The Dandenong Ranges region to the east of Melbourne is packed with lush green forests, colourful gardens and quaint villages. Find out more about visiting this area with your dog, including what to do and where to eat, whether on a day trip or an overnight stay.
Dog-Friendly Sightseeing in the Dandenong Ranges
While many of the region’s top attractions are located within the Dandenong Ranges National Park or otherwise off-limits to pets, there are still plenty of dog-friendly attractions to choose from. Add some or all of these dog-friendly things to do in the Dandenong Ranges to your itinerary…
#1 Hop On Board Puffing Billy
One of the top attractions in the Dandenong Ranges is the Puffing Billy Railway, an historic steam train ride. Dogs are welcome to join you on one of the train rides, but only a few days per month, on the Puffing Billy Dog Express.
The Puffing Billy Dog Express train departs from Lakeside Station in Emerald. It then meanders through the Wright State Forest and over three historic timber bridges, arriving at Gembrook Station after 40 minutes.
After a two hour stop in Gembrook, when there’s plenty of time to walk a section of the Eastern Dandenong Ranges Trail or just play with your pup in the adjacent J.A.C. Russell Park, you’ll re-board the train for the return journey to Lakeside.
Advance bookings are essential for this dog-friendly train trip – all the tickets tend to be quickly snapped up as soon as they are released! Up to two dogs are permitted per booking, with dog tickets priced at $20 each. You’ll be asked your dog’s breed, so that you can be allocated to a suitable dog-friendly carriage compartment.
#2 Dine on High Tea at the Olinda Tea House
For a decadent yet relaxing experience in the Dandenong Ranges, make a booking at the Olinda Tea House. This stunning tea house is situated high in the ranges surrounded by lush greenery and fabulous gardens and specialises in high teas.
As well as high teas for humans, there’s also a special afternoon tea for four-legged guests, including a puppacino and treats. High teas are served on the outdoor verandah, which is comfortable year round, thanks to being fully covered, with window covers and overhead heaters.
My high tea for one was beautifully served in a round frame, with both savoury and sweet treats – both the pumpkin goat cheese arancini and Biscott cheesecake were highlights. And don’t forget to leave room for the scones course, with both a plain and date scone served with homemade raspberry jam and cream.
During summer days when the weather is fine, there’s also the option of upgrading to a picnic experience in the gardens or the garden gazebo.
#3 Admire the Alfred Nicholas Memorial Gardens
Olinda is also home to the Dandenong Ranges Botanic Gardens, but this is one botanic garden in Victoria where pets are not allowed. Instead, I recommend you head down to Sherbroke and the Alfred Nicholas Memorial Garden.
The original garden of the historic Burnham Beeches Estate and developed in the early 20th century, the gardens are renown for their extensive water features. The boathouse in particular is one of the most photographed sights in the Dandenong Ranges.
During my visit in early Autumn, the gardens were still a lush green, dotted with hydrangeas and fuchsias underneath the towering mountain ashes. The gardens are at their most colourful in spring and mid-autumn, with the golden gingko above the lake being a particularly charming sight.
The gardens are open year round with no entry fee. Dogs on a leash are welcome to join you, with a water bowl provided down near the lake.
#4 Stroll Around the George Tindale Memorial Gardens
Parks Victoria also looks after a second dog-friendly garden in Sherbrooke. A little further down the same road are the George Tindale Memorial Gardens.
These hillside gardens were constructed by George and Ruth Tindale, with the aim to ensure that the garden has something of interest to see all year round. While there is no clear highlight to the garden, instead follow the paths criss-crossing down the slope, seeing what you discover along the way.
These gardens are also open daily to the public, with dogs welcome to join you in exploring the gardens, as long as they stay on a leash.
#5 Hike Through an Arboretum
Just outside Olinda, not far from the Olinda Tea House, is the RJ Hamer Arboretum. While it’s possible to park and enjoy the views from the Woolrich Lookout on Chapel Road, a highlight is following one of the many tracks through the actual arboretum.
Originally a pine plantation and established as an arboretum in the 1970s, curiously the tree plantings and tracks were designed to minimise the risk of bush fire in the surrounding area. A mixture of native and exotic trees have been planted.
I followed sections of the Dam Track and Lookout Track, also known as the Golf Course Track. The dirt tracks are well-formed and generally wide, although sections showed some damage from recent storms. Another popular track to follow is the Matthias Track, which starts just outside of the Arboretum at Falls Road and winds for 4km to Silvan Road.
Dogs are required to be kept on a leash at all times in the arboretum, particularly as the reserve borders the Dandenong Ranges National Park along multiple sides.
