What's at the top of the 1000 Steps Kokoda Memorial Walk in Melbourne?

The 1000 Steps Kokoda Memorial in Melbourne is a very popular walk with day trippers, fitness fanatics, and those wanting to commemorate the battle at Kokoda. 

 Before I get on topic, I would respectfully like to point out at the 1000 steps main purpose is as a memorial to the brave men "Choco's" they were called who defended Australia from enemy attack in World War Two. 

They were called that derisively by regular troops, as they were in many cases reservists, poorly equipped and not well trained. They were called Choco's, which was an abbreviation for Chocolate Soldiers, a it was believed they would melt in the heat if they ever saw action. 

Well. So when the Japanese Army advanced through New Guinea towards Australia, the Aussie diggers were a long way away and could not be recalled. So these inadequately equipped and trained men went forth to do what had to be done. 

The rest is the stuff of legend. Back from the mists of time and we return to Upper Ferntree Gully. The path begins in a car park, and goes up. But where to? 

On many days the path seems to disappear into the very clouds themselves. The good news is, particularly for those that are nearing exhaustion on the long climb, is that it does go somewhere. It DOES end. At the top, where the steps track meets the Lyrebird track, there is a small clearing.

It has been left largely unchanged. There a no seats, toilets or other facilities at all. Which is a nice way of keeping nature untouched. However if you need these facilities, or just want to see where the 1000 Steps Kokoda Memorial Walk actually goes, keep walking up the hill for a few more minutes. About 200 meters further up the hill from the clearing the path meats One Tree HIll Road. 

This road carries on past car parks to One Tree Hill. Cross this road and stay on the path. After another 200 meters or so you will arrive in the picnic area, where the are public toilets if needed. After this area, the path continues through the Dandenong Ranges 

National Park network of walking tracks. I haven't explored many of these yet but as I do we will post on more of them. The Dandenong Ranges is a lovely park, with plenty of beautiful and peaceful walks and hiking tracks, and I look forward to sharing them with you.

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Tremont - Pictures and some thoughts about this friendly little suburb - Tremont in the Dandenong Ranges

The suburb of Tremont is one of the smaller locales in the Dandenong Ranges in Melbourne.

 Located on the Mount Dandenong Tourist Road, just above the Devils Elbow, Tremont is about a five minute drive from Upper Ferntree Gully going up.

This location, on a steep, North facing slope has meant that poor old Tremont usually comes under threat from any bush fires starting further down, and while it hasn't burnt to the ground in recent memory, there have been a few nervous days and nights.

 Tremont is located around a cross roads, which is pretty much the centre of the suburb. Mahoney Street is a neat little short cut known to and used mostly by the locals, this takes you down to the Burwood Highway at Upwey. It's also a great way to take in stunning view of Melbourne looking North West. You can see a wide sweeping arc including the ships in Port Phillip Bay, the You Yangs over past Werribee, as well as a full city skyline. Awesome at sunset.

 On the other side if the intersection, there is another road - Rd - which heads up towards One Tree Hill, and Ferny Creek. This is a heavily forested area, so if driving here keep a lookout for wombats, kangaroos and other wildlife. At the top, turn left for One Tree Hill and the top of the 1000 steps, turn right for Ferny Creek.

 Now for Tremont CBD. A bit of a sleepy hollow really. There used to be a petrol station slash convenience store, selling newspapers, fuel and general goods here, but that closed some years ago. There is a bus stop, for the hills bus service to Croydon via Olinda. This transits the whole of the Mt Dandenong Tourist Road.

 There is a hilltop park, with more picturesque views, which is a nice place to take a gentle stroll or walk the dog but take care as the are some steep drop offs here. Keep an eye out for snakes too. All in all Temont is a quiet suburb at te lower end of te Dandenong Ranges.

The lack of open all hours business and heavy industry means that during the evenings and the weekends it is a great place to relax, and enjoy the gentle sounds of the birds and the wind in the trees - after the tourists have gone home.

 I have included a few pictures of Tremont, as well as some of the things I have mentioned in this Post.

