Olinda is a renowned tourist town located between the towns of Sassafras and Kallista. Being a quaint town near the scenic Dandenong Ranges, Olinda is a popular weekend and day trip destination amongst visitors. Olinda...
Dandenong Ranges Suburbs
The Dandenong Ranges is made up of a collection of picturesque mountain villages and leafy suburbs that each offer their own unique atmosphere and attractions. Located less than an hour from Melbourne, the region is famous for its cool-climate gardens, towering forests, boutique shopping, cosy cafés, and scenic lookouts.
Visitors often travel among several villages on a single trip, as many of the most popular towns are just minutes apart along the winding tourist roads.
Dandenong Ranges Suburbs, Towns Near the Dandenongs in Melbourne
One of the best-known destinations in the region is Olinda. Often considered the heart of the Dandenong Ranges, Olinda is renowned for its charming village atmosphere, boutique stores, art galleries, cafés, and beautiful gardens. The town is home to the famous Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden, which attracts visitors year-round with its colourful seasonal displays and peaceful walking paths. Olinda also serves as a popular base for exploring nearby forests, waterfalls, and lookouts.
Just down the road is Sassafras, a small but highly popular village known for its cosy atmosphere and boutique shopping strip. Filled with antique stores, tea rooms, artisan food shops, gift stores, and cafés, Sassafras has become a favourite stop for tourists exploring the ranges. The village’s cool mountain climate and tall forests create a peaceful setting that feels far removed from the city, despite being only around an hour from Melbourne.
Further south, Belgrave is one of the busiest and most accessible suburbs in the Dandenong Ranges. It is best known as the home of the historic Puffing Billy Railway, one of Victoria’s most famous tourist attractions. Belgrave combines a lively township atmosphere with cafés, restaurants, markets, live music venues, and easy access to public transport via the Belgrave train line. Many visitors begin their Dandenong Ranges journey here before travelling deeper into the hills.
Mount Dandenong is another iconic destination and sits near the highest point of the ranges. Visitors flock to the area for panoramic views from SkyHigh Mount Dandenong, scenic drives, gardens, and walking trails through the surrounding forests. The village itself features restaurants, boutique accommodation, and easy access to many of the region’s natural attractions.
Other popular suburbs throughout the Dandenong Ranges include Kallista, known for its forest surroundings and village charm; Upwey, which combines suburban convenience with easy access to nature; and Emerald, a larger township famous for Emerald Lake Park and the Puffing Billy Lakeside Station.
Together, these villages create the relaxed and scenic character that has made the Dandenong Ranges one of Victoria’s favourite getaway destinations.
Mount Dandenong is the most scenic mountain within the Dandenong Ranges region. With stunning attractions, lookouts and various other tourist attractions, Mount Dandenong is a popular and unique tourist destination...
The Dandenong Ranges houses the beautiful town of Belgrave which is a commercial centre of the region and is located between Ferntree Gully and Emerald. Belgrave is a popular town with numerous things to see and do...
Gembrook is a charming destination located just an hour from the Melbourne CBD, and one of the region’s most popular tourist attractions. The most iconic feature at Gembrook is that it is the last destination of...
Located in the outer-eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Sassafras is a popular weekend destination for both local and out of town visitors. Being a close picturesque town to the Melbourne CBD, Sassafras is an easily...
Ferntree Gully is a beautiful location with an array of attractions and scenic spots. Located within the Dandenong Ranges National Park, Ferntree Gully is just 36kms from the city. Being a popular tourist destination...
Emerald is a beautiful scenic town popular for its picturesque lake and parks. Nestled in between the quaint towns of Cockatoo and Belgrave, Emerald is a frequently visited town among tourists to the Dandenong Ranges...
Monbulk is a beautiful scenic suburb of Melbourne, located just 42km east of the CBD. Monbulk is an attractive town, often visited by tourists heading up to the Dandenong Ranges. With a mountainous backdrop and...
The Sherbrooke area of the Dandenong Ranges is a small, yet immensely diverse natural attraction. Rich biodiversity, thriving flora and fauna, and lush greenery make this locale a favourite among nature lovers and...
Another popular day trip and weekend getaway destination in the Dandenong Ranges is Kallista. This small tourist village is cocooned within the mountains and lush native bushlands of the Dandenong Ranges and is a quaint...
