Sherbrooke Falls walk and picnic area

A lush waterfall surrounded by moss covered rocks and tree ferns

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Sherbrooke Falls walk and picnic area

Dandenong Ranges National Park

Deep in the Sherbrooke Forest, you'll find Sherbrooke Falls, where little creek cascades into a delightful gully. It's a short walk from either of two well-equipped picnic areas - and it's close to the beautiful hilltop villages of the Dandenong Ranges, making this a great option for families visiting from Melbourne for the day. 

Sherbrooke Picnic Ground and O'Donohue Picnic Ground are located in Sherbrooke Forest, the largest section of the Dandenong Ranges National Park. It's an area that can feel very far removed from civilisation - especially when compared to the extremely popular 1000 Steps just down the road.

A number of walking trails start from the well-equipped picnic grounds, entering a fantastic rainforest of spectacular Mountain Ash, stringybark, lush tree ferns and, of course, waterfalls.

Take the Sherbrooke Track or O'Donohue Track to get to Sherbrooke Falls. They are well signposted. The falls are small and obscured by tree ferns, but the real star of this walk is the rainforest as a whole.

This is the kind of hike best enjoyed after rain, when you can smell the aromas of the forest and the waterfall is flowing. Lyrebirds and other wildlife also like to come out after the rain, so you will be in good company!

As waterfalls are within a natural environment, you may encounter hazards. Follow our water safety advice to make sure your day out at Sherbrooke Falls is a safe and enjoyable one.

Things to do

 
Two women walk up the 1000 steps track.

1000 Steps

Created in the early 1900s, the 1000 Steps was originally made from the trunks of tree ferns laid along the wetter areas of the track to make the climb a little easier. These were replaced by wooden palings before the more permanent concrete steps were installed in 1950.
A couple in their sixties walk their two flat coated retriever dogs through the Alfred Nicholas Gardens among the changing autumn colours .

Alfred Nicholas Memorial Garden

The gardens will delight all year round. In Spring, it is blooming with rhododendrons, azaleas, camelias, kalmias and flowering cherries on the lake. Summer is the time to see hydrangeas, fuchsias, native ferns, rhododendrons and native terrestrial orchids. In Autumn the foliage of maples, beech and the famous golden ginkgos on the lake is stunning. In Winter you will see camelias and the early rhododendrons.
A mother and her two sons play on a log while her partner sits at a picnic table looking on.

Grants Picnic Ground

Grants Picnic Ground sits within the Sherbrooke Forest, the largest section of Dandenong Ranges National Park. A number of walking tracks, starting from the picnic grounds, enable you to discover some of the plants and animals of Sherbrooke.
A path in Pirianda Garden in the Dandenong Ranges National Park.

Pirianda Garden

Designed to take advantage of the steep slopes, the terraced garden of Pirianda is distinctive for its combination of botanically important trees, shrubs and perennials with an over storey of large blackwoods and mountain ash towering over the natural fern gullies.
Kokoda Track Memorial Walk - Dandenong Ranges National Park

Dandenong Ranges National Park accessibility information

Grants, O’Donohue, Sherbrooke, One Tree Hill and Ferntree Gully picnic grounds were assessed for accessibility in June 2020, providing information about the accessibility of these areas and photos.

How to get there

Sherbrooke Falls walk and picnic area

Sherbrooke Picnic Ground and O'Donohue Picnic Ground are very close to each other. To drive there, take Sherbrooke Road off Mount Dandenong Tourist Road. Sherbrooke Picnic Ground is a 2km drive from the turn off. O'Donohue Picnic Ground is a little further, off Sherbrooke Lodge Road. 
Sherbrooke Falls walk and picnic area

Facilities

Carpark
Picnic Area
Toilets

When you're there

You can walk to Sherbrooke Falls from either Sherbrooke Picnic Ground or O'Donohue Picnic Ground. The area is close to Kallista, where you can buy refreshments. And if you want to get your most of your visit to the Dandenongs, check out the nearby Alfred Nicholas Memorial Gardens, which are just over the road from Sherbrooke Picnic Ground. 

Before you visit, download the area map and visitor guide.

Need to know

Sherbrooke Falls walk and picnic area

Accessibility

Visiting a park can be more of a challenge for people with disabilities, however in Victoria there are a wide range of facilities to help people of all abilities enjoy our wonderful parks around the state. Grants, O’Donohue, Sherbrooke, One Tree Hill and Ferntree Gully picnic grounds were assessed for accessibility in June 2020, providing information about the accessibility of these areas and photos.

Assistance dogs are welcome in Parks Victoria parks and reserves. Entry requirements apply for parks and reserves that are usually dog prohibited, such as national parks.

Change of Conditions

Nature being nature, sometimes conditions can change at short notice. It’s a good idea to check this page ahead of your visit for any updates.

  • Olinda Falls Picnic Area (Dandenong Ranges National Park)

    Olinda Falls Toilet Closed

    The Olinda Falls toilet is closed indefinitely, nearby toilets at Kalorama Park or in the Olinda Township are open.