Mount Dandenong - What is at the top of Mt Dandenong? A fun place to go and a good coffee to boot!

Mount Dandenong in the Dandenong Ranges Located about 35 kilometres as the cockatoo flies East from the centre of Melbourne.

Mount Dandenong is both a suburb and a mountain. With a height of about 633 metres, the summit of Mt Dandenong is the highest point of the Dandenong Ranges. It's also one of the closest places to Melbourne where snow falls.

Although its not exactly Perisher or Falls Creek, in most years on two or three occasions, Mount Dandenong and surrounding areas usually receive a light dusting of snow.

 Unusual fact : how Mt Dandenong got its name. Originally known by the Aboriginal name Corhanwarrabul, it was decided, possibly after a few wines, that this name was too difficult to say and spell, so a new name was needed.

Being the highest peak in the Dandenongs, this is how Mt Dandenong received its new name.

It was first settled by Europeans in 1893. In 1938 it was the scene of a tragedy with the Kyeema aircraft disaster. A Douglas DC 2 crashed in heavy fog and low visibility close to the summit of present day Mt Corhanwarrabul, not far from Mt Dandenong. Today, Mount Dandenong is a fun place to visit.

Perched right up the top at the summit, there is a restaurant appropriately named Sky High. There are several viewing platforms above and around the restaurant, with high powered binoculars, and panoramic views across Melbourne and Port Phillip towards the You Yangs.

 Sky High is more than just a room with a view however. Plenty of fun and things to do for the kids and family, with a lovely scenic walk, a hedge maze, and many fun and unusual sculptures and artworks to see as you stroll. Keep a special eye out for the fairy door, as well as the giant's chair.

 There is a small fee to park your car at the car park at the top, which is fair enough considering the cost of upkeep and the stunning views. The carpark at the summit used to be free years ago but back then the facility was government owned.

These days it is privately owned. If you don't have a car to get there there is a bus service that runs along Ridge Road at the bottom of the driveway, but be warned, it's a steep walk up to the top.

 Back towards Olinda there is a small shopping village with excellent cafes such as the Deli Platter, pubs such as the Pig And Whistle and restaurants, called the Mount Dandenong shops, but many locals regard these as Olinda.

Mt Dandenong Shopping Centre - what shops do they have there? And what else is there in this friendly local shopping village?

If you are planning a day trip to the Dandenong Ranges, or are thinking of moving to the Dandenongs to live permanently, here is a bit of information about the local shopping centre.

 In the hills of the Dandenong Ranges, things are done a little differently to down on the flats. From lifestyle to accommodation, everything is just not quite the same. It cold be that this is something to do with the climate. Or the topography. Or the people and community.

 Although its certainly different from the rest of Melbourne, which is why Mt Dandenong is such a popular day trip and week end destination, the people must shop. So I will now share with you some of my favourite shops and cafes.

 Let's start with the basics. If you a going to live in the suburb of Mt Dandenong o nearby, you will be glad to know that there is a small supermarket in Mt Dandenong shopping centre. It's an IGA, and very well stocked. The Mt Dandenong IGA closes at 8.00pm most nights and 7.00pm on Sunday.

 Next door to the IGA is a bottle shop. Again, well stocked, with a range of wine, beers and spirits to suit most palates. Hours are similar to the supermarket next door. Completing the trio is the pizza shop. Mt Dandy Pizza and Pasta. Our family has bought many pizzas and pastas from Mt Dandy - Brian there makes a top notch pizza, with loads of toppings and a delicious base. Definitely gets my recommendation if you are looking for a pizza shop or want to buy a good pizza in the Dandenongs. Yum yum yum.

 If food shops restaurants and cafes in Mt Dandenong shops are what you are looking for, let's start with restaurants. There is a Chinese restaurant, Fairy Mountain, as well as an Indian restaurant on Mt Dandenong called Absolute Indian.  If English style food is more your style, the is the Mt Dandenong Hotel, which is pretty much tour standard pub, the steve which has live music, as well as a really fun and funky bar off to one side, but my favourite is the Pig and Whistle. This is an olde English style pub/hotel, with open fireplace in the main dining area, a bar that is popular with the younger crowd, as well as alfresco area out the front. They even have a playground for the kids for family friendly restaurant dining in the Dandenong Ranges.You need to book for this one, be advised.

