ATTRACTIONS KALLISTA VIC

Enjoy a ride on Puffing Billy Steam Railway, Australia's oldest steam railway and one of the finest preserved steam railways in the world. Travel 24 kilometres through the beautiful forests and fern gullies of the Dandenong Ranges from Belgrave.

Puffing Billy is the last of the experimental narrow-gauge railway lines built at the turn of the 20th century, and easily accessible by public transport from Melbourne. Tours are offered by all major day tour operators.

The open-sided carriages are the best way to see the stunning views. You can catch the train at any of the stations along the way, or watch the train go by from one of the stations' refreshment rooms.

How about sampling one of the 'Wine and Dine' options? Travel in the heritage enclosed dining carriages onboard the daily 'Steam and Cuisine Luncheon Train'. Savour three courses or graze over a Natter Platter. Alternatively, travel on the 'Dinner and Dance Train', available on selected Friday and Saturday evenings.

View the special events coming up at Puffing Billy Steam Railway.

A day out with Thomas in Autumn and Spring. Experience a steam train ride with 'Thomas the Tank Engine' and 'Diesel' and enjoy the 'Thomas and Fat Controller' pantomime along with other activities at Puffing Billy's Emerald Town Station, bookings are essential.

For further details and dates please visit the website.

For service fares, please click here.

Visitors flock to Blue Hills Berries and Cherries farm between November to April to enjoy the U-Pick experience.

Bring the family and enjoy picking fresh berries and cherries in the morning and then relax with a family BBQ at the nearby Silvan Reservoir. Situated just 20 minutes from Puffing Billy, and 20 minutes from Yarra Valley's famous wineries, why not make a weekend of it!

Delvin Health Retreat is a boutique day spa and resort in the Dandenong Ranges one hour east of the city of Melbourne, Victoria. Set on one and a half acres of tranquil gardens, with a two story house of seven bedrooms and six bathrooms including a guest lounge and guest dining room. Some rooms have Juliet Balconies and there is a large deck for everyone to use. We are known to provide the best accommodation in Olinda and around Mt Dandenong. We have several packages available ranging from Day Spa treatments to packages with accommodation from one to several days or weeks. We also cater for Romantic Escapes and Bed and Breakfast.

Japanese Mountain Retreat Mineral Springs and Spa was designed to offer an authentic Japanese luxurious ryokan experience with all the essential elements of a five-star boutique Japanese resort.

Behind the concept was a desire to recreate a vision of authentic Japan, one that treasures the traditional values of harmony and culture while retaining modern sensibility.

A spa retreat offering an extensive menu of holistic and wellness treatments enhances the opportunities for rejuvenation, while an Onsen (outdoor mineral spring) opened in early 2010 provides the opportunity for deep relaxation and the therapeutic benefits of private bathing in hot mineral spring water.

Naturally what you see on stage is the public face of the 1812 Theatre but it only the tip of the iceberg. No production would be possible without a raft of support workers. The beautiful sets you see on our stage are the product of hours of planning and weeks of hard work by a dedicated band of volunteers.

Costumes are fashioned and designed by a small (and some might say shrinking) group of 1812ers. Lights have to be designed and operated and sound carefully engineered.

Frequent scenery and costume changes are seamlessly planned and executed by stage management teams, while your comfort and assurance of a pleasurable evening is the prime concern of our Front of House volunteers.

We aim to make the Mountain Gate Shopping Centre a safe and friendly place to shop.

