Unofficial guide · verify with Parks Victoria

Dandenong Ranges National ParkDandenong Ranges National ParkUnofficial operator’s manual

Sherbrooke Forest & Grants

Tall Mountain Ash, fern gullies, Sherbrooke Falls after rain, Grants Picnic Ground short walks, and some of the park’s best superb lyrebird habitat — often quieter than the 1000 Steps if you avoid peak weekend midday.

  • Best for: Lyrebirds, short waterfall walks, Mountain Ash forest, picnic days without the steps crowds
  • Time: 2–4 hours for falls + picnic; half to full day if you add Eastern Sherbrooke Forest
  • South / central park via Mount Dandenong Tourist Road and local Sherbrooke / Kallista approaches — roughly 40–45 km from Melbourne CBD depending on route. Belgrave Station is a longer last-mile option toward Grants [VERIFY].

Verify conditions on Parks Victoria → · Park alerts

Mountain Ash and ferns in Sherbrooke Forest, Dandenong Ranges National Park
Sherbrooke Forest & Grants — Sherbrooke ForestNick Carson · CC BY 3.0

Sherbrooke as the forest heart

Sherbrooke is where the Dandenongs feel like tall wet forest rather than a staircase. Mountain Ash trunks shoot through a tree-fern understorey; after rain the gullies smell of wet leaf litter and the small falls actually move. This is the counterweight to Ferntree Gully’s high-volume climb.

Come for short, honest walks and wildlife patience — not for ticking every picnic ground in one circuit. Midweek and early/late hours reward lyrebird listeners; fine Sunday midday rewards whoever parked first.

Sherbrooke Falls and Grants short walks

Sherbrooke Falls is a short, easy-leaning return from Sherbrooke or O’Donohue picnic grounds — typically cited around ~2–2.5 km return / 45–60 minutes [VERIFY on Parks Victoria]. The cascade is modest; the gully setting is the point. Pair with a picnic rather than expecting a alpine waterfall spectacle.

Grants Picnic Ground anchors Hardy Gully and Margaret Lester Forest Walk options. Read the live Parks Victoria condition note on Margaret Lester: it historically offered a more accessible forest experience but no longer meets the expected all-abilities standard until upgrade works proceed. Do not overclaim wheelchair-easy access in your group plan.

Lyrebirds and café realism

Superb lyrebirds are the park’s celebrity residents. Quieter Sherbrooke / Grants tracks after rain or early morning give you the best chance — stay on formed tracks, keep voices low, and never chase birds for photos. Dogs (prohibited anyway) are especially disruptive here.

Food on-site is not a guaranteed plan. Grants café remains temporarily closed while Parks Victoria runs an Expression of Interest for a long-term lease; a mobile coffee van is listed Tuesday to Saturday during that process — re-check before you promise coffee to kids. Carry snacks either way.

Highlights at a glance

  • Sherbrooke Falls — small cascade in a fern gully, best after rain
  • Grants Picnic Ground — Hardy Gully and Margaret Lester walks (accessibility note below)
  • Superb lyrebird potential on quieter tracks
  • Towering Mountain Ash canopy
  • O’Donohue and Sherbrooke picnic grounds as alternate starts

Practical tips

  • Visit falls after rain for flow; wear footwear that handles mud.
  • Arrive early on weekends — Grants and Sherbrooke also busy on fine days.
  • Assess Margaret Lester suitability on the day; do not assume all-abilities.
  • Eastern Sherbrooke Forest Walk is the quieter longer alternative when 1000 Steps is packed.
  • Check deer-control night signage in season [VERIFY].

Facilities & services

  • Picnic grounds (Grants, Sherbrooke, O’Donohue)
  • Toilets (confirm at chosen ground)
  • Car parks
  • Short walking tracks
  • Temporary mobile coffee van at Grants at times [VERIFY]

Confirm toilets, parking and open facilities on the day via official sources and on-site signage.

