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Less
than
an
hours
drive
from
Melbourne
the
Dandenong
Ranges
is
one
of
the
major
tourist
areas
in
Victoria
The
ranges
exceed
25,000
ha.
of
National
Parks,
Forest
Reserves
and
colourful
hills
with
breathtaking
views
of
the
Silvan
and
Cardinia
Creek
dams,
Great
Dividing
Range,
Port
Philiip
and
Westernport
Bays
and
the
City
of
Melbourne.
The
area
is
renowned
for
the
rare
and
beautiful
lyrebird
display
in
the
Sherbrooke
Forest,
unsurpassed
autumn
colours,
camellias
at
their
best,
with
occasional
snowfalls
which
transform
the
ranges
to
a
Christmas
fairyland.
Tulips,
rhododendrons,
cool
shady
gullies,
walking
tracks,
picnic
or
barbecue
tours
and
colourful
floral
festivals
are
all
features
of
this
area.
Throughout
the
year,
antique
and
bric-a-brac
shops
are
open
for
tourists
and
the
area
abounds
with
artists
and
art
galleries.
At
the
Healesville
Wildlife
Sanctuary
you
can
picnic
with
the
local
wildlife.
Here,
kangaroos,
wombats,
emus
and
other
unique
Australian
fauna
wander
about
oblivious
to
your
presence
and
even
eat
from
the
palm
of
your
hand.
You
can
appreciate
the
best
of
the
Dandenong
Ranges
travelling
on
Puffing
Billy.
Over
the
years
this
old
steam
train
has
shown
thousands
the
unique
beauty
of
the
Ranges.
The
sights
are
magnificent
from
this
most
unique
vantage
point
as
the
train
puffs
to
and
from
between
the
towns
of
Belgrave
and
Emerald.
Many
wineries
are
dotted
throughout
the
rolling
plains
of
the
Yarra
Valley,
among
them
Fergusson's,
Domaine
Chandon
and
St
Hubert's.
You
can
stop
and
sample
the
wares
of
what's
fast
being
recognised
as
one
of
the
finest
wine
making
districts
in
the
world.
Discuss
their
virtues
with
the
wine
makers,
and
what's
better,
you
can
even
buy
from
the
cellar
door.
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