Situated in a ferny glade in the Dandenongs, William Ricketts Sanctuary is a place of beauty and tranquillity, due both to the natural setting and the mystical sculptures half hidden among ferns along the pathways. It is a place for quiet reflection and for contemplation of the essence of the vision of William Ricketts. Many travel across the world to visit this place time and time again. Things to do - Kiln-fired clay sculptures of Aboriginal figures are discreetly set among rocks, fern trees and Mountain Ash. These sculptures are an expression of Rickett's philosophy - that all people need to act as custodians of the natural environment in the same way as Aborigines, the inspiration for much of his work. - Stroll through the gardens and explore the 92 ceramic sculptures of people and animals which merge with the natural surroundings. - Enjoy the audio-visual display featuring William Ricketts where visitors can see for themselves the vision and passion that live in his art. Heritage In the 1930s William Rickets bought a four-acre bush block on Mount Dandenong and called it Potter's Sanctuary. Word spread about the extraordinary sculptures that began to adorn the property. In time, the Victorian Government heard about his work and, in the early 1960s, the land and adjoining blocks were bought for the people. William Ricketts lived on at the Sanctuary into his nineties and continued to create his sculptures until his death in 1993. Before you go Conditions can change in parks for many reasons. For the latest information on changes to local conditions, please visit the relevant park page on the Parks Victoria website. Be bushfire ready in the great outdoors. Refer to the Bushfire Safety section on the Parks Victoria website for tips on how to stay safe.

The Mount Dandenong Arboretum extends over 16 hectares and contains a collection of maturing deciduous trees and conifers from around the world. 'Arboretum' is a Latin word meaning a place for trees and an Arboretum can simply be called a 'tree museum'. Things to do - Enjoy a relaxing sensory experience of walking under mature tree canopies, scrunching on aromatic pine needles and looking upward through branches to the sky. - Picnic in the meadow with views to the Great Dividing Range framed by tall trees. - Walk up to Mount Dandenong Observatory for the spectacular view east across the city of Melbourne or walk along one of the many tracks in the Dandenong Ranges National Park trail network. Before you go Conditions can change in parks for many reasons. For the latest information on changes to local conditions, please visit the relevant park page on the Parks Victoria website. Be bushfire ready in the great outdoors. Refer to the Bushfire Safety section on the Parks Victoria website for tips on how to stay safe.

Designed to take advantage of the steep slopes, the terraced gardens of Pirianda are distinctive for their combination of botanically important trees, shrubs and perennials with an over storey of large blackwoods and mountain ash towering over the natural fern gullies. The garden is particularly beautiful in autumn when the trees change colour to the many hues of orange, red and yellow. Enjoy magnificent views and tranquil walks, bird watching, photography and picnicking on the lawns at Pirianda Gardens. Before you go Conditions can change in parks for many reasons. For the latest information on changes to local conditions, please visit the relevant park page on the Parks Victoria website. Be bushfire ready in the great outdoors. Refer to the Bushfire Safety section on the Parks Victoria website for tips on how to stay safe.

The many linking paths through this garden take you beneath a canopy of awesome Mountain Ash Trees. Walk through shady trees down to the picturesque lake, and picnic by the quaint boathouse. In spring, view the flowering azaleas, cherry trees and viburnum. Aboriginal Traditional Owners Parks Victoria acknowledges the Aboriginal Traditional Owners of Victoria - including its parks and reserves. Through their cultural traditions, Aboriginal people maintain their connection to their ancestral lands and waters. Further information is available from Aboriginal Affairs Victoria AAV and Native Title Services Victoria Before you go Conditions can change in parks for many reasons. For the latest information on changes to local conditions, please visit the relevant park page on the Parks Victoria website. Be bushfire ready in the great outdoors. Refer to the Bushfire Safety section on the Parks Victoria website for tips on how to stay safe.

Burrinja Cultural Centre is a vibrant community cultural centre that encompasses performing arts, Indigenous gallery, contemporary arts gallery, artist studios, Indigenous garden, live music, workshops and café. The new theatre at Burrinja Cultural Centre offers a variety of performances throughout the year from dance, comedy and drama, to live music, family entertainment and musicals. There are three art exhibition galleries at Burrinja Cultural Centre, and they endeavour to provide a strong mix of both local and national arts and cultural programming, combining exhibitions from the artists of their region like Mary Tonkin with touring programs such as the 60th Blake Prize and the Kati Thanda exhibition featuring aerial photography of Lake Eyre. Created in the grounds surrounding Burrinja Cultural Centre, the Art of Place Garden is an Indigenous cultural and environmental place for learning, reflection, gathering, creativity and celebration of local Indigenous culture and country. Burrinja Café provides great food and coffee in a fantastic intimate, plus they feature a variety of music including Ranges Concert Lounge, Blues and Roots, Bluegrass, Open microphone Nights and free live music every Sunday afternoon. There is always something going on at Burrinja Cultural Centre!

