31 Best Stops Between Cranbourne and Lakes Entrance
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Wanderlog staff Updated • updatedApr 10, 2023
How long is the drive from Cranbourne to Lakes Entrance?
The direct drive from Cranbourne to Lakes Entrance is 177 mi (284 km), and should have a drive time of 3 hrs 36 mins in normal traffic.
If you’re going on a road trip from Cranbourne to Lakes Entrance, we did the research for you and compiled some great stops along the way — with Healesville, as well as top places to visit like Phillip Island Chocolate Factory and Wilson Botanic Park Berwick, or the ever-popular Churchill Island.
Healesville, a charming town in Victoria, Australia, is nestled 64 km north-east of Melbourne's central business district within the Shire of Yarra Ranges. The town is set on the Watts River, a tributary of the Yarra River. With a population of 7,589 as per the 2021 census, Healesville offers an ideal starting point for exploring the Yarra Valley.
Most popular city on this route
50 minutes off the main route, 19% of way to Lakes Entrance
Best stops along Cranbourne to Lakes Entrance drive
The top stops along the way from Cranbourne to Lakes Entrance (with short detours) are Puffing Billy Railway, Phillip Island Chocolate Factory, and Dandenong Ranges. Other popular stops include Raymond Island, Churchill Island, and Walhalla Goldfields Railway.
Churchill Island is an island off Phillip Island with a heritage farm that features animal demonstrations and wagon rides. It is completely separated from Phillip Island by a single lane wooden bridge across Western Port Bay. The Churchill Island Heritage Farm features things to do like walking trails, views of the bay, and a cafe.
Leisurely exploring the Churchill Island farmstead made for a nice relaxing afternoon. The views of the rolling hills before the ocean were beautiful. There’s a small gift shop and the cafe staff were very friendly. The animals seemed well looked after and there was a big variety, the free range ducks and chickens were especially cute to watch.
Joseph Brak — Google review
I did a lovely walk on the North Loop. It's an easy walk with lots of spots to stop and soak in the views. It took me about 2 hours but I was taking it slowly. The track is well signposted.
The history of this island marks its name as Millowl of the Boon Wurrung language group and gives a history of its first English occupant, Lieutenant Grant.
There is a cairn that marks where Grant's first house was and information about the garden he planted (wheat, barley, corn etc). The French planted a similar garden on French Island.
It was a beautifully windy day with sun and light rain showers so it was good to have layers, a wind proof rain proof jacket and beanie along with short sleeves for the sunny moments! 4 seasons in one day weather for sure! I stopped for a delicious lunch in the cafe at the end of the walk. It's in the Churchill Island information centre. Overall, a lovely day out.
Zane M. Diamond — Google review
Pretty fun historical farm, lots of outdoor games, sheep sheering, whip cracking demonstration, museum, wine stalls, cafe and gift shop. $15 entry which is great value.
Shayne Dixon — Google review
Good place for families to visit. You can walk round the island in 1.5 hours. There are activities such as cow milking, sheep shearing, whip cracking etc.
Natalia Tan — Google review
Stunning, historical and cultural heritage all these adjectives you can use. What a mind blowing and refreshing feeling. We just tried to follow the beauty of the island. There were some events going on there. But we just jumped in one; which called " working dog". Had good time with "rip" the dog. We meet with neuville. That horse is too adorablevand also her two kids. But the best part of the island is Roggers cottage. This cottage will give you a feeling how Rogers family used to live there with their family and their workers. You can imagine their total lifestyle. Please visit this island at first place once you arrive phillip island. Strongly recommend.
Habibul Hasan — Google review
Very underrated attraction in Phillip Island! Churchill Island has a very interesting 1800s house with many of the elements preserved. They also run sheep shearing, blacksmithing, dog heading and animal milking. There is also a Farmers Market first Saturday each month with much more than produce to see. Can be boggy in places in winter so be aware of that
Daniel — Google review
Great place to visit and walk around , plenty of activities throughout the day so check before going. Food at the cafe was good offering plenty of views if it was raining like it was when we visited. We took a long walk after the rain and it’s such a great island. Please visit and support!
Liz — Google review
School holidays are the best time to visit the island if you want to see and participate in cow milking and whip cracking. Demonstrations of sheep shearing, sheep dog at work rounding up sheep and blacksmithing are some of the other activities. Entry tickets include the two historical well preserved cottages. You can see the paddocks and horses also. Beautiful views from the cafe. Most of the demonstrations start at 2pm. Hay rides are in the morning.
Maria Ngo — Google review
We had such a good time on this island. So peaceful and calm place 💕
Friendly and lovely hoses, cows and sheep. Worth to buy entry fees!
Daisy E — Google review
A Beautiful Homestead with long local history .
An assortment of farm animals ,with great individual character and personality.
Well worth the Visit ..
Darien Carfi — Google review
Great place to visit for the day. Heard about it from a friend. We went around 12pm which gave us enough time to walk around, catch a bite to eat and then go to all the demonstrations events that started at 2pm. Great little gem.
Lili Arganaraz — Google review
In one word "BEAUTY AT IT'S BEST". what a great place to visit. scenery of Churchill Island’s extensive farm grounds and beautiful gardens make me amazed 😊. The way they maintaining the grass lands. Another superb attraction is the Scottish Highland cattle. There are a couple of farm activities there like cow milking, whip cracking, sheep shearing and my Favourite was working dog🐕. It was really a good experience for all specially the kids. There is a beautiful garden is another attraction over there. They maintained heritage cottages so that we can get an idea about the past history. Good place to click pictures. Highly recommend for families. Best place to relax and enjoy. Nice toilet facilities. Wheelchair accessible. There is ticket fee of $15 per person.
Bibin Thomas — Google review
It's a fantastic spot to have a wonderful time, offering up-close interactions with numerous animals and a variety of activities. The on-site restaurant serves decent but slightly pricey food, and there's ample parking available.
Sai Krishna — Google review
Beautiful area to take some nice scenery 📸.
Gift shop n a Cafe present at this location. Plenty of parking available.
fernando m — Google review
A lovely place for walking - the track around the farm is gravel (well maintained). Plenty of animals can be seen without paying to enter the farm.
Louise Taylor — Google review
Great view combine with good food. Many activity for kids. You can spend half days here. If you only have one day in Phillip Island, you need to come early.
If you're looking for an indulgent treat, look no further than Pannys Amazing World of Chocolate on Phillip Island. Here you can learn all about chocolate and try out a range of fun activities, from designing your own chocolate to taking part in delicious free samples. Plus, there's always something sweet to tempt your taste buds - from delicious chocolates to divine cakes and pastries.
Great place to visit with kids and family.
Great models showing how chocolates are processed from cocoa and is finally made to the chocolates we eat.
Great games allowing to redeem chocolate balls.
Enjoyed the chocolate drawing machine which helps to draw patterns using chocolates.
The $2 chocolate making machine would definitely keep kids entertained, as they can make their on customised chocolate.
The cafe/restaurant offered various varieties of awesome chocolate based foods.
Enjoyed the hot chocolate and other foods served by the robot at the cafeteria.
Jibin Joseph — Google review
Fairly reasonable for $18 per adult head. You get a chocolate bar as well as some games credit to play. It’s great for young kids and allow them to explore the chocolate making process. Though weekends are packed!
There’s also an on-site cafe for lunch and desserts. I did wonder out loud why the special was always a curry and rice in a chocolate factory 😂
Andrew Lim — Google review
It is a must visit spot during tour to Penguins visit, especially for kids. That is a fun and sweet journey That gives you a unique experience with chocolate and your family. However, the games inside look a bit outdated even though there are 10 credits included in the ticket so that you can use for game's in the factory. All in all, it is worthy to have a visit with family and kids here and enjoy chocolate afternoon.
William M — Google review
Delicious hot chocolate, innovative ‘robot food delivery’. Shop shelves were a bit bare and prices seemed rather high. We did buy rocky road to take home and it’s pretty good. Wouldn’t rush back, but worth a visit.
Oh and they take Covid safety very seriously - no entry if not vaccinated and special air filters inside.
Sarah Ferraro — Google review
Amazing place. Must visit. Halal chocolate and great game activities. With each entry ticket you get a chocolate bar. Inside you can eat chocolate at different stations and there are mini games also. Kids really enjoyed and ate chocolate. If going to Philip island. Always stop here for a quick stay. It has toilets and shop also.
Moazzam — Google review
Best place for dinning on Phillip Island. Choice of vegetarian and non veg cuisines. Good hot drinks. Food is served by Robos. They manufacture various range of chocolates which are displayed in their stores. You can see the manufacturing of chocolates with entry tickets. Handicap friendly and clean toilets. Don't miss their high quality food and beverages. Loved it..
Casey Degamwala — Google review
If you are looking for a sweet and fun experience on your way to Phillip Island, you should definitely stop by Phillips island Chocolate factory. This is not just a chocolate shop, but a whole chocolate factory with interactive attractions, fascinating facts, and delicious samples. You can learn about the history and the process of making chocolate, see amazing chocolate sculptures, and even make your own chocolate creation. Kids will love the games and activities, such as the chocolate waterfall, the chocolate quiz, and the chocolate village. The cafe and the shop offer a variety of chocolate treats. Phillips island chocolate factory is a must-visit place for chocolate lovers of all ages. It will make your trip to Phillip Island even more memorable and enjoyable.
Dinuka Ariyaratne — Google review
Great place for kids and family, it's worth taking the tour if you've not been to this place before, you get to play games, they even offer you free chocolates and the tour itself is fun and entertaining. The whole process is very well explained through pictures and equipment used is also showcased. You must try the chocolate machine which allows you to pick the options and makes the bar right in front of you and it only costs you $2, it even packs the bar.
Rama Tadepalli — Google review
I loved this chocolate factory! It has many interactive experiences and a staff member helped me to make chocolate with the $2 chocolate machine. They give out free samples of chocolate too, you can choose what type for chocolate you want and then a little penguin will grab it for you. There’s just so much about this factory to cover! It is quite small but they somehow managed to pack so many experiences in!
Leelie X — Google review
Good for kids. Even good for everyone who likes chocolate. Good option for individual and family tickets. Plenty of parking. In house restaurant. But keep in mind their kitchen closes at 3PM. If you are busy with chocolate might be you will skip the food time then hardly you will get drinks only. Lots of chocolate variety. Good tour for kids All history of chocolates for kids. Some games for kids while you choose tour.
Robbie chopra — Google review
Well it is not bad for a new experience however it is a bit expensive $18 per ticket for a 10 min tour 😕
Still they give you a chocolate ticket, $10 barcode for 3 boring games and a small chocolate coin.
Kids are for free however again it was not fun to pay almost 120 for a group of 6 for a 10 min tour .
Maybe make that $10 game credit an option or make a discount for groups
Rafik Zaky — Google review
Nice displays. Not very big factory. Chocolates tastes moderately alright. Tickets are averagely priced, but chocolates a little overrated. Nothing really very fanciful about the chocolate here in terms of taste, only plus point are cute designs of penguins, kangaroos and koalas.
Dawn L — Google review
Might be fun for young children, less fun for adults. There’s interactive activities in the tour to learn about the chocolate making process and an opportunity to ‘create’ your own drawing with melted chocolate.
While the recommended time for the self-guided tour is 30-45 minutes, it may only take 20 minutes if you don’t interact with everything.
The tickets are $18 for adults and includes 10 plays with the arcade games where you’ll only be allowed to win a max of 6 chocolate balls as your reward. The arcade games has varying difficulties so pick wisely.
Would be great if the admission could be purchased without the arcade games.
Tim Chan — Google review
I've been to a few chocolate factories and this one was by far the best! I loved the chocolate history and how it's all made information. They had games for the kids and big kids and you can even see inside the real working factory. Wow! The tour provides free chocolate delivered via mechanical penguin! For real! Kids just go crazy! If you want some too don't visit during school holidays!
Anthony Smith — Google review
Being in a chocolate factory was exciting.
You can discover a genuine chocolate factory, shop and have a good time at their cafe.
Through the self-paced factory tour, you become familiar with the chocolate preparation process from the earliest stages and where the chocolate seeds come from to the final packaging stage.
Throughout the tour, everyone receives a voucher to play 10 games. Kids love this fun part of the tour.
When I was there, I thought about the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory film. The small fantasy factory scenes were the main reason to bring me to that dream world.
I recommend paying a visit to the Chocolate Factory when you are around Phillip Island.
Ali Shayan — Google review
Amazing experience. Delectable chocolate. Did find it hard to fully enjoy myself, though as an adult.
Other peoples kids were going crazy inside with parents not looking after their kids, letting them go free. Kids were hitting buttons, pushing past, stealing chocolates as you won them. Kids are to be accompanied by an adult as per the signage, but very few of them did. They was a lovely family in there with very well behaved kids.
Parents, please look after your children so we all can enjoy the experience. Gotta stop off at the chocolate shop on the way out. Staff were friendly and overworked by the looks of things..
half pint — Google review
Went late August 2023 on a Saturday
Was pretty busy , lots of parking but it’s way overpriced , no samples were being handed out or on display . The food court is ok, the chocolate cake was as expected nothing special About it
Staff are pretty friendly but expect wait times are families usually order quite a bit of food
Dexter — Google review
The Phillip Island Chocolate Factory was a fantastic experience! We had a great time enjoying the unique chocolate sculptures. While some games felt a bit outdated, the overall atmosphere was enjoyable. It's a perfect spot for kids, and the clean restaurant offers a good menu with vegetarian options. It's a must-visit for a one-time delightful experience.
Garry s — Google review
Nice stopover on the way to Philip Island. I liked the penguin spitting out free chocolate discs and the games. Not really a fan of the chocolate taste. The staff are very friendly and attentive. We were in and out in less than a hour. The photo machine didn't email us the photo. The cafe looks spacious. In the day and age of sugar free chocolates it will be nice to have naturally sweetened chocolates here.
Tash Marion — Google review
3.8
(6285)
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3.0
(924)
930 Phillip Island Rd, Newhaven VIC 3925, Australia
The Wilson Botanic Park Berwick is a vast 39-hectare botanical garden that includes various amenities, such as a visitor center, bird hide, playground, trails and picnic areas. The park boasts two large lakes and multiple BBQ areas spread out throughout the facility. Visitors can climb up to the top of the hill for spectacular views of the surrounding area including glimpses of cityscape. The park is highly recommended for families and visitors looking to enjoy serene natural scenes during autumn or springtime.
Huge and gorgeous park with lots of resting/picnic area.
We went on weekday so it was not too crowded, easy to find car park.
Have couples of bbq area, 2 big lakes, a playground a bit up the hill. You can take the steps to the top of the park for the top view of the area, can even see the city from here.
Highly recommended! I will take my family back here again during autumn and spring for even better scenes.
Trang Nguyen — Google review
Great place to go for a walk. Very picturesque and charming park with a variety of flora and animals to see….rabbits, ducks, turtles, reptiles, variety of birds etc. Nice little cafe over looking lake. They occasionally host great family friendly events and expos. Highly recommended!
Lisa M — Google review
Always been a remarkable place for walk, events or may be even relax. The park is extremely clean with ample parking spare. The size of the park is quite considerable and you would need at least 1 hour by foot to explore all corners of the park. Great for kids and the plants/flowers inside the park are quite amazing. Great view of surrounding. Council has done a great job for managing this park so far. 5 stars without a doubt.
Hash Khan — Google review
Absolutely beautiful and such lovely views. Nice mix of hills and flatter areas, just gorgeous. Even on a grey, drizzly morning it was stunning. Lots of people running and walking their dogs, with everyone just so friendly and welcoming.
Will visit again in autumn when some of the trees start changing colour.
Anne C — Google review
What a beautiful garden! The particular day we visited, there was a light show and with the fog and light, it looked absolutely mesmerising! My favourite part of the garden was the water feature / mini pond where there is a ramp that lets you go almost to the middle. The special design allows you to be in line with the water surface!
A Nair — Google review
Always a go too place no matter what the weather is or time of day, plenty of paths to choose from and no two trips are ever the same.
Fun times for the whole family, bring a picnic or bring something to cook on the many BBQS located all around the place, they've got a kids playground for the tin lids and plenty of stuff for your fur child to sniff and look at maybe bring your friends or family with you I'd recommend this for anyone.
Don't forget to head out the back of the park to sit by the lake and bird watch it's always an escape from the world for a bit, love looking at the history out there, the steep quarry walls the wildlife the flowers everything let's you forget for a moment.
Close to home close shops close to restaurants
Tony Edge — Google review
Absolutely stunning!! A must visit. It was most definitely worth the long drive for us. We thoroughly enjoyed the whole park. Nice information centre and toilets located all around. Nice cafe up on the little hill with seating available. Gorgeous lake views with mini waterfall. Lots and lots of greenery which is breathtaking. Lots of parking available. Such a huge space! Loved it all.
Maria Ahm — Google review
Great place for hanging out and family picnics! All the facilities are there. You can book a shelter for larger groups and there’s long walks, short walks, a large amphitheatre for events and they even do weddings. Car parking can be a bit scarce at times. Best to go early in the morning. Great place to meet up with friends.
Daniel Wells — Google review
A beautiful park where you can take your dog on leash for a walk. There's a children's play area, sculptures, cafe / restaurant and toilet facilities within the park. There's several different tracks around the park and even. some turtles in one of the natural lakes. Plenty of grassland areas for picnics and several benches around all the lakes for seating. Great for taking the dog for a walk!
Kerbray — Google review
Good place to go for a walk with family. Pets are welcome too. Few good spots for bbq, the play area will keep kids busy as well. Saw shed area that can host baby showers. Parking is big as well. Few moderate steep hills if you like to burn few calories along your evening stroll. Family and pet friendly. Washrooms are clean.
R D — Google review
Perfect weather for a walk around the park on a winter arvo. The beautiful picture is of Waterlily lake close from the visitor centre. Walkway into the lake with a view at the water level, excites the kids a lot!