Mt Evelyn, near Olinda Creek, is a picturesque location with numerous scenic points and walking trails. A few years ago, the area of Mt Evelyn was known as Olinda Vale and Billygoat Hill. Then the areas of Valinda...
Macclesfield is a suburb located in the Dandenong Ranges, 47 kilometres east from the Melbourne CBD. The suburb is best known for its rich soil that has made it a household name as one of the best producers of flowers...
Kilsyth is a small outer Melbourne suburb located in the outer eastern region just 34kms from the Melbourne city centre. Kilsyth is easily accessible from all locations and is settled at the foothills of Mt Dandenong...
Boronia is a small eastern suburb of Melbourne, located just 29km east from the CBD, and is known for its scenic viewpoints to see the nearby National Park. Boronia boasts a number of nature reserves and an array of...
Cockatoo is one of the suburbs located in the Dandenong Ranges, and a popular attraction thanks to its many places of interest. The suburb was initially known as Cockatoo Creek during its very early settlement in the...
Montrose is located along the Mt Dandenong Tourist road and acts as an entrance to the northern part of Dandenong Ranges National Park. With numerous scenic points and several things to do, Montrose is a beautiful...
Silvan is one of the Dandenong Ranges‘ most beautiful destinations. Popular for its high-quality fruits, Silvan is an enchanting location that awaits your visit. With a wide range of farm experiences, this vibrant...
The charming suburb of Ferny Creek is located just 33kms east of the Melbourne CBD and consists of hilly regions and lush forests housing Australian native plants. Nestled on the landscapes adjacent to the Dandenong...
In the suburbs of Melbourne, visitors often head to the scenic locations near the Dandenong Ranges. Upwey is one such beautiful rural community, located just 32kms from the Melbourne city. Upwey was once known as Mast...
The Dandenong Ranges and its local area houses a number of quaint towns, villages and scenic spots. Selby is one of these beautiful rural communities which is nestled in a picturesque setting. This charming town boasts...
Lysterfield is a popular suburb located in the Dandenong Ranges, 32 kilometres south-east from the Melbourne CBD. The first settlement in the area can be traced back to 1838 when the region was referred to as Narre...
Located just 31km east from the Melbourne CBD, the charming village of The Basin is a popular suburb with numerous things to see and do. After the significant early European settlements, the Basin emerged as a developed...
With an array of scenic attractions and several things to see and do, Kalorama is a small rural community and a wonderful location to visit. Located near Mt Dandenong, the quaint townhouses lush forests in an extensive...
Upper Ferntree Gully is a suburb of the Dandenong Ranges that houses the popular Ferntree Gully Park; which also happens to be a section of the Dandenong Ranges National Park. Visitors from Melbourne heading to the...
Tecoma is a beautiful suburb located near the Dandenong Ranges. Located just 34km from the Melbourne CBD, Tecoma is an easily accessible weekend getaway spot for locals and visitors to the region. Tecoma boasts a main...
There is no shortage of scenic day trip locations around the Dandenong Ranges. With an extensive hilly region and adjacent verdant forests, the rural communities and quaint towns in the area boast a number of...
Clematis is a small suburb, located approximately 40km from the Melbourne CBD, is a lesser-known tourist spot of Victoria. However, visitors from Melbourne and nearby suburbs often come here on their way through the...
Menzies Creek is a neighbouring town of Belgrave, located in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, just 40kms from the Melbourne CBD. Menzies Creek is the second station along the scenic railway of Puffing Billy (after...
Tremont is a suburb in the Dandenong Ranges and is located 31 kilometres east of the Melbourne CBD. The most interesting thing about this suburb is that it is almost entirely located in the Dandenong Ranges National...
What are the top suburbs to visit in the Dandenong Ranges?
The top suburbs to visit in the Dandenong Ranges are:Check out the whole list of suburbs in the Dandenong Ranges.
What are the top attractions to visit in the Dandenong Ranges?
The top attractions to visit in the Dandenong Ranges are:Check out the whole list of suburbs in the Dandenong Ranges.
What are the most popular annual events in the Dandenong Ranges?
The most popular annual events in the Dandenong Ranges are:
- Tesselaar Tulip Festival
- CherryHill Blossom Festival
- Secret Gardens of the Dandenong Ranges
- Cloudehill Festival of Flowers
- Cape Woolamai
