parknotes
Dandenong Ranges National Park
Olinda
The Olinda section of Dandenong Ranges National Park, covering 790 hectares between
Olinda, Kalorama and the catchment of Silvan Reservoir, once formed part of the
Dandenong State Forest Reserve. One of the newer sections of the National Park, Olinda
boasts relatively undisturbed native habitat.
Location & access
History
The Dandenong Ranges National Park is located
35 kilometres east of Melbourne. The Olinda
section of the park is reached via the OlindaMonbulk Road if travelling from the south, or the
Mt. Dandenong Tourist Road if approaching from
the north.
George Holden and his two sons, Mark and Luke,
were the first to camp on the hills of Olinda, in
1855. For nearly 50 years they felled huge
Mountain Ash trees for commercial purposes.
Timber felling ceased in 1968 when the land use
was changed to ‘mixed recreation.’
Things to see & do
The first official settlement took place on the
western slopes of Olinda in the early 1870’s. The
name Olinda is a Spanish word meaning ‘Oh,
most beautiful.’
Three picnic areas are located in the forest.
Valley Picnic Ground to the south (Melway Map
122 C5), Eagle Nest Picnic Ground to the east
(Melway Map 122 E3) and Olinda Falls Picnic
Ground to the west (Melway Map 66 K2), which is
the ideal location to start your walk to the nearby
Olinda Falls.
Walking
Some suggested walks:
1. Eagle Nest Walk
3km – 1 hour one way
Grade: Easy to Moderate
This walk starts at Valley Picnic Ground. Proceed
on Boundary Road that slopes downhill, with the
toilet facilities on your left. Turn right on to Eagle
Nest Road which will take you to Eagle Nest
Picnic Ground. Cross the wooden bridge and
follow Hermons Track to Georges Track. Turn left
for a short walk and follow Georges Track back to
Valley Picnic Ground.
2. Valley Walk
6.5km – 3.5 hours one way
Grade: Steep and rocky in sections. Only for
prepared and experienced walkers.
Proceed as for Eagle Nest Walk but after following
Hermons Track to Georges Track, turn right and
follow Georges Track to Barges Road. Turn left
and follow Barges Road to Predator Track.
Continue to turn left, proceeding to Mathias Road,
left into Yallambee Way and left to return back to
Valley Picnic Ground.
Formore information call theParks VictoriaInformationCentre
on131963orvisitourwebsiteatwww.parkweb.vic.gov.au
As well as timber production, early settlers
cultivated fruit, travelling all the way to the Victoria
Market in North Melbourne to sell their produce.
Ten years later falling fruit prices resulted in
settlers turning to tourism for income and new
guest houses and tea rooms were quickly built.
Flora & fauna
Olinda is primarily a dry forest with Messmate and
Narrow-leaved Peppermint eucalypts. However,
the wetter gullies contain an abundance of tree
ferns and areas of Manna Gum, Mountain Grey
Gum and occasional Swamp Gum trees.
Being one of the more isolated areas with the
least neighbours, many shy birds and animals
have made this section of the park their home.
Birdlife often seen
includes the Gang Gang
Cockatoo and the Superb
Parrot. Some visitors are
fortunate enough to see or
hear the Superb Lyrebird
or spot a Wedge-tailed
Eagle swooping overhead.
Most of the animals which
inhabit this area, such as possums, bats and
gliders are active only a night. During the day you
might catch a glimpse of a Swamp Wallaby
disappearing into the bush or the rare Broadtoothed rat scuttling about in the undergrowth.
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Other Park
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Olinda Falls
Picnic Ground
Water body
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ALK
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Recreational
Facilities
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To Olinda
BARTLETT
BarbecueDandenong
carpark
carpark for disabled
Eagle Nest
Picnic
Ground
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allaby
Family walk
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LookoutUviewing
Platform
WILLIA M
RICKETTS
SANCTUARY
Park
information
Valley
Picnic Ground
Playground
Picnic shelter
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cartography by Spatial vision 2011
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caring for the environment
Sassafras
ONG
Help us look after the park by
remembering these guidelines:
Rubbish bins are not provided,
please take your rubbish
Creek home
Light fires only in fireplaces
provided. Firewood is not supplied
- please bring your own
No fires may be lit on days of
Total Fire Ban.
Firearms are prohibited
Dogs and cats are not permitted
in the park
All native plants and wildlife are
OOKE
TK
protected
by law. Please do not
collect specimens
SHERBR
Olinda
Kallista
e
e
To Monbulk
Upper
Ferntree
Gully
Olinda
e
e
Belgrave
DANDENONG
RANGES
NAT/ONAL
PARK
Sherbrooke
Monbulk
Updated January 2011
To Kallista