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!
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!
Things to do
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Created in the early 1900s, the 1000 Steps was originally made from the trunks of tree ferns laid along the wetter areas of the track to make the climb a little easier.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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Download the Dandenong Ranges National Park - South visitor guide before your visit.
Download the Dandenong Ranges National Park - South visitor guide before your visit.
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.
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Ferntree Gully Picnic Ground (Dandenong Ranges National Park)
Musk Walking Track Closed until further notice
The Musk Walking Track at Ferntree Gully adjacent to the 1000 Steps is closed due to storm damage, many trees have fallen across this track and some sections are heavily eroded and have subsided. -
Kokoda Track Memorial Walk (Dandenong Ranges National Park)
1000 Steps Closure due to COVID19
In response to the advice from the Victorian Chief Health Officer about COVID-19, the Ferntree Gully picnic ground, including the 1000 steps/Kokoda Memorial Track walk is closed until further notice. -
Doongalla Picnic Ground (Dandenong Ranges National Park)
Storm Damage affected Tracks
Tracks heavily impacted by fallen trees in the Dandenong Ranges National Park are Alamein, Outlook, Edgars, Stables, Invermay and Golf Course Tracks. Parks Victoria is working on a plan to clear the fallen trees and seeks the public's patience while we work to clear the hundreds of fallen trees. -
Dandenong Ranges National Park
Planned burning
Planned burning operations are scheduled in the Dandenong ranges which will result in Tremont hill walking track being closed to the public from the time a burn is approved for ignition until the area is declared safe. Ignition of the burn is scheduled for Saturday 21st of November and is subject to favourable weather. Check the status of current planned burns at https://plannedburns.ffm.vic.gov.au