#6 Head up to SkyHigh
For some of the best views of Melbourne from the Dandenong Ranges, it’s recommend to head to SkyHigh Mount Dandenong, whether during the day or in the evening.
The focus of SkyHigh is the restaurant and more casual bistro, but there are also barbecue facilities provided and gardens to explore. Note that a parking fee applies per vehicle – $5 during the week, $10 on weekends, public holidays and during school holidays.
Dogs are welcome to join you in outdoor areas, as long as they stay on a leash. Note that there are limited undercover areas outside, so it’s best to visit on dry days.
#7 Attend the Teselaar Tulip Festival
If you are visiting the Dandenong Ranges in the springtime, try to time your visit for the the annual Tesselaar Tulip Festival. The festival is held from mid-September to mid-October, with the dates for 2025 confirmed as 13th September to 12th October 2025.
The festival is held at the Tesselaar Flower Farm in Silvan. Enjoy a day at the flower farm surrounded by millions of flowering bulbs in every colour, with live entertainment, Dutch food and treats and other fun attractions also on offer.
A ticket applies for the festival and all its attractions, with advance online purchase recommended, particularly if you plan to visit on the weekends. Dogs are welcome to join you for free, as long as they are leashed and you pick up after them. Water bowls are provided.
Dog-Friendly Parks in the Dandenong Ranges
The Dandenong Ranges is home to an excellent off-leash dog park in Olinda. Once the grounds of the Olinda Golf Course, after the course closed the area was transformed to the Olinda Precinct, including an off-leash area for dogs.
Follow the signs past the playground (an excellent spot if you’re also visiting with children), until you reach the sloping grassy hillside. Dogs are allowed off-leash immediately downhill, although the boundaries are vague. I did spot one sign showing they should be leashed on other former golf holes, but I have a feeling this is not always done.
Yarra Ranges Council also looks after a number of other reserves that allow off-leash dogs, including:
- Belgrave Lake Park in Belgrave
- Mt Morton Reserve in Belgrave South
- Johns Hill Lookout Reserve in Kallista
- Kalorama Memorial Reserve in Kalorama
- Minak Reserve in Selby
Dog-Friendly Dining in the Dandenong Ranges
There are plenty of dog-friendly cafes scattered throughout the Dandenong Ranges. While simply walking through Olinda, I spied that the Olinda Cafe had a sign about a dog-friendly courtyard, while across the road at Dudley’s water bowls are provided with dogs, next to their large fenced courtyard.
In Emerald, duck into the The General Food Store. This highly-rated brunch cafe regularly changes its menu with the seasons. Open daily for breakfast and lunch, take a seat at one of the dog-friendly tables out the front of the store. Pawtastic dog treats are available to order.
If you’re looking for somewhere to head in the evening, make a booking for the Micawber Tavern. This century-old tavern is located on the outskirts of Belgrave and warmly welcomes pups both at their Beer Garden and on the Heated Outdoor Deck.
Dog-Friendly Accommodation in the Dandenong Ranges
If you’re wanting to stay the night in the Dandenong Ranges with your dog, your best bet is to make a booking for one of the many cute cottages dotted throughout the area, some that are pet-friendly.
A pet-friendly cabin right in the heart of Olinda is Botanica Retreat. Nestled in a beautiful garden setting, this one-bedroom cabin is perfect for couples with a dog. Complete with a soaker spa bath and fire pit outside for cosy winter stays, you can add on an organic breakfast box or antipasto platter. Well-behaved pets are welcome by prior arrangement, with a pet fee applying.
At the historic Moulton Park Estate in Sassafras, some of the cottages are also pet-friendly, subject to the size of the dog and the payment of a pet fee. The Keepers Cottage features a four-poster king-sized bed and an open fireplace, and is surrounded by English-style gardens. Just note the cottage is not fenced.
While there are no caravan parks right in the Dandenong Ranges, it’s just a short drive away to the Lilydale Pine Hill Caravan Park, also close to the Yarra Valley. As well as being permitted on all sites, pets are also allowed in designated Pet-Friendly Two Bedroom Cabins. These new and modern cabins sleep up to four, with a bathroom and kitchenette included.
You May Also Like
About the Author
Shandos Cleaver is the founder of Travelnuity: Dog-Friendly Travel. She has travelled extensively with her Miniature Dachshund, Schnitzel, including to 33 countries across Europe, every state and territory of Australia except Tasmania, and 10 of the United States. She’s passionate about providing inspiration and information to others wanting to travel with their dogs, whether close to home or internationally.