One of the highest villages in the Dandenong Ranges, Olinda’s gardens and scenery reflect its pronounced seasons, with spring blooms, autumn colours, crisp summer days and occasional light snowfalls. Spend a relaxing afternoon browsing through the many art, antique and handicraft galleries and sampling a delicious Devonshire tea.
Explore some of Australia's most beautiful public and private gardens, including the National Rhododendron Gardens and the mystical sculptures hidden among the ferns at William Ricketts Sanctuary. Go walking among tree ferns and look for lyrebirds in the Dandenong Ranges National Park, wander through the magnificent forest in RJ Hamer Arboretum or trek to Olinda Falls.
Stop at roadside stalls selling home-made preserves, garden produce, flowers, eggs, chestnuts and plants. Look out for wildlife as you tour the area, including emus, wombats, possums, echidna and lyrebirds.
Search for antique treasures in Mt Dandenong and Sassafras villages. Browse the many local galleries and craft shops selling jewellery, glass, pottery, leather and ceramics made by local craftspeople.
Olinda is 44 kilometres east of Melbourne or just over an hour’s drive. Travel on the Burwood Highway and then turn off onto the Mount Dandenong Tourist Road. Alternatively, travel along the Monash Freeway, onto Ferntree Gully Road, then along the Mount Dandenong Tourist Road.
