Eastern Sherbrooke Forest Walk – Dandenong Ranges National Park (Victoria)

On the Eastern Sherbrooke Forest Walk you’ll traverse one of the most beautiful sections of the Dandenong Ranges, where a tangled mess of lush vegetation is towered over by Mountain Ash and some of the tallest tree ferns I’ve ever seen.

I’ve never visited this part of Sherbrooke Forest without having a close encounter with some kind of native wildlife, from Lyrebirds to Crimson rosellas, wallabies and Lace Monitors. There’s really only one steep ascent (the rest is gently undulating), so while it’s a good trail to get the heart pumping, it’s not too challenging for the kids if they’re relatively fit. Do make sure you pay attention at track junctions and pick the tracks I’ve described for you below (check the Need to Know section for clarity).

At Grants Picnic Ground, the trailhead is to the left of the kiosk. It’s not signed as “Eastern Sherbrooke Forest Walk” but there is a sign to the Lyrebird Track. Follow this for a short time, ignoring one or two track junctions before you come to Neumann Track on the right. There might be quite a few other visitors on the Lyrebird Track but once you turn off you’ll find yourself all alone.

When you eventually turn right onto Paddy Track you’ll be faced with a very steep descent. It’s tough on the knees but you won’t have much time to recover before joining Welch Track for one hell of a climb. On the upside, from here it’s a gentle stroll through taller, more open forest back to the carpark.

Need to Know