PAINTBALL AND SKIRMISH FERNTREE GULLY

Enjoy a ride on Puffing Billy Steam Railway, Australia's oldest steam railway and one of the finest preserved steam railways in the world. Travel 24 kilometres through the beautiful forests and fern gullies of the Dandenong Ranges from Belgrave.

Puffing Billy is the last of the experimental narrow-gauge railway lines built at the turn of the 20th century, and easily accessible by public transport from Melbourne. Tours are offered by all major day tour operators.

The open-sided carriages are the best way to see the stunning views. You can catch the train at any of the stations along the way, or watch the train go by from one of the stations' refreshment rooms.

How about sampling one of the 'Wine and Dine' options? Travel in the heritage enclosed dining carriages onboard the daily 'Steam and Cuisine Luncheon Train'. Savour three courses or graze over a Natter Platter. Alternatively, travel on the 'Dinner and Dance Train', available on selected Friday and Saturday evenings.

View the special events coming up at Puffing Billy Steam Railway.

A day out with Thomas in Autumn and Spring. Experience a steam train ride with 'Thomas the Tank Engine' and 'Diesel' and enjoy the 'Thomas and Fat Controller' pantomime along with other activities at Puffing Billy's Emerald Town Station, bookings are essential.

For further details and dates please visit the website.

For service fares, please click here.

Caribbean Gardens and Market has been operating since the 1970′s, when it started with only a handful of traders selling wares from their car boots and Water ski shows.

What once was “a handful of traders” has today grown into a bustling undercover market with over 1000 stall sites. It is known as one of the largest markets in Victoria, occupying a 5770 metre pavilion.

The market offers a huge variety of goods ranging from clothing, fresh produce, lollies, plants, art and crafts, household goods, tools, prints, shoes, toys, giftware and bric-a-brac. If computers and technology interest you in any way, then you will love the right wing of our market. It is dedicated entirely to computers and everything associated with them. There are 100′s of stalls, so, no matter what you’re searching for, you’re sure to find it in our computer and technology section. There are permanent stallholders, but those people wanting to rent a stall on a casual basis can turn up on the day and hire a stall. Please note that the selling of counterfeit goods such as software, audio and video etc will NOT be tolerated at the market.

Wetlands Golf 'n'Games is a unique entertainment venue where people of all ages can enjoy mini-golf, hold a party or function, play our arcade games or just enjoy a cup of coffee and delicious snack at our Cafe while looking over the picturesque surrounds.

Our two 18 hole courses provide a challenge for players of all ages and with an outdoor and an undercover course - you can play whatever the weather!

Chesterfield Farm is an historical farm situated in the heart of Scoresby, now operating as a tourist/children's farm, open to the public 7 days a week. Our activities and animals always provide much enjoyment, and a real "hands-on" experience of farm life, along with many under-cover picnic areas, lots of "animal attractions", and friendly staff to make the day enjoyable.

Cafe now open!
Breakfast and lunch available from 10am to 3pm daily (closed Monday).

All aspects of beauty treatments using Thalgo products. Facials, waxing (hot & strip), electrolysis, massage, sun fx spray tan, micro dermabrasion, non-surgical face lifts, eco2 oxygen facials, nail care, eyelash tinting/perming, gel & fibreglass nails, makeup.

Delvin Health Retreat is a boutique day spa and resort in the Dandenong Ranges one hour east of the city of Melbourne, Victoria. Set on one and a half acres of tranquil gardens, with a two story house of seven bedrooms and six bathrooms including a guest lounge and guest dining room. Some rooms have Juliet Balconies and there is a large deck for everyone to use. We are known to provide the best accommodation in Olinda and around Mt Dandenong. We have several packages available ranging from Day Spa treatments to packages with accommodation from one to several days or weeks. We also cater for Romantic Escapes and Bed and Breakfast.

All we ask is that you allow us to create and give you an experience that will help you to relax, re-energise and enjoy your time with us.

Along with a number of resident artist, The Art of Life® Gallery is a for hire art space offering a venue for visiting artist to display their work.

