I think I’ve found one of my favourite places close to Melbourne! I spent the weekend exploring the Dandenong Ranges in October, and I can’t wait to go back.
It’s at the end of the Belgrave metropolitan train line, and about 80 minutes away from Flinders Street Station. There are so many things to love about the mountains, like the hiking trails, the marsupials, bird life, and Puffing Billy! Getting to spend time outdoors is one of my favourite things so far, though with summer coming up I’m not quite sure how that will look going forward.
Hiking
I spent the weekend in two areas of the park – the Sherbrooke and Upper Ferntree Gully Areas. Although they were geographically close together, it was two very different experiences. I went for an evening hike in Upper Ferntree Gully and got to watch the sun set over the city, get spooked by swamp wallabies more times than I care to admit, and saw (what I think were) some Eastern Grey Kangaroos! Unfortunately, the 1000 step walk was closed so I chose an alternate path. The Mountain Ashes, Eucalyptus regnans trees, tower above life on the forest floor at up to ~110 metres (~350 feet) tall. It was almost incomprehensible just how far above my head they grew. As I hiked, I gained almost 400 metres in elevation and got to walk through the clouds, it was breathtaking.
In the Sherbrooke Forest area, I thought I was going to be ambushed by a velociraptor on my hike. There were ferns encroaching the trail, birds singing, and many fallen trees to duck under. I hiked up to Sherbrooke Falls, which were not as grand as the ones created by the flooding during the wet season in the Top End, but still pretty. Then I came back down the eastern half of the Eastern Sherbrooke Forest Walk circuit. My least favourite thing about hikes with substantial elevation gain is the sore toes I have after making my descent. On this portion of the hike, I saw SO MANY cool birds! Superb lyrebirds, Laughing Kookaburras, Sulphur-crested cockatoos, and Crimson Rosellas that I was able to identify. Am I turning into a bird watcher???
Call me sentimental, but seeing my first wallaby close to home made my heart warm. And I had the same reaction for the 18 more that followed, when I didn’t almost have a heart attack. Still no Red Kangaroos (the big boys) for me. The plan is to get out of the city when Ma and Pa make the trek down under!
See you soon!
– Kate
It looks very peaceful there- love the kangaroos. I guess there were not koalas there.
Not that I could see! Still waiting on them…
So very cool! Yes getting out of the city and heading to the country is great anywhere you go.
It really is! I’ve noticed when planning my excursions I gravitate a lot more towards the nature/outdoorsy activities, there are cities everywhere 😛