Dandenong Ranges
Destinations · Yarra Valley

Dandenong Ranges

Cool-climate fern gullies, Puffing Billy steam train and SkyHigh sunset over Melbourne.

The Dandenong Ranges (commonly just the Dandenongs) are a set of low mountain ranges in Victoria, Australia, approximately 35 km (22 mi) east of the state capital Melbourne. A minor branch of the Great Dividing Range, the Dandenongs consist mostly of rolling hills, rising to 633 m (2,077 ft) at Mount Dandenong, as well as steeply weathered valleys and gullies covered in thick temperate rainforest, predominantly of tall mountain ash trees and dense ferny undergrowth. The namesake Dandenong Creek and most of its left-bank tributaries (particularly the Eumemmerring Creek) originate from headwaters in these mountain ranges. Two of Melbourne's most important storage reservoirs, the Cardinia and Silvan Reservoir, are also located within the Dandenongs. After European settlement in the Port Phillip Bay region, the range was used as a major local source of timber for Melbourne. The ranges were popular with day-trippers from the 1870s onwards. Much of the Dandenongs were protected as parklands as early as 1882, and by 1987 these parklands were amalgamated to form the Dandenong Ranges National Park, which was subsequently expanded in 1997. The range receives light to moderate snowfalls a few times in most years, frequently between late winter and late spring. Today, the Dandenongs are home to over 100,000 residents and are popular amongst visitors, many of whom stay for the weekend at the various bed & breakfasts throughout the region. The popular Puffing Billy Railway, a heritage steam railway, runs through the hills villages of the eastern Dandenong Ranges.

Background information about Dandenong Ranges adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Next 7 days at Dandenong Ranges

Live forecast from Open-Meteo. Updated each time the page loads.

Loading forecast…

Best time to visit Dandenong Ranges

Based on 30 years of weather data. Sweet spot: Jun, Aug, Sep — mild temperatures, low rainfall and plenty of sun. Avoid Jan, Feb if you can — typically the wettest or hottest stretch of the year.

Jan
43°
6° low
51mm
Feb
42°
7° low
58mm
Mar
38°
5° low
56mm
Apr
32°
2° low
71mm
May
25°
2° low
72mm
Jun
22°
0° low
80mm
Jul
19°
-1° low
78mm
Aug
20°
-1° low
87mm
Sep
28°
1° low
77mm
Oct
32°
2° low
75mm
Nov
38°
3° low
84mm
Dec
42°
5° low
72mm
Daytime high (large) · overnight low (small) · monthly rainfall (blue bar). Climate normals: 1991–2020 from Open-Meteo's ERA5 reanalysis.

What else is around Dandenong Ranges

Points of interest within 25 km, pulled from OpenStreetMap. Distances are straight-line; check road access before heading out.

🎡 Attractions (18)
  • Waverley Pitch & Putt14.6 km
  • Chestnut Hill Winery18.9 km
  • Pound Bend Tunnel Entrance19.3 km
  • Pound Bend Tunnel Exit19.5 km
  • One Tree Hill2.8 km
  • Kurth Kiln20.2 km
🔭 Lookouts & viewpoints (62)
  • Bird hide11.0 km
  • Unnamed11.0 km
  • Trig Hill Lookout11.0 km
  • Lillydale Lake Lookout11.6 km
  • Duffys Lookout11.6 km
  • Rocky Hill12.5 km
⛰️ Peaks & summits (19)
  • Lysterfield Hills11.0 km
  • Unnamed15.6 km
  • Guys Hill16.8 km
  • Ford Hill17.4 km
  • Mount Lofty18.5 km
  • Briarty Hill18.7 km
🌳 Nature reserves & national parks (1)
  • Normans Reserve19.1 km
🏰 Historic sites (60)
  • Sassafras War Memorial0.5 km
  • Ferny Creek War Memorial1.1 km
  • Unnamed1.8 km
  • Unnamed10.8 km
  • Ringwood Clock Tower12.1 km
  • Narre Warren North War Memorial13.5 km
🏛️ Museums & galleries (9)
  • Museum of Australian Photography14.7 km
  • Heritage Hill Museum & Gardens17.9 km
  • Walker St Gallery & Arts Centre18.2 km
  • Monash Historic Society19.6 km
  • Monash Federation Centre23.2 km
  • Unnamed24.7 km
🎭 Theatres, cinemas & markets (31)
  • Gemco11.0 km
  • Gus Ryberg Amphitheatre11.7 km
  • The Pines Amphitheatre11.7 km
  • Hoyts12.1 km
  • Carl Stemp Amphitheatre12.2 km
  • Bunurong Amphitheatre12.2 km
Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Drive times to and from Dandenong Ranges

Real road distance and driving time to other destinations in the state. Click through for fuel estimates, suggested overnight stops, and tours along the way.