The Art of Life® Gallery aims to present a warm & inviting venue for local artist to display and sell their work.

The gallery is available for events and exhibition hire and is  located on the corner of Molan & Heatherdale Roads in Ringwood and is a revival Tudor building. Many of the building’s historic features remain like the original polished floorboards & character walls & high ceilings.

We offer a range of services including Gallery Hire, Framing, Giclée Printing as well as installation and freighting solutions.
 

Welcome to one of Melbourne’s finest Beauty Salon and Day Spas. If this is your first time here, then please take advantage of our FREE $25 Beauty Salon Gift Voucher that you can use on any of our services.

Our Day Spa is located at 41B Great Ryrie St, Ringwood in Melbourne, Victoria. We offer a range of services designed to provide you with healthier, fresher, younger looking skin… a skin that your friends will admire and envy.

Japanese Mountain Retreat Mineral Springs and Spa was designed to offer an authentic Japanese luxurious ryokan experience with all the essential elements of a five-star boutique Japanese resort.

Behind the concept was a desire to recreate a vision of authentic Japan, one that treasures the traditional values of harmony and culture while retaining modern sensibility.

A spa retreat offering an extensive menu of holistic and wellness treatments enhances the opportunities for rejuvenation, while an Onsen (outdoor mineral spring) opened in early 2010 provides the opportunity for deep relaxation and the therapeutic benefits of private bathing in hot mineral spring water.

Since its formation in the 1920s, Hoyts has been associated with countless successful innovations in the film exhibition industry and today Hoyts operates over 350 screens in the oceanic region, consolidating its place among the top three major exhibitors.

With showcase cinemas at Fox Studios and Chatswood in Sydney, Chadstone and Melbourne Central in Victoria and Carousel in Perth, Hoyts continues to set high standards in cinematic excellence and offers its patrons a wide variety of customised viewing experiences including Cinema Paris, La Premiere and Directors Suite screenings.

Hoyts Eastland is located on level 3 of Eastland shopping centre, which has excellent public transport facilities, ample parking and a strong retailer offering.

Hoyts Eastland showcases 12 digital screens, is home to a unique La Premiere lounge and boasts an Xtremescreen where you can experience the sights and sounds of all the latest releases on a massive scale.

Enjoy the luxurious La Premiere, featuring unobstructed views from custom made seats, full gourmet menu with in-cinema service and complimentary popcorn and soft drink to complete the experience.

Karralyka Centre is the premier theatre and function centre in Melbourne's eastern suburbs. The architecturally award-winning building, designed by Harry Seidler, offers outstanding facilities and services for live theatre, corporate events, social functions, wedding receptions, conventions and exhibitions.

The superb in-house food and beverage service, tailored to your event by our highly regarded chef, is complemented by ample free parking and magnificent views of the Dandenong Ranges. At Karralyka, equipment that you'd expect to pay for elsewhere is included.

The fully equipped theatre hosts the Karralyka Theatre Season, the annual Morning Music program, and a range of community performances.

Naturally what you see on stage is the public face of the 1812 Theatre but it only the tip of the iceberg. No production would be possible without a raft of support workers. The beautiful sets you see on our stage are the product of hours of planning and weeks of hard work by a dedicated band of volunteers.

Costumes are fashioned and designed by a small (and some might say shrinking) group of 1812ers. Lights have to be designed and operated and sound carefully engineered.

Frequent scenery and costume changes are seamlessly planned and executed by stage management teams, while your comfort and assurance of a pleasurable evening is the prime concern of our Front of House volunteers.

There are over 350 specialty retailers at Knox Shopping Centre and major stores include Myer, Target, Coles, Kmart, Harvey Norman, Toys R Us, Harris Scarfe and a Village 15-screen state of the art cinema complex.

