Every village in the Dandenongs boasts craft shops, antique dealers, or art galleries. You're sure to find a hidden treasure that will forever remind you of your stay.

There are also a number of markets you can visit to sample locally made or grown produce:

• Mt Dandenong Village Market every Sunday from 10am - 4pm on the Howard Norman Reserve (corner of Olinda Basin Rd and the mail Tourist Rd).
• The Gully Market - every Saturday and Sunday at Railway Car Park, Upper Ferntree Gully.
• Belgrave Craft Market - 2nd Sunday of the month. St Thomas Mores School Hall, Reynolds Lane, Belgrave.
• Kallista Township Market - 1st Saturday of the month. Church St, Kallista.
• Emerald Arts Society Market - 3rd Saturday of the month. Emerald Hall.

Puffing Billy
Old Monbulk Rd
Ph: 9757 0710
Enjoy a meal and a ride in the first class carriage of Puffing Billy. Lunch train departs every Monday to Friday (except school and public holidays) from Belgrave station at 12 noon. Four lunch packages are available ranging from soup and coffee/tea to Gourmet Hamper. Night train departs Fridays at 7.30pm and Saturdays at 7.00pm. Journey includes a buffet style meal and live entertainment in the Nobelius Packing Shed.
Average Price: Lunch Train - $31-$56pp
Night Train - $69 (Fri), $79 (Sat)

Blarney's Celtic Affair
250 Olinda-Monbulk Rd
Ph: 9756 7045
Irish restaurant/bar with live entertainment every Friday night. British cuisine with roast carvery for Sunday lunch.
Open: Lunch - Wed-Sun. Dinner - Fri-Sun.
Fully licensed.
Average price:$17 main

Kelly's on the Hill
Cnr Ridge and Mt Dandenong Tourist Rd
Ph: 9751 1056
Charming, authentic historic 1890 Log Cabin with up-market, Irish Pub style decor and open fireplace. À la carte menu and lots of atmosphere. Entertainment is sometimes available on weekends. Open most nights, booking essential. Lunch and afternoon teas on weekends. Child friendly.
Open: Dinner - Wed-Sat.
Price (main): $15.50 - $28.00

Mt Dandenong Hotel
Mt Dandenong Tourist Rd
Ph: 9751 1202
Family bistro with entertainment area for kids. Enjoy generous servings of Australian pub fare near an open fire. Live music on Thursday nights (see What's On,).
Open: Lunch - 7 days; Dinner - 7 days.
Prices (main): $16.50 - $25.00

Pig and Whistle Tavern
1429 Mt Dandenong Tourist Rd (Cnr Dickens Rd)
Ph: 9751 2366
A popular restaurant that specialises in hearty dishes and boasts Guiness on tap. Devonshire teas and lunches also available. Live music most Friday nights (see What's On.
Open: Lunch - 7 days; Dinner - 7 days.
Fully Licensed
Prices (main): $18.90 - $28.90

Wild Oak
232 Ridge Rd
Ph: 9751 2033
A contemporary cafe that has friendly service and is fast developing an excellent reputation for its cuisine.
Open: Breakfast - weekends only ; Lunch and Dinner Wed-Sun.
Fully Licensed & BYO
Prices (main): $17.50 - $27.50

Credo
543 Mt Dandenong Tourist Rd
Ph: 9751 1844
Funky minimalist décor sets off modern Italian cuisine. If duck is on the menu, we recommend it.
Open: Lunch and Afternoon Tea - everday except Monday; Dinner - Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Fully Licensed
Prices (main): $13.90 - $29.90

The Cuckoo
508 Mt Dandenong Tourist Rd
Ph: 9751 1003
One of the most popular and well-known restaurants in Victoria. It offers an excellent smorgasbord meal with an all evening Bavarian floorshow and entertainment.
Open: Morning/afternoon tea - 7 days (from 10am) Lunch - 7 days; Dinner - 3 days;
Fully Licensed
Dinner about $30 per head.