Faisal Haroon — Google review
What a glorious place to wander around and explore. On-leash dog friendly and stunning views out over Melbourne from the lookout; a great coffee shop and plenty of amenities - a beautiful Saturday with family, just fabulous 😃
Tracey Watt — Google review
Beautiful park with a big lake, many paths to explore, hills to climb and colourful trees (in autumn) under which to enjoy a relaxing afternoon stroll.
The only downside is the limited parking spots.
Alexander Yap — Google review
Went here for the first time on a Thursday with my boys and husband. Came to learn that kick scooting is not allowed. It is a reasonably big park and great for a stroll. Terrain is quite flat with some climbs so, it is wonderful for elderly. Some pavements were gravel so, wheelchair bound visitors may need help. Lots of bbq pits, playground, benches and space for kids to play.
Mama From Masz — Google review
Stunning scenery, great facilities and dog-friendly. Worth a visit even in cooler weather.
Alexandra Pope — Google review
Absolutely love coming here with my family and furry friend. From the open lawn area to different walking trails, each area presents a new adventure. There is such a variety of trees and plants which are home to an assortment of wildlife like ducks, birds, and bunnies, all adding to the park's charm. The beautiful lake is a standout feature especially on a sunny day and there are wooden deck chairs, benches and plenty of lawn surrounding for relaxing in the sunshine or having a picnic.
This is definitely Berwick’s little piece of heaven.
Tracey French — Google review
A great picnic place for family gatherings.
For those that enjoy walking, don't miss this place if you are in Melbourne & especially in the South East or East. You'll enjoy soaking yourself in the beautiful greens
Srividya B. R. — Google review
Came here on a gloomy day so it would be quieter. Used the opportunity to take beautiful photographs for my photography books and that i did!. The wildlife and beautiful scenery is amazing great place to go for a coffee and chat with friends ill be looking at bringing my dogs and kids next time 😊
Zara Stivic — Google review
Beautiful part of the world, located off the princess hwy. There is a lake, plenty of garden area, picnic tables, shady spots, drinking taps, a cafe, toilets, and a reception area next to the carpark.
Some great views here; and a good place to take photos for a special event.
Can book areas for birthday parties inside the Botanic park.
Dandenong Ranges, located in the Yarra Valley, is a picturesque mountain range offering a mix of natural beauty and cultural experiences. Visitors can explore botanic gardens, encounter wildlife at Healesville Sanctuary, and enjoy zip lines amidst an art-filled cultural center. The area boasts quaint towns and stunning landscapes with opportunities to visit the Rainforest Gallery/Donna Buang in Yarra Ranges National Park and ride the Puffing Billy Railway.
Green paradise. Not many people.
Quiet tracks, waterfalls, full of nature’s abundance -Lya birds, Echidnas, Wallaby’s, Yabbies, Christmas Beetles, many species of butterflies and dragonflies - all spotted over two hikes. We picked up a few bits of rubbish so hope visitors will be more considerate in future and remember it’s a blessing to have access to such beauty.
Julia K — Google review
It’s a place full of magic!! Go early morning and returns before 5:30pm.. amazing place to be.. loved it
Raghav Sehgal — Google review
Dandenong Ranges is beautiful and fresh nature . It is good for picnic or just sight seeing, before or after covid-19 pandemic.
M3 DJ LOOK — Google review
Amazing weather and amazing place
Qarib karimi ???? ???? ????? — Google review
Possibly the best place in Melbourne. If you don’t visit the Dandenong‘s when you’re in Melbourne, you’re missing out on a spiritual experience. Going for a walk amongst those beautiful trees in that fresh air, with the incredible scenery cannot be beaten.
Mel Melbourne — Google review
When here for the thousand steps with my school. Very Fun and entertaining
Humza Haroon — Google review
Lookout point could be better, after a little hike you can see great views. Be prepared for winds
Vishweshwar Rajora — Google review
Nice quiet place outside Melbourne to explore with plenty hiking trails and tiny villages to explore also home to some really good restaurants
Paul Mac — Google review
Lovely area to drive, many gardens and lookouts to view, unique tall-tree forest environment, many walking trails through ferns and native mountain ash trees, quaint villages to stop at and refresh.
Geoff — Google review
Lovely walking trails. A must visit
A. Arora — Google review
Worth a visit by all means! Go camping or for a daytrip. Take your time to explore.
Chris — Google review
Great drive. Lots of lovely places to stop. Locals are wonderful.
The Puffing Billy Railway is a preserved steam railway that travels through the scenic Dandenong Ranges. The train features first-class dining carriages, and offers tourists a unique experience of travel through the rainforest.
One of the landmarks of Melbourne and a must visit if you have a few extra days in hand. It's an all time favourite of kids and every single one of them enjoys it thoroughly. From fresh air to open window carriages, extremely friendly staff to the scenic route - everything makes it a truly memorable experience! Have been here twice now and have enjoyed it every single time.
Tickets usually sell out over weekend so book ahead of time online and take the return ticket from Belgrave to Lakeside and spend at least 3-4 hrs at Lakeside exploring the tracks, food, boating (if open) , food and definitely the model train house - one of the most unique experiences! Highly recommend doing that!
You wouldn't regret the experience!
Ritvik Prasad — Google review
Enjoyable experience. This is a must go if you are at Victoria. The view is nice from the train but it is the experience of being in a steam train that defeats all scenery you can see. The smell of steam and the sound of the whistle. Makes you think that you’ve travelled back in time but you still have your cameras to capture moments.
My first time on a steam train and I’ve enjoyed myself. It’s even more amazing that they’ve got passionate volunteers as well.
Dawn L — Google review
We enjoyed the trip as a family, the kids loved it.
The train and the stations staff were very lovely and helpful.
Food was delicious with variety of options at Lakeside train station.
Always bring a jacket, picnic snacks and Sunglasses are essential for the sun and to protect your eyes from tiny coal particles that occasionally are in the air from the steam.
hazem aboualfa — Google review
Magical and wonderful ride! So fun to feel like a kid again with legs just swinging about during the whole ride. Lovely weather made it even better. Nice walk around Emerald Lake too before the ride back.
get seats early though, as it gets very packed in despite having an assigned carriage and on the way back, my partner had to stand.
Radiant Chua — Google review
We had such a great time on the Puffing Billy!!! It is well maintained and it's good for both families and couples/friends! Truly an amazing experience. Went Puffing Billy for the first time Unique experience, totally worth it. We boarded from Belgrave and went up to Lakeside View. Very friendly driver and staff ❤️
Highly recommend for all !!!!
Anne Fernando — Google review
The train coordinators were super accommodating with our little baby. She loved going on the train (made her fall seep). The scenery was gorgeous! The lakeside stop is a must the Cafe there is really good and has paddle boats if it's your thing. A nice experience!
Himi Vith — Google review
A great experience suitable for all ages. Visitor centre at lakeside is modern and clean, with a very efficient restaurant that serves delicious scones. There’s also a small museum that displays the 3A Locomotive. Parking can be tricky as there aren’t a lot of car parks near the Puffing Billy train station. Volunteers and staff were super friendly and heaps of beautiful scenery along the way. Definitely worth hanging your legs out for the ride.
Joyce Leung — Google review
One of my favorite spot here in Australia when I visited. This train is very cool and you can hang your feet outside. We bought the tickets online and get the actual ticket at the window of booking office when we arrived. Be there early so you can avoid the waiting in the line.
Tiktiktok G. — Google review
Great experience! From booking to going onboard. The part which needs to highlight is the legs hanging out of train and having a swing when the train is moving . All children enjoyed including my dad who is 80 plus. Lastly is the scenery including a part crossing the old wooden bridge . Lastly , at lakeside a visit to the museum.
Tan Thomas — Google review
Besides a mix up with a ticket we bought separate (apparently you can chose that you're going with others and then be put on the same carriage, which we didn't do) but with some help from the friendly conductors on the train we were able to work around this. The day was great, kids and us adults all had an amazing day. Do rug up, we went last weekend so it was very fresh. We went to lakeside where there is a restaurant with average food.. Next time we will plan better and take a picnic to eat at the lake. I do think a little more time between the trains would be nice but we had enough time to eat and go for a short stroll before boarding to return back to Belgrave.
Kaeli Haines — Google review
Book the tickets like a week ago ‼️‼️
Tickets are usually sold out and we were just so lucky to get tickets at last minute. It was such a nice experience, it was 1 hr ride to reach to the lake. Beautiful journey, friendly people waving us on the way. The staffs were so nice. It did give me Hogwarts vibe 😉. To my surprise, the train runs along the residential area, there are houses and roads in between.
Would recommend if you are in Melbourne.
K M — Google review
Loved our day out on Puffing Billy. Got to sit with legs out enjoying the amazing scenery. Train was awesome, experience well worth it and would recommend to anyone wanting a ride on an old original steam train...
Waynesworld “Balidreamers” — Google review
Amazing train riding experience that u hang the legs out and enjoy the ride. Love those moments that you wave to the pedestrians / drivers, bystanders and vice versa. Nice picnic area in the Lakeside station.
It is a MUST do experience when you come to Victoria
Terry Cheung — Google review
Belgrave to Lakeside ride - Great place to visit. Kids friendly. Cafes at the start and end of journey. Few walking trails when you reach Lakeside, but won’t have time to finish because the return journey interval is in 90mins. Reach there early as parking spots near the train station are a bit hard to find. Scenic ride. Helpful and passionate staff. Highly recommend.
R D — Google review
The staffs were amazing! Their passionate smile and waving really warm my heart in this rainy, cold winter day. The magical ambience of the misty forest also makes the journey wonderful. I would say this is one of the must-visit place when coming to Melbourne.
??? — Google review
Amazing views, passionate volunteers, everyone was very friendly. They even offer for people to have weddings at the visitor centre! You can take your kids or dogs, you can sit on the window ledge and dangle your legs out of the train - it's a lovely experience.
Jascha — Google review
We had lovely experience today on the Puffing Billy steam railway train. Thank you to Arthur, who just by luck after we entered Metro Hobbies, 257 Burke St, Melbourne. A lovely young guy, we were talking, too, helped us out with ordering tickets online in advance, so we were not going to be disappointed at the opening gates Puffing Billy. Not getting a ticket. He showed us exactly how to order our tickets. He told us he volunteers for Puffing Billy. He also told us his mum worked at Puffing Billy. And coincidence she served us out of the 3 lines that were open we got her counter. When i first got to the counter i said you must have worked here many years, as she had a lot of Puffing Billy Bages on that's when she told us she had been working for them a long time. She told us her screen showed her sons name was down as serving us get the tickers at Metro Hobbies, and she told us, that, that was her son. Ohh wow. Yes, he was really lovely. You have a lovely son. She was happy 😊 she thanked us for coming and to have a wonderful day. Thank you Marge it was lovely to meet your son, Arthur, and you. Keep up the great work. Puffing Billy, they are both acredit to you. Spoke that they loved your place. Please reward them both for great customer service. We will always remember this day and the two of them for making our day, one to remember 🚂 your staff were very nice to talk to. We were very early, which was good. We got to take pics of an earlier train leaving the station. We also met some new friends too a couple with 2 children on the way there, and Eddie and Tiffany on the way back 🙂
Lynn Hembra — Google review
Had an amazing experience at Puffing Billy train today. Amazing scenic train ride and very friendly staff members. Definitely worth buying tickets in advance as this is a tourist hot spot and can get busy very quickly. Also recommend to go on the earliest train possible so your cart isn't over crowded. Also recommend you to sit on the left side /terminal facing side of the carriage in order to enjoy the views. We were lucky to get a good spot as some other passengers got the boring views by sitting on the left side of the carriage. Overall excellent experience.
Mo Aviation 787 — Google review
Amazing outing for all the ages with a steaming experience through the beautiful ranges & the nature. Would certainly recommend the train ride from Belgrave to Lakeside where you are allowed to sit on the window sill and enjoy the picturesque journey. At Lakeside, you can take a nice stroll among the trees, shelters are available for resting and paddle boats for hire by the lake though subject to weather conditions. Lots of moments to capture by the colourful trees and on the wooden bridge by the Lakeside.
Guru Trichy — Google review
Very cool vintage railway that was restored by a school to teach students about tourism.
Great open air ride. Stops along the way, one has a very large restaurant with great food. This stop also has a park with a pond with ducks and a couple swans.
We highly recommend the trip.
Lonnie McDonald — Google review
So much fun, have wanted to ride the Puffing Billy for a long time.
Best experience being able to sit on the edge and dangle your legs.
Views are pretty.
We adored waving back at everyone that waved to us as we went past.
Staff were super friendly and happy to take photos.
Great day out.
Maile Goodwin — Google review
Puffing Billy is a family favourite. A beautiful old steam train that whistles its way through the hills. Beautiful scenery, gorgeous bridge and friendly locals waving as you pass by. Children 5 and up are able to dangle their legs out the windows. This is an activity everyone of all ages will enjoy. However, there are a few changes that have occurred over the last few years to be aware of!
1. You must book online it’s so busy now that booking well in advance is necessary.
2. Children 16 and above are considered adults
3. The best place to park is at the nearby train station but signage to puffing Billy from there and back is very poor! Use Google.
4. You are advised to arrive an hour early. This is due to the queues.
5. You will be assigned a carriage. 4 bums per seat.
6. Lakeside is a brilliant place to stop. There are cafes, bathrooms, a swimming pool, playground, paddle boats and fantastic picnic spots. As kids we would come for the day and return later in the afternoon. Sadly this is no longer an option. You barely have time for the bathroom once you get off the train and line up for lunch you are required to reboard the train and head back to Belgrave. The new rule allowing 1.5hour is no where near enough time to spend anytime at lakeside with a family. I was so disappointed that there was not an option to select a later return time. I felt rushed and frustrated. We then sat at Menzies Creek for nearly 30 minutes due to a late train and as a result were rushed off the train in Belgrave.
I think this is a wonderful service and a great family activity but timetables need to be upheld despite late arrivals and later departure options need to be allowed to enable families to enjoy a day out together.
Sandi Grace — Google review
Puffing Billy Railway is an absolute ripper of a place to visit! It's a historic steam train that chugs its way through the stunning Dandenong Ranges in Victoria, Australia. The train ride is a real treat, taking you on a scenic journey through lush forests, over bridges, and even through some charming little towns. It's like stepping back in time!
The best part is, you can hop on and off at different stations along the way, so you can explore the surrounding areas and take in the beautiful scenery. The train itself is a beauty, with its old-fashioned carriages and that iconic puffing sound. It's a real hit with both kids and adults!
If you're a fan of trains or just want to experience something unique, Puffing Billy Railway is a must-visit. The staff are friendly, the atmosphere is top-notch, and it's a great way to spend a day with family or friends. So grab your ticket, hop on board, and get ready for a jolly good time on Puffing Billy! 🚂😄
Mj Enterprise — Google review
So much fun! Awesome experience. I would recommend it to anyone. It's best to get your tickets ahead of time. Look online and pick out a date because they are sold out pretty quickly. I recommend wearing shoes. Bring a light jacket, depending on the weather. Try and get there early so you can get a good parking and seat inside the train cart.
Jonathan Ulanday — Google review
Finally got to go on the reopened Puffing Billy Railway, after many attempts at getting tickets! You do need to book months in advance to avoid disappointment (minimum three months). The tickets are limited number and you absolutely, totally, CANNOT get it on the day.
Booking/purchasing in advance is a must.
I went with a friend and we went on the longer journey, up to Gembrook, which is a five-hour return (2.5 one way), great for day trip.
You can stick you feet out for part of the train ride, at the halfway mark (at Lakeside stop), you need to be completely within the carriage (or they take the permit away from the operators, which is wholly run by volunteers).
Take food and drink with you, and maybe a picnic rug, if you're doing the five hour day trip, there is a small park at Gembrook you can have your lunch at, or visit the other restaurants on offer in the town.
The most unfortunate thing during my visit was we were delayed for two hours at Lakeside, where the Visitor Centre is located, and we were not really informed why the delay. We didn't get back to Belgrave until close to 1800.
The views from the train speaks for themselves. I do recommend this trip to anyone, well worth it.
Minx Chique — Google review
My family loved the experience! We chose the Belgrave-Lakeside return trip. The weather was perfect so we got the most out of the experience. I loved that we were able to ride with our legs out the side of the train! It was so much fun, even for the adults. We had lunch at the cafe at Lakeside which was decent. They had a lovely exhibition too. Highly recommend!
Katrina Shau — Google review
It was a fun experience to ride on a steam train! Highly recommended to buy your ticket online in advance because seats are limited.
The journey starts from Belgrave station to Lakeside station and at Lakeside station, you’ll be given 1 hour to explore around the lake and have your lunch before the train departs back to Belgrave station.
We brought our picnic food since there were many tables available around the lake. But there’s also a lakeside cafe available in the visitor centre.
To enhance your experience, try to get seats on the right side when heading to Lakeside station or left side when returning to Belgrave station as the view is more eye catching on these sides.
Dennis Yong — Google review
One the most amazing experience in 100+ years old train. The staff is really helpful and knowledgeable. Book it in advance, last moment thing won’t work in busy/sunny days.
Ravi Parmar — Google review
Amazing experience! One of the best in Australia, I think everyone that is coming to Australia should try riding the train!
Some tips: book the ticket 2 weeks in advance for weekdays and I think maybe a month ++ for weekends
Marsha Elfiandri Miloen — Google review
The ride to the lake was an amazing experience. I bought my ticket 2 months before my visit through GetYourGuide but unfortunately the ride was canceled. Then I booked my ticket directly from this official website and was lucky enough to get 5 tickets just before a week ☺️. My in-laws enjoyed the ride. People on the roads were waiting for the train to pass and they were waving us 😀 . Such a wonderful day it was . If you are visiting Melbourne, you must really need to go for this .
SkyHigh Mount Dandenong is a beautiful restaurant with panoramic city views that can be enjoyed during the day or at night. The terrace is perfect for enjoying a seasonal meal in a casual setting.
Absolutely love this place. Not only does this place offer you a stunning view from above the hills, but great food too. They also have a picnic area which is so thoughtful.
We went there while they also had the beer garden pop-up and could enjoy few drinks in the sunshine. Its a vast area apart from just the restaurant and one can easily enjoy a stroll in the greens too.