Knox Shopping Centre is made up of two main shopping precincts being, Knox City and Knox O-Zone. Knox City is a two level fully enclosed shopping centre which first opened in 1977 and is a traditional shopping centre. Knox O-Zone is an outdoor leisure, dining and entertainment precinct, which boasts one of the largest cinema screens in Australia. Knox O-Zone is home to over 24 cafes, bars and restaurants as well as a selection of retail stores including sports, music, electronics, large format furniture and whitegoods stores. Knox O-Zone also encompasses an AMF Bowling Centre, a Timezone Centre and Fitness First gym.

The Ringwood East Railway Station Market has stalls and car boots selling trash and treasure in the Ringwood East Railway Station car park on the the first Saturday of month.

While you are there, why not visit the local shops, cafes and bakeries.

The market runs from 8am till 1pm but dont be surprised if no-one turns up if its bucketing down.

It’s Melbourne’s best kept secret – CROYDON MAIN STREET – a great place to shop with oodles of free parking at the door.

Just a cool 5 minutes from Eastlink (Maroondah Highway exit); with trains and buses just a minute away.

Take the time to explore 180 speciality stores in a beautiful tree-lined street. Interesting gift shops, jewellers, book, camera, toy and a music shop too.

A cinema, fabulous fashion, shoe and beauty boutiques and if you need more cash, there’s every major bank and a post office.

Relax at a pavement café, breathe in the fresh air and watch the world go by. Absolute bliss!

We aim to make the Mountain Gate Shopping Centre a safe and friendly place to shop.

The Centre of the Community is Stud Park Shopping Centre. All your everyday shopping needs and convenience are under one roof.

Stud Park Shopping Centre is anchored by Coles, Kmart, Woolworths, Sam’s Warehouse, The Rowville Library and accommodates 60 specialty stores.

It is also supported by approximately 1,500 car parks and is serviced seven days a week by local smart bus connections. Stud Park has had a long association with the community which is why we are known as “The Centre of the Community”.

It's all about fashion... food... entertainment... and enjoying the experience at Eastland!

Situated at the gateway to the Yarra Valley, just 30kms east of Melbourne's CBD, Eastland Shopping Centre provides an enjoyable shopping experience with 4,700 convenient FREE car parking spaces. Additionally, Eastland is located within close proximity to the Eastern Freeway and Eastlink. Eastland is also located a short walk from the Ringwood Station, Buses and Taxi Services.

With big names such as Myer, Kmart, Big W, Woolworths, Coles, Hoyts, Harris Scarfe and 230 of your favourite stores, Eastland is an easy shopping choice.

*Selected stores open. See in-centre for details. Please note Majors trading hours may vary from the above.

Centro Ringwood is a stand-alone centre located on the north side of Maroondah Highway, at the western end of the District Centre. Major tenants include a Target Department store, Coles Supermarket and an ALDI Food Store. Brumby’s, Bakers Delight, Amcal Pharmacy, Suzanne Grae, Autograph, Fuji Image Plus, Tattersalls Newsagency, along with numerous other giftware and speciality retailers, make Centro Ringwood the ideal one-stop centre for all your fresh food, fashion and daily shopping needs.

Wheelers Hill Shopping Centre is located in Wheelers Hill, Victoria

A site visit gives you an opportunity not only to see the buildings, but also to consider how the location and natural surrounds framed arrival experiences. Block 19 Bonegilla is set out as part of a typical Second World War military war camp. It was used, first, as army headquarters and, then, as the migrant centre staff block. The army continued to use and maintain Block 19 into the 1990s, well after the migrant centre closed. Block 19’s survival to the present day makes it a rare but representative example of post-war migrant accommodation camps. There are few buildings, if any, still existing at other post-war migrant accommodation places.

The buildings of Block 19 are in their original state. Bonegilla’s army beginnings meant that accommodation was severe. The buildings were mostly standard army-type huts, usually unlined, timber-framed huts with corrugated iron cladding and low-pitched, gabled roofs. Like the other blocks, Block 19 was fairly self-contained with its own communal kitchen, eating place and ablutions.

The sleeping quarters were commonly meant to accommodate 20 men and had no internal partitions. From 1951 on, the huts were divided into cubby-hole sized cubicles each slightly less than four metres by three metres so as to give some privacy. Adjoining cubicles were linked for two people. Families with several children were giving cubicles next to each other. Unlike the original sleeping huts, the cubicles were lined and painted. Wire-based army beds with thin kapok mattresses were replaced by the 1960’s with eight inch mattresses.

