Just an hour from Melbourne, the Dandenong Ranges feel worlds away from city life. The temperature drops and the air feels fresher amongst towering mountain ash trees and lush ferns. Take a ride on Puffing Billy, the century-old steam railway train which trundles over wooden bridges through remote forest and farmland.
The 1000 Steps in Ferntree Gully is one of Melbourne’s busiest walks, attracting fitness lovers who come for the forest views and to commemorate the WWII soldiers lost on the Kokoda Track. Venture a little further and you’ll find miles of trails, waterfalls, hidden gardens, world-class indigenous art and a vibrantly purple lavender farm. The Wurundjeri people are the traditional custodians of this land.