S Goenka — Google review
An amazing place to visit in Melbourne. It's on hilly area and has a Cafe.
Unfortunately Cafe offers limited options and takes little longer if there are more numbers of people.
Hie Giant chair is awesome as well as the big letters of SkyHigh.
Plenty of parking space with easy access for disabled parking. The location has toilets.
The venue has two levels and amazing view from the top.
Best time to visit is sunrise or sunset.
Jigar Mehta — Google review
Was a fantastic look out with a tiny garden. The coffee was good. There wasn't really much going on apart from the function room and restaurant. But was good for a visit. There is definitely a better look out just down the road. Burke's look out is a must see.
I did not like that we had to pay for parking when there is minimal to do up there.
Moibhin — Google review
Good service, lovely food, Saturday surcharge (including gate entry) is a bit excessive though. Interior and table set up (paper napkins, kiosk style table numbers) does not match the price or the quality of the food. Bright sterile lights impeded evening view of the city. Great views otherwise.
Erin Kerr — Google review
Gorgeous place to visit in such a beautiful warm day. This lovely place has a lot of potential, but needs extra attention, specially the handrails on the little bridge going towards the lookout seems to be unsafe. If you have little children, don't let go their hands as they can easily fall from the bridge.
Ali Mowlaei — Google review
Unfortunately I can’t comment much to be fair as I hardly see anything due to heavy rain and heavy fog. Paid $8 entrance fee to go in and seeing nothing quite a waste. The cafe there served decent local Australian cuisine and we are buoyed the beef burgers and chicken pie. I believe it would be as beautiful when comes with clear sky to have a good view of the city !
Andrew Goh — Google review
Plenty of fresh air and a picturesque view of the surrounding towns with the Melbourne City Skyline in the background.
Take the public bus if you don't feel like driving and enjoy all the pleasantness of the woods and houses along the route. However, do take note of the bus timetable.
The Cafeteria provides excellent food choices and they're deliciously prepared 😋👍
Boon Keng Ong — Google review
Came here for the lookout. Fantastic view from the cafe on a clear day. Could see all the skyscrapers in the city.
Coffee was reasonably priced. Lots of different desserts and cakes available. Muffins too. Breakfast and main courses are available and ok priced. Nice place to stop for a snack and the view from the cafe.
樱木花 — Google review
SkyHigh Mount Dandenong is a spectacular destination that never disappoints. The panoramic vistas of Melbourne and the surrounding Dandenong Ranges are nothing short of awe-inspiring. Whether you visit during the day to enjoy the lush greenery or in the evening to witness a mesmerizing sunset and the city lights coming to life, SkyHigh offers a memorable experience.
The gardens are meticulously maintained, making it a fantastic place for a leisurely stroll or a picnic with family and friends. The restaurant serves delicious food with a view that's hard to beat.
In summary, SkyHigh Mount Dandenong is a top-notch spot for nature lovers, photographers, and anyone seeking tranquility and breathtaking scenery just a short drive from Melbourne. It's a must-visit that leaves visitors with lasting memories.
Sudeepa Pathirana — Google review
Went to Sky High to attend the mostly free children's festival. Entry to get in during the week is $5, they had a small petting Zoo that they were able to use, maze entry was half price. There were also stilt walkers to watch, a 'treasure hunt' which had lots of questions about things up and around the area.
Hot chocolates were $5 each which I thought was OK. The fries were $14 which I felt was quite expensive but they were good fries so I didn't mind too much.
All in all the facilities were good, the free activities were great and I'll definitely make it back up for next childrens festival!!
Missy Berger — Google review
Note that there is an entry fee to the car park. The views were not so good on a foggy morning. We had coffee and cake, expect sky high prices for cake. The coffee was excellent and the cakes were delicious. Lovely gardens and a surprise sky high maze for an extra cost. It was lovely and very peaceful on a Tuesday. It was a shame to see lazy people had left litter throughout the gardens.
Liliana Lees — Google review
Spectacular location for a restaurant with stunning views of the city and eastern suburb lights once the sun sets. The restaurant decor is quite casual. The menu has a good selection of dishes some with an Asian influence. Lots of cocktails and a limited wine list. Staff are friendly.
L M — Google review
My wife and I had an absolutely enchanting evening at the SkyHigh Bistro, located at SkyHigh Mount Dandenong during our summer vacation in the Dandenong Ranges. We visited on a Saturday, and I must emphasise that making a reservation is an absolute must for this popular spot.
The culinary experience was truly exceptional. We savoured a delightful array of dishes, including the perfectly cured salmon, the succulent pan-seared prawns, the tender and flavourful lamb back-strap, the rich and satisfying gnocchi, and the delightful sweetness of the berry compote. To top it off, the affogato was a wonderful treat that balanced the flavours beautifully. Every dish was expertly prepared and presented with finesse.
Our meal was paired with a selection of excellent red wine that heightened the flavours and added a touch of sophistication to the overall experience. The knowledgeable staff assisted us in selecting the perfect wines to complement our meal, enhancing the enjoyment of each course.
What truly sets SkyHigh Bistro apart is the breathtaking view it offers. The floor-to-ceiling windows provide an awe-inspiring panoramic vista of Melbourne's city skyline. As the evening progressed and the sun set, the city's lights illuminated the skyline, creating a truly magical atmosphere that added to the romance of the evening.
Situated on the uppermost reach of the Dandenong Ranges, amid the cool ferny glades and towering native forests, SkyHigh is undeniably one of Victoria's premier tourist attractions.
In addition to the exquisite dining experience, SkyHigh offers a plethora of activities for the whole family to enjoy. The beautifully landscaped gardens invite leisurely strolls, the forest walks under the canopy of Australian eucalypts offer a serene escape, and the chance to visit the Australiana Tree and relax on the Giant's Chair adds a touch of whimsy to the visit. Whether you're looking for a romantic dinner or a day trip for the family, SkyHigh has something for everyone.
Our romantic dinner at the SkyHigh Bistro was an unforgettable experience. From the delectable dishes to the mesmerising views, everything exceeded our expectations. I highly recommend this establishment for anyone looking to create beautiful memories in the heart of the Dandenong Ranges.
Abhishek Roy — Google review
Great views out to the city. The Bay, Macedon Ranges, and King Lake .
The bistro was very busy.
The maze wasn't open.
The English garden was very small.
$10 to park on the weekend, I thought, was a bit rich since there is not much there other than the lookout.
Linda Opolion — Google review
Short wait times, incredible food & the mushroom risotto was incredible. I am very picky with pasta but this was perfectly done, definitely will be coming and ordering again. The best risotto I’ve ever had. Lovely getaway dinner place for your family.
Japjeet Gill — Google review
We had been there on weekend with Entry fee of $10. It was not too crowded as we visited restaurant past lunch hour. Restaurant has lunch menu until 4 30 PM which has good vegetarian options. Sky high has garden, wishing well and wishing tree which can be visited for free while maze has a entry fee. Overall good to spend hour or two with kids.
shruthi kishore — Google review
Very nice and scenic location. The coffees were nice. The staff are friendly and the facilities are clean. The chicken focaccia is served cold. Odd that they refuse to warm it up. Luckily it was a hot day so the cold chicken went down okay. In saying that it tasted delicious despite coming out of the plastic packet. The size offers good value for your money. Plenty of seating and parking available around the restaurant. The ordering takes a while as for some reason the line moves very slowly.
Tash Marion — Google review
Got there early around 10.10am, lots of parking at that time.
Paid $10 for parking.
You order at the counter after finding your table number, this does Not work if you single and do not want to leave a bag etc on the table.
Ordered chicken burger which was good, fries were good too
Coffee was ok.
Inside had a smell of wet dog, so I sat outside.
Decor looked good.
Good spot to bring tourists for a view.
The gardens around are a nice treat.
Enjoy!
Neo Xplores — Google review
Good place for Melbourne CBD view from top hill.
There was a small town on the way uphill.
Coincidence there is a small pet show group giving education by touching the pet.
There were two long leg ladies walking around for us to take photos with.
It was cold at that time.
There is a public toilet available, and a cafe is there.
There is a maze garden for exploring which needs entrance fees.
R O — Google review
Location was breath taking.
Food was a bit overpriced, considering the location, i think they’ve adjusted it alright.
Such a family-friendly environment. One ahould allocate half a day to be able to enjoy the place as it offered gardens, spectacular view of the city, mazes, wishing well, wishing tree, giant’s chair,. Etc. worth the visit!!
Sarah L — Google review
The food was excellent but felt everything else needs a bit of improvement. SkyHigh restaurant seems a bit confused in what it is intending to be. During the day it is a cafe type thing which is fine but for the night service it seems to be fine dining but with pub vibes. If fine dining is the goal, I would suggest more ambient music and dimmer lighting.
Wait staff may also need more training as communication was poor and kind of ruined the evening for us.
We arrived 15mins early and were told to sit elsewhere as some large tables had just ordered and they didn’t want the kitchen staff to be overwhelmed. We had to insist on sitting at our actual table as we were happy to wait. 15mins really isn’t that early, and I don’t believe customers should be told what pressure the kitchen staff are under. We are there to celebrate our occasion and relax.
Everything was served within a fair time frame and the food was delicious but once our mains were done, no one attended to our table for over 20mins. We were never offered dessert or tea/coffee. The staff seemed preoccupied chatting behind the counter and I ended up having to interrupt and request dessert, at which the waitress advised me the kitchen closes at 8.30pm. Which seemed odd since we didn’t get our mains until 8.40pm.
Our booking was at 7.30pm so it was very unlikely we would be through 3 courses in an hour. We should have been advised of the cut off at the beginning and we would have happily ordered desserts when our order was first taken. This was just poor communication.
Kindly the kitchen staff did serve us dessert. While we waited the larger table near us who also hadn’t seen any staff for a while had to flag someone to come and take their dessert and hot drinks order.
SkyHigh is a beautiful place and serve wonderful food but the communication and organization of the evening really let the overall experience less than desirable.
We spent almost $200 for a table of 2 so for that price bracket, I feel it really needs some work in these areas.
I hope you will take on my feedback as constructive and help improve the experience for others in the future.
Amy Holman — Google review
Service person Deb really made our day. We were in Melbourne for almost 2 years and never been there. And gosh, it was a rainy day. We had our little Qainaat with us there and they were very hospitable. Ordered a orio cheesecake and it was fantastic. Spent our time in there before heading back.
Couple of things to note; if you want to have dinner there, order early, preferably before going there. They have a nice part of restaurant reserved for that. Second, there is a parking fee of $5 payable at the gate. 7 parking spots, but one close to the restaurant was most convenient. Entry and exit are different. You can go there by bus, from Belgrave or Ferntree gully. There are toilets in the place, the one inside the restaurant was nicer.
Outside playground and a maze for kids are also there.
Food options are mostly snacks. Lunch or dinner usually are pre-selected by the restaurant and not customisable. Lots of options of wine. Price reasonable. Quantity is good. Service is excellent.
Happy hunting!
Mehedi Shahnewaz Jalil — Google review
Love this place, one of the must visit places in Victoria. View from there is picturesque. Even the ride to reach there is wonderful. Its huge and if you have any visitors from outside Melbourne then this is the first place you can take them to. I love that Giant chair.
riddhi komarwalliwar — Google review
Came here on the weekday for lunch. The food was tasty and the price was reasonable. We love our mexi parmy and chicken pasta. Chicken was quite fresh. Service was good and staff were very friendly.
Helen Jiang — Google review
Drive up to area was nice but not much on the SkyHigh place itself. Probably better to come for sunset. English garden was not really a garden. Coffee was decent, but milkshake was horrible. Definitely not worth 7.50. Staff in restaurant were nice and accommodating.
J Y — Google review
4.1
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3.5
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26 Observatory Rd, Mount Dandenong VIC 3767, Australia
Maru Koala and Animal Park is a family-friendly attraction located just fifteen minutes from Phillip Island. Visitors can enjoy a range of animal experiences, including hand feeding and patting koalas, kangaroos, and wallabies. The park also offers the opportunity to meet rare albino animals and participate in regular keeper talks. Additionally, guests can have professional photos taken with the animals. In addition to animal encounters, the park features child-friendly entertainment such as mini-golf.
Love the place. It was excellent for children and the staff seemed like kind people who really love animal. When I went there, the weather was really hot but I still enjoyed looking at the wild animals, especially the koala. I just hope that they will be put in an air-conditioned area when the weather is too hot. Animal Welfare should precede guest's experience.
The kangaroo also seemed really relaxed at the area. There are also other interesting sections like the enclosure where the gliders and the possums are. It gave me a chance to witness animals in the dark.
gideon lam — Google review
I like this place! It’s great for family with young kids. There are different kinds of animals and the animal talks are interactive. The staff is friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. It is a great experience to feed the kangaroo. They are really gentle and it’s reasonably priced. The mini golf is well designed and so much fun!!!! The facilities are good too with clean toilets and clear directions of everything. The food is good too.
Sunflower — Google review
Gorgeous small park, well maintained with a variety of native animals. Plenty of keeper/animal talks scheduled throughout the day, with knowledgeable and friendly staff who are clearly passionate about the work they do. Totally worth the visit!
Cafe on-site with seated or takeaway menus. Good pram/wheelchair access.
Katherine Kirkwood — Google review
Two of us came to Maru Koala and Animal Park on a Saturday. We thoroughly enjoyed our time here and especially loved the pirate-themed mini golf. It was so much fun, and I would recommend it for all ages including kids, teens, adults, couples, friends and families. We loved getting up close and personal to the wildlife at the animal park, including the wallabies, kangaroos, koalas, dingo's, emus, Tasmanian devils, peacocks, snakes, crocodiles, frogs and more. Thank you so much to Maru Koala and Animal Park.
Emily May — Google review
My family and I visited the open zoo with koala bears, kangaroos and native animals of Australia. There are convenient and clean bathrooms here. The service fee is reasonable. There is an 18-hole mini-golf course for children to play, free of charge.
Amorn Thongtanunam — Google review
For a small wildlife animal park, it has a nice country vibe to it. Very accommodating staff with an adequate cafeteria. Nice little side trip for the family on their way to or from Philip Island. Just a side note that the Koala enclosure is an additional cost to get up close, however you can still view them from a distance as you walk around.
J K — Google review
Best day out. Started with Feeding the Koala Experience at 9am before 9:30am opening time. Koalas slowly woke up with new branches of leaves. Multiple varieties. Learned a lot about their individual preferences and characteristics. Super soft to touch and pat. Staff were super friendly and informative. We even got to hand feed the wallabies living in the same enclosure while the keepers cleaned and prepared the enclosure for the day. We thoroughly enjoyed the complimentary scones with jam and cream. A great range of native animals to observe, interact, or hand feed. Perfect family day out.
Bree Comber — Google review
Small and very nice animal park where you can stroll together with kangaroos and wallabies. Attached restaurant is okay, super-friendly service! Enjoyed the animal keeper's presentation and the "meet a koala" very much.
Dan Fi — Google review
Super fun! The facility is quite large and open. The animals are all very well cared for and happy and it shows! If you have time, stick around for some the keeper talks which happen about every 30 mins, the keepers are all super friendly and knowledgeable. Definitely recommend!
Frank Lueck (Fraz) — Google review
Such a wonderful family friendly animal park. We attended our friends daughters birthday party here and I must say it was the most fun and relaxing birthday celebration ever!
The staff is just absolutely the best, they are incredibly sweet and efficient. Love love love this place, looks brand new and super clean but it has been open for almost a decade I believe, definitely recommend for a weekend day trip or an event.
Food at the cafe was great, the decorations were so cute and ample parking space. And to top that they have a fun mini golf course.
Arti Raj — Google review
One of the best animal park I’ve been to. Kids will absolutely love it. It’s definitely worth it to get the koala encounter. For only 30 dollars, you get to pet the koala and take photos with it they even print it out for you. Entrance ticket also allows you to play mini golf which was crazy fun! Will be back :)
Yu Xuan Yio — Google review
Our first time visiting Australia and I found this place online when I searched things to do. We had a great time! We purchased the tickets which included the mini golf which we absolutely enjoyed! Such a creative pirate themed game. Feeding the kangaroos, who were gentle was so much fun. We went on a weekday so it wasn't too crowded. They also have a cafe with delicious ice cream. I would definitely recommend this place for good family fun! **Adding that this place is wheelchair accessible. My daughter uses a wheelchair due to limited walking however she opted to walk.
Hilda Montes — Google review
This is probably the best place in Victoria to see Koalas and feed kangaroos. The place is just before Phillip Island if you're coming from Melbourne.
If you want to get close to the Koalas, pat them and have photo opportunity, remember to purchase special ticket. General admission allows you anywhere including Kangaroo feeding, but except Koala close-up experience. The general ticket also allows you to play mini golf.
They also have white kangaroos (albinos) and they're quite tame. Other than that, they have other animals such as Tasmania Devil, Wombat, Dingos, Emus, a Pony and many more. It is like a mini zoo.
Overall, it is definitely a very good family friendly place, and a unique experience.
William Aung — Google review
plenty of space and time for everyone to interact with the animals. big space for kangaroos and other animals to hang out. staff is friendly, interactive, love the story telling by them.
W Lee — Google review
Great place for a day trip.
The staff were so welcoming and informative about all the animals. Nice to talk with the animal keepers and they were very knowledgeable to answer questions about the different animals.
The information sessions are also quite good, starting from 11am, they have information sessions every 30min for the different animals.
Also a great experience to hand feed the kangaroos, first time we have seen a white kangaroo. Good to see plenty of joeys in pouches also.
Luke — Google review
Great little stop off if you're passing through and need to fill time. Wouldn't make the trip specifically for a visit, as price tag is a bit high for what's on offer. Limited animals and mini golf is a bit dated, but the animals there, are well looked after and feeding the kangaroos is easy.
Would recommend taking your own food/drinks, as prices at Cafe are quite high.
Whole place can easily be done in an hour.
Sally Bubbles — Google review
Good fun interesting pirate themed mini golf course with interactive sounds, water features and other surprises. Plenty of shade among the trees. Small playground for the little children, BBQ facilities and undercover tables and chairs. Gift shop and Cafe inside where our grand children had their Santa photos taken. We will definitely visit the wild life area on our next visit. Lovely big gravel carpark with overflow carpark available for extra busy days. Recommend for all ages.
