Joanne's Guidebook

Joanne
Joanne's Guidebook

Animal sanctuary

You can see Australian wild life and find out about programs to help it thrive. Picnic places and cafes, bird shows and more.
Great place for a family or couple, take a picnic and make a day of it.
272 locals recommend
Healesville Sanctuary
272 locals recommend
Great place for a family or couple, take a picnic and make a day of it.
Lovely place for a wander, lunch, browsing shops and enjoying the traditional scenery.
70 locals recommend
Sassafras
70 locals recommend
Lovely place for a wander, lunch, browsing shops and enjoying the traditional scenery.

Sightseeing

A must do ride for all the family.
234 locals recommend
Puffing Billy Railway
1 Old Monbulk Rd
234 locals recommend
A must do ride for all the family.
Really beautiful place for walks, bike rides, picnics.
18 locals recommend
Lysterfield Park
Horswood Road
18 locals recommend
Really beautiful place for walks, bike rides, picnics.
If you want to see mobs of Kangaroos and emus wandering in their natural habitat or take a walk around the edge of the impressively huge reservoir this is a must to visit. Free entry and free parking.
27 locals recommend
Cardinia Reservoir Park
Cardinia Reservoir Access Road
27 locals recommend
If you want to see mobs of Kangaroos and emus wandering in their natural habitat or take a walk around the edge of the impressively huge reservoir this is a must to visit. Free entry and free parking.
A historic and fun place to challenge yourself, see the wildlife and great views.
48 locals recommend
1000 Steps Carpark
Mount Dandenong Tourist Road
48 locals recommend
A historic and fun place to challenge yourself, see the wildlife and great views.
A local landmark
14 locals recommend
Mount Dandenong Observatory station
14 locals recommend
A local landmark
Horse lovers must see. The main equestrian centre for Victoria. Weekends offer free viewings of show jumping and other horse events.
Victorian Equestrian Centre
76 Beaconsfield-Emerald Rd
Horse lovers must see. The main equestrian centre for Victoria. Weekends offer free viewings of show jumping and other horse events.
Beautiful for kayaking, swimming and relaxing.
Lake Aura Vale
Beautiful for kayaking, swimming and relaxing.
Great place to enjoy an English style garden, tranquility and nature.
10 locals recommend
Nobelius Heritage Park
3 Crichton Rd
10 locals recommend
Great place to enjoy an English style garden, tranquility and nature.
Local wares for sale, worth a little walk through.
Emerald Market
Kilvington Drive
Local wares for sale, worth a little walk through.
This place is about 15-20 mins drive away. It’s absolutely stunning when the Rhododendrons are in bloom. There is a cafe and a small garden centre with in the gardens and many other shops and eateries in the town of Olinda nearby.
6 locals recommend
Rhododendron Gardens Carpark
6 locals recommend
This place is about 15-20 mins drive away. It’s absolutely stunning when the Rhododendrons are in bloom. There is a cafe and a small garden centre with in the gardens and many other shops and eateries in the town of Olinda nearby.
234 locals recommend
Puffing Billy Railway
1 Old Monbulk Rd
234 locals recommend
Skyhigh Bistro/Cafe
26 Observatory Rd

Entertainment

Local theatre and arts group offering their talents in a small setting.
Local amateur dramatics company and performers. Often offering something fun and interesting to see.
Gemco Players Community Theatre
19 Kilvington Dr
Local amateur dramatics company and performers. Often offering something fun and interesting to see.
If you want to hire some roller blades and have fun at the roller rink, this place is about 20 mins drive away.
6 locals recommend
Caribbean Rollerama
1298 Ferntree Gully Rd
6 locals recommend
If you want to hire some roller blades and have fun at the roller rink, this place is about 20 mins drive away.
Great for a swim, cheap and well organised. Has a snack bar and life guards. Ideal for hot days.
Belgrave Outdoor Pool
69 Best St
Great for a swim, cheap and well organised. Has a snack bar and life guards. Ideal for hot days.
Not too far away and perfect if you fancy a cooling dip on a hot day.
10 locals recommend
Olinda Pool
79 Olinda-Monbulk Rd
10 locals recommend
Not too far away and perfect if you fancy a cooling dip on a hot day.
Council offices but also has a theatre with live events and movies outdoors from time to time.
Bunjil Place Library
2 Patrick NE Dr
Council offices but also has a theatre with live events and movies outdoors from time to time.
Drive in movies 20 mins away.
Lunar Drive In
115 S Gippsland Hwy
Drive in movies 20 mins away.
A short drive away. Horse Racing.
Cranbourne Racecourse
A short drive away. Horse Racing.