Walks & lookouts nearby

Grades, times and open/closed status change — open each guide and verify on Parks Victoria before you go.

Sherbrooke Falls

easy

Short easy return to a small cascade in Sherbrooke Forest from Sherbrooke or O’Donohue picnic grounds — fern gully atmosphere, best after rain, often calmer than Ferntree Gully’s staircase.

Grade
Easy-leaning short return [VERIFY]
Time
~45–60 minutes typical
Distance
~2–2.5 km return typical [VERIFY]

View guide →

Eastern Sherbrooke

moderate

Quieter longer Sherbrooke Forest alternative when the Kokoda Track Memorial Walk is packed — Mountain Ash and fern gullies, fewer staircase bottlenecks, more navigation discipline required.

Grade
Quieter longer alternative [VERIFY distance/grade on Parks Vic / maps]
Time
Allow a half-day block with buffers [VERIFY]
Distance
Longer than the short falls returns — plan from official maps [VERIFY]

View guide →

Grants short walks

easy

Short forest walks from Grants Picnic Ground — Hardy Gully and Margaret Lester options under tall ash — with honest accessibility limits on Margaret Lester and temporary café / van food status.

Grade
Easy short forest walks — Margaret Lester not full all-abilities [VERIFY]
Time
30–90 minutes depending on which signed walks you combine
Distance
Short loops / returns from Grants Picnic Ground [VERIFY on-site]

View guide →

All trails

Itineraries that use this area

5—7 hours including picnic and travel buffers

Family day: Olinda Falls & Sherbrooke

Short waterfall circuits, picnic tables, after-rain timing, and honest limits on steps/uneven ground — without using Ferntree Gully’s staircase as the day’s identity.

4—6 hours on the ground

Quiet alternative: midweek / winter forest

Skip peak 1000 Steps energy: Eastern Sherbrooke or Grants/Sherbrooke short walks, optional Doongalla picnic, winter gate awareness, and wildlife-first pacing.

7—9 hours doors-to-doors from Melbourne

Full day: Ferntree Gully, One Tree Hill & quieter forest

Morning 1000 Steps with early parking discipline, lunch reset, then Sherbrooke Falls or Eastern Sherbrooke — one hard climb and one quiet forest block, not five rushed picnic grounds.

Map

Orientation only — confirm trailheads and road status before you drive.

Interactive map — pin may be approximate. Confirm trailheads and road status before you drive.

Open in Google MapsGet directions

FAQ — Sherbrooke

Tap a question to expand the answer.

Is Sherbrooke quieter than the 1000 Steps?

Usually yes for forest atmosphere, especially midweek — but Grants and Sherbrooke picnic grounds still fill on fine weekends. For a longer quiet option, look at Eastern Sherbrooke Forest Walk and avoid peak midday.

Can I rely on the café at Grants?

Not as a permanent facility right now. Parks Victoria still lists temporary café closure with a mobile coffee van Tuesday–Saturday during the lease EOI — re-check on the day. Bring your own food and water.

Is Margaret Lester still an all-abilities walk?

No — Parks Victoria states it no longer meets the expected all-abilities standard due to surface and drainage issues. Assess whether current conditions suit your needs before committing.

Stays, tours & gear near Sherbrooke

Optional next steps after you plan this area — park entry is never affiliated; camping is not permitted inside this park.

Nearby stays

Upper Ferntree Gully · Belgrave · Olinda · Sassafras · Mount Dandenong · Emerald

All Booking.com links open in a new tab and may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Park entry is never affiliated. Camping is not permitted inside Dandenong Ranges National Park.

Guided tours

Optional — useful for Melbourne visitors who prefer a guided hinterland day

A tour does not replace checking Parks Victoria / VicEmergency, gate hours, or fire closures yourself.

What to bring

Practical kit for steep steps, wet gullies and cooler hill weather

Some stay, tour and gear links may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Park entry fees are never affiliated. Camping is not permitted inside Dandenong Ranges National Park. Affiliate disclosure · Privacy

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