Vanessa Michelis — Google review
We bought the entry as part of the Phillip Island Experience (PIE) package.
The park was not as huge as a zoo but everything was close enough and had good amount of presentations, which was fantastic for the kid because you didn't have to walk so much and still got to see so many animals and activities.
It also had an 18-hole minigolf. Great design and fun to play. It also had a kids playground.
The cafe was good and the food was not bad.
Can easily spend a couple of hours with the kids there.
At last, all the staff (esp. Becky) was EXCELLENT and helpful. They deserved all the awards in their cafe.
Kelvin Li — Google review
25 dollars for adult and 15dollars for children.
High recommend to buy kangaroo feedings brefore entering. This place was kinda so small that it took only thirty minutes to look around.
But it is great idea to visit here for a while if you are planning to visit philip island.
Jaihyun Lee — Google review
Fantastic zoo to bring overseas visitors looking to get up close to kangaroos and koala. Definitely recommended to head in at opening hours so kangaroos are still hungry, they might ignore you once they have had their fill. The kangaroos will eat from your hand and you can get some really good pictures with them! A must visit!
Vernon Ho — Google review
Fantastic animal park for young and old. Great to see all the Australian animal icons up close and being able to feed the kangaroos. Our visitors from abroad loved it.
Cosy, country house cafe with a brick fireplace, offering brekkie, hearty meals & Devonshire tea.
Beautiful place to stop on your road trip to Philip island. I didn’t take a tour but it looked tempting. I sat for a piece of hash brown a smoothie instead and loved the chilled environment and the views. I bought some amazing cheese and some other stuff too and they didn’t disappoint!
Kirtan Patel (Kp) — Google review
Such a different and positive interactive experience in a farm. My suggestion, It’s a must visit for family with kids.
Milking of cow is at 2:30 PM daily, don’t miss it and it’s free. There is a viewing room on the top of the milking area which gives a great view of the whole milking area and the machines, just fascinating. Even the way the cows approach and depart after the milking was great to watch.
There is a cafe and area with free farm animal interaction. They have decent collection of farm animals. Kids loved it. And a small park for kids to play as well. Well maintained facilities and friendly staff. Ample parking and options for paid farm tours also available.
Couldn’t get anything from the cafe as I was running late. But menu was decent. Did see items like milk, pies, jam, honey etc on the cafe shelf for sale. Just about 30 mins drive from South east Melbourne. Must visit if you like farm and 🐄 🐓 🥛 .
R D — Google review
What a Great experience! Where to start, upon arrival you are greeted with Jersey cows in the fields surrounding the restaurant. If you are in need of a good wholesome meal or if you've got time to explore this is a great family friendly place to definitely add to the bucket list. They have tractor tours (the Safari life meets the farm) where you can enter exclusive areas of the farm, calf's and Jersey cows you are face to face with. They have a great menu that will please even the most pickiest eaters, they source their own dairy from their beautiful Jersey cows, during the week you can watch through the large glass windows as the men and women in science suits are creating and making delicious dairy products. At 2:30pm you can enter the towers to overlook the 350 cows getting milked. They also have a grand playground, over looking the duck pond, surrounded by a beautiful walk with rabbits, goats, bulls, roosters, deer and chickens. The grounds are wheel chair friendly which is a big plus, the staff are friendly, enthusiastic and helpful. The food is made fresh and you won't be waiting long after ordered to tuck in to some five star meals. There is delicious take home items for purchase, well priced and delicious to cater to every occasion. I have been back not just once or twice it's now my go to for catch ups with family and friends, taking clients (work in Disability) and everyone loves this special spot. You just don't want to leave but they welcome you back each and every time truly doesn't disappoint.
Mel Taua — Google review
Farm animals were cute, cafe staff were friendly but we found their ice cream overly sweet and expected a highly quality. Love their butter for sure and their choco milk was also abit too sweet for us. Overall we’ll recommend to people looking to visit this area or will be driving past but we won’t recommend for people to go out of their way to visit. There’s a cool observation deck where you can see cows getting milked. Fun for kids
Liz — Google review
Interesting place for a coffee break. Arrived at milking time (2.30pm) for the approx 500 Jersey cows on-site. Had a guided tour and watched the milking from the viewing room. Nearby cafe and gift shop. Coffee good. Loyalty card. Toilets. Plenty of car parking.
Michael Case — Google review
Wonderful place to visit with friends, family or solo. Kids will love getting close to the beautiful animals on the farm. The animals are absolutely gorgeous and made our visit so much more exciting! The service was amazing, very friendly staff and the food was really nice. They offer many different jams, relishes, pastas, chocolates and more! And the relish is amazing and a must try! Recommended to many family and friends!
Jacinta — Google review
Caldermeade Farm has Jersey cows which apparently produce a different milk than what we normally get in the supermarkets.
The ice cream was amazing and the food looked great!!! 🍧
It was such a nice find and we'll definitely be back again soon to try the food!!! 😋🐄
The farm tour was fun too. We'll be supporting this local business. ❤️
adelene foo — Google review
Fun little pit stop on the way to Philip Island. It was super fun to see all the cows and farm animals first hand. What did surprise me was how good the food was. Back in the states road stops like this usually don't have the best food, but the beef pie and salad definitely hit the spot and the coffee was pretty good as well. If you are on the road to go to Philip Island, take a break a and stop on by here!
Sean — Google review
A delightful destination for enjoying delicious cuisine, encountering fascinating wildlife, and purchasing fresh, local products. Kids love it too!
Hannah Kh — Google review
This place is so cool , great place to take the kids or anyone really if you’re in a budget it’s perfect . Watch the cows 🐄 being milked and pat and feed the farm animals . Great day out . Check it out ☺️
Sherree Cooper — Google review
What an absolutely great place to bring the kids. They had a market which was fabulous. Car park was overflowing with visitors, people everywhere. Cafe was flat chat 15 minute wait to order because of the crowd but service was fast and efficient. Lovely meal and after kids had a great time playing outside. We also did the farm tour which was good as well. Highly recommend and certainly will be back
Ian J — Google review
I'm a bit torn by reviewing places that aren't all that good. "Don't say anything if you can't say anything nice" etc.... so, this is a review for the cafe only. If you're coming for the animals, then knock yourself out. That said, the food...
Cheeseburger was just adequate. While it had a large patty, it wasn't amazing. Good cheese, however.
The relatively few chips were pretty standard saved only for the sauce, which wasn't the sugar filled stuff the kid's got.
If the burger was $16, then this wouldn't have been a problem, but at $24, it's just overpriced for what it is.
Re: Service - having plates dumped anywhere on the table really wasn't necessary. Generally you would walk to the other side of the table and set the plate down where it goes.
Re: Ambience - "cafeteria" comes to mind.
Come for the farm shop and animals, but I'd avoid the cafe
Chris Hill — Google review
Five stars farm with nice animals
We passed this farm on our way to Phillip island
Very nice food and dairy product and also friendly staff
My family liked the food and drinks so thats is why we passed back on our way home
Amir Nagy — Google review
Had a fantastic day here, had breakfast followed by the tractor tour, managed to see a calf being born. Scones jam and cream were delicious 😋. Will definitely be back
Joanne Packham — Google review
Went to Caldermeade Farm for their monthly Market and it was awesome, the atmosphere was great and my partner, Son and I also enjoyed the animals that you can also go around and look at so all in all if you are going past looking for something to do it's a must especially to all the locals.
Kris “Sir Fat” Johnson — Google review
Excellent 🥧 pies. Bought the cold ones to reheat in our caravan for dinner. Taste excellent. They sell the most delicious marmalade in glass jars.
It was an impromptu stop to stretch our legs and take a break from driving. It turned out to be one of the more memorable places we have visited. The kids had so much fun interacting and feeding the animals. Initially only wanted to stop for 10 mins but it became more than 1.5hr stop!
HELEN TAY — Google review
4.1
(1921)
•
3.5
(148)
4385 S Gippsland Hwy, Caldermeade VIC 3984, Australia
The Blue Lotus Water Garden is a sprawling 14-acre destination filled with beautifully manicured water gardens. Visitors can stroll along easy walking paths and take in the serene beauty of lotus flowers, banana trees, and Giant Amazon Waterlilies. The garden also features bridges and artworks that add to the overall ambiance. It's an ideal spot for families, with plenty of shaded picnic areas and a cafe that serves homemade juices, ice tea, and even lotus chips.
This place is amazing! Its a large well-maintained garden with gorgeous bridges and views. Great for photography or just a leisurely stroll.
The staff/owners were very warm and welcoming! Would definitely love to visit again when I get the chance.
Felicia Chiew — Google review
Great picnic destination with lots of beautiful flower gardens, ponds and kids activities. Lotus chips, vanilla slice, freshly squuezed juices and mini pan cakes are delicious. There are lots of activities for kids like face painting, finding things listed on a sheet and getting treat for it. We met a gorgeous fairy who spent with kids almost one hour in face painting and story telling activities. Very friendly staff and well maintained gardens. I highly recommend this as a best picnic spot for all ages during non busy weekends.
deepthi b — Google review
Have been here twice. It’s an incredible place and you can see that they put lots of effort into maintaining the place and make it interesting f to visitors.
We had a picnic and then explored the gardens. Also took my drone out to take a couple of shots from above.
Would definitely recommend a visit to anyone in the area or passing by.
Stephan Modest — Google review
Gorgeous garden.
A little pricey to visit but worth the beautiful view. Lotus leaves and flowers literally overflow into the path. The different theme that separates the lotus varieties was quirky and the garden seems to stretch on forever.
The owner welcomes visitors to enjoy their garden as there are plenty of shaded places along the path to rest, picnic, or BBQ. If you don't want to DIY, there is a cafe to take a break and enjoy the scenery and lovely lotus scents in the air.
Khat N — Google review
There are probably a million reviews of this gorgeous garden. Not sure I'll highlight anything that others haven't before me, so I suppose I'll add a personal touch. I'd seen a few social media posts over the years and kept telling myself I'd go "one of these years". When I finally went in 2023 I wondered why it took me so long to get there. It's a wonderful place. So many corners to explore, beautifully laid out and so photogenic. They have a reasonable amount of parking, a cafe, a gift shop - but it is the lotus flowers, lakes and landscapes that are the highlight. If you haven't been, I'd highly recommend it. (Though they only open at certain times of the year.)
Anita Harris — Google review
Our time was truly amazing at the gnome and fairy gardens, surrounded by vibrant flower colors that left us in awe.
The Queen fairy, adorned in enchanting attire, shared her adventures with the children during a delightful tour. Three-time slots are available for this enchanting experience.
Discover a cafeteria with an extensive and delicious menu, featuring my personal favorite, lotus chips. Don't miss out on this delightful treat when you explore the gardens.
Sireesha Kalva (Siri) — Google review
Such a great place! Lotus are beautiful, the gardens are well kept, it's not huge but you can spend a few hours taking it all in. The cafe food is okay, bit overpriced but considering you get to sit on the lake and overlook the lotus it's worth sitting there. There's also plenty of gazebos to sit and enjoy, as well as picnic tables and BBQS. Public toilets throughout, water fountains, plenty of parking (although we went on a weekday). Small gift shop including plants for sale.
Ming Li — Google review
Perfect place for a family trip, with easy walking paths, plenty of shaded picnic spots and surrounded by the calming beauty of a variety of lotuses.
The cafe and kiosk within have plenty of options to eat with homemade juices and ice tea. Don't forget to try the lotus chips.
Neelu Kaur — Google review
Lovely place for eyefuls of beautiful flowers, serene waters, shady picnic spots and interesting walks. Note: it is only open from Boxing day until April. Check their website for exact dates.
Margaretha Korn — Google review
Nice gardens- Beautiful, but a F@#$ing rip off, tourists beware, best take out a second mortgage before you visit.
Pity as it could be a great place to visit except for the prices.
Don't expect fancy food, the Cafe is OK but basic, reasonably fresh✔️
As it can get busy, best to park early.
Good for young children.
Obviously making plenty of money if they can afford prime time adds on Chanel 9.
shayne svenson — Google review
Second time here. Last time I went was a couple of years ago. They are open on new years day which is great! I was glad to see a face painting station for the children. Great place for the whole family. There are play spaces for the kids and many picnic tables for lunch. With the entry pass, you can go in and out to get your lunch from the car if needed. Lotus chips and ice cream were sold there and were delicious. People were lovely and helpful. Only thing I have to say is that if you have trypophobia (like me) you will not enjoy looking at the lotus flowers from a certain angle. But otherwise, it is a very peaceful place! Great tourist attraction and place to take overseas visitors too! Lots of places for photos! I also love that colourful umbrellas are provided on entry to use if you'd like too. It is very sunny in the summer so I recommend bringing a hat and sunnies.
Khodijah M — Google review
Came up with dad and the fam. It was a really nice place to take in all the different species of lotus flowers and the views of the lake. The atmosphere was really nice too with many kids and families walking around and enjoying themselves, tho I must say, if you go during a day forecast to or has rained, be careful cuz the paths can get quite muddy and slippery, otherwise, a really peaceful experience.
Ricky Chan — Google review
Wowwwwwww!!!! This place is absolutely stunning I was blown away!! It’s great that all children under 15 years of age get free entry.
Plenty of tables throughout the place to sit and how wonderful you can bring your own picnic. We dined at the cafe and it was nice food. There is a cute fairy garden and play equipment for kids.
I can’t recommend this place enough - for any guys reading this… perfect place to get engaged!
CourtneyAmber — Google review
Perfect day trip. This is a water garden with thousands of lotus flowers. Relaxed and a very peaceful environment. Buy your tickets online. Ample parking. They have a restaurant where you can enjoy a meal overlooking a huge lotus pond. On the way out you can buy plants. A great location for photography. My whole family enjoyed this place and had a great time.
Ravinda Mallikarachchi — Google review
Stunning lotus gardens, well worth the visit. Make sure to pick a day with good weather to get the most out of the walks around the gardens as the gardens are extensively spaced out. They have many sheltered seating spots interspersed throughout the gardens also and a gift shop. You can buy lotus flowers there also.
E L — Google review
Blue Lotus Water Garden is a dreamy escape for all ages! The vibrant blooms and tranquil ponds create a magical atmosphere.
Kids under 15 get in for free, making it a fantastic family outing.
Don't forget to stop by the in-house cafe – they serve up delicious treats, completing the perfect day out surrounded by nature's beauty!
Malin Ish — Google review
Love. Love. Love.
It's just a beautiful place to explore.
The food was very pricey.
Easy to park and access.
Gift shop could have more to offer.
I love plants, so this place was a dream for me.
There are lots of cute photo opportunities with the family, too.
I'll be back
❤️
Carla De Silva — Google review
4.5
(669)
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4.5
(193)
2628 Warburton Hwy, Yarra Junction VIC 3797, Australia
Amusement center with a water park & rides for all ages, plus koalas & dingos on a wildlife trail.
Gumbuya was great! It was like four family parks in one place... water park, theme park, zoo, and farm + some carnival style games and a giant playground. We spent a whole day from open until close exploring all of the activities and still didn't have time to do everything. Our kids had a ball and so did we. Well worth the ticket price and the food was not overpriced as you may find in other places that don't allow you to bring your own food (except fruit and extreme dietary requirements).
I loved the wild life section (2 baby koalas!), the kids loved the rides and water park, and we all had a great time at the petting zoo and watching the cow being milked (great hosts).
The water slides and adult rides are awesome. Such a good day! Highly recommended. We went on a cloudy day so there were no lines.
The wave pool is very cool. The staff were all very helpful. I really thought it was terrific. Perfect family park.
Nick W — Google review
Visited on 25th Jan '22 and we loved it. I'm a family of 5 with teenage kids and an extremely energetic 4 year old and everyone loved it. We drove 1 hour 50 minutes to get here, arrived at 10.30 by the time we got in we found a nice sheltered picnic table area not too far from the Cafe, there are many picnic tables scattered around the grassy areas, which was good we left our bags and shoes there while we enjoyed the theme park. Ques were normal waiting times for the dry rides. Enough rides for the little ones, then we headed over to the sanctuary, there were feeding times if you are interested to watch and there is a play ground and sand pit in that area too. Staff were friendly all around and helpful. We told the teens to do the water slides first as they do tend to get quite busy I think they were the busiest during 12.30 to 3. Still there would've been a wait of no more than 30 minutes. The change rooms were clean, they had showers and lockers. I only took off one star due to no outside food allowed policy and over priced cafe food, can get costly for families. The frozen coke and ice cream prices were usual pricing. Water fountains to refill water bottles would be handy. it was not overly crowded at all spent the whole day here up until 6pm. I would definitely come again, if it was closer, I would've purchased a season pass. I think other reviews that were given around new years break was expected for waterworld to be super busy due to COVID19 affecting travel, and most places even local beaches can get really horrible too during these trying times esp new years break and public holidays, people should be kinder considering the last couple of years of lockdowns. Anyway thanks to all the staff at water world
Kaz Azza — Google review
This has it all!
We as a family like to go to waters - indoors and outdoors and the waterpark here is so convenient.
I had a promotional ticket so it was cheap to visit for our family. Definitely look for some discount on the tickets as they are not cheap!
The water park was perfect as water pool was nice and warm and one of the pools were nice and hot! Some play area used really cold water but generally it was overall very good.
What I liked about Gumbuya world was it has other places to go. Some rides and farm-looking settings too! You get to see and touch some of the animals and it was just good for kids.
Everywhere was reasonably clean!
Only reason why I took one star out of 5 was the water at the shower was freezing COLD and my kids ended up crying while having a shower😅
I don’t mind a cold shower but water was not just cold it was freezing! So it was not a nice ending🥲 I’m not sure it was only the case when I visited or it’s always like that. Anyway cold shower was really bad but other than that we enjoyed everything!
Driving wasn’t too bad depending on the traffic /where you’re from but parking was pretty good + free :)
Chris Kim — Google review
Fantastic for families with young kids! The rides are fun, the restaurant is normal theme park food and the toilets are extremely clean.
