Ferntree Gully

Ferntree Gully sits at the western foot of the Dandenong Ranges, where Melbourne’s eastern suburbs meet the national park’s steep, forested slopes. It is best understood as a gateway to the ranges rather than one of the high mountain villages. Ferntree Gully has railway access, shopping centres, cafes, suburban parks and everyday services, while neighbouring Upper Ferntree Gully provides direct access to the famous 1000 Steps and the southern section of Dandenong Ranges National Park.

That combination makes the area particularly useful for visitors travelling from Melbourne. You can reach the foothills by train, tackle one of the region’s best-known walks, have lunch locally and continue higher into the ranges towards Sassafras, Olinda and Mount Dandenong.

Things to see and do in Ferntree Gully

Ferntree Gully Village

Ferntree Gully’s older village centre is clustered around Station Street and the railway station. This differs from the tourist-oriented main streets of Sassafras or Olinda. Ferntree Gully is first and foremost a working Melbourne suburb, with cafes, restaurants, shops and community facilities used by locals throughout the week. That everyday character also makes it useful for visitors. It offers a place to stop for breakfast before heading into the national park, buy supplies for a day in the hills, or have a meal after a walk.

Knox City Council has also developed the Ferntree Gully Art Trail through the village, using murals, light-box installations and other public artworks to connect the shopping area with nearby community spaces.

1000 Steps and the Kokoda Track Memorial Walk

The 1000 Steps is the attraction most strongly associated with Ferntree Gully and one of the most popular walks in the Dandenong Ranges. Its official name is the Kokoda Track Memorial Walk, and the trail begins from Ferntree Gully Picnic Ground in neighbouring Upper Ferntree Gully. The climb is approximately 1.4 kilometres one way and follows a steep series of narrow steps through fern gullies and forest towards One Tree Hill.

Plaques beside the route commemorate Australian soldiers who fought and died during the Kokoda campaign in Papua New Guinea during the Second World War. Despite the familiar name, visitors should not focus on whether there are literally exactly 1,000 steps. The important point is that this is a short but strenuous climb with a sustained ascent. Many walkers return downhill via Lyrebird Track rather than descending the narrow steps against uphill traffic.

Planning the 1000 Steps Walk

How Difficult Are the 1000 Steps?

The walk is physically demanding despite its relatively short distance. The steps can be narrow, uneven and slippery, particularly after rain, while the climb becomes progressively tiring as it rises through the forest. Parks Victoria allows around 45 minutes one way, although fitness levels vary considerably. Regular walkers may complete it much faster, while visitors taking breaks should allow considerably longer. Good footwear and water are recommended. It is not an accessible walk for wheelchairs, prams or visitors with limited mobility.

Avoiding the 1000 Steps Crowds

The 1000 Steps can become extremely busy. Parks Victoria advises that the Ferntree Gully Picnic Ground car park is often full by around 10am on weekend mornings. Visiting midweek or early in the morning generally provides a more enjoyable experience. Another good option is to arrive by train. Upper Ferntree Gully station is around 1.2 kilometres from the start of the steps, making the walk one of the easiest major Dandenong Ranges attractions to reach without a car.

Drivers can also approach from One Tree Hill at the top, although parking can get busy there too. The Ferntree Gully entrance gates currently operate from 6am to 9pm, and the national park closes entirely on days of Extreme or higher Fire Danger Rating.

Other Parks and Trails

Ferntree Gully Picnic Ground

The picnic ground at the base of the 1000 Steps is worth visiting even if you don’t plan to climb the full trail. It has picnic areas, toilets, parking and access to several tracks through the surrounding forest. The setting provides a quick introduction to the tall eucalypts and fern-filled gullies of the Dandenong Ranges without requiring a long drive higher into the hills. The site is steep and has limited accessibility, so visitors with mobility restrictions should check current Parks Victoria accessibility information before travelling.

For a quieter picnic experience, other reserves around Ferntree Gully may be more relaxed than the extremely popular 1000 Steps precinct.

One Tree Hill

One Tree Hill lies above the 1000 Steps and provides another access point into Dandenong Ranges National Park. The picnic ground has toilets, picnic facilities and connections to walking tracks through the southern section of the park. You can reach it by road from the higher Dandenong Ranges or on foot via the 1000 Steps and surrounding trails. The vehicle gate is generally open from 6am to 9pm during daylight saving time, with shorter evening access outside daylight saving.

The forest around One Tree Hill lets you turn a simple 1000 Steps workout into a longer day of walking.

Dandenong Ranges National Park

The southern section of Dandenong Ranges National Park begins immediately above the Ferntree Gully foothills. This part of the park includes the 1000 Steps, One Tree Hill, and a network of walking and management tracks extending towards Tremont, Sherbrooke, and other sections of the ranges. The landscape changes quickly as visitors climb away from suburban Ferntree Gully, with tall eucalypts, tree ferns and steep gullies replacing residential streets.

