5 Best Sights in The Dandenong Ranges, Victoria

These glorious gardens are divided into 25 "garden rooms" that include the Maple Court, the bulb meadows, and 100-year-old European beech trees. They were first established in the late 1890s as commercial and cut-flower gardens by the Woolrich family. The internationally famous gardens are dotted with artworks by local artists and the Diggers Garden Shop hosts workshops and sells seeds, plants, and books. A central terraced area, with manicured hedges and a sculpture of a huge vase, is striking, as is the view across the mountain ranges from the garden café. The Seasons café (open from 9 am daily) serves breakfast, lunch, and afternoon tea, with some ingredients coming from its own kitchen garden. Reservations essential.

The expansive gardens contain the largest collection of rhododendrons in the southern hemisphere, with around 15,000 rhododendrons and thousands more azaleas and camellias; the garden's premier season is spring, when they put on a show of spectacular blooms, including a cherry blossom display. The new attraction is the Chelsea Australian Garden, by landscape designer Phillip Johnson, a re-creation (albeit 20 times the size) of his garden that won Gold and Best in Show at London's Chelsea Flower Show. The gardens are a short stroll from Olinda village, otherwise, jump on board the Garden Explorer minibus for a short, guided tour. For a perfect afternoon, combine your visit with tea and scones in the park's Vireya Café or back down in the village.

This gleaming, narrow-gauge steam train, based 46 km (29 miles) from Healesville in the town of Belgrave, runs on a line originally built in 1900 to open up the Dandenong Ranges to 20th-century pioneers. Dangle your feet outside the carriage (it's encouraged!) for a great way to see the foothills landscapes. Daily trips between Belgrave and Emerald Lake pass through picturesque forests and over spectacular wooden trestle bridges. The entire, 13-km (8-mile) trip takes an hour; it's another hour if you continue to the historic town of Gembrook. There are also onboard lunch and train-and-picnic packs, summer twilight runs, and special music and children's events, and the modern, architecturally impressive visitor center includes a café and interactive activities sharing the little train's long history.

Azaleas, camellias, and hydrangeas spill down the hillsides in this 6-acre European garden overlooked by Australian Mountain Ash trees. While at its most colorful in spring, when the flowers are in bloom, and in autumn, when the trees turn gold and yellow, it is also beautiful in winter with a touch of snow. It's located just 8 km (5 miles) north of Belgrave in the little forest settlement of Sherbrooke, where whipbird calls echo through the trees.

This lookout at the top of Mt. Dandenong has breathtaking views over Melbourne to the Mornington Peninsula and Port Phillip Bay. You can picnic or barbecue on the grounds, eat at the bistro (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), or stroll along the pleasant English Garden Walk while the kids get lost in the hedge maze (additional entry fee). Other fun attractions include a Wishing Tree and the Giant's Chair. The bistro is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. On Sunday, book ahead for its popular roast lunch and afternoon teas.