Fairy Mountain Chinese Restaurant
540 Mt Dandenong Tourist Rd
Ph: 9751 2288
Great value and excellent service. Try the house specialties for something a little different. (Take away service available.)
Open: Lunch - 7 days; Dinner - 7 days.
Fully Licensed & BYO
Average price: $11 mains

Noel's Pie Store
Main Street
9751 1040
Noel's homemade pies made from homebred beef are a favourite among the locals. Also a good place for breakfast.
Open: Breakfast - weekends (from 10:00am); Lunch - 7 days; Dinner - Tue-Sat; Afternoon tea - weekends.

Pie in the Sky
Main Street
Ph: 9751 2128
Gold medal home-made pies. Reputed to have the best pie floater East of Adelaide. A great place to take the family for lunch.
Open: Breakfast - weekends (from 10:00am); Lunch - 7 days; Dinner - Tue-Sat; Afternoon tea - weekends.

Ranges
5 Main Street
Ph: 9751 1056
Modern cuisine in relaxed, contemporary surrounds. Beer garden area is ideal for casual lunches and breakfasts.
Open: Breakfast - 7 days (from 8:30am); Lunch - 7 days; Dinner - Tue-Sat; Afternoon tea - weekends.
Fully Licensed & BYO wine.
Prices: $11.00 -16.95 mains lunch, $21.95 - 28.95 mains dinner.

Snooty Fox
1457 Mt Dandenong Tourist Rd
Ph: 9751 1176
Popular country style restaurant with enormous list of desserts.
Open: Lunch - Wed-Sun; Dinner - weekends.
Fully Licensed & BYO wine.
Prices (main): $22.00 - $27.00

Miss Marple's
Mt Dandenong Tourist Rd
Ph: 9755 1610
English style cottage café specialising in home made Devonshire teas. Very popular - you may have to wait in a queue on the weekends.
Open: Wed-Sun - 11.00am to 4.30pm

There are 5 beautiful public gardens in the Dandenong Ranges run by Parks Victoria.

National Rhododendron Gardens
The National Rhododendron Gardens boasts 15,000 rhododendrons as well as a multitude of azaleas, camellias and daffodils. At different times of the year visitors can view flowering cherries, magnolias, Japanese maples and proteas. Visitors can follow self-guided walks around the garden or simply sit down to enjoy stunning views of Silvan Reservoir Park with the Australian Alps in the hinterground.
Location:The Georgian Rd, Olinda
Open daily. Admission charged.

William Ricketts Sanctuary
Walk through towering mountain ash forest and discover amongst rocks and tree ferns the half hidden clay sculptures of aboriginal figures created by William Ricketts.
Cost: approx $6 adult (children under 10 years free).

Alfred Nicholas Memorial Gardens
These gardens hint at an opulent past as part of the Burnham Beeches estate. Follow the terraced lane down past the waterfall to the lake with its quaint boathouse. Visitors can picnic on islands interconnected by wooden bridges and feed the ducks that have made the lake their home.
Open daily. Admission charged (children under 10 years free).

Pirianda Garden
Meander down the hill past a host of exotic trees and explore the fascinating intact native fern gullies where you can hear the cry of native birds such as Currawongs, Crimson and Eastern Rosellas, Butcher Birds, Honey Eaters and Kookaburras. Get your breath back at the top of the gardens in the beautiful gazebo.
Location: Hacketts Rd, Olinda
Open daily. No admission charged.

R J Hamer Arboretum
With 200 acres of woodland to choose from, you shouldn't have any trouble finding the perfect picnic spot where you can enjoy the lush mix of native and exotic trees on offer. And don't forget to view the grove of oaks in Autumn.
Open daily. No admission charged.

WALKS

GOLF

Olinda Golf Course
Ph: 9751 1254
Website: www.olindagolf.com.au
Claiming to be the Victoria's best winter golf course, Olinda Golf Course offers expansive views over Silvan dam, the Yarra Valley and neighbouring mountain ranges. The hilly terrain is a test of both accuracy and stamina, so be prepared for a challenge. After your game of golf enjoy a refreshment at the Barrachi cafe/restaurant/bar.

