Dandenong Ranges
Only 1 hour east of Melbourne, is the beautiful Dandenong Ranges. Let us show you what the area has to offer, and explore nature at its best. If you want you can take a ride on the famous Puffing Billy train.
Cost: $135.00
Add Puffing Billy train ride for $55.00.
Add Tulip Festival (spring only) for $45.00.
Add Yarra Valley (visit 2 winieries) for $60.00
7 hours
Suitable for all ages
Tour Highlights:
- Visit the forest
- See the mighty Mountain Ash trees
- Watch the parrots
- Try to find a Lyrebird while strolling in the forest
- Stroll through some of the local shops in the quaint villages
- Take a ride on Puffing Billy
Tour Includes:
- Free pick ups from most City hotels/hostels
- Free chilled water (remember to bring your own water bottle)
- Free Devonshire tea
- Free park entry
Pickup details
We pickup from most Melbourne city locations and a few places in St Kilda. Most of our pickups are early, the reason for this is to avoid the traffic and depart Melbourne nice and early. We aim to stay ahead of other tour busses, so that when we reach our lookouts they are not crowded. We aim to give you the best possible experience.
All our vehicles are small 12 seater mini busses, with our logo ‘Around And About’ on the side. Please be ready 5 minutes prior to your pickup time. Bus might be slightly late due to traffic and unforeseen circumstances. Please keep a look out for your bus. Your pickup details will be on your confirmation email. Below is a list of our most common pickup locations and times. If your location is not listed, email us your details and we can advice the closet pickup spot for you.
At the end of the tour we will drop off only in the Melbourne city, we don’t do any St Kilda, Southbank or surrounding suburbs drop offs. We will endeavour to drop you as close as possible to your original pickup but this is not always possible due to traffic. Melbourne does offer a very good tram service that is free within the city area. Sometimes a short tram ride is the quickest way to get back to your accommodation. We look forward in taking you Around And About and showing your what our wonderful State of Victoria has to offer.
The Day
- Depart Melbourne at 7 am
- Note: Pickup starts 45 minutes prior to departure time
- Heading east out of Melbourne our first stop will be Grant’s Picnic Ground
- Your first activity of the day will be a short stroll thorough the magnificent rain forest. Remember to look out for the elusive Lyrebird. You will need to be quiet
- After the forest walk sit down to Devonshire Tea with Wattle Seed Scones while you take in the splendours of our natural wonderland
- The forest is home to a variety of birds life including parrot and the lyrebird, so make sure to look out for them
- We then head to Puffing Billy to drop off the passengers that opted in for the train ride
- After Puffing Billy we take a slow drive through the remainder of the forest stopping to visit one of the quaint villages along the way. Here you will have time get some lunch or just browse through the local shops
- We then return directly back to Melbourne
- Arrive in Melbourne at approx 2 pm
What To Bring
- Hat, sunglasses and sunscreen
- Rain jacket (just in case)
- Warm clothes (just in case)
- Camera (spare battery and memory card – you will need it)
- Phone charger and cable
- Comfortable walking shoes
Puffing Billy is Australia’s premier preserved steam train. This century-old steam train continues to run on its original mountain track from Belgrave to Gembrook in the magnificent Dandenong Ranges 40 kms east of Melbourne.The journey aboard Puffing Billy takes you through the magnificent Dandenong Ranges, located only one hour east of Melbourne. Puffing Billy was built to serve at the turn of the century and is a genuine relic of our more leisurely days. The Railway is the major survivor of four experimental lines used to develop rural areas in the early 1900s. Step back in time as you enjoy this authentic experience, with lush fern gullies brushing past and Mountain Ash trees towering overhead, Puffing Billy makes for a wonderful opportunity to relax and breathe in the fresh air whilst the train makes its way through the temperate rainforest.
Cost: $135.00
Add Puffing Billy train ride for $55.00.
Add Tulip Festival (spring only) for $45.00.
Add Yarra Valley (visit 2 winieries) for $60.00
Reviews
Wonderful morning tour. Considerate driver and tour guide. Enjoyable and varied experience from rain forest, to puffing billy, train to quaint village for lunch.
Date of experience: April 2018 CMP512018 Katherine, Australia
Wonderful morning tour. Considerate driver and tour guide. Enjoyable and varied experience from rain forest, to puffing billy, train to quaint village for lunch.
CMP512018 Apr. 2018 Katherine, Australia