Wildlife includes wallabies, echidnas, possums and numerous native birds. Lyrebirds may also be heard in quieter forest sections, particularly when they are scratching through leaf litter after rain. Visitors should check current park alerts before longer walks, as storms, fallen trees, fire management and other works can temporarily affect access.

Ferntree Gully Quarry Reserve

Ferntree Gully Quarry Reserve offers a very different outdoor experience closer to the suburban area. The former quarry has been transformed into a recreation reserve centred around a deep lake below exposed quarry walls. Walking paths, picnic areas, a nature-based playground and elevated views make it particularly useful for families. The reserve is better suited to a picnic, short walk or playground visit than a serious bushwalk.

Water quality in the quarry lake can vary. Current council advice has restricted swimming, fishing, and dogs in the lake because testing has detected unsafe bacterial levels. Visitors should follow the latest signs at the reserve rather than assume the water is suitable for recreation.

Tim Neville Arboretum

Tim Neville Arboretum on Dorset Road is one of Ferntree Gully’s best local parks. The 11-acre reserve combines landscaped gardens, open lawns, a lake, wetlands, boardwalks and easy walking paths. Facilities include picnic tables, shelters, barbecues, a playground, a gazebo, public toilets and seating. The arboretum also contains Knox’s war memorial and forms part of the Ferntree Gully Art Trail. Its relatively flat paths make it a much easier option than the steep national park walks, particularly for families, older visitors or anyone simply looking for a relaxed picnic.

Koolunga Native Reserve

Koolunga Native Reserve protects around six hectares of remnant bushland in Ferntree Gully. More than half of the reserve retains native vegetation, with walking tracks passing through bushland and along a watercourse that eventually feeds into Blind Creek and Dandenong Creek. Around two kilometres of walking tracks make it suitable for a short local nature walk. It is not a major Dandenong Ranges attraction, but it is useful for visitors who want a quieter and less strenuous alternative to the 1000 Steps.

Ferntree Gully Art Trail

The Ferntree Gully Art Trail provides another way to explore the suburb away from the national park. Public artworks and murals are positioned around Ferntree Gully Village and extend towards Tim Neville Arboretum, Wally Tew Reserve and other community spaces. The works include murals inspired by Dandenong Ranges scenery and native wildlife, along with rotating light-box exhibitions. It is best treated as an addition to a village walk rather than a destination requiring an entire day.

Walking and Cycling

Ferntree Gully offers more variety for walkers than the 1000 Steps alone suggests. Visitors can choose between steep national park trails, easy paths around Tim Neville Arboretum, short bushland walks in Koolunga Native Reserve and suburban shared paths. Cyclists also use the foothill roads to access the Dandenong Ranges. Mountain Highway and Mount Dandenong Tourist Road begin climbing sharply from nearby Upper Ferntree Gully, and the winding roads higher in the ranges are popular with experienced road cyclists.

Drivers should expect cyclists on these routes, particularly on weekend mornings.

Eating and Drinking

Ferntree Gully has a much broader everyday dining selection than many of the smaller Dandenong Ranges villages. Cafes, bakeries, takeaway food, restaurants and pubs are spread around the village, Burwood Highway, Ferntree Gully Road and surrounding shopping areas. This makes the suburb particularly convenient before or after a walk. Visitors do not need to rely on a single destination cafe or tearoom, and prices and menus generally reflect a suburban dining area rather than a tourism-only precinct.

Higher up, Sassafras and Olinda offer a more traditional mountain-village dining experience.

Shopping

Ferntree Gully has significantly more everyday shopping than the higher Dandenong Ranges villages. Mountain Gate Shopping Centre and surrounding commercial areas provide supermarkets, specialty shops and services, while the older village around the station has smaller businesses and food outlets. Visitors heading into the national park can therefore buy food, water and other supplies locally before beginning a walk. For boutique gifts and tourism shopping, Sassafras and Olinda remain stronger choices.

Accommodation in Ferntree Gully

Accommodation in Ferntree Gully is more practical than romantic. The suburb has motels, apartments and other conventional accommodation with straightforward road access and proximity to shops and public transport. It can work well for travellers who want to explore the Dandenong Ranges while remaining closer to Melbourne. Visitors seeking secluded forest cottages, garden retreats or traditional mountain accommodation will generally find more character around Olinda, Mount Dandenong and Sassafras.

Ferntree Gully’s advantage is convenience: rail access, supermarkets, restaurants and quick access to the foothills.

Getting to Ferntree Gully by Train

Ferntree Gully has its own station on Metro’s Belgrave Line. This provides direct rail access from central Melbourne and makes the suburb easy to reach without a car. However, visitors specifically heading to the 1000 Steps should usually continue one stop further to Upper Ferntree Gully station. From Upper Ferntree Gully, Parks Victoria puts the walk to the 1000 Steps trailhead at around 1.2 kilometres. This distinction is important because Ferntree Gully and Upper Ferntree Gully are separate suburbs and railway stations despite their similar names.

