Tea Leaves

Tealeaves is one of the most distinctive specialty shops in the Dandenong Ranges, attracting visitors who enjoy tea, collectibles and quirky giftware.

Located in the village of Olinda, the store has become a popular stop for tourists exploring the mountains, offering a colourful and immersive shopping experience centred around the world of tea.

The collection reflects decades of dedication to sourcing specialty teas, with options ranging from everyday drinking teas to rare and unusual blends for enthusiasts and collectors.

Beyond the tea itself, Tealeaves is also famous for its huge display of teapots and tea accessories. Shelves are filled with everything from elegant porcelain teapots and glass brewing sets to whimsical novelty designs shaped like animals, characters and imaginative objects. The store has one of the largest teapot collections in the region, making it a fascinating place to explore even for visitors who are not serious tea drinkers.

The shop is run as a Melbourne-based family business with a long history in the tea industry. Founded in the early 2000s as a specialty tea importer, the business has grown over time into one of Australia’s larger tea importers while maintaining its family-run character. Today, it continues to operate across retail, wholesale and online sales, with several generations of the same family involved in the business.

Inside the store, the atmosphere is designed to be playful and inviting. Colourful tins, aromatic tea displays and themed teapots create a browsing experience where visitors can wander slowly through the aisles, discovering new flavours and unusual items.

Staff are known for their strong knowledge of tea and are happy to help visitors choose blends or brewing equipment, whether they are experienced tea drinkers or simply looking for a gift.

The Olinda location is also a relatively new chapter in the shop’s history. After many years operating in nearby Sassafras, the business relocated to a larger, more modern space in Olinda, enabling it to expand its displays and create a more immersive experience for visitors.

For visitors exploring the Dandenong Ranges, Tealeaves offers something a little different from the region’s usual nature attractions. Its colourful displays, fragrant tea blends and quirky teapots make it a memorable stop on a wander through Olinda’s village shops.

Getting There

The easiest way to reach the Tea Leaves from Melbourne is by car, although it is also possible to use train and bus connections. The shop is located at 29 Olinda-Monbulk Road in the village of Olinda, high in the Dandenong Ranges.

Driving from Melbourne CBD
Driving is the most convenient option and usually takes about 50–60 minutes, depending on traffic.

Typical route:

• Leave the Melbourne CBD and take the Eastern Freeway (M3) heading east.
• Continue toward Ringwood.
• Follow Maroondah Highway through Ringwood and Croydon.
• Turn onto Mount Dandenong Road, which climbs into the Dandenong Ranges.
• Continue through Montrose and Mount Dandenong.
• Follow the signs to Olinda, then turn onto Olinda-Monbulk Road, where the shop is located.

There is street parking available in the village centre, and the store sits among the main group of shops in Olinda.

Public transport
Public transport requires a combination of trains and buses.

• Take the Belgrave or Lilydale Line train from Flinders Street Station in the CBD.
• Travel to Croydon Station or Belgrave Station.
• Catch a bus toward Olinda or Mount Dandenong (for example routes 688 or 694 depending on the station).
• Get off in Olinda village and walk a short distance to the shop on Olinda-Monbulk Road.

This journey typically takes about 1.5–2 hours, depending on connections.

Scenic drive option
Many visitors combine a visit to Tea Leaves with a scenic drive through the mountains. The shop is close to several well-known attractions, including SkyHigh Mount Dandenong and the nearby villages of Sassafras and Kalorama. This makes it an easy stop on an exploration of the Dandenong Ranges.

Because of the winding mountain roads and the distance from train stations, most visitors choose to drive when visiting Olinda and its shops.