I only gave Gumbuya world 3 stars because the animal area is terrible. The animals are awesome, there’s nothing wrong there. But there are no staff to keep the animals safe and a lot of the patrons walking around have no respect for the animals, chasing around the peacocks and chickens and just being ignorant. Getting really close for a photo or selfie. Even if they are friendly, if they’re running away just chill!
Please put a few staff in that area to tell people to be decent humans and not harass the poor animals! It ruined my day after enjoying the water slides. If you’re going to house these beautiful creatures, please look after them. I saw a lady kick a chicken…and her son did the same.
I could rant forever about the care of the animals by patrons but all I’ll say is, take your family for a lovely day out at Gumbuya world and be respectful to animals and staff. ❤️
Amanda — Google review
It's 2.30 on a Wednesday afternoon. No rides.. No water park.. Everything is shut. No food.. What a waste of time and money. I screwed up and got 3 memberships thinking it would be good.. Very disappointing. People are literally sitting around on seats with nothing to do. The petting zoo is still open but the animals are so over people right now. Yeah I don't recommend this place at all.. There's other places in Melbourne to go and spend your money at.
2/10
Steph Thatsme — Google review
My family took my nephew here for a day out in the water park. Quite big with lots of water slides and pools around. Can get very busy especially during hot day of course.
Only around an hour drive from mel so pretty good.
Trang Nguyen — Google review
Nice place for Melbourne locals to head to during summer. The water park section is a lot more fun than the other parts of the park. The water slides are a lot of fun. The kids really enjoyed themselves. The other rides in the park are below average. The nature enclosures are a great place to walk around and educational for the kids.
Suds — Google review
Went there today (Wednesday 5.7.23) during school holidays and it was such a nice day out. It was my first time going since it became Gumbuya “world”.
Absolutely no queues, not a great deal of people. It was cold and a bit drizzly so maybe that deterred people but it was perfect for us.
So many animals, great enclosures, lots to see. The flight show was great, kids loved it.
The food is priced as you’d expect (hot dog, chips and 2 drinks was $27) but we also took in our own sandwiches and snacks.
Plenty of rides (rides are on during the week in school holidays) a couple of the big ones only opened for a limited time but there were no lines so it was fine.
Water park was closed obviously.
Gift shop is very expensive, $42 for one medium sized stuffed toy, $12 for a show bag with about 6 lollies in it.
We had 2 adults, a 15, 11, 6 and 2 year old and all had a ball. Got there at 11am and left at 4pm.
Will definitely go again!
Richo & Naomi — Google review
Super fun place!!
> we went on a “cold” day, around 20 degrees and we basically had the whole place to ourselves. Not sure what it’s like on a warm day, but there were no queues on the waterslides and only had to wait one round for the rollercoasters. A lot of the rides were empty because there wasn’t anyone who wanted to go on them.
> The large rollercoasters have operating hours, they take turns between the TNT and Project Zero, we unfortunately missed the green one because we lost track of time feeding the kangaroos, so bare that in mind.
> the animals where very active, the koalas are really close! Saw a baby koala snoozing, it was adorable.
> The peacocks are very active, and they don’t mind you getting close.
> Lockers are $10 all day for a small one, in the cafe. Probably get scarce on busy days.
> the rollercoasters have pigeonholes to put your stuff in so you won’t need a locker if you’re not planning to go in the water.
> wave pool was really fun! Despite the cloudy day and cold wind, the water was warm.
> The TNT ride is really fun, it’s super smooth so you not to worry about it being too rough. Saw people of all ages having a blast on it (get it).
> waterslides where super fun, there is a lift to get you up to the top, but only if you get a Qpass ($25 extra per person)
>tickets online close at 11am (when it opens) so make sure you prepay! No need to get a fast pass if you’re going during the week or if it’s not school holidays.
In summary, highly recommend to go here with your family while you’re in Melbourne!
It is a tad expensive though, for two adults it was $122. It was also a very long drive from the city, so uni students probably not for you unless you’re rolling in dough and spare time.
Anna — Google review
Outstanding facilities. Plenty of car park spots, we bought the tickets previously and it did save some time at the entrance, was pretty quick.
The only thing is that we came in on a non particular warm Saturday, which made our day a bit difficult as the water is really cold and the wind didn’t help. However, that made it a bit easy as all the spots were really quick and we didn’t have to queue at all.
I’ll be back for sure!
Daniel Sánchez G — Google review
Lots of fun to be had @gumbuya_world 🎟️🎡🎢🌊🍦
Gumbuya World is divided into 4 themed areas: Oasis Springs, Outback Explorers, Oz Adventures and Wildlife Trail.
We quickly visited Wildlife Trail: Critter Cave and Petting Zoo and we spent most of the day at Oasis Springs.
It was very busy but ride queues were moving fairly quick.
There were two main ice cream places available and also the main restaurant was serving a variety of fast foods. The staff were friendly and ensured the restaurant and the toilets were clean and tidy.
Life guards were actively supervising the park making sure everyone is safe.
We love our amusement park experience.
✨Note: Book in advance to get the best discounts. We booked the night before and it was expensive.
Oana Cristina (finnbites) — Google review
We had such a fun day at Gumbuya World yesterday. The Freestyle Kings, Ryan and Jordz were the reason we booked our tickets, and they didn't disappoint.
Of course we loved the animals and the rides but there were waits for a lot of the rides, and little kids are most impatient haha.
Would love to see the bikes again. Great combination of animals, rides and stunts. Well done Gumbuya World. 😊
Elizabeth Rose — Google review
We had a great experience with young kids especially when kids can feed the animals.
It's a great water park and summer will be very adventurous and fun.
kids love the reptiles and birds.
It's about 50-60 mins drive from the city in the south east of Melbourne.
public transport may be an option but no idea how to get here.
you can only go for wildlife experience in winter which is great and also at a reduced price.
Multiple things at one place.
Hafiz Moiz — Google review
Been twice now and love it! Awesome range of rides and very well priced. Just pick what day you go as school holidays in summer are very busy.
David Body — Google review
There was a line before they opened at 11am. Best to book online beforehand and arrive 15 20mins before opening time.
There are wet rides like waterslides and lazy pool. Best to bring bathers and do the dry rides first before heading to the Oasis.
There are youngest for younger kids at the other end. Lotsa of shade and picnic spots for families.
There are also showbags and ice cream popcorn at the kiosk or cafeteria.
Lockers for hire are available too.
Elaine Teo — Google review
Enjoyed our family day out at Gumbuya World. The grounds are extremely well kept and beautiful. An abundance of tropical and local plants provide the perfect backdrop to each themed area. There was absolutely no rubbish on the ground and the bins ŵere discreet. The changerooms and toilets were very clean and modern. The staff were proactive at all times. The lifeguards were always active on duty and the safety taken by the ride staff was of a very high standard. Unfortunately, the food was terrible and expensive. I don't mind paying for good quality food, if the option is available. I would give five stars if the food was worth paying for. The park was busy but we didn't feel packed in, there was plenty of space for everyone. The entry price was not an issue because I appreciated the cleanliness of the park and the high standard and professionalism of staff. You can tell staff are well trained and take their job seriously, which added a nice vibe to the day.
Melanie Roth — Google review
the experience was amazing the only two complaints were the ride wait times and that there were to many people in the wave pool someone even picked me up and thought I was there friend. The wait times were insanely long and my grandchildren had to wait 20 mins for just the little kids slides. But other than that the whole park was ran so well and all the animals were adorable my brother said it was amazing and it was definitely one of the best experience of my life.
wilma hoare — Google review
The whole Gumbuya world is nice experience. There are few but amazing rides. Water park was not open when I visited but the most amazing ride is TNT and about the wild life , you can feed kangaroos with your hand. You need full day to enjoy rides as well as wildlife park.
riddhi komarwalliwar — Google review
Such a wonderful surprise to find this place in victoria. Very well planned attraction. Only disappointments were that our pizzas were as cold and the water in the surf pool was freezing. Foodwise, aside the disappointing pizzas, overall it does deserve credit as they have a good selections and the prices are priced reasonably unlike the theme parks in Goldcoast which are of a rip off.
Well done and i really look fwd to giving it more stars!
Gordon Yeong — Google review
I enjoyed my time here at Gumbuya Water Park, if you pay for daily pass for all 3
You’ll get a good taste of how good Gumbuya is. There are some pros/cons I want to touch base on
Pros:
- Awesome Rides, Water Slides, LAZY RIVER is amazing!
- Animals/mini Zoo (you get to touch some of the animals)
- Kids Zone
-Train that goes around like a Safari
Cons:
- Unable to take sandwiches/snacks and drinks inside.
- waiting line could take up to 30 mins depending on what ride/slide you going on
-for plus size men like myself, Most rides dry rides we won’t fit. So stick to the Lazy River and water slides lol
-
Blessing F. Une-Passi — Google review
Gumbuya World is a great day out. There's something for all ages, including pre-schoolers, and I've struggled to properly get around all four worlds each time I've visited. The Wildlife world alone is a good zoo experience. I wouldn't want to visit in peak times but I can vouch for weekends in March if, like me, you prefer it relatively chilled.
Paul Richards — Google review
There are some reserved sun-lounges and hips of free sun-lounges, if you go not busy time, no need to book chairs or tables.
It was perfect getaway 😄
Outside food not allowed. Only fruits, water and baby food. Food not much expensive but not variety.
Hyomi Kim — Google review
Excellent place to visit with your kids, especially if they are teenagers. They are going to love the rides, TNT and Zero rides are mind blowing. Been there with my kids, they loved it. Waterpark n water rides are awesome. Unfortunately we didn’t get the chance to explore the wild life as my kids were so happy in rides. But no regrets we been to wildlife park three years ago n it was amazing experience.
Naman Rekhi — Google review
4.1
(3094)
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4.0
(217)
2705 Princes Hwy, Tynong North VIC 3813, Australia
Such a great place to bring the family! And free! If you're lucky there will be a volunteer working at the General Store. Well worth a visit.
Steph P — Google review
It is sad that this wonderful attraction is suffering the effects of Covid restrictions as well as a recent storm. Lack of volunteers and the decline in maintenance could be to this amazing place's detriment. Please support and visit and help keep it alive.
Corrina Lee — Google review
Great place to go for free, we left a donation but was refreshing to not be harassed for one they just want you to enjoy your time there.
Kim Elledge — Google review
This is worth the stop. Self guided, easy to walk around. Something for all ages. A credit to the volunteers. The entry is free, but if you can donations gratefully accepted. We enjoyed our time here.
Donna Roberts — Google review
An amazing spot for family and friends to visit and immerse themselves in an often forgotten era.
Big thanks to all the staff and volunteers who make Coal Creek what it is. A special thanks for all the effort everyone went to for the 2023 Halloween event! It was a fantastic evening for those that were lucky enough to attend. Really appreciate how special you made it for the children. Thanks again!
Laurencia — Google review
Didn't know such a large and informative museum existed here..it shows the rich history of the area and mining era not only in pictures and small artifacts but the real houses bright here from that era. There is the full rail station with engine and coaches, streets and houses. Incredible.
Jignesh Patel — Google review
Post COVID, based on the map half of the museum is not yet open, but we still enjoyed our trip here with our little kid .
Vish Balantrapu — Google review
absolutely loved it! wish there where more workers so the general store could open and the train go but it’s funding they unfortunately haven’t got but it so much fun we walked at our own pace wonderful little place to visit
Britty Boo — Google review
The place is very quiet and the staffs are very friendly. There is no ticket to get into the park.
Just enjoy the old day’s equipment there. The trains are only for display not for transport anymore 😹
Professor X — Google review
Excellent stroll through history with many articles on display with free entry. Also 2 art galleries are worth browsing. Nice stop on the way back from Wilsons Prom. We took about an hour to do a lap of the village.
Paul Taylor — Google review
We had a great chance to find this place when shopping at a local shop.
It was free at the time we went but I'm not sure if it needs a ticket to enter during other times or not.
Definitely worth to see, takes around 2 hour to enjoy.
We mostly liked the gentleman speaking about the big shop inside.
Good place for kids as well to know a bit regarding history and what was happening in the past.
Kaveh K — Google review
Best experience of an open air museum. The society has literally frozen the past. I felt myself in olden times when there was no internet no modern day high end machines. It was really an educational tour.
Emran Bhatti — Google review
Great place to see decommissioned buildings from the early settlers in Australia. They are preserved perfectly and it's important to understand how little they people had to start a new life down under. I recommend it.
Asterios Ozounis — Google review
Nice place. Most buildings were closed and the train was under repair but still able to appreciate the displays.
Tony Grima — Google review
This has been the highlight of my trip to VIC, I really wish I spent more time exploring! It's like jumping in a time machine and going back 100 years. Some parts were closed off and there was a few things that could have been fixed up, but it's still definitely a 5 star place, truly mind blowing. The best historical museum I have ever seen.
Chris Huitema — Google review
Beautiful and historic place to visit. I love the old buildings and that you can go inside and look at many of the interesting features. Its a lovely walk, grocery store could be open more often, and change some of the gifts around. Would like to see more buildings open and selling wares. People would buy items to support the museum. I would.
Never had a bad meal. Service and wait times are good. Ordered a steak on Saturday and no dramas. Sides was nice, filling and fresh.
Typical pub menu with a few seafood specials that rotate.
Craig Nicholson — Google review
I recently visited Warragul Country Club and had a fantastic dining experience. The first thing that impressed me was their extensive menu, which catered to everyone, including seniors and kids. It's always nice to see a restaurant consider different age groups and offer diverse options.
Speaking of the seniors' menu, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the portions were just as generous as the regular meals. This thoughtful approach is commendable, as it ensures seniors can enjoy a satisfying dining experience without compromising on portion size.
The selection of food items was impressive, featuring classic favorites like Chicken Parmas, Scotch Fillet, and the delightful Roast of the Day. I opted for the Roast of the Day and was pleased to see that the portion size was more than adequate; it filled both my plate and my stomach, leaving me completely satisfied.
One aspect that enhanced the overall experience was the welcoming atmosphere of the club. My group was seated on the green side of the restaurant, which provided a tranquil and quiet setting. It was the perfect spot for catching up with family and friends while enjoying our delicious meals.
All in all, my visit to Warragul Country Club was very enjoyable. The combination of a diverse menu, generous portion sizes, and a pleasant ambiance made it a memorable dining experience. If you're looking for a great place to dine with your loved ones, I highly recommend giving Warragul Country Club a try.
John “P” Wintle — Google review
Usual stuff.
Friendly staff, nice surroundings Etc.
Sitting in the 19th hole overlooking the 18th.
Really nice meals and timely service.
The staff became AWOL when it came to clearing the tables though.
We would have liked a coffee after our meals but, had to nearly wrestle a staff member to the ground to get some attention.
So, overall rating good and not so good.
Darryl Cowen — Google review
Great experience, seated almost emmediately in the dining area.without a booking. The lounge area was great for a relax prior to eating. The service was excellent with friendly staff who chatted easily and made us comfortable. The food was great, this venue continues to be one of my favourites in Warragul.
Ellen Slater — Google review
We went for lunch today without a reservation. We're given a table and seated, fresh water bought out to us. Table service to order. Most impressed the waitress remembered our order without writing it down. Meals were delicious and the service was equal to a good restaurant. Well done all round.
Kerri Brown — Google review
An amazing experience. From welcome to table service. My steak was perfect! What more do you need?? Thank you
Robyn Bloye — Google review
Some of the best food I've had in a long time. Wait staff were smiling, friendly and act like they genuinely love their jobs. Highly recommend the lamb backstrap or pork medallions, cooked to perfection and beautiful flavours on both dishes.
Will 100% return for a game of golf and another meal! Don't change a thing, you're doing everything right!
Nick Aykut — Google review
Great staff, friendly atmosphere! The food is and has always been to die for! The toilets are clean and pleasant like always!!!! BIG BONUS!!!
I'm a big fan of the free coffee, latte especially!!!
There's always ample of parking, and if U, like me don't mind a little win the pokies are ur place to go 😉.
Smoking room has plenty on offer from TAB to footy or even the occasional bet 😁
Samantha — Google review
Lovely course. I love the views, The course condition is well even after a few days of rain.
Daniel Wu — Google review
I ordered the burger and chips and had a side house salad.
The Burger was fantastic. I'm not sure I'd call it a smashed burger but it was absolutely fantastic. It was juicy, the sauce was great and overall I think it was the best main at one table.
The chips are as boring as you'd expect. I'm not sure why places don't give them some extra love. Why not use some flavoured seasoning salts. Not just the milk bar chicken salt... I can't exactly fault then for the lack of creativity here as people expect just chips, but I would love some garlic parm, or some spice dusted on them. And for the price they were going to be sent out plane I'd expect some gravy or a dipping sauce of sorts.
The house side salad was great. Spinach, beetroot feta and walnuts?! Couldn't ask for a better salad.
Everyone at my table enjoyed their lunch. My children had some nice fish and chips and a pizza and the adults all enjoyed a range of items.
A very nice lunch overall.
Matthew Hunt-Foley — Google review
Hey Bec,
Julie and I really appreciate your friendliness and easy-going personality. Moreover, I think your boss should give you a raise because the country club is very lucky to have a good person like you working here. Keep doing what you do and being who you are Bec and you will continue to kick goals at work and no doubt in your private life to.
Hey Lauchie,
Thanks for doing such a great job with Julie and I tonight. It’s really encouraging to see a young enthusiastic bloke like you working in a place like this and also doing all that great stuff with kids. Your mum and dad must be proud of you and Julie and I are most impressed. Keep it up young fella.
Peter Anderson — Google review
Great venue and great staff.
A Huge shoutout to our server Tom who did an amazing job with our big group and aimed to get everything right. He did a great job under pressure and fulfilled all of our requests. Thanks Tom!
Lifestyle Heritage Manor — Google review
The food was really nice, very friend wait staff, the service they provided was excellent. The atmosphere of the country club was good. Would go there again.
laura kus — Google review
We were a group of 20 celebrating Dad’s 85th birthday. We were impressed by the excellent and friendly service, nothing was too much trouble. The meals were delivered quickly and were delicious. I would definitely recommend this place.
