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.