When you first arrive at Block 19, stop at the visitor centre to familiarise yourself with what the site has to offer. Then take a guided tour or an audio tour, and experience the huts, the purpose built recreation hall, the communal dining and washing facilities and memorabilia collected from the original migrants and the camp itself.

Situated in a ferny glade in the Dandenongs, William Ricketts Sanctuary is a place of beauty and tranquillity, due both to the natural setting and the mystical sculptures half hidden among ferns along the pathways. It is a place for quiet reflection and for contemplation of the essence of the vision of William Ricketts. Many travel across the world to visit this place time and time again. Things to do - Kiln-fired clay sculptures of Aboriginal figures are discreetly set among rocks, fern trees and Mountain Ash. These sculptures are an expression of Rickett's philosophy - that all people need to act as custodians of the natural environment in the same way as Aborigines, the inspiration for much of his work. - Stroll through the gardens and explore the 92 ceramic sculptures of people and animals which merge with the natural surroundings. - Enjoy the audio-visual display featuring William Ricketts where visitors can see for themselves the vision and passion that live in his art. Heritage In the 1930s William Rickets bought a four-acre bush block on Mount Dandenong and called it Potter's Sanctuary. Word spread about the extraordinary sculptures that began to adorn the property. In time, the Victorian Government heard about his work and, in the early 1960s, the land and adjoining blocks were bought for the people. William Ricketts lived on at the Sanctuary into his nineties and continued to create his sculptures until his death in 1993. Before you go Conditions can change in parks for many reasons. For the latest information on changes to local conditions, please visit the relevant park page on the Parks Victoria website. Be bushfire ready in the great outdoors. Refer to the Bushfire Safety section on the Parks Victoria website for tips on how to stay safe.

The Mount Dandenong Arboretum extends over 16 hectares and contains a collection of maturing deciduous trees and conifers from around the world. 'Arboretum' is a Latin word meaning a place for trees and an Arboretum can simply be called a 'tree museum'. Things to do - Enjoy a relaxing sensory experience of walking under mature tree canopies, scrunching on aromatic pine needles and looking upward through branches to the sky. - Picnic in the meadow with views to the Great Dividing Range framed by tall trees. - Walk up to Mount Dandenong Observatory for the spectacular view east across the city of Melbourne or walk along one of the many tracks in the Dandenong Ranges National Park trail network. Before you go Conditions can change in parks for many reasons. For the latest information on changes to local conditions, please visit the relevant park page on the Parks Victoria website. Be bushfire ready in the great outdoors. Refer to the Bushfire Safety section on the Parks Victoria website for tips on how to stay safe.

Designed to take advantage of the steep slopes, the terraced gardens of Pirianda are distinctive for their combination of botanically important trees, shrubs and perennials with an over storey of large blackwoods and mountain ash towering over the natural fern gullies. The garden is particularly beautiful in autumn when the trees change colour to the many hues of orange, red and yellow. Enjoy magnificent views and tranquil walks, bird watching, photography and picnicking on the lawns at Pirianda Gardens. Before you go Conditions can change in parks for many reasons. For the latest information on changes to local conditions, please visit the relevant park page on the Parks Victoria website. Be bushfire ready in the great outdoors. Refer to the Bushfire Safety section on the Parks Victoria website for tips on how to stay safe.

The many linking paths through this garden take you beneath a canopy of awesome Mountain Ash Trees. Walk through shady trees down to the picturesque lake, and picnic by the quaint boathouse. In spring, view the flowering azaleas, cherry trees and viburnum. Aboriginal Traditional Owners Parks Victoria acknowledges the Aboriginal Traditional Owners of Victoria - including its parks and reserves. Through their cultural traditions, Aboriginal people maintain their connection to their ancestral lands and waters. Further information is available from Aboriginal Affairs Victoria AAV and Native Title Services Victoria Before you go Conditions can change in parks for many reasons. For the latest information on changes to local conditions, please visit the relevant park page on the Parks Victoria website. Be bushfire ready in the great outdoors. Refer to the Bushfire Safety section on the Parks Victoria website for tips on how to stay safe.