    Olinda Falls Lower Viewing Platform - update

    The Olinda Falls lower viewing platform is currently closed due to severe damage caused by a fallen tree. All access to the lower falls area is closed to the public. The viewing platform is expected to be replaced sometime in 2024.

    Mechanics Track closed between Mt Dandenong Tourist Road and Falls Road

    • Mechanics walking track from the Mt Dandenong Tourist Rd through to Falls Rd is closed due to significant damage from the June 2021 Storm.  Parks Victoria is currently working with insurance assessors and contractors on a plan to re-open this severely impacted walking track. 
    • Works completed so far has been the replacement of a timber bridge that was destroyed along with most of the large fallen trees having been cut through, the remaining walking track requires re-benching and tree branch removal where limbs have been partly buried due to the force of the impact with the ground. Works are expected to be completed by June 2024.

  • Sherbrooke Track (Dandenong Ranges National Park)

    Wattle Track Bridge Closure Update

    Wattle Track Bridge in Sherbrooke Forest is closed due to significant structural damage to the Foot Bridge by a fallen tree. Parks Victoria has engaged a contractor to commence construction works in March 2024, it is anticipated that the bridge will be opened by May 2024. The existing damaged timber bridge will be replaced with an all steel constructed bridge which includes a non slip FRP decking, during the construction period there may be some delays along Sherbrooke Track as building materials are carried to the site, Sherbrooke track will remain open.

  • Valley Picnic Ground (Dandenong Ranges National Park, RJ Hamer Arboretum)

    Valley Picnic Ground Closed

    • Valley Picnic Ground is closed, the site will eventually be improved after it was damaged in the June 2021 Storm event ; visitors can use Boundary Road to access the park however no vehicle access to the picnic ground carpark is permitted. Please use Eagle Nest or Kalorama Park Picnic Ground as an alternative.

  • Dandenong Ranges National Park

    Temporary closed areas due to deer control activities

    Parks Victoria are continuing deer control in the Dandenong Ranges National Park. This program will be taking place between the hours of 4pm and 7am on a number of nights between February 13th 2024 and November 29th 2024. These control works are being undertaken by accredited and authorised contractors.
    For reasons of public safety, various areas of the park will be inaccessible during the evening throughout this period.
    Signage will be in place at access points when control activities are occurring. For your own safety please observe the signage during this time and do not enter any closed areas.
    For further information please call 131963

    Attachments: Neighbour_Notification_Map_DRNP_2324 (2,529KB)

    Deer control in the Dandenong Ranges National Park

    Parks Victoria are continuing deer control in the Dandenong Ranges National Park. This program will be taking place between the hours of 4pm and 7am on a number of nights between the 1st of November 2023 and the 30th of November 2024. These control works are being undertaken by accredited and authorised contractors.
    For reasons of public safety, various areas of the park will be inaccessible from dusk until dawn throughout this period.
    For your safety please observe all closure signage during this time and do not enter any closed areas.
    For further information please call 131963

    Attachments: Neighbour_Notification_Map_DRNP_2324 (2,529KB)

    Track 13 - Silvan Storm Recovery Works Notification

    FFMVic Storm recovery works will take place in the Dandenong Ranges National Park near Silvan.

     
    Date: April to May 2024
    Duration: Works will take place from April and are expected to be completed by 30 May 2024, weather and forest conditions permitting
    Location: Track 13, near Silvan Reservoir Park, Silvan (see map)

    Impact:
    Mountain bike and walking tracks in the area will be closed while the works are underway.     For your safety, please follow track closures or detours. 
    Tracks closed include:
    • Bakers Dozen Loop Track
    • Downhill Track
    • Link Track
    • Magpie Loop Track
    • Pipeline Track
    • Track 11
    • Track 12
    • Track 24
    Why: 
    FFMVic is continuing to remove fallen debris along key fire access roads and fuel breaks to make the Dandenong Ranges National Park safer for everyone. It’s important to undertake maintenance of the strategic fuel break network to reduce the rate of spread of bushfires and provide vital protection for communities.

    This block sits within a Bushfire Moderation Zone, which aims to reduce the intensity, rate of spread, and ember loads from significant bushfires.

    The protection of environmental, biodiversity and cultural values during all recovery and bushfire risk reduction works are a high priority. 

    For more information about bushfire risk reduction activities visit the FFMVic website or call 136 186.
     

    Attachments: FFMVic Track Closure Map (554KB)

  • Grants Picnic Ground (Dandenong Ranges National Park)

    Bleakley Track closure for upgrade works

    As part of the ngurrak barring | RidgeWalk project, Bleakley track that connects Grants Picnic ground to Belgrave will be closed for public safety. These maintenance works will take up to four weeks to complete . 
    These trail upgrades are a joint initiative between Yarra Ranges Council and Parks Victoria aimed at improving walking connections between townships and communities. Please see map of any closures below during this time.


    Attachments: Bleakley track works update (92KB)

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