 Now for the basics and every day needs of shopping and living in the Dandenongs. For the kids, there is a fun little park, with obstacle course and climbing wall. There is a picture below. The local fresh fruit supplier in Mt Dandenong is Pellegrino's Fresh Fruits. Open most days including Saturday and Sunday. All kinds of fresh fruits and vegetables. They supply the restaurant trade and the public too so there is a good variety and always fresh.

 Speaking of fresh, the best kept secret in Mt Dandenong is our favourite coffee and cafe, the Deli Platter is very popular with locals, visitors to Mount Dandenong Shops, and tourists alike. Fresh delicatessen fare as well as a good range of healthy sandwiches, coffee and cake. Great conversation and a friendly team keep this place buzzing.

 But it doesn't stop there. Other shops in Mount Dandenong include a local post office, hair dressers, as well as fashion ships and clothing stores catering to local and passing trade. All this without getting on to Mount Dandenong proper, home of Sky High, which is covered in a separate post.

Geppetto's Toy Shop Sassafras - Geppetto's Puppets in Sassafras

The Dandenong Ranges in outer East Melbourne are home to many unique businesses and shops. Some are almost tourist destinations in their own right. One of these would have to be Geppetto's Toys and Puppets shop in Sassafras.

Many people say "let's go visit that toy shop in Sassafras" but never remember the name. Well there it is. Geppetto's. And what a great name for a toy shop that specialises in puppets and puppetry.

 Kids of all ages are fascinated with the sheer variety of puppets on sale. Many are incredibly life like, with arms that move independently, two fingers controlling the arms, and two fingers also controlling the upper and lower jaw. This gives the mouth of the toys the ability to move, which can make for some great talking puppet moments. And that's just the hand puppets.

One of our favorites is a white rat puppet we bought here years ago. The way the mouth and arms move make it uncanny and lifelike, and it has a range of personalities and moods. Young kids in particulate think this puppet is very funny, and sometimes a little scary.

The outside of Geppetos Workshop in Sassafras

 Geppetto's does not just sell puppets however. There is a also a large range of clever and unusual toys and puzzles that you can buy. This makes this shop a good place to get presents and gifts, while at the same time enjoying a scenic trip into the hills.

 There are jigsaw puzzles, magic tricks, ball bearing games, rope games, card tricks and more. No run of the mill stuff you can find anywhere, this shop is always chock full of surprises.

Geppetto's Is on the main Mount Dandenong Tourist Road, at the corner of Mountain HIghway.

Opposite this is a small park, perfect for the kids to play in for awhile if they are getting bored with mum and dad's shopping trip.

Sign on the wall at Geppettos Workshop in Sassafras

Shops in Sassafras - Toy Shop Sassafras - Things to Do in Sassafras - Toy Shop Dandenong Ranges

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Silvan Dam Reservoir Park - Silvan Dam Picnic Area and Children's Payground

In our travels around the Dandenong Ranges in Melbourne's outer East, we have been to many parks, playgrounds and picnic areas. Today I am going to talk about one that is a little off the beaten track, Silvan Dam.

Silvan Dam picnic area steps in Autumn

 Silvan Dam Picnic Area was created following the construction of Silvan Dam. Typical of most dams, there is a flat area below the dam wall, with a spillway that allows excess water to drain away. The spillway is fenced off, but you can see through the fence - one fun game we like to play is to see how many fish you can see swimming around in the water. No fishing here however.

 The spillway then goes underground following the fenced area, which means that it is a very safe for little children. No issues with children falling into deep water because there simply isn't any that they can access. The down side to this is that there is no swimming area in this park. However, if you go out of the lower exit gate, and turn left, go down the road about two hundred meters from Silvan Dam Picnic Area, the river runs along side the road, you can walk down for a splash or a swim.