Monash Gallery of Art is the Australian home of photography and the premier cultural facility of the City of Monash. Home to a nationally significant collection of over 2 000 photographs we are the only public gallery in Australia dedicated to collecting and promoting Australian photography. Monash Gallery of Art's exhibition program comprises 30 exhibitions per year drawn from the collection - many of which travel throughout Australia after being presented at the City of Monash. Monash Gallery of Art is also a host venue for significant national and international exhibitions. Monash Gallery of Art believes that art plays an important role in helping people learn about and explore the world in which we live. The gallery's free education programs make an important contribution to the learning of young people throughout our region and beyond. Our program includes tours and workshops, an exhibition of work by the state's finest Victorian Year 11 and 12 photomedia students and an outreach program to Melbourne schools by gallery staff. Monash Gallery of Art is situated on one of the City of Monash's most beautiful sites. The original part of the building was designed by internationally renowned architect Harry Seidler. It remains the only formal art gallery space designed by Seidler. With subsequent additions to the building by Cox Sanderson Ness (2000), Monash Gallery of Art is a great destination for the whole community.

Enjoy a family picnic on the large lawn or use the electric barbecues in the picnic shelter. Bring your dog - Nortons Park is an off-lead area where you can take your dog for a run. Please be aware of the signs that show the designated off lead area and the rules and regulations associated with the park. Before you go Conditions can change in parks for many reasons. For the latest information on changes to local conditions, please visit the relevant park page on the Parks Victoria website. Be bushfire ready in the great outdoors. Refer to the Bushfire Safety section on the Parks Victoria website for tips on how to stay safe.

Jells Park is nestled in the Dandenong Creek Valley, Wheelers Hill, away from the hustle and bustle of urban life. The park attracts over 900,000 visitors a year, with over nine kilometres of paths and trails, 127 hectares of wide open paces and enough picnic areas for everyone to enjoy. Trails and paths The main Dandenong Creek Trail runs north-south through Jells Park, linking the Eastlink Track, Scotchmans Creek pathway and the Knox bike track (near Nortons Park). All paths are multi-use so you can take your choice of cycling, jogging, or simply strolling. The conservation trail meanders around the eastern side of Jells Lake. As you pass through the wetlands and billabongs on this trail take a look at the variety of native bird life such as the Purple Swamphen, the White-faced Heron and everyone's favourite, the Pelican. BBQ's, picnics and playgrounds Jells Park has many barbecue and picnic areas. Relax under the shade of the Pines, enjoy the lake views at the Elms, or watch the children enjoying the playground at Stringybark or Yabbie Hill. Please remember to take home all your rubbish for sorting and recycling. Jells Lake Jells Lake is a beautiful man-made feature with a variable water level that flows from the Dandenong Creek. No boating or canoeing is allowed. Fishing in Jells Lake is permitted only from the two larger jetties. A valid Recreational Fishing Licence is required. No fishing is allowed within the conservation area. Before you go Conditions can change in parks for many reasons. For the latest information on changes to local conditions, please visit the relevant park page on the Parks Victoria website. Be bushfire ready in the great outdoors. Refer to the Bushfire Safety section on the Parks Victoria website for tips on how to stay safe.

Koomba Park consists of billabongs and lakes fed by the Dandenong Creek. The bird hide provides a perfect way to observe birds in the natural habitat. The trail network through Koomba Park incorporates both the Dandenong Creek Trail which branches off to a pretty boardwalk section and the Eastlink Trail that continues on to follow the Eastlink Freeway. Before you go Conditions can change in parks for many reasons. For the latest information on changes to local conditions, please visit the relevant park page on the Parks Victoria website. Be bushfire ready in the great outdoors. Refer to the Bushfire Safety section on the Parks Victoria website for tips on how to stay safe.