While some people are surprised to hear that the Yarra Valley is less than an hour away from the Dandenongs, even more people are impressed with the quality of the vineyards on the edge of the Valley, about 20 minutes from Olinda, in what is described as the "Redlands" area. In this area the rich red volcanic soil and the higher elevation produces unique fruit flavours as well as the subtle characteristics exhibited by cooler climate wines.

Below you'll find details of our local wineries. They make some of the best wines in the world, and have awards to back up their claims. No visit to the Yarra Valley is complete without a visit to the Redlands.

Established in 1978, this vineyard was producing award winning wines even before they produced their own label. Won over 40 awards in Australian wine shows since 1998, including Best Red Wine in the World at London International Wine Show.

• Cellar Door hours - open on weekends and public holidays between 10am and 5pm. (Other times by appointment)
  

• Meals available - Morning, afternoon teas and lunches can be arranged with prior notice.
  
• Range of wines - Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling.
  
• Availability of wines - Cellar Door, Mail Order, and at select restaurants, hotels and bottle shops in the Yarra Valley, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.

A good starting point from the Dandenongs, this will likely be the first one you get to. They have spectacular views over the Silvan reservoir. And while the winery is only a few years old, the vines have been supplying other winemakers reserve vintages for the last nineteen years. Cabernet Merlot won awards recently.

• Meals available - Gourmet platters can be arranged with prior notice.
  
• Range of wines - Cabernet Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay

Progressive, award winning winemaker with a cellar door so successful they are open seven days a week. Awards include Best Red Wine in the World at London International Wine Show.

• Cellar Door hours - open seven days a week 10am and 5pm.
• Meals available - relaxed café style meals available 12-2pm every day, cheese and gourmet platters all day
• Range of wines - Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay.
• Special packages - live music at cellar door every Sunday from 12.30pm till 4.30pm. Winemaking days each vintage. Winemaking day includes picking your grapes, crushing, pressing (whites only), analysis of juice, adjustments, fermentation (reds only), lunch and a dozen bottles of the wine you help create. Costs $195.00

Seville Estate
Alistair Butt
65 Linwood Road, Seville, 3139
Ph: 5964 2622
Fax: (03) 5964 2633
Website: www.sevilleestate@bigpond.com

Established 30 years, Seville Estate was one of the Yarra Valley's first wineries. The winemakers follow a deliberately labour intensive process to ensure each wines' individual characters, which results in delivering award winning wines.

• Cellar Door hours - open on weekends and public holidays between 11 and 5.
• Meals available - Cellar Door provides cheese platters or simple catering can be arranged by contacting Cassandra.
• Range of wines - Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay.

McWilliam's Lilydale Vineyards
Max McWilliams
45 Davross Court, Seville, 3139
Ph: (03) 5964 2016
Fax (03) 5964 3009

Magnificent views from the terrace. A good place to stop for a meal in their unique indoor BBQ restaurant or bring your own lunch to enjoy in the pergola on the lawn. Multi-award winning wines.

• Cellar Door hours - Open 11am-5pm daily.
• Meals available -Restaurant open for lunch noon-3pm daily. Coffee and cake available all day.
• Range of wines - (stock all wines under McWilliam's labels)

Morgan's Vineyard
Roger Morgan
Ph: (03) 5964 4807
Email: morganvineyards@bigpond.com

Originally planted in 1971, this vineyard is also one of the oldest in the Yarra Valley, although the cellar doors only opened for their own hand picked boutique wines in early 2002. Opposite Lilydale Vineyards. Roger recommends his cellar door for anyone who'd likes a good wine and a friendly chat.

• Cellar Door hours - Seven days 11am to 4pm (11am to 5pm weekends)
• Meals available - cheese platters and nibblies
• Range of wines - Cabernet Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay