Sherbrooke Forest
Sherbrooke Forest
4.5
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4.5
126 reviews
Excellent
71
Very good
39
Average
12
Poor
3
Terrible
1
Swell Traveller
Melbourne, Australia3,635 contributions
June 2020
Since I was a child I have been coming here. Sherbrooke Forest lends itself to a range of activities once you get there and a great place to spend with family, friends or by yourself.
If you can overcome the windy roads to get there, it is worth the time. Along the way be sure to stop and take a quick shot overlooking Melbourne from between the trees. Be careful in the winter months as the area can get damp and it rains a lot making the road slippery. Please abide by the road signs, they are there for a reason.
The entrance is a little hidden and down a side street, so if you end up in Kallista at the round about, then you have missed your turn off! Parking is free but the later in the day you go the harder it becomes to find a spot.
Things you can do there:
Hiking / walking along the trails, have a BBQ or bring a camera and go nuts! So much beauty here to capture - from the morning mists to the sun filtering through the trees. The smell of the eucalyptus trees in the morning and late afternoons is beautiful.
Currently it is quite muddy along the paths so wear appropriate clothing and maybe even bring spare just incase you slipover. It is also quite cool so wear layers and a hat.
Once you are done here there are tearooms and gardens in the neighbourhood, but a short drive will get you into Sassafras. It is a a quirky, bohemian town with great little shops and groovy cafes such as Ripe. When visiting the shops you can even get your palm or tarots read, plus teas, fudge, items for the garden and the house, puppets and other crafty items. A great day out.
If you can overcome the windy roads to get there, it is worth the time. Along the way be sure to stop and take a quick shot overlooking Melbourne from between the trees. Be careful in the winter months as the area can get damp and it rains a lot making the road slippery. Please abide by the road signs, they are there for a reason.
The entrance is a little hidden and down a side street, so if you end up in Kallista at the round about, then you have missed your turn off! Parking is free but the later in the day you go the harder it becomes to find a spot.
Things you can do there:
Hiking / walking along the trails, have a BBQ or bring a camera and go nuts! So much beauty here to capture - from the morning mists to the sun filtering through the trees. The smell of the eucalyptus trees in the morning and late afternoons is beautiful.
Currently it is quite muddy along the paths so wear appropriate clothing and maybe even bring spare just incase you slipover. It is also quite cool so wear layers and a hat.
Once you are done here there are tearooms and gardens in the neighbourhood, but a short drive will get you into Sassafras. It is a a quirky, bohemian town with great little shops and groovy cafes such as Ripe. When visiting the shops you can even get your palm or tarots read, plus teas, fudge, items for the garden and the house, puppets and other crafty items. A great day out.
Written 20 June 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jeffry b
Essendon, Australia13,741 contributions
June 2020
The Mountain Ash is a tree; it is one of the tallest flowering plants on Earth. California's Sequoia's may be taller, but they are conifers. Going to the Sherbrooke Forest is worthwhile on a hot day, the Blue Dandenongs are usually a few degrees cooler than the flat lands. You may be lucky and come across a lyrebird, the birds have a uinque ability to mimic other birds.
Written 27 June 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jeffry b
Essendon, Australia13,741 contributions
Feb 2023
The Sherbrooke Forest is in the Dandenong Ranges, not very far from Melbourne. It is an oasis of peace and tranquility. You are almost certain to see native wildlife, and hear the distinctive calls of the lyre birds -- you may even see one of these elusive birds. The towering Mountain Ash trees are amongst the world's tallest flowering plants. When it is baking in Melbourne, the Sherbrooke Forest is appreciably cooler.
Written 25 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gin
Lodz, Poland23 contributions
Oct 2021
This review is directly in relation to the eastern Sherbrooke forest walk, rather than the entire Sherbrooke forest. This walk was really nice in bits. Firstly, it’s a loop walk which starts at the Sherbrooke picnic ground, which makes it easy to walk with friends as they can meet in the car a park there.
The walk will take you just under 2 hours. We saw some great bird life along the way, and even an echidna.