Wet Day activities

Shopping, Eating, Bowling, Cinema, Play Centres
40 locals recommend
Westfield Fountain Gate
25-55 Overland Dr
40 locals recommend
If you need an indoor activity, restaurant and shopping this place is easy to find and only 20 minutes drive back along Wellington Rd.
IKEA
917 Princes Hwy
If you need an indoor activity, restaurant and shopping this place is easy to find and only 20 minutes drive back along Wellington Rd.
Fun for the kids ( and perhaps adults too!) indoor trampolining activities, cafe. Close to Knox Westfield shopping centre too. About 25 mins drive from here.
JUMPDECK
123 Lewis Rd
Fun for the kids ( and perhaps adults too!) indoor trampolining activities, cafe. Close to Knox Westfield shopping centre too. About 25 mins drive from here.
Local attraction, indoors.
Emerald Lake Model Railway
Emerald Lake Road
Local attraction, indoors.
Only 25 mins away at Narre Warren. Good place for a wet day or evening activity. Food and bar.
OZ Tenpin
Only 25 mins away at Narre Warren. Good place for a wet day or evening activity. Food and bar.

Walking/ sightseeing/picnics

This is a vast outdoor space where you can enjoy wildlife, peace and quiet, scenic walks or a picnic. It houses Kirth Charcoal Kiln which is displayed with information free for visitors.
Kirth Kiln Picnic Ground
Thornton Walk
Wright Forest Bushland Reserve
Bailey Road
People love the tulip festival here each year.
Tesselaar Flower Farm
People love the tulip festival here each year.
Half an hour away by car. Worth a visit if you like forest walls.
61 locals recommend
Cement Creek Redwood Forest
Cement Creek Road
61 locals recommend
Half an hour away by car. Worth a visit if you like forest walls.

Shopping

The usual modern shopping experience, under cover shops, cafes, restaurants.
About 25 mins drive away. Indoors and some outdoor eateries. Shops, cafes etc Westfield’s usual shopping experience.
18 locals recommend
Westfield Knox
425 Burwood Hwy
18 locals recommend
About 25 mins drive away. Indoors and some outdoor eateries. Shops, cafes etc Westfield’s usual shopping experience.
A well- known market offering international foods and flavours. Check opening days/ times before you go. It’s lively and popular.
12 locals recommend
Dandenong Market
Cleeland Street
12 locals recommend
A well- known market offering international foods and flavours. Check opening days/ times before you go. It’s lively and popular.
20 mins drive away, plenty of indoor shopping and food venues, multiplex cinema etc
40 locals recommend
Westfield Fountain Gate
25-55 Overland Dr
40 locals recommend
20 mins drive away, plenty of indoor shopping and food venues, multiplex cinema etc
Great local market, plenty of interesting, locally made products and produce.
Belgrave Big Dreams Market - 2nd Sunday of the Month
Reynolds Lane
Great local market, plenty of interesting, locally made products and produce.

Food scene

Carlei Wines & The Green Vineyards
1 Alber Rd
This place is friendly and is recommended by locals.
Paternoster Wines
17 Paternoster Rd
This place is friendly and is recommended by locals.
Interesting location, great food and service, sit indoors or out. Check opening hours before you go.
21 locals recommend
Earthly Pleasures Cafe
1627 Burwood Hwy
21 locals recommend
Interesting location, great food and service, sit indoors or out. Check opening hours before you go.