Carol McKenzie — Google review
We were a fairly large booking, all our meals were nice, hot and came out together.
Lots of dessert options.
Well stocked bar and coffee bar.
Dallas Murphy — Google review
Such an awesome place to spend quality time with family. Having lunch or dinner. Food is so good.
Ashwin Nair — Google review
Had lunch in the Fairways Bistro at Warragul Country Club today & it was delicious. Service excellent & our meal came out very promptly. Lots of people there, so obviously very popular. Would go there again.
Jan Joy — Google review
I met my granddaughter here on a Monday not realising the bistro is closed Monday's so we had a very nice meal from the snack bar, very nice. I fully recommend this place to anyone.
john bosomworth — Google review
Great place for a feed , amazing service. Thanks guys
Masel — Google review
First went there 2 years ago could not fault the place. Went there about 1 weeks ago I asked for chicken schnitzel with vegetables my wife asked for no batter on the fish and vegetables after 15 minutes meals came out she had better on the fish we sent it back as thay made a mistake it came back 15 minutes later with no batter and with salad but the time I got to eat my meal it was cold would not go back here again it's better value at the pub meals were very small and for $27 for the fish and $24 for the schnitzel but the garlic bread was and cheese was good and it would have been nice to have more chips except for one little Cup. To their credit they gave a $20 credit for next time sad thing is I don't think there will be a next time.
Paul Doherty — Google review
Awesome meals, very friendly staff. Loved it.
Cyn Jones — Google review
excellent service and great food
Mark “Pocket's” Clohesy — Google review
4.3
(885)
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4.0
(114)
Warragul Country Club Inc, 41 Sutton St, Warragul VIC 3820, Australia
Amazing books, prints and other kids items! Love it!!
Patrick Birtles — Google review
More than a gallery, more than a shop, actual planning art, story boards for books and awards decorate her Gallery. The staff are helpful and you are able to leave purchases for signing and posting.
Corrina Lee — Google review
Gorgeous place to visit. Many of Alison's popular books and her illustrations framed or unframed available for purchase. If she's not there and wish to have signed copies, arrangements for postal delivery can be made. There's also wrapping paper, bookmarks and cards to match books. Staff are helpful and it's a delight to visit en route to Wilson's Prom
Robyn Knott — Google review
The Alison Lester Gallery is wonderful. Our children were brought up with Alison Lester books - they are adults now and their books are still treasured. We loved seeing the full range of Alison's work and we loved being able to buy a special gift for our soon to arrive granddaughter. It was very special to be able to see originals of book illustrations and hand-drawn and hand-written drafts of many works. A visit to the Alison Lester Gallery is more than highly recommended (and Fish Creek is a great little town).
Rohan Potter — Google review
A wonderful small gallery and shop full of all her children's books. The artwork is just lovely and so is the huge selection of books. There are also a couple of reading nooks which makes it warm and friendly. A dangerous place to take a 3 year old who wants to leave with "all the books". Will absolutely go back next time we are in the area.
Jenna Patan — Google review
Great to see the gallery and be able to buy from such a well known author
Sharon Gibbens — Google review
Amazing, take the kids if all ages
B Johns — Google review
Hubby came across Alison’s gallery on a work trip. Luckily Alison was there, she personally signed the book for him. Can’t wait when he comes home so I can read it to my son. Thank you so much!
C W — Google review
A highlight to our trip to Prom Country. Beautiful gallery and shop. The highlight was the personalised signed book. Thank you for a wonderful little spot to take our children.
Thanks to everyone at Trafalgar Holden Museum another great experience at the museum staff were very helpful and the display keeps getting better.
This was my 5th visit.
Well done keep up the good work.
Also do yourself a favour and go have a meal at Criterion hotel over the road once you finished at museum fantastic meals .
brockaholic 05 — Google review
This museum will be the first choice of car enthusiasts.
The Holden museum has all the cars built by Holden Australia since 1948 to 2017 when the sun set for decades long Australian love.
The ticket cost $15 which is well worth for the effort made by the people operate it.
The staff is friendly, the cars are maintained in their best quality, and details of each car such as manufactured year, price, it's cylinder capacity, weight, etc is provided.
Anu Pebotuwa — Google review
A truly awesome display of car once built here in Australia. Very friendly volunteers who will happily share their Holden history with you and educate you on some of the vehicles. Lots of unique and 1 of 1 vehicles on display, including prototypes. Definitely have to check this one out!
Jackson C Kelsey — Google review
Visited this museum on the way back from Gippsland. Amazing collection of artefacts and I especially loved the section of Holden's origins. Must visit place for any car (especially Holden) enthusiast!
gautam mishra — Google review
Great place to visit, for any Holden enthusiast, or car enthuisiast infact. Great display of Holden vehicles and components, with working display models of suspension and drive trains. The museum also has revolving exhibits, so different cars are featured at different times, so no one visit is the same.
Daniel Harvey — Google review
Have driven past the museum countless times but had never taken the time to visit. So glad I did!!!! The cars displayed are absolutely beautiful and it really is a trip down memory lane. Each section of the museum is displayed beautifully and very informative. The history of Holden dating back to the 1800's is extremely interesting and diverse.
The volunteers are friendly and happy to answer any questions you may have. It's obvious how proud they are of this wonderful museum. Would definitely recommend anyone to visit.
Adele Bentley — Google review
It's good, not awesome.
Appears to be a privately owned museum which impacts the vehicle range.
Would love to see more 60's & 70's Torana & Monaro's.
Plenty of very early & recent models, but missing a lot from the middle era (which are the most expensive)
Still worth a visit & not too badly priced.
Airborne Images — Google review
Brilliant place to visit. Really well presented & so interesting.
Could have spent much more time there but we were limited with time.
Highly recommended a visit!
Sabina Hayes — Google review
So much to enjoy and appreciate. From the vehicles on display to the memorabillia, the interesting stories, history and overall presentation, this place is a real gem! Highly recommend a visit. We took a walk down Memory Lane today and learnt a whole lot more along the way!! Thank you, Trafalgar Holden Museum. Keep up the great work!!
Debbie H — Google review
Not just over 80 cars on display but really a Holden Heritage Centre. Includes much history, other products made by Holden and various memorabilia. Also has a theatrette, basic cafe and gift shop. Fun place to visit to remember the Holden legacy!
Michael Case — Google review
Thanks to everyone at the Holden museum we went part of a cruise with our car club and we had the most amazing and memorable day. The volunteers were all so amazing we look forward to going back very soon thanks 🙏 for welcoming us to the family.
Jaial — Google review
Great museum with a ton of history and great cars. I expect that even the most ardent Holden fan would learn something here. Highly recommended!
Paul Llewellyn — Google review
Great display of Holden cars. I highly recommend. A good collection of Peter Brock's racing cars from his early days
Michael Haseloff — Google review
After hearing this on a radio ad I thought I'd have to check it out. So glad we did. We made the couple hour trip up and were surprised and delighted on how many Holden's were actually there, the story behind Holden and all the other memorabilia like Brock's early racing cars were pretty impressive. It was great to see the model cars my grand parents drove around in, followed by my dads early days and then my first couple of car models as well. Definitely alot to see there. Will absolutely pass it along to my auto friends it's worth the visit.
Lena Phillips — Google review
So many memories! The cars are the story of my family and our lives....
Our guide was lovely and gave us a great little tour.
Emmi Thomas — Google review
If you are in to Holden's, you should go here. If you are into cars in general still a place to go. Very interesting place.
Rick Sammons — Google review
Fantastic, staff super helpful and great . Amazing collection of all things GMH. Cars, white goods , war production and Cars. super rare Cordell Conversion on display.
Resort peak popular for skiing beginner & intermediate runs, snowboarding, hiking & cycling.
A wonderful resort, self contained of grid genaration of its own power, portable water, treatment of waste water and snow making facilities.
1997 saw 3 lp gas power generators fitted with town lp gas system to service lodge's with gas for heating and cooking, gas power generators to enable underground mains power , removing independent gas bottles and generators.
Plenty of walking tracks that link up to Baw Baw National Park. Good in the white season winter and green season summer.
On site cafe visiter centre have a grate range of items and grate coffee worth the drive and day trip.
Plenty of accommodation to meet budgets and each lodged have a sense of feel when you enter of many good times over the years.
The sleep is the best, getting up in the morning with peace no noise like the city and enjoy coffee while listening to news and traffic reports on the radio from Melbourne and just put on work shoes and start work.
Manimush — Google review
We really had the best snow experience and well enjoyed.
You can participate for many snow games there.
Foods from out side allowed.
There are small restaurants inside as well.
If you want to spend a night there you can book the small cottages least 3 months ago.
They are charging
$60 per vehicle (no matter how many ppl are inside)
+ $39 for your tier chains.(If you can bring your own chains for tiers you can save that money 😃)
Geeshi Live — Google review
What a beautiful drive from Melbourne up to this Alpine Village. It is lower than some of the others so not as much snow, but still very beautiful. We went for a bush walk rather than a ski. Just gorgeous.
Pre buy your tickets, it saves a few bucks, remember to check the snow cams before heading up. And you need snow chains for the car as you do for all Victorian ski resorts.
Fiona Goad — Google review
Mount Baw Baw yields a subpolar oceanic climate (Cfc). The mountain summit receives more annual precipitation than most places in mainland Australia, with frequent and heavy snow in winter (as well as a persistent snowpack). Frequent, heavy cloud-cover and turbulent winds mean that minimum temperatures rarely drop below −5 °C (23 °F), whereas maximum temperatures are frequently at or below 0 °C (32 °F); the mountain is often shrouded in low cloud or mist in winter, thereby reducing diurnal rang
Tharindu Dhanushka — Google review
Beautiful and cosy snow resort. Personally I liked it more than buller as its every facility is at hands reach and you get to drive right upto the resort. Also since the Village itself is mostly flat, walking around is not a drag.
When we went there was a lot of snow, lifts were going and plenty of snow play going on.
If you are planning a day trip, this is a perfect Snow resort.
Anuj Luthra — Google review
Went during school holidays but on a weekday. Got lucky to have some snow, and was not crowded. We reached around 11am and stayed till 3 (just sight seeing and toboggan activity).
Highly recommend pre booking resort entry, as it can save you few bucks. Entry to toboggan park can also be pre booked. But around 12:40 the colour of pass changes that means, if you had bought pass in the morning, then you have to pay again $12pp to get another pass for afternoon toboggan park entry. We had no issues with parking spots. Staff friendly and happy to help. Chain fitting can be down for $15 (don’t have to pay to take off chains downhill as long as you have the docket).
Did not ski, so no data to share.
Food and hot beverages options available uphill. But not cheap. Toilet facility available in the restaurants. Found it’s cheaper to rent toboggan downhill from local shops. Highly recommend for parents with school going kids.
R D — Google review
Had a cool summer walk around. Impressed with interesting tree shapes, lovely tiny flowers and many mossy boulders 🤩
Mmm Nguyen — Google review
I was pleasantly surprised snowboarding here having only been to Bulla. The snow was thick, lifts were open (my only comment is I wish they were chair lifts instead) and staff were very helpful! The process of hiring a board and boots was easy - a bit busy but expected for a Saturday in snow season! Get in early as the car park fills up pretty quickly. There are a few restaurants that serve delicious food and beer etc. i would come back for sure!
Sera M — Google review
Great for snow adventures closest to Melbourne. The kids area was super awesome and good access to two hire shops , sit down meals area and two cafe bars.
Andy Michelis — Google review
Great place for kids , just be there early to secure a parking spot or reach there later in the day.little bit to walk from the parking to the snow but not far. The cafe seems to be small and crowded. Haven’t tried the Skiing options but that is for next time. Check for the snow chain requirements even if you have 4WD/AWD cars. I was told to get a chain though I was driving an AWD car.
Jesto Jose — Google review
We went there on 5th aug. If you want to see snow, rather pick up another place. We did a whole circuit hike from baw baw village taking the summit trail and back from Mattheus track. The views, vegetation was amazing, we did see a fair bit of snow and that was fun. There was a bollywood event on the day which was a lot of unnecessary loud music. Tobbogan rides slots were booked out, the artificial snow was not as good either. Only recommend if you want to do a whole hike.
Sourav Jena — Google review
We recently visited Mount Baw Baw for a snow trip, and overall, it was a great experience. However, one downside was that it was quite crowded. The large number of visitors made it challenging to navigate through some areas and created longer wait times for certain attractions. Despite the crowds, we still had a fantastic time on the slopes and would recommend Mount Baw Baw for a snow trip, with the caveat to be prepared for the potential for crowds.
Nadeeka Fernando — Google review
Absolutely beautiful, first snow for me but hubby's been a couple of times to various places around aus and he said it's the best snow he's ever seen. We went a week before school holidays and managed to arrive on one of the best snow days of year. Since we were there before holidays we were one of 6 families and the snow was pristine. Snow upto your knees! Heaps of help from great staff and nooo lines!! Kids loved it and with an autistic child this was perfect. Mt bawbaw is so underrated. We stayed in Erika because we thought the village might be hectic but it was super quiet. We ordered our chains from erika which was a good idea as it gets a bit icy on your way up.
George Smiles — Google review
Good place to visit and have the snow experience. Before you go please go their official website and check the live cam footages (realtime) to check the status of snow falling to that location.
Waterfall cascading down huge steps of rock & plunging into a deep ravine, with a viewing area.
Very nice fall - quite big and lots of water when we went during Feb.
Just couple of minutes walk from the car park.
The area is spacious with lots of tables and chairs for picnic. Also have drop toilets.
Highly recommended!
Trang Nguyen — Google review
Lovely picnic area with the sounds of water Fall
nicky helow — Google review
Was quite surprised by Agnes Falls. Very beautiful place with information signs around. A good public toilet was also there, picnic tables and benches to sit by the river. The walking track was clear and good as well.
Jason Parry — Google review
In a beautiful area, not a hard walk to get to the falls. Picnic area with tables and bar b que. Worth the trip through the beautiful countryside.
The only thing that disappointed me was there was no toilet paper in the country dunny, which was bad especially during school holidays.
Jenny Franks — Google review
Great facilities and visitor board for extra education. Not a lot of parking and one of the roads to the falls is closed (despite people still driving through it). Lots of space for a picnic with tables and benches available. The viewing points are fantastic and you get a really great look at the falls. Absolutely majestic but you can't really get too close to it due to its nature. Toilet facilities also available :)
Issy D — Google review
Beautiful small nature reserve with magnificent falls and picturesque picnic grounds. Several tables located throughout the grounds and clean toilet located within the park. Great opportunities to see possible wildlife including kangaroos, koalas, platypus and lyrebirds found in the area. Very peaceful and relaxing environment to spend a morning or afternoon.
David Hendriks — Google review
Beautiful small nature reserve with magnificent falls and picturesque picnic grounds. Several tables located throughout the grounds and clean toilet located within the park. Great opportunities to see possible wildlife including kangaroos, koalas, platypus and lyrebirds found in the area. Very peaceful and relaxing environment to spend a morning or afternoon.
David Hendriks — Google review
Entry free, enough parking space, good ways to get to the fall.
A very lovely and peaceful place, for me an absoulute little secret :)
Vi — Google review
Peaceful environment frequently visited by interstate tourists and locals with children we met
Rosemary Race — Google review
A hidden gem but so easily accessible.
The water flow is quite nice after these few years of wet weather.
I have seen the fall down to a small trickle in the extreme dry season a decade ago.
T
Newly built toilets by the friends of Agnes Falls next to the carpark is well maintained and clean.
Jeremy Wong — Google review
Agnes Falls is a beautiful spot that is perfect for a day trip with family or friends. The falls are very scenic, and the viewing area is a great place to take in the scenery. However, the parking can be difficult, so be sure to arrive early on weekends. Also, the toilets are not the best, so keep that in mind. Overall, I would highly recommend Agnes Falls to anyone looking for a beautiful and refreshing place to visit.
Bibin Thomas — Google review
Not a far walk from carport, With public toilet, and rotuna with picnic table, Beautiful surrounds with lots of native birds and sounds. The smell of the gum trees and the sound of the falls, So enchanting. Would be great for the plant life to be maintained so that you can see the falls as it has overgrown. Perfect walk for a family.
katrina jeanes — Google review
Not a far walk from carport, With public toilet, and rotuna with picnic table, Beautiful surrounds with lots of native birds and sounds. The smell of the gum trees and the sound of the falls, So enchanting. Would be great for the plant life to be maintained so that you can see the falls as it has overgrown. Perfect walk for a family.
katrina jeanes — Google review
Free entrance.
Nice and quiet place for a picnic (no bbq), not much to see though. 5min walk to the falls, but can only be seen from above.
Lorella P C — Google review
Very nice fall - quite big and lots of water when we went during Feb.
Just couple of minutes walk from the car park.
The area is spacious with lots of tables and chairs for picnic. Also have drop toilets.
Highly recommended!
Trang Nguyen — Google review
Beautiful and relaxing with an easy walking area to see the falls. Lots of tables to sit at and eat as well as amenities. A beautiful spot to visit. It is free to visit which is a bonus.
Tammy Sinclair — Google review
Agnes Falls is located at 125 Agnes Falls Road, Hazel Park, Victoria in the Strzelecki Ranges. The picturesque gorge and surrounding environment are perfect for a picnic and a relatively short walk to the falls and Agnes river. Wheel chair access to the falls and picnic area would be challenging as the paths are rough and steep in places. I would recommend checking the fire rating prior to any visit.
Walt McIvor — Google review
Very nice little waterfall.
Not much of a walk. About 300m from the car park if you take the route by the river.
Little steep down to the scenic view of the fall. So for the elderly or children, just be careful. A few picnic tables and a toilet is available at site.
28/1/24: be ware is coming from Yarram direction. Hazel park road is closed. Detour to Silcocks hill rd and make a loop to access.
樱木花 — Google review
All year round! This waterfall is beautiful no matter the time of year. We run a waterfall chasing TikTok account (@CascadeQuest) so we’re always looking for falls during the warmer months. This is a beauty!