The negative is the incredibly steep high you need to navigate down. We were luckily to be there on a dry day so it wasn’t muddy, but it would be very dangerous on a wet day. But even on a dry day, it was very jolting on the back and I had a sore back for days after. Ouch!
Forest is nice, but I certainly wouldn’t do this walk again.
The walk will take you just under 2 hours. We saw some great bird life along the way, and even an echidna.
The negative is the incredibly steep high you need to navigate down. We were luckily to be there on a dry day so it wasn’t muddy, but it would be very dangerous on a wet day. But even on a dry day, it was very jolting on the back and I had a sore back for days after. Ouch!
Forest is nice, but I certainly wouldn’t do this walk again.
Written 30 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CJGinNM
Albuquerque, NM432 contributions
Jan 2020
We were there for a short time - on a tour with our cruise ship. We walked down a path and everyone took the fork that went left, I took the other one - and that was a fabulous choice. Saw a lot of birds I was unfamiliar with and got close to 2 King parrots. Only complaint was that I would have loved to spend 1-2 hours here.
Written 13 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
EndlessTravels
Greater Melbourne, Australia38,672 contributions
June 2020
Due to it’s proximity to Melbourne this area (Dandenong Ranges) is very popular for day trippers. To experience the forest you can park at O’Donohue Picnic Ground or Sherbrooke Picnic Ground. O’Donohue Picnic ground is the easiest way to access the mis-titled Sherbrooke Falls (no more than a fast running creek over rocks). Still an idyllic walking area that is an easy walk for all ages (we took our 3yo and 5yo).
TIPS: walk down O’Donuhue Track and return via Sherbrooke Track in a loop. Bring a change of pants for kids as they will probably get muddy on track.
TIPS: toilets were closed due to Coronavirus
TIPS: walk down O’Donuhue Track and return via Sherbrooke Track in a loop. Bring a change of pants for kids as they will probably get muddy on track.
TIPS: toilets were closed due to Coronavirus
Written 16 June 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Traveller69692013
Brisbane, Australia202 contributions
Dec 2013 • Solo
There are beautiful walking trials that go into the forest where if you are lucky you will spot some Wildlife and you will come across Sherbrooke falls, It is also a good place for a picnic lunch, Plus a place to get to feed Parrots, Rosellas, and other types of Birds. Plus a Cafe to have a bite to eat.
They do charge a fee for feeding the birds but if you dont want to pay a fee why not take some bird feed with you and feed them in the picnic area.
I came here as part of a day tour with AAT Kings and I went for a walk on a small trail due to lack of time, Plus the feeding of the Birds was discounted to $2.00 when you show that you are with AAT Kings Bus Tour. Which I thought was a great experience, I would recommend feeding the Birds because there are not many places where you can feed wild birds like these, Plus this place it is not far from the Puffing Billy Train Station.
They do charge a fee for feeding the birds but if you dont want to pay a fee why not take some bird feed with you and feed them in the picnic area.
I came here as part of a day tour with AAT Kings and I went for a walk on a small trail due to lack of time, Plus the feeding of the Birds was discounted to $2.00 when you show that you are with AAT Kings Bus Tour. Which I thought was a great experience, I would recommend feeding the Birds because there are not many places where you can feed wild birds like these, Plus this place it is not far from the Puffing Billy Train Station.
Written 3 October 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tan_from_Melbourne
Melbourne, Australia27 contributions
Jan 2016 • Friends
A 7.4km intermediate walk through beautiful forest. Drive or catch a train to Belgrave station and then follow the directions below (which I found online):
1. From Belgrave station follow the exit sign to Old Monbulk Road and turn left when you leave the station.
2. Follow Old Monbulk Road across the roundabout, across the Puffing Billy train tracks, up the hill and around the corner where the road turns into a gravel track. At the end of this track you will see the DANDENONG RANGES NATIONAL PARK sign.
3. Past this sign there is a gate on your left that says 'Managment Vehicles Only'. Pass around this gate onto the Coles Ridge Track.
4. Stay on the Coles Ridge Track all the way to the Grants Picnic Ground.
5. There is a cafe here where you can stop for lunch. You can also buy bird feeding tickets if you wish to get up close and personal with the local bird life.