The National Rhododendron Gardens are host to brilliantly coloured blooms of rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias, cherries and daffodils. Seasonal changes ensure the gardens are a delight all year around. When not in bloom, you can still soak in the beauty of rich bark textures, seed capsules, foliage shapes and beautiful fragrance as you stroll through the grounds. Aboriginal Traditional Owners Parks Victoria acknowledges the Aboriginal Traditional Owners of Victoria - including its parks and reserves. Through their cultural traditions, Aboriginal people maintain their connection to their ancestral lands and waters. Before you go Conditions can change in parks for many reasons. For the latest information on changes to local conditions, please visit the relevant park page on the Parks Victoria website. Be bushfire ready in the great outdoors. Refer to the Bushfire Safety section on the Parks Victoria website for tips on how to stay safe.

The George Tindale Memorial Garden contains a number of plants rarely found in cultivation, which are thriving in the acidic soils, cool temperate climate and shaded conditions found in the Dandenong Ranges. Extensive collections of magnolias, rhododendrons, camellias, azaleas, fuchsias and hydrangeas will delight garden enthusiasts. The gardens offer something new with each season - a myriad of flowers in spring; hydrangeas, lilliums and fuchsias in summer; a canopy of gold, red, orange and burgundy in Autumn and the flowers of the Lenten Rose or Hellebore beneath flowering shrubs in winter. Before you go Conditions can change in parks for many reasons. For the latest information on changes to local conditions, please visit the relevant park page on the Parks Victoria website. Be bushfire ready in the great outdoors. Refer to the Bushfire Safety section on the Parks Victoria website for tips on how to stay safe.

Lysterfield Park is a beautiful spot, not far from Melbourne, offering a range of recreational activities. This is a great place for mountain biking. The Lysterfield Park Mountain Bike Trails and the State Mountain Bike course offers 20 kilometres of trails catering for riders of all ages and ability. Choose from easy family trails for all to enjoy around the lake and parkland, a range of flowing single trails through established plantations or steep and technical sections of trail through rocky landscapes Lysterfield Lake is very popular for canoeing, sailing, paddle boating and surf skiing. There are also a number of walking tracks including three trails that are linked for a brisk two-hour walk around the lake. The park is open from 8am to 8pm during daylight saving time. Before you go Conditions can change in parks for many reasons. For the latest information on changes to local conditions, please visit the relevant park page on the Parks Victoria website. Be bushfire ready in the great outdoors. Refer to the Bushfire Safety section on the Parks Victoria website for tips on how to stay safe.

Arboretum is a Latin word meaning a place for trees. Here you will find over 150 species of native and exotic trees in plantations designed to represent forests, creating a patchwork effect over the hills. Take a quiet, peaceful stroll along the many walking tracks and roads of the Arboretum and take in the tranquil beauty and stunning scenery across the Yarra Valley out to the Warburton Ranges and beyond. The majestic gums and oaks and the ornamental willows and birches are at their best in the summer. A rich array of autumn colours provides spectacular views, from the fiery red, oranges and crimsons of the liquidambers and maples, to the subtle paling of the deciduous conifers. In winter, the tranquil resting of the deciduous trees contrasting with the early flowering species among a mystic lake of low hanging clouds, offers viewing delight. Before you go Conditions can change in parks for many reasons. For the latest information on changes to local conditions, please visit the relevant park page on the Parks Victoria website. Be bushfire ready in the great outdoors. Refer to the Bushfire Safety section on the Parks Victoria website for tips on how to stay safe.