Burrinja Cultural Centre is a vibrant community cultural centre that encompasses performing arts, Indigenous gallery, contemporary arts gallery, artist studios, Indigenous garden, live music, workshops and café. The new theatre at Burrinja Cultural Centre offers a variety of performances throughout the year from dance, comedy and drama, to live music, family entertainment and musicals. There are three art exhibition galleries at Burrinja Cultural Centre, and they endeavour to provide a strong mix of both local and national arts and cultural programming, combining exhibitions from the artists of their region like Mary Tonkin with touring programs such as the 60th Blake Prize and the Kati Thanda exhibition featuring aerial photography of Lake Eyre. Created in the grounds surrounding Burrinja Cultural Centre, the Art of Place Garden is an Indigenous cultural and environmental place for learning, reflection, gathering, creativity and celebration of local Indigenous culture and country. Burrinja Café provides great food and coffee in a fantastic intimate, plus they feature a variety of music including Ranges Concert Lounge, Blues and Roots, Bluegrass, Open microphone Nights and free live music every Sunday afternoon. There is always something going on at Burrinja Cultural Centre!

The National Rhododendron Gardens are host to brilliantly coloured blooms of rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias, cherries and daffodils. Seasonal changes ensure the gardens are a delight all year around. When not in bloom, you can still soak in the beauty of rich bark textures, seed capsules, foliage shapes and beautiful fragrance as you stroll through the grounds. Aboriginal Traditional Owners Parks Victoria acknowledges the Aboriginal Traditional Owners of Victoria - including its parks and reserves. Through their cultural traditions, Aboriginal people maintain their connection to their ancestral lands and waters. Before you go Conditions can change in parks for many reasons. For the latest information on changes to local conditions, please visit the relevant park page on the Parks Victoria website. Be bushfire ready in the great outdoors. Refer to the Bushfire Safety section on the Parks Victoria website for tips on how to stay safe.

The George Tindale Memorial Garden contains a number of plants rarely found in cultivation, which are thriving in the acidic soils, cool temperate climate and shaded conditions found in the Dandenong Ranges. Extensive collections of magnolias, rhododendrons, camellias, azaleas, fuchsias and hydrangeas will delight garden enthusiasts. The gardens offer something new with each season - a myriad of flowers in spring; hydrangeas, lilliums and fuchsias in summer; a canopy of gold, red, orange and burgundy in Autumn and the flowers of the Lenten Rose or Hellebore beneath flowering shrubs in winter. Before you go Conditions can change in parks for many reasons. For the latest information on changes to local conditions, please visit the relevant park page on the Parks Victoria website. Be bushfire ready in the great outdoors. Refer to the Bushfire Safety section on the Parks Victoria website for tips on how to stay safe.

Lysterfield Park is a beautiful spot, not far from Melbourne, offering a range of recreational activities. This is a great place for mountain biking. The Lysterfield Park Mountain Bike Trails and the State Mountain Bike course offers 20 kilometres of trails catering for riders of all ages and ability. Choose from easy family trails for all to enjoy around the lake and parkland, a range of flowing single trails through established plantations or steep and technical sections of trail through rocky landscapes Lysterfield Lake is very popular for canoeing, sailing, paddle boating and surf skiing. There are also a number of walking tracks including three trails that are linked for a brisk two-hour walk around the lake. The park is open from 8am to 8pm during daylight saving time. Before you go Conditions can change in parks for many reasons. For the latest information on changes to local conditions, please visit the relevant park page on the Parks Victoria website. Be bushfire ready in the great outdoors. Refer to the Bushfire Safety section on the Parks Victoria website for tips on how to stay safe.

