Things To Do in Dandenong Ranges

Most people come here to get out of the city for a pleasant bushwalk, and in that way it's the equivalent of Sydney's Blue Mountains. Some of the better walks include the easy 2.5km (1.5-mile) stroll from the Sherbrook Picnic Ground through the forest, and the Thousand Steps and the Kokoda Track Memorial Walk, a challenging rainforest track from the Fern Tree Gully Picnic Ground up to One Tree Hill. Along the way are plaques commemorating Australian troops who fought and died in Papua New Guinea in World War II.

Tiptoe through the Tulips -- Tens of thousands of flowers are on display at the annual Tulip Festival run by Tesselaar's gardening center, 357 Monbulk Rd., Silvan (tel. 03/9737 7722; www.tulipfestival.com.au), putting on a flamboyantly colorful show in the spring (mid-Sept to mid-Oct). Expect to see a dazzling variety of tulips, daffodils, rhododendrons, azaleas, fuchsias, and ranunculi. Admission is A$16 adults, free for children 15 and under accompanied by an adult. It's open daily 10am-5pm. To get there, take the train to Lilydale; then bus no. 679.