David Vader — Google review
Really cool place to visit.
I was dubious around how this would look in the summer. I've been to some waterfalls that are trickles, but this did not disappoint.
It's absolutely worth the look.
As a hint, one of the two roads getting there was closed, but as a bonus you can check out the wind turbines too.
Marki Miklic — Google review
This postage stamp sized arnica reserve is a great spot managed by Parks Victoria.
There are two options to view the falls, a river walk just over 300m long or the slightly shorter more direct route from the carpark.
The carpark isn’t massive so wouldn’t recommend coming down with massive trailers or vans.
There are picnic tables and well cared for lawn areas. Nice place to stop in on your way through the region.
Jarrod Bell — Google review
An amazing view of the falls. I was there two days after the 100 mm rainfall. The path is approx 300 meters. There are toilets in the car park. Unfortunately the car park is not big (can fit approx 10 cars).
Yaniv Alamaru — Google review
4.6
(991)
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4.5
(129)
125 Agnes Falls Rd, Hazel Park VIC 3966, Australia
I'm with a walking group from Trafalgar. We walked through the rose gardens yesterday and were blown away by how fantastic it is. Would highly recommend visiting. The range and colours were amazing.
Jan Bayliss — Google review
An amazing collection of over 200 different types of roses - more than 4000 bushes - in bloom. They had passed the full glory of their spring flowering, but it was still a glorious sight.
Elizabeth Webster — Google review
Had a wonderful afternoon at the Centenary Rose Garden Festival. The community vibe was terrific and was a wonderful advertisement for LaTrobe City. Congratulations to the events team and the numerous other contributors to the event.
Iain Livingstone — Google review
Such a lovely garden with beautiful roses 🌹
Kelvin Liew — Google review
Beautiful spot for a stroll to smell the fragrant roses. Great place to take selfies or professional shots. Well maintained throughout the year and even more so when the annual rose festival is held, with stall holders offering all kinds of products suited to gardeners. Public toilets within metres of rose garden.
Dianne O'Halloran — Google review
Definitely recommend a visit here! Such an amazing and diverse collection of roses 🌹💐, so colourful and oh my gosh the aroma is heavenly! The gardeners have truly done a wonderful job..
Penny Papacostantinou — Google review
What's special is, bunch of rose flowers, varieties of color, more than expected, so beautiful
Ravinder Kumar Singh — Google review
Morwell Rose Festival was an excellent display today, plenty to interest nice gardens and lots of stalls
Richard G — Google review
We've been doing the East Coast, visiting several gardens, and this rose garden is the best so far.
Valeria Pineda — Google review
This is an extremely beautiful large rose garden. When we went it was in full bloom with many colours on display in a variety of different areas. My partner was extremely excited and had many photos here.
Jason Parry — Google review
Amazing light show at Morwell Roses Gardens during the holiday season!!! I likes that the local administration does so many for the community, people from Melbourne travel one and half hour to visit it! Well done and huge appreciation to all team members that participates on it!!!
Vladimir Velikov — Google review
Beautiful Rose 🌹 garden with over 4000 Roses. The largest variety of Roses from all over the world. Must see place specially in the first weekend of September as there is The 🌹 festival and there is light show in night and music and food Day time.
Nestled in a picturesque valley, Walhalla is a meticulously preserved goldmining town with a rich history. The area was once heavily deforested by mining companies, but now offers lush greenery and intriguing remnants of its past. A must-see attraction is the Walhalla Goldfields Railway, which dates back to 1910 and was revived in 2002 after years of disuse. Visitors can embark on this historic train journey through the stunning landscape.
A wonderful chance to take in some breathtaking scenery and the Walhalla Valley at a leisurely pace. Fantastic customer service pleasant staff very knowledgeable absolutely stunning scenery plenty of opportunities to take good shots. absolutely wonderful experience.
The last train is at 3.00 pm you should not miss that. It’s one of the best experiences.
Deji H — Google review
Another great attraction in Walhalla.
With train falling we still decided to choose the open carriage and were not disappointed.
All staff were just awesome and super helpful.
I would recommend purchasing tickets online to avoid disappointment, as there maybe times where all seats maybe taken.
For a train buff, definitely worth a visit.
Martz B — Google review
We had a great ride on the Goldfields Railway. The ride time from Walhalla to Thomson and back again was just right for me, my wife and 3&7 year old. The railway winds through the valley along the creek and is wonderful to see.
Laurence Fox — Google review
It was magical! With limited physical ability,I needed a way to explore Australia and Steam Rail's Snow Train to Walhalla gave me the opportunity. Breathtaking natural views, winding road by the side of hills and ice cold river - very calming and soothing experience. Highly recommended.
Rita Hasan — Google review
Beautiful Hidden Gem.
Highly recommend spending the day in Walhalla.
Train Ride followed by BBQ lunch in Stringers Park, stroll through town visiting the old post office full of history.
We spent the afternoon at the Long Extended Tunnel Gold mine.
Perfect day out for the family, couples and friends wanting to explore.
Micaela — Google review
Lovely ride along the river. Unfortunately it was pissing rain all day and only activities we could do were train and mine tour. Nothing opens before 10 am so don’t get there early to look around prior to 10 especially on a wet day 😔. Was a long day sitting around waiting for tours in the wet. My advice is pick a nice day arrive 10.30 for first train ride at 11. have a look around/lunch then do 1.30 mine tour then continue sightseeing on a good day. Town is a step back in time and is very serene and beautiful
Julie Metcalf — Google review
Such a fun experience! It feels like you really going back in time. Rides are daily at 11 a.m. 1 and 3 p.m. Even if it is a short ride, it is worth it. Walhalla is gorgeous and so worth a visit! Recommend doing the ghost tour, it was surprisingly fun!
Lis Conde — Google review
Beautiful Train ride. Took us for a ride in Beautiful Scenery up to Thompson Station. Customer service is really good.
We booked for 1pm, but they already let the people who booked for 2pm so we don't have enough space. The service should be cut and clear for only allowing people who booked that specific time.
Balamurugan Shanmugam — Google review
This is an exceptional place with rich history. It is very peaceful here and there is a museum operated by dedicated voluteers. The Post & Telegraph Office is a must-visit place!
T Alexis — Google review
A great part of the former Walhalla line. Last visited about ten years ago and the railway is still beautifully preserved.
I don’t recall from our last visit but there is a cafe in the old goods shed. The food is reasonably priced and there is a decent selection of food as well. Well worth the visit.
Byron C — Google review
A fun day out especially if you are staying in or near Walhalla. The tickets are a little on the higher side but such friendly staff and a really lovely experience made it worthwhile. So happy it is dog friendly too!
Alice — Google review
Stunning scenery on this 45 min train ride. The staff were very friendly and answered lots of my questions. Plus my husband hopped into the engine driver’s cabin and had a good look at the instruments
A nice activity to do in Walhalla
Pam Pitt — Google review
Lovely historic tourist train service. Run by friendly volunteers. Train was full so best to book ahead. 20 minutes at Thompson station before boarding again to head back. Best views are on the right going and left on return.
Angela Bowater — Google review
Crazy expensive, but fun if you’re on the right side of the carriage.
Just cool experience to be on an old train ect but yeh.
15 min at the other end then back on the train.
The cafe at the start/end had nice food though.
Mads Hughes — Google review
What a great trip.
Went from Walhalla to Thompson and back.
Bit of hail blanketed the scenery giving it a special charm. We also got waylaid by some ducks on the tracks doing their best bushranger impressions!
Fantastic staff along the way pointing out various features and giving some history.
Great way to view the river and valley and support the maintenance of this historic area at the same time.
Cafe at the station with reasonable prices and a little souvenir shop to also help raise funds.
Wheelchair and pram accessible.
Pays to book in advance.
Worth spending a full day or weekend in this amazing old town.
Jenni Clark — Google review
This is a must on anyones list.
Ten stars out of five.
A restored train line, originally opened in 1910, this rail line was the major link in and out of this gold mining town.
The volunteers who operate the railway have dedicated years to restoring the line, trestle bridges, locos, carriages and station.
Have a chat with them, especially Ian.
Parking at the station is a bit limited, so get in early.
The whole area is kid, pet and wheelchair friendly.
Not only that, but their cafe is brilliant, offering coffee thats better than Melbourne!
A useful tip is out of summer, take a coat, as the weather is changeable.
Small car park.
Fair price. Online was easy.
Cafe
Wheelchair and dog friendly
Ten stars out of five.
Ben LONGDEN — Google review
Brilliant little adventure we had a ball. It would be awesome if it was extended to Erica great work to all the volunteers who have made the rail possible
The Long Tunnel Extended Gold Mine in Walhalla offers guided tours that take visitors deep into the underground workings of the historic mine. With a rich history dating back to the gold rush era, this 8.5km mine eventually became one of the most productive in the area, yielding over 13,695kg of gold.
I’d highly recommend this tour. Informative and eye opening to learn about how tough it was to be a miner back in the days. The tour lasted for about 45 minutes and cost $20. We went during school holidays and our tour was relatively quiet with only 6 people in total.
Jason Lau — Google review
Walhalla mine and the whole town is very picturesque, peaceful and professionally run by a largely volunteer group who are worthy of praise. I did the mine tour, the train ride and camped at the well catered Chinese gardens campground. The history and geology are an added attraction
Mark O'carrigan — Google review
Very fascinating tour lead by our wonderful guide, Richard. He went above and beyond as we got caught in traffic (coming from 3 hours away) and missed our original slot, so he did an extra tour for us. The tour was very informative, and the mine was unlike any I have been in before. Really enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone. Very easy walk for elderly or injured.
Sophie Charlotte — Google review
Super interesting tour. Our guide was super friendly and knowledgeable of the area. Tours available at 11 a.m, 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Walhalla is a Victorian jewel! A visit is so highly recommended!
Lis Conde — Google review
Take a day trip from Melbourne out to this Hidden Gem!
We have been on a few mine tours over the years and this one certainly surprised us both.
We were blown away by how much history was in this little town.
Clayton our guide was extremely knowledgeable and the tour had so much history to view on hand such as old equipment etc.
Would highly recommend spending the day out in Walhalla.
Micaela — Google review
When we arrived we were greeted by the staff and straight away were checked in and informed of how things were going to work.
What an amazing part of Walhalla’s golden history.
Clayton was our mine guide for our tour and his knowledge was fantastic.
Highly recommend and a definite must visit.
Martz B — Google review
Excellent adventure. Kids loved it. Appreciated the effort that the staff went to to ensure all visitors got the chance to have a tour by doing tours every 15 mins
Jac Anne W — Google review
Well wot a great tour we went about 160 metres or more underground big mine. Our tour was at 1330 I still can't get over how deep it goes if you put the Eureka Tower done the mine you could fit three of them down there . Fantastic lv Walhalla. Walhalla is about 2 hours from Melbourne and check out Thomson Dam
Henry trimble — Google review
I recently visited the Long Tunnel Extended Gold Mine in Walhalla, Victoria, and it was an incredible experience. The staff were incredibly friendly and welcoming, and our tour guide, Ben, was extremely knowledgeable about the site's history.
Exploring the tunnels, which extend for over 800 meters, was a fascinating journey through time, and the exhibits and artifacts on display were informative and engaging. It was truly a worthwhile visit, and I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in learning about the rich history of gold mining in Australia.
Overall, my experience at the Long Tunnel Extended Gold Mine was fantastic. It was an excellent opportunity to learn about the local history of the area, and I left feeling enriched and enlightened. If you're ever in the area, be sure to stop by and see it for yourself!
Chaz — Google review
Well maintained History. Friendly Staff. Enjoyed the whole trip inside the tunnel. Our Guide has explained the stories of the tunnel.
Inside tunnel was very cold. Try wear full sleeves and jackets.
prefer to book in advance.
Note - Don't get scared as there is a horn sound at start of the trip.
Balamurugan Shanmugam — Google review
Awesome tour learning some history of years gone by.
Tour guide was full of knowledge regarding the mine and town.
Vicky Marr — Google review
Amazing historical significance of the 1800's Victorian gold rush. Local tour guides do an amazing job of explaining the life of a miner in the old days and the significance of North South quartz reefs. The 45 minute tour into the mine is a great experience for young and old alike.
Peter Loosley — Google review
Spectacular attention to detail! I was walking near the reception area with my hubs and I saw a spider 🕷️ nothing critically dangerous at all however I made a funny scream hubby laughed about it and the 2 gentlemen that run the business ran towards me on the spot to help me🥰 how amazing is that!!!! I strongly recommend it for families with their kids to visit this beautiful and historical place!
Chelly Garcia — Google review
Easter Day Family day visit, parking limited, 45 mins guided mine tour not worth $90 family price ticket, otherwise historical info and cosy little town Walhalla around to sightsee also
Sylvia Bayside Yoga — Google review
Very interesting experience. Take a coat as can be cold underground. Also decent shoes as muddy and slippery. Would not recommend for children under 10 as they get would get bored and can be dangerous if parents aren’t keeping a close eye on them. We had a couple of maybe 4 year olds who became bored, noisy and fell in the mud.
Some sombre moments reflecting the sad history. I got in back of group so I could take some good pics free of people. Suggest pre booking as gets booked up quickly.
Angela Bowater — Google review
The mine dates from the Victorian Era. There is a guided tour of the Walhalla Long Tunnel Extended Gold Mine. We learned a bit about what life was like for the miners and learned how this became one of the worlds' richest gold mines.
The tour take you 150 meters below the surface and 300 meters into the hillside to the huge underground machinery chamber. It is quite cool inside, and at the end of our 50-minute tour, I was ready for the summer heat.
There is also an interesting display of old photos and artifacts on site.
Ann Baity — Google review
Well worth the visit should you be in the area, mine visits are best pre booked as weekends are usually busy. Love the history of the area and how resilient the people were under very difficult circumstances.
We enjoyed walking around the reserve. It has a nice view, park benches, wild ducks and other birds. It is also have a parking area.
Konstantin K — Google review
Fantastic local, natural parkland with lake. Easy to access, parking for several cars, easy walk around the lake. Take your time and look for the bird life, butterflies, dragonflies, tiny tiny fish at the edge of the lake.
I definitely recommend this park for a leisurely stroll around the lake.
And take a picnic! Because there are several spots with benches and picnic tables.
Donna H — Google review
First week of March in Traralgon was not cold at all. Beautiful walk around the railway reservoir. Pedestrian Bridge and walkways under construction, even though the complex date has passed.
Faisal Haroon — Google review
Beautiful walks, wildlife, trees, board walks
There is shelter and toilets as well, free.
Angela Foulkes — Google review
Very peaceful and calm, nice place to relax and enjoy the nature.
Venkata Cherukuri — Google review
This is a beautiful nature reserve hidden away in Traralgon that has a gravel walking track, plenty of seating with picnic tables, public toilets and information signs. The lake is nice with birdlife and many water lillies and also a viewing platform. There is parking available.
Jason Parry — Google review
Just on the edge of town and a great walk around the dam which is wheelchair friendly. Abundant bird life to feed. Picnic tables but need a clean before use. Public toilet. A hide to spy on the bird life. Tree's and grasses native to the area. Great for children to check out nature.
Lorraine Stratford — Google review
Local park filled with wildlife. A serene park to have a evening scroll looking at the water lilies. Really loved the huge reservoir filled with flowers.
Chathu Kularathna — Google review
Beautiful reservoir with lots of bird wildlife around the lake. Pleasant walk around the lake and through the grassland area with plenty of photo opportunities for bird lovers or nature photographers. A few places to picnics, toilet facilities and great for children. Wheelchair and pushchair friendly, and a great hour or two spent here.
Kerbray — Google review
This was a beautiful morning out for me and my 4 year old. It has toilets and water and nice places to sit with kids for a picnic. Very picturesque on a gorgeous May day. Easy to navigate with prams and bikes
Tarra-Bulga National Park is a protected rainforest that boasts giant tree ferns, picnic areas, walking tracks, and waterfalls. It is an isolated national park that provides visitors with a sense of being transported back to the Stone Age. The park's seclusion makes it an ideal destination during Covid times when people seek solace in nature without encountering crowds. The Corrigan suspension bridge offers breathtaking views and should be on every visitor's itinerary.
Very secluded national park, absolutely brings you back into Stone Age. Hence this is a great place to come during Covid, because there aren’t a lot of people. So you can enjoy the beauty of nature and indulge yourself in some quietness.
The corrigan suspension bridge is a must go if you come here, because the views are extraordinary. However, there is literally no restaurants or cafes around, so bring some food to eat at the picnic area.
Overall a great escape to the nature.
Long 4saken — Google review
Easy beautiful trail, such rich biodiversity! We were on mushroom watch the whole time to see how many different species we could find. Glorious when overcast and a little bit rainy (but maybe that’s just me). Would love to come back after some rainfall to see more running water! It was just so nice to be immersed in nature like this.
Ella Tough — Google review
Cool place even in hot days. There are few walking tracks through dense forest and one way leads to suspension bridge. There is toilet block and few picnic tables at car park.
Varghese Zacharia — Google review
It's worth a national Park. If you're heading there for a day visit from Melbourne, start early in the morning. Pack some food with you to eat at the site. Then head to the forest and suspension bridge. There are steep slopes for walking. On your way you Will witness fallen trees on paths. If you have anyone for 45 years + consider extra time and think if they can make it. Overall enchanting forest experience. It's a very deep forest experience. Small waterfalls / fountains are unbelievably true. Take a seat for 15 mins when you're deep in experience.
Kiran Upale — Google review
We love this forest, it feels like an area that time forgot and with its own climate. I remember coming here as a kid, and now coming back to see how I've gotten older, but the forest is relatively the same. Wait for the human sounds to die out and be treated to a magical soundscape of birds, rain, and the breeze through the leaves. Beautiful in all weather conditions, be prepared for rain, mud, and a few leeches. The suspension bridge is an easy walk, and it's sure to leave a few memories behind.
Baba Nadimpalli — Google review
Beautiful national park in Gippsland region.
Have a big visitor center and picnic area.
Numerous short walking tracks in the forest and to the suspension bridges.
You can have a picnic in Tarra valley area too and expore the waterfalls as well.