6. From the cafe continue 200m north through the car park to the start of the Lyrebird Walk. The Lyrebird Walk splits to a left and right track which meet a little further along.
7. Further along, turn right onto the Newmann Track.
8. Leave the Newmann Track and turn right onto the Paddy Track.
9. Leave the Paddy Track and continue straight onto the Welch Track.
10. Return to Belgrave Station the way you came down Old Monbulk Road.
This walk takes around 2.5 to 3 hours excluding stops. Wear proper hiking or good running shoes as there are a couple of steep inclines and declines along the way.
1. From Belgrave station follow the exit sign to Old Monbulk Road and turn left when you leave the station.
2. Follow Old Monbulk Road across the roundabout, across the Puffing Billy train tracks, up the hill and around the corner where the road turns into a gravel track. At the end of this track you will see the DANDENONG RANGES NATIONAL PARK sign.
3. Past this sign there is a gate on your left that says 'Managment Vehicles Only'. Pass around this gate onto the Coles Ridge Track.
4. Stay on the Coles Ridge Track all the way to the Grants Picnic Ground.
5. There is a cafe here where you can stop for lunch. You can also buy bird feeding tickets if you wish to get up close and personal with the local bird life.
6. From the cafe continue 200m north through the car park to the start of the Lyrebird Walk. The Lyrebird Walk splits to a left and right track which meet a little further along.
7. Further along, turn right onto the Newmann Track.
8. Leave the Newmann Track and turn right onto the Paddy Track.
9. Leave the Paddy Track and continue straight onto the Welch Track.
10. Return to Belgrave Station the way you came down Old Monbulk Road.
This walk takes around 2.5 to 3 hours excluding stops. Wear proper hiking or good running shoes as there are a couple of steep inclines and declines along the way.
Written 26 January 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mei Y
Nullagine, Australia1,448 contributions
Dec 2018 • Family
Just park your car anywhere in Mt Dandenong and walk! You will come back for more if you are the Garden or outdoor type! The trees, the flowers, the undulating terrains! One is sure to get a good work out here hiking through the forest! Passing the Sherbrooke Falls with only bits of water, it is the environment that brings me so much calmness and joy! There’s so much around here to walk to! Feeding the birds at The Grants Picnic Ground while having the biggest vanilla slice at the cafe, the exotic Alfred Nicole’s Garden, George Tindale Garden, the newly opened Pinggery Cafe... Just Devine! The place is inviting whole year round! I especially like rustling autumn leaves, on top of enjoying the colours!!.
Written 2 December 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jolyon67
Melbourne, Australia5,667 contributions
Apr 2015 • Friends
If you book a coach trip with Grey Line or AAT Kings to Healesville, Puffing Billy or the Yarra Valley, your first stop will probably be here. You pull in to Grant's Picnic Ground where you will get a good taste of what the Dandenong Ranges has to offer. There are short walks among the ferns and towering mountain ash trees, and a highlight is feeding the birds. You will see literally dozens of Crimson Rosellas. Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, King Parrots and Kookaburra. Around the feeding area they are easy to take photos of. On forest walks you hear a lot but they are a lot harder to spot.
At Grant's Picnic area there are toilets, a café, gift shop and information centre.
At Grant's Picnic area there are toilets, a café, gift shop and information centre.
Written 16 June 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi
Dogs are not allowed in Sherbrooke Forest as there are ground nesting birds and other native animals. You can walk your dog at RJ Hamer arboretum in Olinda, it is a good walk under the canopy of large trees, there are many tracks where your dog could have a short or long walk. If this interests you just google and you can get directions.
Enjoy walking with your dog
Cheers Rose
Written 17 July 2017
How do I get there using public transportation from Melbourne city?
Written 22 February 2015
Hi,
That is a good question, You see I went as a day tour with AAT Kings coach which departed from Federation Square in Melbourne. Not sure if you can get public transport all the way to Sherbrooke Forest.
Maybe try Melbourne's Public Transport number as each city has one and ask them the best way there as it is roughly 46 kilometers from Melbourne City or maybe try a day tour company that does Sherbrooke Forest.
Hope the above helps ! :)
Written 25 February 2015
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