We think it's a beautiful picnic area, with plenty of trees for shade on a hot sunny day. There are picnic tables, surrounded by a large flat grassed area that's perfect for children to run around on or perfect for a family game of soccer or cricket. There are walking tracks as well, including a walk that overlooks the dam and lake. Silvan Dam is still a part of Melbourne's water supply so there is no swimming, boating fishing or access to the lake itself.

Silvan Dam picnic tables and barbecue

Lets not forget the many tables and gentle slopes, perfect for a game of hide and seek!

Silvan Dam picnic area upper slopes

 One feature that makes Silvan Dam a good place to take the family for a picnic in the Dandenong Ranges and Monbulk area is the children's playground. This one is aimed at children aged to about ten years old, so young families will have plenty of fun here. Other features of Silvan Dam Picnic Area are public toilets, and plenty of parking.


All in all a good spot for a weekend picnic or family barbecue, but if you are going to hold a barbecue please check the local CFA website for any fire restrictions. You will need to bring your own barbecue if you are planning to do any cooking.

Silvan Dam picnic area covered pergola

There is no shop or Kiosk but if you need supplies there is a service station in Silvan on the Monbulk Road that sells ice, drinks, chips and similar.

 Silvan Dam Picnic Area can best be reached via Monbulk Road. Take this to Silvan, and find the CFA Fire Station. Next to this is a sealed road running off Monbulk Road. Take this road, about 400 meters down on the left is the park. There are three carparks, the top one is smaller, if you are saving a picnic take the second one as this has a shorter walk to the main area. The overflow carpark is on the right.

Silvan Dam picnic area Dam view

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One Tree Hill Picnic Area in The Dandenong Ranges - Review and Pictures

One of the Northern most peaks, or summits, of the Dandenong Ranges in Melbourne is One Tree Hill

Not to be confused with another One Tree Hill in Auckland, New Zealand of course. They share a name but other than geography there are quite a few more differences as you will see.

Large shelter in One Tree Hill Picnic Area

 Many years ago One Tree Hill was a popular destination for day trips and picnics. These days it is popular still, also as a picnic spot, but today the location is also popular for different activities.

Stone Shelter in picnic area

To cater for the picnic lunch or afternoon tea crowd, there are a number of picnic tables as barbecues, and two stone shelters. These are roofed, providing shelter in case of a sudden downpour. One has seats inside and is large enough to put tables etc up inside, ideal for a function when the weather is marginal.

Picnic Tables and stone shelter

One Tree Hill picnic spot has ladies and men's toilets, and parking for about 20 cars or so. Not a great number, so be mindful of this if planning to hold a barbecue or party here.

The Carpark At One Tree Hill Picnic Area. Inviting

There are no children's facilities, such as playgrounds, and the sides of the hill drop away steeply in thick bush, so keeping young children closely supervised is recommended.

One Tree Hill Picnic Area Dandenong Ranges View

 The funny thing about One Tree Hill really is the name. Back when it was named the Dandenongs had been almost completely clear felled. The views over Melbourne would have been stunning. The forest you see today is mostly re growth. Today, One Tree Hill is surrounded by thousands of trees. This dense forest means the view today can only be obtained by peeking between the trees. You can hardly see any view of Melbourne at all.

One of the other main uses of One Tree Hill is as a part of a large network of walking tracks that cross cross the Dandenongs. One Tree Hill itself is at the top of the Kokoda Memorial 1000 Steps, so if you have done these, and are still feeling like you need more excise keep going.

One Tree Hill Picnic Area Dandenong Ranges Top of 1000 Steps

The tracks all link up all the way to Warburton I am told. It is still a beautiful park, one of many in the Dandenong Ranges National Park network. You can get there off the Mount Dandenong Tourist Road, either at the first left going up the hill at Tremont, opposite the closed petrol station, or via One Tree HIll road. This also runs off the Mount Dandenong Tourist Road at the Sherbrooke Road turn off.