Good to spend a day in the nature to chill and relax or have a family gathering/picnic.
Not many other activities, so 1 day is enough in the area.
Trang Nguyen — Google review
Fantastic 6.6 km hike from visitor center to suspension bridge then double back to Lyrebird trail. You can grab a map from the visitor center tin box if it is not open. Track is wide but it can get boggy and has some decent inclines - what goes down must come up. Good hiking boots and socks highly recommended. Plan for a picnic at the end. Lots of tables and a BBQ area at the visitor center car park.
Kristy — Google review
The Tarra-Bulga National Park is a joy to visit if you're into nature and hiking.
The tree ferns make a beautiful green backdrop to the giant mountain ashes throughout the park. There are trails that are well-marked and clear and go throughout the park. There are also many picnic tables and even electric bbqs at the Tourist Visitor Centre and another feature is the Suspension bridge which is well visited. Tarra falls is another quick stop.
Jason Parry — Google review
This is such a beautiful walking spot. The views are so lovely and the sounds of the creeks are so calming. I love the moody atmosphere of this forest/park. The trail is not too intense, so it is suitable for most fitness levels. Definitely worth a visit if you're around the area.
Mandie L. — Google review
Such an amazing national park in the middle of rainforests with a few nice walking tracks that are suitable for all fitness levels. The suspension bridge which has been surrounded by the green atmosphere was the most scenic part of the park with a stunning view. Highly recommended to visit if you are around the area.
Pejman Babaei — Google review
A pleasant delight finding out about this national Park while camping in the area. There are a few short walks that are suitable for taking kids, and then a couple of longer walks (2-4km) that you can do in a loop. Definitely recommend visiting if you're around
Usain Bolt — Google review
We went to this national park with friends.
It good place for walking, Hiking, lookout and picnics.
Highly recommended to visit this park.
M H M — Google review
Traversed the Forest and Lyrebird track on a cool but sunny afternoon. Suitable for medium fitness or keen walker - beautiful terrain and well maintained track but a little muddy from recent rain.
Good range of different vegetation including a lovely, beech forest in a mountain creek gully.
We parked at the Visitor Centre and did the trail as a loop - incorporating the Ash track and Corrigan's suspension bridge into our return trip.
The lady in the Visitor centre was really helpful with supplying a map and pointing us in the right direction to get started.
Brialey Brightwell — Google review
I had an afternoon drive from melbourne to Tarra Bulga national park.
A visitor information centre on site but maybe closed if severe weather or short-staffed as they rely on volunteers.
Toilet on site, tap water 🚰 had a strong head pressure, water not drinkable.
There is an accessible track that can be used by a wheelchair.
Dogs not allowed in the park.
Parking available at the entrance.
Peaceful as you walk along the tracks with the sounds of lyrebirds and the rustling of the leaves in the wind.
Walk down to the suspension bridge and immerse yourself to the wonderful sight of the suspension bridge especially from the look out spot.
You can take really good pictures here.
Stanley Lelei — Google review
Huge park to wander round but it is a rain forest!!!
Great to be walking right next to the tree ferns. The massive mountain Ash trees. Fantastic views. I would recommend good walking shoes as some paths were steep and wet.
A lack of volunteers meant some of the centres were closed but some bright spark had the walking maps available outside!
Loved the information boards. Some of the steep paths were closed for safety reasons.
No dogs allowed as they kill wildlife. Picnic and barbecue areas I saw were next to main car park.
Chris Moss — Google review
Road into the park was super sketchy in a 2WD. Google maps said that the main road was closed so pretty much took me up some logging roads. Was doable but if the main way is closed, I'd go the slightly longer way via carrajung lower, unless you're in a 4WD. The park itself was great. We did a short walk to the suspension bridge. Had we had longer there I would have done one of the longer loops. There is an information centre there and flushing loos but no food facilities. You can however BYO and have a picnic there. There are tables in the main car park area. Nice stop over if you wanted to go a long way back to Melbourne if you're coming back from the Prom.
Nora — Google review
Quite a good track for the family. Short under an hour walk to the suspension bridge. Not too difficult and nice canopy if sun is out.
Excellent enjoyed this little museum, lots to see and read. Well worth the visit. If you like anything maritime this is for you. Tonne of history about port albert
robert bewley — Google review
Amazing museum. So many interesting artefacts and information. Definitely worth a visit.
Jayne Ayrton — Google review
What a great experience. Combination of history, ship wrecks, marine life, old navigation systems and much more packed in one place. Please check opening days and timing prior to visit. We visited on sunday during school holidays.
Saad Habib Ahmed — Google review
Great little museum lots in interesting things to look at.
Bryony — Google review
What a top place to come and learn about your meeting if you want to see a little bit of the museum check it out on YouTube with Oz RV travels that does free and budget campsites around Australia
OZ RV TRAVELS — Google review
What a cool place to stop!! The park is amazing!! Water front is beautiful!! The old buildings around town are cool to see too!!
Stacey Bax — Google review
A great little museum with well set out, informative exhibits. Allow at least a couple of hours to take it all in.
katherine sellers — Google review
Good place to see.
The ticket was cheap and it's worth a visit.
Erfan Rezaei — Google review
Have been numerous times & it's always run by friendly staff & a fun experience/walk through history.
Vanessa'ann Twigg — Google review
Friendly staff, great information interested
History very involved
Chas Sturrock — Google review
Excellent place if interested in maritime things could possibly spend several hours there
Beautiful place with stunning views. Food and service were fantastic! Enjoyed my birthday celebration so much! So glad we have a place like this in our area.
Jane — Google review
Nice lunch and good service. The only downside for me was that my glass of Avon Ridge sparkling wine seemed a bit flat and it would have been great to have a bowl to put my empty mussel shells in so I could easily eat all the sugo.
Casey Bryan — Google review
Stopped here mid afternoon and had a fabulous lunch. The entrees and meals were brought out in a very timely manner. The menu was simple and delish. Most impressed with their stocked craft beers. Loved it. Ten stars.
Karen Buckley — Google review
The best food you will ever eat
Also awesome venue for a wedding
Darrin Canning — Google review
Wonderful wine, gnocchi was delicious, so flavorsome and filling. Hubby had the fish n chips and was stoked. The place is looking much better since the new manager, nice greenery around, including the lights above, maybe l think, a new paint job inside. Staff were beaut and serving was a breeze, one even returned half way through the meal to check it was to everyone's liking. Also wait staff at end of meal wanted to know if everyone was satisfied with meals, excellent! Can't wait to return with the ladies next time, well done guys 😉😍
Chris Hooper — Google review
Great variety of food options & very friendly staff..
Definitely a beautiful view and a nice place to sit in any weather there are heaters under the verandah & big wooden outdoor seating with umbrellas for summer.
Tahlia Dugan — Google review
Very pleasant Sunday sippers session. Beautiful verandah area caught the afternoon breeze and couple of very tasty Avon Ridge ciders. Add the sweet tones of a local musician... Perfect afternoon. The views are not bad either.
Richard Kors — Google review
We celebrated my birthday at The Vines on Avon today and we can't speak highly enough of our experience. The staff were excellent and the food was absolutely delicious. We were a party of five and everyone ordered something different. Wow! All the meals were fabulous and we all commented on how lucky we are to be local to this wonderful venue. Congratulations to you all on your new venture and we look forward to returning in the very near future. If you are wanting to experience an extra special meal, don't hesitate, you won't be disappointed!
Lynne Neilson — Google review
Just letting you know that the venue looked amazing and that we have had so much feedback on how great it was there and how fantastic the staff were.
The ambience of your venue cannot be beaten and I will not hesitate in recommending it anyone.
As it is we already have friends that are going to go there for Sunday sippers now due to the decking etc
Thanks again!
Jacquie
Avon Ridge Vineyard — Google review
4.6
(60)
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4.0
(48)
446 Maffra-Stratford Road, Maffra VIC 3860, Australia
La Trobe Swing Bridge is a remarkable feat of engineering and a valuable destination for history enthusiasts. The area boasts informative information boards, ample parking on both sides of the bridge, and stunning views of the waterway from atop. Despite occasional flooding during early spring, the attraction remains intriguing to visitors. This Australian landmark represents a well-preserved piece of national engineering history and has undergone meticulous restoration efforts. The bridge opens every Saturday at noon, showcasing its impressive mechanical functionality.
No tickets required. An old swing bridge (rotating) where the La Trobe and Thompson rivers meet, and near the Sale Common nature reserve. Very pleasant place for a picnic or a walk, or just to see the old bridge and take pictures.
Simon Williams — Google review
It's a bridge over a river..... Thats what I thought then I read the information and realised its an engineering work of art!
Only accessible by foot or bicycle, no vehicles can drive over this but there are parking spots nearby.
I took the 5km walk from town centre and was a nice walk through the swamplands finally arriving at the bridge.
If you are into old engineering pieces and like historical places then it's worth a trip here!
Jason Wymer — Google review
A piece of Australian engineering history well kept. It has been restored.
Edgar Lok Tin Yung Feng Shui Chinese Astrology — Google review
A great example of engineering skill. Bridge opens on Saturday at mid-day.
Roger Playdon — Google review
Beautiful day out here today at the Latrobe swing bridge in sale victoria Australia
Lovely place to come out and have a picnic with your loved ones or friends
A few tables and seats
Grass needs a mow
Their is a small ward for you to go fishing
The opening times are in my photos
Did not get to see the bridge swing today but a lovely place to visit
Well worth coming out to see
Travel with Terry — Google review
Interesting place. We were not aware of the extent of maritime traffic into Port of Sale prior to this visit. Informative boards detail the efforts made so far to restore the swing bridge. Well worth the stop.
Paul Wynne — Google review
The Swing Bridge is a short drive from town and is in a very tranquil and picturesque setting. An interesting engineering feature.
Rae-Anne Diehm — Google review
Historic Swing Bridge is located in the town of Sale. It's worth a look at if you are in the area. Www.Youtube/@IanandLorrainesAussiadventure
Ian Scott — Google review
If you're in Sale, it's worth the 10 minute drive to check out this piece if history. Built between 1880 - 1883, it took 2 x bridge keepers to open by hand crank. The bridge opens each Saturday and Sunday between 3pm and 4pm at the time of writing this review with a custom mechanical drive. Attraction is wheelchair accessible, however watch the gaps in the wooden bridge.
Rodney Cornwall — Google review
Good to see this historic bridge restored so well.
Fraser Creese — Google review
Nice spot to stop and have a rest, picnic or marvel at the historical bridge. If you are lucky enough to come at the right time you'll see the hi-vis crew wheel out the generator and crank to rotate the bridge. No bathroom facilities.
Georgia Sands — Google review
This bridge is one of the oldest surviving swing bridges in Australia, being constructed between 1880-1883, and is regarded as one of the engineering wonders of Gippsland, being able to swing through 360 degrees.
It has been well restored to its original state and has many information signs around it. A very scenic place.
Jason Parry — Google review
A great piece of engineering and an informative stop-off for those looking to embrace some history in the area. Plenty of information boards and parking on both sides of the bridge. Somewhat flooded in early spring at the time of visiting, but still interesting nonetheless. Some beautiful views of the waterway from the bridge too.
St Marys Catholic Church is a stunning place that offers a peaceful and awe-inspiring experience. The interior is adorned with fabulous paintings on the ceiling and beautiful stained glass windows, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of churches in Italy. Visitors are captivated by the evocative artwork throughout the church, making it well worth a visit. The guided tours provide great insights into the history of this beautiful old Catholic church, adding to the extraordinary experience.
Wow what an amazing church. We had the guided tour and it was very interesting. I highly recommend visiting the church.
Rose-Anne M — Google review
Extraordinary. Great story from the guide. Today we had Christine and she was excellent. Love it.
Bollybroad — Google review
Incredible that you can still walk into a place like this for free and be awe-inspired and feel so much peace away from the world. Worth making the suggested donation for continued upkeep so that many more can enjoy for years to come.
Go WestGourmet — Google review
Love the paintings! Couldn't stop staring and wondering at the evocative work throughout mass.
Well worth a visit.
Georgia Tan — Google review
Beautiful painting on the ceiling reminded us our trip to Italy. Strongly recommend visiting.
MC — Google review
Just a beautiful old Catholic church. Beautiful scenes painted on the ceilings, that alone is worth the visit. Lucky parishioners, wish it was my local church.
Colleen Maher — Google review
Amazing church. We also had a local guide give us all the information we wanted. Not normally our thing, yet we spend an hour here and enjoyed every minute. This is the must see of Bairnsdale, along with the rail trail of course.
Rohan Matthews — Google review
Definitely worth a stop. The outside is like many old churches in Australia but the inside makes you feel like you are in a church in Italy. Fabulous paintings adorn the whole ceiling and there is beautiful stained glass windows.
Geri Haydon — Google review
So beautiful and peaceful, I almost didn’t wanna disturb the vibe, i left not being able to touch anything because I didn’t wanna break anything or disturb the peace 😭
Dr. Mysterion — Google review
Amazing painting work inside the church
Worth visiting
Good place for worship
Umesh Joseph — Google review
A very nice place to see in Bairnsdale. You can easily reach it from the train station. I went there only because I was waiting a coach for Canberra, but it is definitely not a waste of time visiting this nice church.
Tiziano Ferracci — Google review
One of the oldest churches in the area, I couldn't stop looking at it, very nice and humble place, a may God bless you all 🙏
Raymond Island is a picturesque island that can be accessed by ferry and is renowned for its abundant nature. Visitors can enjoy exploring the island's trails, where they have the opportunity to spot koalas in their natural habitat. Additionally, the island is home to a unique floating restaurant that was originally the iconic Raymond Island Ferry, adding an interesting historical touch to the dining experience.
Bullant Brewery is a fantastic spot in Victoria with a wide selection of unique and delicious beers. The friendly staff are very helpful, making the experience even more enjoyable. They offer beer paddles for those who want to try out different flavors and you can also purchase extra samples if you're curious about other brews. The food is also highly recommended, with options like the Bullant Beef Burger being described as very tasty and perfect for pairing with their beers.
We enjoyed a delicious lunch with friendly, very helpful service.
Coffee is good, amenities spotless.
We were also able to buy local and not-so-local beers and ciders guided by helpful advice.
Thanks staff at Bullants :)
Linda Dyer — Google review
really nice lil brewery @bullantbrewery in Victoria, the guys were heaps friendly and the beers were unique and delish! 🍻 we got a beer paddle so we could try out a couple flavours, don't quite remember what they were hahaha but it was so nice to be able to choose our own!
check out my food insta @erinxeats for more!
erinxeats — Google review
Great food and beer with friendly service. And yes, the dog friendly area is out on the back verandah, which was fine as it was a quiet day and it wasn't an issue getting a seat.
Kelsi Mullane — Google review
While the location and idea behind the brewery has great potential, our service and food experience was disappointing. To begin, there was a lot of confusion about our reservation. Then the shared plate we ordered had undercooked chicken, the pizza was small & rosemary and sea salt steak cut chips apparently mean pre-cut style with a bonkas amount of table salt and no rosemary. No one checked in with us throughout the meal. Overpriced for quality.
Rebecca Perkins — Google review
Great beer, food and friendly and helpful staff 😁
Quentin Wright — Google review
Would not recommend,
Apparently dog friendly, however it was 34 degrees today,, we could not sit on front verandah section which had a lovely breeze, only on rear small verandah that was like a sauna with no working fan (apparently not an outdoor fan, it lost its blades. I asked if we could use front section as no one else there, was told, no we can't "rules are rules".
Food was overpriced, for quality. Husbands Ale was flat.
Jo V — Google review
Good place to end your visit in this very pretty historic township, located on the Great Alpine Road. The microbrewery offers a broad selection of preservative-free ales, pilsner & stouts. Their 'Bites' menu can accommodate almost any appetite - gluten-free & vegan dishes available. We chose the oven roasted Barramundi & their signature beef burger - along with its recommended stout.
Outdoor & indoor seating is available. The staff were quite knowledgeable about different types of brews on offer. The store had a selection of take home six pack, as well as some locally sourced produce (eg. honey).
Gail A — Google review
Came here with the family of four. Waitress was lovely, but wait time too long considering hardly any customers.
My husband paid $30 for a very small dish of lemon chicken ( apparently under the big bite section). Ver stingy!
Pizza’s were average and over priced.
I would not recommend this restaurant.
Simone Mifsud — Google review
Very nice pizza, small but loaded with toppings. Great size to share. Brilliant beers. Great service. No annoying dogs allowed out front, sick of people's badly behaved dogs.
Rohan Matthews — Google review
Awesome brewery with a great selection of beers and food to choose from plus friendly service.
Really enjoyed a paddle of beers with lunch and it was good to see you can purchase extra samples if you just fancy a little taste of another beer, especially enjoyed their Brown Ale and the Stout.
To eat, we had the Bullant Beef Burger which was very tasty and perfect beer food.
With plenty of outdoor seating, I highly recommend calling in if in the area, probably best to book at weekends but we noticed they still tried to fit people in if they hadn't.
Nigel — Google review
Food was awesome. I'm not a beer drinker so I didn't bother with that. They had lots of other drinks. The staff were friendly and helpful but struggled with the business of the day maybe needed more staff but I realise it's hard to get enough staff these days. All in a pleasant experience.
Janne Smith — Google review
No stars 😕 you should be ashamed of yourselves.
One of our party sent back a raw pork chop only to be given the same one back just thrown in the pan or microwaved…but with an extra special couple of HAIRS on the food 🤢 the waitress must’ve thought it funny as she laughed about having to replace the meal 3 times before it was edible .🤷♀️
Food came out all at different times for a table of 6, some of us had finished before the others got theirs, not busy only 2 other tables 🤷♀️
The wait staff are so so rude and pretty incompetent to boot.
Don’t recommend, don’t bother 😕
Robyn Joiner — Google review
Good staff beer good strong hop flavours and bitterness
Eliot Jarman — Google review
Mother's day spent at relaxing Bullant Brewery enjoying the sampling platter of in house beers and a Banh mi. Also had a good yarn with the Brewer Neil. Exchanged stories over a beer or three!