To Melbourne
45 km · 0h 47m
To Yarra Valley
43 km · 0h 48m
To Mornington Peninsula
86 km · 1h 13m
To Phillip Island
118 km · 1h 44m
To Geelong & Bellarine
117 km · 1h 46m
To Daylesford
157 km · 2h 15m
To Wilsons Promontory
205 km · 2h 59m
To Mount Buller
209 km · 3h 8m

Frequently asked about Dandenong Ranges

Where is Dandenong Ranges?
Dandenong Ranges is in Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia.
When is the best time to visit Dandenong Ranges?
Based on 30 years of weather data, the most pleasant months at Dandenong Ranges are typically August, June, September — mild temperatures and lower rainfall. School holiday periods can also fit if you don't mind the crowds.
What's the weather like in Dandenong Ranges?
Summer daytime highs average around 43°C and winter overnight lows can drop to about -1°C. See the climate panel above for the month-by-month breakdown.

Tours in Dandenong Ranges

Puffing Billy Tour and Penguin Parade from Melbourne
Puffing Billy Tour and Penguin Parade from Melbourne
★ 5.0 · from AUD $245

Caravan parks nearby

BIG4 Yarra Valley Park Lane Holiday Park
BIG4 Yarra Valley Park Lane Holiday Park
Healesville · Yarra Ranges Shire
★ 4.3
BIG4 Dandenong Tourist Park
BIG4 Dandenong Tourist Park
Dandenong South · Greater Dandenong City
★ 4.2

Nearby destinations

Yarra Valley
Yarra Valley
Yarra Valley
Melbourne
Melbourne
Greater Melbourne
Phillip Island
Phillip Island
Phillip Island
Mornington Peninsula
Mornington Peninsula
Mornington Peninsula
Geelong & Bellarine
Geelong & Bellarine
Great Ocean Road
Daylesford
Daylesford
Goldfields

Dandenong Ranges travel articles

Puffing Billy Tours
Puffing Billy Tours
Puffing Billy Tours & Dandenong Ranges Highlights: Dandenong Ranges Devonshire Tea Hand-feed birds Puffing Billy train Visit quaint Sassafras Travel east of the city to the beautiful Dandenong Ranges, through lovely rainforest scenery. Stop at Grant’s Reserve and enjoy Devonshire Tea, hot scones
Dandenongs Attractions
Dandenongs Attractions
» Click Here for A List of Accommodation Around the Dandenongs Attractions Trickling streams, natural springs, mountainous ranges, rainforests and life little luxuries, are just some of the attractions that draw so many tourists and travellers to The Dandenong Ranges each year. Winter, summer, sprin
Dandenongs Accommodation
Dandenongs Accommodation
The Dandenong Ranges in Victoria are the ideal location for the perfect escape, and with the choice of accommodation, you can tuck yourself away in complete privacy and feel like you are the only ones around for miles. Stay in a quaint bed and breakfast where you will pampered and very well looked a
Dandenongs
Dandenongs
» Click Here for A List of Accommodation Around the Dandenongs The Dandenong Ranges tourist region in the eastern regions of Victoria was created in 1987 when Sherbrooke Forest, Ferntree Gully National Park, and Doongalla Reserve were all combined together to make this a top tourist attraction. Cove
Yarra Valley Holidays with Kids
Yarra Valley Holidays with Kids
Picture a retreat to the hills with the kids, a camping holiday, a summer break in the countryside surrounded by ample attractions and activities for the whole family to enjoy, or even a winter wonderland holiday in the Dandenong Ranges! Well, that is exactly what you can expect plus much more when