Day Tour from Melbourne

The Dandenong
Ranges

Tall mountain ash forests, tumbling waterfalls and ancient ferns — Melbourne's wild green cathedral, just an hour from the city.

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1,000 Iconic Steps to Climb
~1hr From Melbourne CBD
8 Max Group Size
Walking the 1000 Steps in Dandenong Ranges National Park

1000 Steps · Ferntree Gully

About the Destination

A Rainforest Escape
on Melbourne's Doorstep

The forested slopes of the Dandenong Ranges rise dramatically above Melbourne's eastern suburbs — steep volcanic hills blanketed in stands of Mountain Ash, the world's tallest flowering tree. This is cool temperate rainforest at its most breathtaking.

Living among the greenery are wallabies, lyrebirds, wombats and the elusive Powerful Owl. Quaint hilltop villages offer galleries, cafés and gardens. Waterfalls cascade through ancient fern gullies. And the famous 1000 Steps carry a deeply moving story of Australian wartime sacrifice.

The Dandenong Ranges National Park sits on the traditional Country of the Wurundjeri People. Cooee Tours is honoured to share stories of this landscape's deep and continuing cultural significance.

What Awaits You

Tour Highlights

Every corner of the Ranges holds something remarkable. Here are the moments you'll never forget.

The 1000 Steps Walk

Iconic Walk

The 1000 Steps — Kokoda Track Memorial Walk

Melbourne's most celebrated bushwalk. Honour Australia's WWII veterans as you climb through a cathedral of towering ferns and mountain ash.

Sherbrooke Falls

Hidden Waterfall

Sherbrooke & Olinda Falls

Deep in the Sherbrooke Forest, a creek cascades into a magical fern-lined gully. Best visited after rain when the forest really comes alive.

Picnic in the Dandenong Ranges

Hilltop Villages

Olinda, Sassafras & Belgrave

Explore charming mountain towns brimming with antique stores, artisan cafés and the famous Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden.

Mountain biking in the Ranges

Wildlife Spotting

Lyrebirds, Wallabies & Owls

The forest is alive with Australia's most charismatic creatures. Your guide knows exactly where to look for the superb lyrebird's famous song.

Your Day, Mapped Out

A Day in the Dandenong Ranges

Times are indicative. Your guide tailors the pace to your group's interests and conditions on the day.

7:30 AM — Departure

Melbourne CBD Pickup

Your Cooee Tours guide meets you at a central Melbourne location. Settle in, get acquainted with your fellow travellers, and enjoy freshly brewed coffee as the city skyline fades behind you.

8:45 AM — First Stop

Ferntree Gully & the 1000 Steps

Begin at the Ferntree Gully Picnic Area. Your guide shares the moving story of the Kokoda Track Campaign before you set off up the iconic stairway through towering mountain ash and ancient tree ferns.

10:30 AM — Forest Walk

Sherbrooke Forest & Waterfall

Descend into the cool heart of Sherbrooke Forest. Listen for the extraordinary mimicry of the superb lyrebird echoing through the ferns. Make your way to Sherbrooke Falls — a serene gully cascade.

12:30 PM — Lunch

Lunch in a Hilltop Village

Enjoy lunch at a handpicked café in Sassafras or Olinda — two of the Ranges' most beloved mountain villages. Browse galleries, boutiques and perhaps a famous cream tea before we move on.

2:00 PM — Scenic Drive

Panoramic Lookouts & Botanic Garden

Wind through the scenic ridge roads to One Tree Hill and Kalorama Lookout for sweeping views across Melbourne and the Yarra Valley. Optional visit to the breathtaking Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden.

4:30 PM — Return

Back to Melbourne

Settle in for the scenic drive home, photos in hand and a newfound appreciation for the wild green world on Melbourne's doorstep. Drop-off at the original departure point by approximately 5:30 PM.

Flora & Fauna

Meet the Residents
of the Ranges

The Dandenong Ranges is home to some of Australia's most iconic animals. The superb lyrebird — famed for its extraordinary ability to mimic almost any sound — is the undisputed star of the forest. Please note: dogs are not permitted in the national park, helping protect this precious wildlife habitat.

Family walking through fern forest in Dandenong Ranges

What's Included

Good to Know

Season & Timing

The Dandenong Ranges is magical year-round:

Ready to Enter
the Forest?

Join a small group of nature lovers and let us take care of every detail. All that's left is to show up and breathe it all in.

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