Located north of Cardinia Reservoir, Aura Vale Lake plays a very important role in Melbourne's water supply. The lake forms part of a drainage system designed to channel run-off water from neighbouring properties and roads, and stop it entering the main reservoir. This system prevents polluted water from affecting the quality of our drinking water. Over the past years Aura Vale Lake Park has become a popular venue for boating activities including sailboarding and canoeing and for other small non-powered boats up to 3.3 metres. Swimming is not permitted due to poor water quality and submerged objects. The park is open 10am to 6pm during daylight saving time. Before you go Conditions can change in parks for many reasons. For the latest information on changes to local conditions, please visit the relevant park page on the Parks Victoria website. Be bushfire ready in the great outdoors. Refer to the Bushfire Safety section on the Parks Victoria website for tips on how to stay safe.

Set in the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges, Silvan Reservoir Park is an easy drive from Melbourne and ideal for a great day out. Featuring landscaped picnic areas and open lawns surrounded by an impressive eucalypt forest, this park is perfect for a picnic or barbecue. Before you go Conditions can change in parks for many reasons. For the latest information on changes to local conditions, please visit the relevant park page on the Parks Victoria website. Be bushfire ready in the great outdoors. Refer to the Bushfire Safety section on the Parks Victoria website for tips on how to stay safe.

Protecting the tall forests of the Dandenongs, the Dandenong Ranges National Park is well known for its spectacular Mountain Ash trees and lush fern gullies, and is ideal for relaxing picnics and tranquil forest walks. The cool mountain elevation affords spectacular panoramic views. There is abundant native birdlife, including crimson rosellas, kookaburras and the superb lyrebird. Explore the forest on a range of walks, or enjoy a picnic at the Fern Tree Gully Picnic Ground, One Tree Hill or in Sherbrooke Forest. Nearby coffee shops, restaurants, craft and antique shops, as well as gardens and the historic Puffing Billy train make for a pleasant day out. The park can be reached by public transport from Melbourne. Opening times for Ferntree Gully picnic ground - An automatic gate entry gate is in operation at Ferntree Gully Picnic Ground - The gate opens at 6am and closes at 9pm daily Aboriginal Traditional Owners Parks Victoria acknowledges the Aboriginal Traditional Owners of Victoria - including its parks and reserves. Through their cultural traditions, Aboriginal people maintain their connection to their ancestral lands and waters. Before you go Conditions can change in parks for many reasons. For the latest information on changes to local conditions, please visit the relevant park page on the Parks Victoria website. Be bushfire ready in the great outdoors. Refer to the Bushfire Safety section on the Parks Victoria website for tips on how to stay safe.

Boasting spectacular views over Silvan Reservoir and the south-eastern face of the Dandenong Ranges, Kalorama Park is perfect for picnics, barbecues or simply relaxing whilst enjoying the magnificent surrounds. Enjoy a relaxing picnic in the area below the lower carpark which is surrounded by garden beds with elm trees, silver birch, pine trees and pin oaks, along with Australian native plants and ferns. This picnic area has two gas barbecues under the picnic shelter, making it the perfect place for a family or group get together. An expansive grassy area near the upper carpark is an ideal setting to spread out the picnic blanket and enjoy lunch. The views over the south-eastern face of the Ranges are spectacular from the upper carpark. A number of large eucalypt trees and tree ferns in the area offer ample shade to escape the summer heat. A drinking fountain and water tap are located within the main picnic area near the picnic shelter. Kalorama Lookout is located on the Mount Dandenong Tourist Road at the Five Ways intersection. The lookout provides one of the finest vantage points to view the Dandenong Ranges, surrounding foothills and Yarra Ranges in the distance. A number of short walking tracks commence from each of the three carparks. These tracks are ideal for a short stroll before or after your barbecue lunch. The tracks pass through native forest, historical fruit orchards and exotic plantings. Before you go Conditions can change in parks for many reasons. For the latest information on changes to local conditions, please visit the relevant park page on the Parks Victoria website. Be bushfire ready in the great outdoors. Refer to the Bushfire Safety section on the Parks Victoria website for tips on how to stay safe.