Dandenong National Park is located in the mountain range of the same name, an hour's drive from Melbourne. On weekends, families from all the surrounding townships come here surrounding towns, as it is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Victoria state. Incidentally, it's also one of the four places in Australia where you can see a Giant eucalyptus, which reaches 150 metres (!) in height, being the tallest flowering plant in the world.
Scientists believe that this is where the first jungle appeared about 100 million years ago. And remnants of this ancient forest - tree ferns - can still be seen today. What makes this Jurassic forest particularly impressive when you ride the famous "Puffing Billy" steam train right through it under the crowns of the giant eucalyptus trees.
For many thousands of years, the Dandenong Range has been inhabited the Bunurong and Wuwurrong Aboriginal tribes. The area then became an important source of timber resources for the growing city of Melbourne. As early as the late 19th century roads and railway lines were built and the first tourists began to arrive the first tourists. In 1882, Fern Hollow was declared a protected area. natural area, but the national park wasn't created until 100 years later, in 1987.
The national park itself is divided into several zones, each of which has a its own speciality. For example, in Sherbrooke Forest you can hand-feed colourful parrots and see the Australian lyrebird. In Fern Hollow in the in the south-western part of the park is the so-called Thousand Steps Trail, leading up to One Tree Top. To climb this very steep path, you have to climb about 700 steps, which serve as a reminder of the Battle of Kokoda in Papua Territory during the Second World War. In the tourist Sassafras village in the heart of the park, you can drink a cup of surprisingly tasty tea and buy souvenirs. And from the observation deck at the top of Mt. Dandenong in the Dungalla Forest, you can take in Melbourne's panorama.
