Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden, Dudley's in Olinda and Montrose Meats for Bacon * 🇦🇺 2025 Public Holidays Australia 🇦🇺

We live about 30 minutes drive from Olinda. Drives out to the Yarra Valley or going for a drive up through Montrose to Olinda is one of our favorite things to do on the weekend. We lived in Kalorama for 5 years, and Kallista for 5 years and often went for walks in and around the Dandenong Ranges area. The towering Mountain Ash gum trees and luscious green tree ferns line the windy roads leading up and down the mountain. We hadn’t been to the Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden for some time and decided to go a wet day in November. The day we went was a couple of days before they changed the name of the gardens. As we were leaving the rangers were sizing up the sign with the new name to make sure it was going to fit properly.

The proteas and flowers were absolutely magnificent! Even on an overcast day the Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden are a lovely place to go for a walk.

Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden

On the day we visited the National Rhododendron Garden in Olinda it was overcast, drizzly and we were probably a bit late in Spring to see some of the flowering Azaleas and Rhododendrons. The drive from Montrose through to Olinda is a magnificent one through windy roads lined with tree ferns and towering gums.

Once we got to the Rhododendron Garden it was still drizzling so we got out the umbrellas and walked to the front office. We were told that there were some beautiful Proteas in flower and headed down the path that led to the the Protea Garden. The path is made of bitchumen and nice and wide. It was a pleasant walk with color everywhere lining the path to the where the proteas were. There were a few different types to see in varying sizes and they were all stunning. Once we had found the protea garden we headed back up the slight incline to the office where we started.

All up we did about 5 km of slow walking. As we were leaving there were a couple of Parks Victoria rangers checking out a new sign that had been made up. It is being updated as part of a name change to the Gardens. It is now known as the “Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden” ( formally the “National Rhododendron Garden” )

Lunch at Dudley’s in Olinda and a stop at Montrose Meats for some Bacon

We drove around the corner to Dudley’s in Olinda and had some lunch. I had Bruschetta which was the best I have ever had! (Home made Ciabatta with Fresh Tomato, Pesto, Spanish Onion and Goats Cheese ) and David had a Chicken Parmigiana. With our full tummies we headed back down the mountain and stopped in Montrose to get some of our favorite bacon ( and cabana) from Montrose Meats.

Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden
The Georgian Rd,
Olinda VIC 3788 Australia.

Dudley’s
540 Mount Dandenong Tourist Rd,
Olinda, 3788, Victoria, Australia

Montrose Meats
922 Mount Dandenong Tourist Rd,
Montrose VIC 3765