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.