Arboretum is a Latin word meaning a place for trees. Here you will find over 150 species of native and exotic trees in plantations designed to represent forests, creating a patchwork effect over the hills. Take a quiet, peaceful stroll along the many walking tracks and roads of the Arboretum and take in the tranquil beauty and stunning scenery across the Yarra Valley out to the Warburton Ranges and beyond. The majestic gums and oaks and the ornamental willows and birches are at their best in the summer. A rich array of autumn colours provides spectacular views, from the fiery red, oranges and crimsons of the liquidambers and maples, to the subtle paling of the deciduous conifers. In winter, the tranquil resting of the deciduous trees contrasting with the early flowering species among a mystic lake of low hanging clouds, offers viewing delight. Before you go Conditions can change in parks for many reasons. For the latest information on changes to local conditions, please visit the relevant park page on the Parks Victoria website. Be bushfire ready in the great outdoors. Refer to the Bushfire Safety section on the Parks Victoria website for tips on how to stay safe.

Located north of Cardinia Reservoir, Aura Vale Lake plays a very important role in Melbourne's water supply. The lake forms part of a drainage system designed to channel run-off water from neighbouring properties and roads, and stop it entering the main reservoir. This system prevents polluted water from affecting the quality of our drinking water. Over the past years Aura Vale Lake Park has become a popular venue for boating activities including sailboarding and canoeing and for other small non-powered boats up to 3.3 metres. Swimming is not permitted due to poor water quality and submerged objects. The park is open 10am to 6pm during daylight saving time. Before you go Conditions can change in parks for many reasons. For the latest information on changes to local conditions, please visit the relevant park page on the Parks Victoria website. Be bushfire ready in the great outdoors. Refer to the Bushfire Safety section on the Parks Victoria website for tips on how to stay safe.

Set in a tranquil garden setting the Maroondah Art Gallery aims to promote and inspire innovation, diversity and discussion in the visual arts through a constantly changing exhibition program. Located in the leafy outer eastern region of Melbourne at Maroondah Federation Estate, the Gallery offers a dynamic range of exhibitions including newly commissioned work, thematic exhibitions and survey shows of major artists. A diverse range of public programs provide opportunities for visitors of all ages to further engage with the arts. The Maroondah Art Gallery, which is owned and operated by Maroondah City Council, is also home to the R & M McGivern Art Prize. Managed by Maroondah City Council and The Trust Company, this $25,000 acquisitive prize aims to encourage painting in all mediums. Held on a triennial basis, the Prize is open to artists nationally. The R & M McGivern Art Prize will be held again in 2015. For further information please visit the website.

Scoresby Steamfest
7-9th March 2015, Gates open 10am - 5pm Daily

Vintage "boys' toys" in action from huge steam ploughing engines to tiny models. Steam vehicles, a Sherman tank, industrial steam and diesel engines, old farm engines (Including Tractors) and machinery, earth moving machinery, blacksmithing, early road making equipment, teams of draught horses, vintage cars and Trucks .

Come Ride around the Grounds on the miniature Steam railway.

There is something for everyone no matter what age and whether you’re female or male!!

Protecting the tall forests of the Dandenongs, the Dandenong Ranges National Park is well known for its spectacular Mountain Ash trees and lush fern gullies, and is ideal for relaxing picnics and tranquil forest walks. The cool mountain elevation affords spectacular panoramic views. There is abundant native birdlife, including crimson rosellas, kookaburras and the superb lyrebird. Explore the forest on a range of walks, or enjoy a picnic at the Fern Tree Gully Picnic Ground, One Tree Hill or in Sherbrooke Forest. Nearby coffee shops, restaurants, craft and antique shops, as well as gardens and the historic Puffing Billy train make for a pleasant day out. The park can be reached by public transport from Melbourne. Opening times for Ferntree Gully picnic ground - An automatic gate entry gate is in operation at Ferntree Gully Picnic Ground - The gate opens at 6am and closes at 9pm daily Aboriginal Traditional Owners Parks Victoria acknowledges the Aboriginal Traditional Owners of Victoria - including its parks and reserves. Through their cultural traditions, Aboriginal people maintain their connection to their ancestral lands and waters. Before you go Conditions can change in parks for many reasons. For the latest information on changes to local conditions, please visit the relevant park page on the Parks Victoria website. Be bushfire ready in the great outdoors. Refer to the Bushfire Safety section on the Parks Victoria website for tips on how to stay safe.