Driving and Parking

Ferntree Gully is easy to reach from Melbourne via Burwood Highway and Ferntree Gully Road. These major suburban roads converge near the foothills, where traffic heading into the ranges continues towards Upper Ferntree Gully and Mount Dandenong Tourist Road. Traffic can become heavy on fine weekends, public holidays and during major Dandenong Ranges events. The most significant parking problem is around the 1000 Steps. The main car park often fills early on weekend mornings, so visitors should avoid arriving around midday and expecting to find a space easily.

In central Ferntree Gully, shopping areas, and suburban parks, parking is generally easier.

Getting Around

Ferntree Gully is spread over a much larger suburban area than Olinda, Sassafras or Belgrave village. A car is useful if combining the town centre, Quarry Reserve, Tim Neville Arboretum and several national park locations. The station precinct itself is walkable, and the train makes travel between Ferntree Gully, Upper Ferntree Gully, Upwey, Tecoma and Belgrave straightforward. Bus services also connect the suburb with surrounding eastern Melbourne areas.

For visitors continuing deeper into the Dandenong Ranges without a car, Upper Ferntree Gully is an important interchange because route 688 travels through the hills towards Sassafras, Olinda and Mount Dandenong.

Nearby Places to Visit

Upper Ferntree Gully lies immediately east and provides the direct gateway to the 1000 Steps and Ferntree Gully Picnic Ground. Upwey and Tecoma continue east along the Belgrave rail corridor and have cafes, shops and smaller village centres. Belgrave is further into the ranges and is home to Puffing Billy Railway, Cameo Cinemas and a larger dining and entertainment precinct. Sassafras and Olinda sit higher in the hills and provide the classic Dandenong Ranges experience of cool-climate gardens, boutique shopping and tearooms.

Visitors with a car can therefore use Ferntree Gully as the beginning of a full-day route through the ranges rather than treating it as an isolated destination.

If the 1000 Steps Are Not Right for Your Group

The steep Kokoda Track Memorial Walk is the best-known outing, but it is not the only reason to visit. Choose the picnic ground or a suitable reserve walk when time, weather or fitness makes the climb a poor fit. Read current park information before driving to the trailhead, especially when access or parking arrangements have changed.

Ferntree Gully station and the village can support a simpler outing, but don’t assume every national park stop is a short, level walk from the train. The quarry reserve and arboretum offer other outdoor settings; choose one that matches the group rather than turning a half-day into repeated short drives.

Is Ferntree Gully Worth Visiting?

Ferntree Gully is worth visiting primarily as the western gateway to the Dandenong Ranges and for its access to outdoor recreation. The 1000 Steps is the obvious draw, although the trail itself begins in neighbouring Upper Ferntree Gully. Quarry Reserve, Tim Neville Arboretum, local bushland and the village add enough variety to make the wider area useful beyond that single walk. Ferntree Gully is less atmospheric than Olinda or Sassafras and is not the place to choose for a traditional mountain-village experience.

Its strengths are accessibility, practical services and the transition from suburban Melbourne into the forests of the Dandenong Ranges. For walkers, families and visitors travelling without a car, it is one of the most useful starting points for exploring the region.

Ferntree Gully FAQs

Where is Ferntree Gully?
Ferntree Gully is at the western foot of the Dandenong Ranges, around 30 kilometres east of central Melbourne.

Are the 1000 Steps in Ferntree Gully?
The 1000 Steps are strongly associated with Ferntree Gully, but the trailhead at Ferntree Gully Picnic Ground is geographically in neighbouring Upper Ferntree Gully.

How long are the 1000 Steps?
The Kokoda Track Memorial Walk is about 1.4 kilometres one way and takes many visitors around 45 minutes to climb.

Are there exactly 1,000 steps?
The route is popularly known as the 1000 Steps, but the name is more important as a local landmark than as an exact step count.

Is the 1000 Steps walk difficult?
Yes. It is short but steep, with narrow steps that can be slippery after rain. A reasonable level of fitness is recommended.

Can you reach the 1000 Steps by train?
Yes. Upper Ferntree Gully station is around 1.2 kilometres from the trailhead and is the most useful station for the walk.

Is the 1000 Steps car park busy?
Yes. Parks Victoria advises that the Ferntree Gully Picnic Ground car park is often full by around 10am on weekend mornings.

What else is there to do in Ferntree Gully?
Other options include Ferntree Gully Quarry Reserve, Tim Neville Arboretum, Koolunga Native Reserve, the Ferntree Gully Art Trail and local cafes and parks.

Is Ferntree Gully good without a car?
Yes. It has a station on the Belgrave Line, and Upper Ferntree Gully provides convenient public transport access to the 1000 Steps and buses further into the ranges.

How long should you spend in Ferntree Gully?
Allow two to three hours if primarily doing the 1000 Steps. Half a day works well if you add lunch, Quarry Reserve, or another local park, and Ferntree Gully can also serve as the starting point for a full-day Dandenong Ranges trip.