National Rhododendron Gardens
Host to a range of spectacular blooms of rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias, cherries and daffodils, your eyes won’t know where to look with the garden’s colour-popping beauty.
Meticulously preserved, the grounds are gorgeous year round with impressive ponds, wooden bridges and wildlife scattered throughout.
During the blooms’ off season, visitors can continue to soak up the natural beauty of the garden’s rich bark textures, seed capsules, and foliage shapes which are enveloped in a sweet, wafting fragrance.
William Richetts Sanctuary
Beauty and tranquility merge into one at this natural museum, adorned by ferny glades in the Dandenong Ranges.
More than 80 years old, the sanctuary inspires quiet reflection and calm as guests leisurely stroll through the gardens, peppered with tens of mystical ceramic sculptures.
With a rich history, the sanctuary also tells the tale of William Ricketts who created and lived in the natural retreat along with his echoing philosophy about our responsibility toward the environment.
With many international visitors returning from across the world, the sanctuary is great for nature-loving enthusiasts or those wanting to learn more about Ricketts’ passion and vision for nature through art.
Dining
Be it an energising coffee at one of the many cafes or dinner at one of the town’s acclaimed restaurants, visitors are sure to leave satisfied with Olinda’s dining experience.
Along Mt Dandenong Ranges Tourist Road is a hub of great food, including authentic Italian restaurant, Ivy, which offers wood-fired pizzas and slow roasted meats along with the Pig and Whistle, an English-style pub with hearty meals to match.
Sampling the area’s highly sought-after local produce, restaurants such as Seasons at Cloudehill Nursery and Garden provide the tastebuds with a burst of fresh flavour while Cuckoo Restaurant offers a night of fun and indulgence, serving a smorgasbord of German inspired foods with live music and floor shows throughout.
Dandenong Ranges National Park
Nestled in Olinda’s well maintained parklands is a picturesque hub of natural beauty and adventure.
Part of the national park’s newer areas, Olinda boasts of relatively undisturbed native habitat with stunning birdlife, eucalypt trees, ferns and more.
Fitness gurus can get their weekend workout on the Valley Walk track, 6.5km of steep, rocky terrain while those up for a relaxing stroll can enjoy their surroundings on the shorter Eagle Nest Walk.
As the spring months bring warmer weather, snags will be sizzling at the forest’s three picnic grounds, particularly at Olinda Falls which offers a family-friendly day of fun, food and natural wonder.
Red Gum Gallery
Surrounded by boutique shops and delicious cafes, Red Gum Gallery is the perfect place to visit for an afternoon of relaxation and creativity.
Located in the heart of Olinda, come and unwind at the gallery which showcases a variety of artworks from clay sculptures, handmade jewellery and wood carvings to oil, resin and watercolour paintings.
Sure to appeal to and inspire any audience, the gallery boasts of local talent, showcasing numerous creative works from people living in the Dandenong Ranges area.
