Mount Dandenong Summit Circuit

If you want a taste tester tour of the Dandenongs this is the circuit you must put on your Bucketlist!

Park the car at Doongalla Homestead Site and Stables Picnic Ground, walk down the road, good warm up till you reach Dodd’s Track (unmarked) left hand side, pass the closed gate. Hike up the Dodds Track Hill plenty of flat breaks up to Range Rd. Follow Range Road Track through Olinda Town heading towards National Rhododendron Gardens also known as Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden Entrance . To enter you need to go through Gift Shop, turn right pass Café for a toilet break through Gardens. We passed a gorgeous lake and headed towards Cherry Blossom Grove which would be amazing to come back when the trees are all in full bloom. The Rhododendren Gardens is the best I have walked through in Victoria.
Perfect photo opportunities for more botanical plants like the stunning flowers the Protea, Camillas, Azaleas, daffodils, beautiful northern hemisphere trees.

There was a beautiful Serenity View Lookout Point to view before heading towards the fence line of Falls Road. You will need to squeeze under the gate and continue down road until you reach Olinda Falls Track (optional) to the right and Mechanics Track on the left.

Follow Mechanics Track a moist temperate forest which follows the Olinda Creek up towards Arboretum. Arboretum is lovely open space, continue up towards the Summit road. The day was very foggy and overcast so not very good visibility of the City and Bay, we ordered takeaway coffees at Sky High Cafe and continued hiking down the road until we reach the Channel Ten Tower Track, follow track which connects to Zig Zag Track which returns to Doongalla Carpark. Please ensure you allow enough time to return to car as Park is locked up at 4pm sharp.

Enjoy!