog-friendly area.

Stay on paths and let birds and other wildlife move undisturbed. Animal sightings are possible but should be treated as a bonus to the walk. Keep dogs away from wildlife and take waste bags home.

The walking network is steep and uneven in places and is not suitable for wheelchair users or people needing consistently level access. Wide unsealed roadways are still different from a paved accessible trail. Ask Parks Victoria about your particular requirements before planning a visit around walking access.

Chalet Road Access and Conditions

The main destination is the Chalet Road car park at Woolrich Lookout, listed by Parks Victoria as 10 Chalet Road, Olinda. Limited roadside access is also available near the Mathias Road trailhead off Silvan Road, but it has different facilities and should not be confused with the main picnic precinct.

Entry is free, and visits are during daylight hours. The arboretum closes on Extreme fire-danger days and during severe-weather events. Check the fire forecast and current conditions before travelling.

Temporary track restrictions can affect longer walks into the Olinda and Silvan forest. Follow closure signs and choose an open route; a notice affecting nearby tracks does not necessarily close the main lookout or picnic area.

RJ Hamer Arboretum FAQs

Can I visit without doing a long walk?
The Woolrich Lookout and upper picnic precinct can form a short stop of around 30-60 minutes, with longer for lunch. The view and tree landscape are worthwhile on their own, so choose a woodland route only if it suits your group's time and ability.

Where is the main visitor car park?
Use Woolrich Lookout at 10 Chalet Road, Olinda, where the tables, electric barbecues and toilets are located. Mathias Road trail access has different facilities and should not be confused with the main picnic precinct.

What is different about the tree collection?
More than 150 native and exotic species grow in irregular patches across the 101-hectare landscape. Walking between these mini-forests reveals different foliage and textures, with the upper lookout providing a wider view of their changing seasonal colours.

When should I visit for autumn colour?
April into early May is a useful general window, with timing changing by weather and tree species. A weekday visit can provide more room at the popular lookout, and clear conditions help reveal the valley and distant ranges.

Can I take a dog into the surrounding forest?
Dogs are welcome on lead within the arboretum, but pets are prohibited in the adjacent national park. Check the boundary before extending onto a connecting route, keep the dog away from wildlife and take waste bags home.

Are the woodland paths accessible?
The network has steep, uneven and unsealed sections, including uphill returns from lower routes. Wide tracks are not equivalent to a level paved circuit; contact Parks Victoria about the particular approach you need if predictable surfaces are essential.

Can I bring my own barbecue?
Use the installed electric facilities rather than lighting a fire or bringing a solid-fuel barbecue. Bring food and drinking water, take rubbish home and follow current weather, fire and equipment-closure signs.