Alfred Nicholas Gardens
Alfred Nicholas Gardens
Sherbrooke Road, Sherbrooke
Free Entry 10am - 5pm Daily
www.parkweb.vic.gov.au

Established in 1929 as part of the historic Burnham Beeches Estate, Alfred Nicholas Gardens has extensive water features with waterfalls and an ornamental lake. 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. Popular for walks, picnics and birdwatching by the lake. Walks are on gravel requiring a degree of fitness.


National Rhododendron Gardens
National Rhododendron Gardens
The Georgian Road, Olinda
Opposite Folly Farm's Front Gate
Free Entry Open 10am - 5pm Daily
www.parkweb.vic.gov.au

Enjoy a self-guided tour, strolling through 40 hectares of scenic botanic gardens or a picnic by the lake and take in stunning views of the Australian Alps. Photograph the native birdlife and brilliant floral scenery. During the Spring Floral Festival held annually from August to November visitors can enjoy a series of undercover floral displays, including the largest undercover display of daffodils in the Southern Hemisphere. The garden has a gatehouse, gazebos, grassed picnic areas and toilet facilities for people with limited mobility.


Cloudehill Gardens
Cloudehill Gardens
89 Olinda-Monbulk Road, Olinda
Entry $10 Open 10am - 5pm Daily
www.cloudehill.com.au

A must see garden made at the top of The Dandenongs where a maze of stone walls and jewel like garden rooms are set within woodlands of magnificent and historic, cool climate trees. Some 20 garden compartments are threaded through glorious 80 year old European beech, magnolias, maples and a collection of Himalayan tree rhododendrons, all beautifully grown and a testament to the lush, moist soils of the Dandenongs. The garden is highlighted by glorious herbaceous borders which focus on two of the finest Japanese weeping maples to be seen anywhere in the world.


Pirianda Gardens
Pirianda Gardens
Hacketts Road, Olinda
Free Entry 10am - 5pm Daily
www.parkweb.vic.gov.au

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.


Silvan Reservoir Park
Silvan Reservoir Park
Stonyford Rd, Silvan
Open Daily 9am to 4.30pm
www.parkweb.vic.gov.au

Set in the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges, Silvan Reservoir Park is 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. The dam carpark gives access to the observation area over the Silvan Reservoir. There is a ramp immediately in front of the parking bays that leads down to the picnic area. The picnic area has a number of accessible tables and accessible toilet.


RJ Hamer Forest Arboretum
RJ Hamer Forest Arboretum
Chalet Rd, Olinda
Open Daily 9am to 4.30pm
www.parkweb.vic.gov.au

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.


Mount Dandenong Arboretum
Mount Dandenong Arboretum
52 Ridge Road, Mount Dandenong
Open Daily 9am to 4.30pm
www.parkweb.vic.gov.au

Sixteen hectares near Mount Dandenong was set aside in 1928 to establish an arboretum of national significance featuring conifers and deciduous trees. The collection includes spectacular trees from around the world including eight that are listed in the National Trust’s significant tree register. Recognising that there are several arboreta in Australia that feature northern hemisphere collections, it was agreed in 1999 to gradually focus the collection on southern hemisphere conifers that would create a unique visitor experience with greater botanical significance.


Sherbrooke Falls Walk
Sherbrooke Falls Walk
Sherbrooke Picnic Ground
2.4km, 1 hour return
Grade: Easy to Moderate
www.parkweb.vic.gov.au

Tracks leading from Sherbrooke and O’Donohue Picnic Ground provide the easiest walk to the falls through the attractive landscape of tall Mountain Ash and tree ferns. The falls are most inspiring after rain when the swollen Sherbrooke Creek rushes over the rocks. Sherbrooke Picnic Ground is in a bush setting. Parking is a steep angle parking giving side access to all cars. The carpark is an asphalt surface and there is an accessible toilet.


Alowyn Gardens
Alowyn Gardens
1210 Melba Highway, Yarra Glen
Open Daily 10am to 5pm Fees Apply
www.alowyngardens.com.au

Alowyn Garden is designed along strong symmetrical lines that become blurred by the softness of the spaces and the grace of the trees, within an area of approximately 4 acres. There are 5 clearly defined areas within the gardens, a perennial border, designed to display colour from Spring to Autumn, a silver birch forest, an edible garden of generous proportions, a parterre garden and a number of display gardens. The formal parterre garden is built along 17th century design principles, leads you through to a series of smaller courtyards and display gardens. Through all these area runs a wisteria and rose covered archway 100m long with a sunken garden and a classical fountain as a centre piece.