- Address: Australia, Victoria, 35 km east of Melbourne;
- The highest point is 633 meters above sea level.
The Dandenong Mountains are a low mountain system located 35 km north of Melbourne , in the state of Victoria. The highest point of the mountains is Dandenong peak, its height is 633 m above sea level. The picturesque Dandenong mountains consist of several mountain ranges, cut by canyons formed as a result of erosion. Covered typical for moderate climate lush vegetation, with the predominance of mountain eucalyptus trees and huge ferns. Snow in this area is a rare phenomenon, it can fall only once or twice a year, mainly between June and October. In 2006, snow fell for Christmas - and without exaggeration, a real gift from heaven!
History of mountains
Prior to the appearance on the continent of the colonists in the mountains of Dandenong lived the people of the Wurujeri tribe, indigenous Australian aborigines. After the foundation of the first European settlement on the bank of the Yarra River, the mountains began to be used as the main source of timber for construction. In 1882, most of the mountains received the status of a park, but logging continued at various rates until the 1960s. Beautiful countryside fell in love with the inhabitants of the surrounding villages and they began to go on vacation. Over time, the Dandenong mountains became Melbourne's favorite holiday destination. People not only rested, but also built, in 1950 appeared the first private estate. In 1956, specially for the Olympic Games on Dandenong Mountain, a television transmission mast was built. In 1987, the park Dandenong received the status of the National Park.
The Dandenong Mountains in our days
Currently, several tens of thousands of permanent residents live on the territory of the Dandenong mountains. On the territory of the national park there are many hiking routes with different levels of complexity (there are very steep climbs). The park is divided into several excursion zones: there is a "Sherbrook Forest" where you can feed wonderful parrots from your hands, you can climb the almost sheer "Path of Thousands of Steps" or post the "Fern Trough". From the viewing platforms a beautiful panorama of Melbourne opens. There is another attraction in the park - a narrow gauge railroad. One of the four railways built in the state in the early 20th century, it was closed in 1953 because of the blocked landslide movement. In 1962, it was restored, and since then the movement has not ceased. Especially for tourists on a narrow-gauge railway runs "Puffing Billy" - a small, ancient model, a steam locomotive. On the slopes of the mountains there is a mass of guest houses, beautiful gardens are divided, among others. National garden of rhododendrons. Stunning scenery and wild nature make the park one of the most favorite holiday destinations for residents of Victoria.
How to get there?
The road by car from Melbourne will take no more than an hour, as well as the Dandenong mountains can be reached by train (Upper Ferntree Gully station).
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