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Created in the early 1900s, the 1000 Steps was originally made from the trunks of tree ferns laid along the wetter areas of the track to make the climb a little easier.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.

This park is closed on days of Extreme Fire Danger Rating or severe weather events

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.

  • Sherbrooke Picnic ground (Dandenong Ranges National Park)

    Sherbrooke Picnic Ground Toilet is Closed due to tree damage

    The Sherbrooke Picnic Ground Toilet has been severely damaged by a fallen tree, the toilet block is closed until further notice. Please use the nearby O'Donohue Picnic Ground Toilets.

    Works to repair the toilet building should be starting in the next few months (August/September 2025)

  • Notices Affecting Multiple Sites

    Stables Track in Doongalla is temporarily closed, access to the Stables Picnic Ground is restricted.

    Temporary Closures for TV Series Filming – Granite
    Filming and set building for the upcoming television series Granite will be taking place until 22 July 2025. As part of this production:
    • Stables Track will be closed for the entire duration of the filming period.
    • Stables Picnic Ground may be closed at times; however every effort will be made to keep it open on weekends.
    • Track closures and diversions will be marked with signage.
    Additionally Doongalla Forest Road will be closed to public access on the following dates:
    • Monday 7 July (late afternoon/evening) – vehicle access for equipment delivery
    • Tuesday 8, Wednesday 9, Thursday 10 July – filming days
    • Friday 11 July (early morning) – vehicle exit for equipment removal
    Traffic management personnel will be stationed at park entry points during these closures to assist with directions and ensure public safety. We thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

    Attachments: Granite_Filming_Track_Closure_Flyer_Final (108KB)

    Margaret Lester Forest Walk - Temporary Closure

    The Margaret Lester Forest Walk is no longer safe for visitors, the path is listed as an all abilities trail, however due to fallen tree branch and root damage, along with deteriorated path plinthing and handrail it has now been deemed unsafe to use.

    This page will be updated when we hear more on a start date for path improvements. 

    https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/projects/melbourne-region/dandenong-ranges-national-park-grants-picnic-area-upgrades

  • Grants Picnic Ground (Dandenong Ranges National Park)

    Temporary closure of Grants Picnic Ground Cafe

    Grants Picnic Ground Café is temporarily closed while Parks Victoria undertakes an Expression of Interest process to secure a long-term lease for the site. In the meantime, a mobile coffee van will be operating on-site from Tuesday to Saturday for the duration of the process.

  • Olinda Falls Picnic Area (Dandenong Ranges National Park)

    Olinda Falls Lower Viewing Platform and Toilets are Closed

    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 2025. 

    The picnic facilities and upper viewing platform remain open with the exception of the toilets, the toilets are closed permanently.

  • Sherbrooke Track (Dandenong Ranges National Park)

    Wattle Track - Long Bridge is now open to the public

    After a 5 year wait, the Wattle Track pedestrian bridge over Sherbrooke Creek has been rebuilt and is now open to the public. The National Park team are very pleased with the new bridge which introduces a new style of construction that is built to last and is more easily repaired if damaged, we hope you enjoy crossing the creek once again.

  • Dandenong Ranges National Park

    Predator Control Program Dandenong Ranges National Park

    Parks Victoria are undertaking fox control in the Dandenong Ranges National Park to relieve predation of vulnerable and threatened native fauna. 

    Para-aminopropiophenone (PAPP) and sodium fluoroacetate (1080) poison baits will be used for the duration of the program.

     Fox baiting will occur between May and November 2025 at strategic locations across the park. 

    Under the National Parks Act 1975, dogs and cats cannot be taken into, or be allowed to remain within the Dandenong Ranges National Park. Dogs and Cats are at risk from poison if they enter the National Park. 

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