Danielle's Guidebook
Food scene
A cute little village about 5 minutes drive from our place. Has the famous Miss Marples cafe and boutique shopping with local crafts.
70 locals recommend
Sassafras
A cute little village about 5 minutes drive from our place. Has the famous Miss Marples cafe and boutique shopping with local crafts.
Olinda is another lovely village in the Dandenong Ranges. Pie in the Sky is a popular favourite. You can drop into Dudleys for a great wood fired pizza or the Olinda Cafe and Ranges have fantastic cakes. The Sassafras Lolly Shop is a personal favourite and you can’t go to Olinda without stopping into Mangana for all kinds of curiosities.
64 locals recommend
Olinda
Olinda is another lovely village in the Dandenong Ranges. Pie in the Sky is a popular favourite. You can drop into Dudleys for a great wood fired pizza or the Olinda Cafe and Ranges have fantastic cakes. The Sassafras Lolly Shop is a personal favourite and you can’t go to Olinda without stopping into Mangana for all kinds of curiosities.
Kelly's Bar & Kitchen
1510 Mount Dandenong Tourist RdGreat spot for a pub meal and a drink. A local favourite.
Traditional English style pub food. Great for a hearty meal and a beverage.
34 locals recommend
Pig & Whistle Tavern
1429 Mount Dandenong Tourist RdTraditional English style pub food. Great for a hearty meal and a beverage.
Great take-away and eat-in. Everything made fresh and they cater for vegan and vegetarians.
Indian by Nature
1526-1528 Mount Dandenong Tourist RoadGreat take-away and eat-in. Everything made fresh and they cater for vegan and vegetarians.
Dudley's
540 Mount Dandenong Tourist RdGreat food, really good wood fired pizza!
Really cute cafe, worth the trip, about 10 minutes drive from our place
18 locals recommend
Kallista Tea Rooms
103 Monbulk RdReally cute cafe, worth the trip, about 10 minutes drive from our place
An absolute local treasure. Get in early there are usually queues to get in.
53 locals recommend
Miss Marple's Tearoom
382 Mount Dandenong Tourist RdAn absolute local treasure. Get in early there are usually queues to get in.
King Henry’s is my favourite cafe/restaurant in the hills. An institution with a friendly wave from one of the King’s men most days as you drive past. Great food and beautiful surroundings.
320 Mount Dandenong Tourist Rd
320 Mount Dandenong Tourist RoadKing Henry’s is my favourite cafe/restaurant in the hills. An institution with a friendly wave from one of the King’s men most days as you drive past. Great food and beautiful surroundings.
Olinda Cafe
17 Olinda-Monbulk RdLovely food, a great spot to revive whilst exploring Olinda.
Simply gorgeous place. Such a beautiful spot for Devonshire tea, a favourite in the hills.
51 locals recommend
Cloudehill Garden & Nursery
89 Olinda-Monbulk RdSimply gorgeous place. Such a beautiful spot for Devonshire tea, a favourite in the hills.
Seasons Restaurant at Cloudehill
89 Olinda-Monbulk RdFantastic food in beautiful surroundings
Sightseeing
You can walk down the hill to Olinda Falls. A gorgeous spot where you can soak in the peace and beauty of nature
27 locals recommend
Olinda Falls
Doughtys RoadYou can walk down the hill to Olinda Falls. A gorgeous spot where you can soak in the peace and beauty of nature
You can see the whole of Melbourne from this spot high on the hill. Only a 5 minute drive from our place and truly beautiful at night.
14 locals recommend
Mount Dandenong Observatory station
You can see the whole of Melbourne from this spot high on the hill. Only a 5 minute drive from our place and truly beautiful at night.
Great spot for bush walking. Has picnic tales and BBQ facilities as well. Gorgeous views and you’re surrounded by trees, What more could you want!
24 locals recommend
R.J. Hamer Arboretum
10 Chalet RdGreat spot for bush walking. Has picnic tales and BBQ facilities as well. Gorgeous views and you’re surrounded by trees, What more could you want!
Lovely place for a stroll. The cafe is pretty small and always busy so we recommend grabbing a take away beverage and enjoying it while you take in the gardens.
6 locals recommend
Rhododendron Gardens Carpark
Lovely place for a stroll. The cafe is pretty small and always busy so we recommend grabbing a take away beverage and enjoying it while you take in the gardens.
Great fun, especially for kids. You must book, it’s very popular.
234 locals recommend
Puffing Billy Railway
1 Old Monbulk RdGreat fun, especially for kids. You must book, it’s very popular.
A beautiful place in spring. Check before going but my favourite is the tulip festival usually in October.
Tesselaar Flowers - Melbourne
401 Monbulk RdA beautiful place in spring. Check before going but my favourite is the tulip festival usually in October.
Sherbrooke Falls
Odonohue TrackGreat walk through the forest with beautiful bird life.
Alfred Nicholas Memorial Garden
1A Sherbrooke RdGorgeous place for peace and tranquillity
Just a beautiful view worth stopping for. The Destiny Cafe is a great spot to grab a coffee and cake while taking in the scenery.
Silvan Dam Lookout
2 Barbers RdJust a beautiful view worth stopping for. The Destiny Cafe is a great spot to grab a coffee and cake while taking in the scenery.
One of the most popular places in the hills. A good workout but very busy, especially on the weekends. For those who like to test their fitness.
71 locals recommend
Kokoda Track Memorial Walk
Tree Fern Gully TrackOne of the most popular places in the hills. A good workout but very busy, especially on the weekends. For those who like to test their fitness.
There is always something interesting to see in this store. Whenever I’m in Olinda I always stop in!
16 locals recommend
Mangana Olinda
29 Olinda-Monbulk RdThere is always something interesting to see in this store. Whenever I’m in Olinda I always stop in!
So many natural products to treat yourself with. Limited opening availability due to COVID so check with them before heading there,
10 locals recommend
Warratina Lavender Farm
105 Quayle RdSo many natural products to treat yourself with. Limited opening availability due to COVID so check with them before heading there,
Movie theatre
A fantastic Art Deco, independent theatre. If you go, you must have the salted caramel choc top.
36 locals recommend
Cameo Cinema
1628 Burwood HwyA fantastic Art Deco, independent theatre. If you go, you must have the salted caramel choc top.
Wellbeing
Relax at these amazing mountain springs. Definitely a treat, pricey but complete luxury.
Japanese Mountain Retreat Mineral Springs & Spa
14 Mountain CresRelax at these amazing mountain springs. Definitely a treat, pricey but complete luxury.
Hidden treasure where you can experience floatation tanks, infrared saunas, lymphatic draining, oxygenation and cryotherapy. Not far from us, definitely book but a great place to replenish and relax.
Melbourne Float House - Floatation Tank Melbourne
7 Trade WayHidden treasure where you can experience floatation tanks, infrared saunas, lymphatic draining, oxygenation and cryotherapy. Not far from us, definitely book but a great place to replenish and relax.
Olinda Pool
79 Olinda-Monbulk RdThe local pool if you feel like a swim!
Essentials
IGA Mt Dandenong
1526 Mount Dandenong Tourist RdFor any essentials, and they have a IGA Liquor store attached.
Woolworths Kilsyth
542 Russo PlCaltex Tremont
100 Mount Dandenong Tourist Rdbp Truckstop
839 Mt Dandenong Rd
Hair for the Hills
1534 Mount Dandenong Tourist RdMy local hairdressers, always fabulous service, great hair and gorgeous people