Private Tour

Dandenong Ranges Private Day Tour

Overview

Available languages

English

Mobile ticket

Get out of the city and spend a relaxing and peaceful day out in nature in the beautiful Dandenong Ranges which is less than an hour from Melbourne by road. Discover the majestic and ancient forests on a leisurely walk and spot wildlife. If we're lucky we might run into the beautiful and elusive Lyrebird. Learn about the flora and fauna, as well as the history of the area. Enjoy a wholesome lunch at a homely and cosy restaurant. After lunch we will go to the Alfred Nicholas Gardens which has a beautiful Japanese inspired lake garden at the bottom of the hill and then our final stop will be to the Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden which showcases an award winning native Australian garden. This is a private tour catering to a group of up to 7 people and can be customised on the day. Please note that if you make a booking for you or your group then no one else will be able to book, ensuring that it is a private tour just for you.

Additional Info

Public transportation options are available nearby

Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap

Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Visit to a cosy restaurant after forest walk

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What‘s Included

Local guide

Air-conditioned vehicle

Drinks

Lunch

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

What To Expect

Dandenong Ranges National Park

Take a leisurely walk in the main forest of the Dandenong Ranges, where you will be amongst the second tallest trees in the world, the Mountain Ash eucalyptus tree, and the ancient Fern tree forest. Soak in the sights and sounds of this beautiful forest.

1 hour • Admission Not Applicable

Kallista

After our forest walk, we'll drive to the little village of Kallista to stop over at a cosy restaurant for lunch.

1 hour • Admission Not Applicable

Options

Group of 4 people

For 4 guests
Pickup included

Couple

Pickup included

Group of 5 people

Pickup included

Group of 6

Pickup included

3 People

For 3 guests
Pickup included

Group of 7

Pickup included

Single

Pickup included

Reviews

4.89

62 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Amazing flora of the area
KevinHood,
Mar 3, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Although it was a rainy day that impacted a bit on the day, Jay was amazing in regards to his knowledge and ability to show us the beauty of the area. We would gladly have spent another day travelling with Jay!
A day in the Dandenongs.
david s,
Feb 25, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
We had a great guide. Jay took us on three beautiful walks in the Dandenong Mountains . The scenery was fantastic.
Fun experience
199robin,
Feb 1, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Jay was a great guide. He was very knowledgeable about the birds and local fauna. The old growth forest was fascinating with the tall trees and birdsong. We also toured two other gardens both of which were equally interesting. We appreciated the pick up and drop off at our hotel. Our tea room lunch was delicious with a close up view of the cockatiels.
Great Day in the Bush
vanessadH7704ZR,
Jan 3, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We loved our day with Jay. He was so informative on the wildlife & fauna and was so personable. The first hike was incredible and felt magical, filled with so many birds. We loved the cafe we stopped at for brunch as well. It’s well worth it if you want a day in beautiful nature and gardens outside of the city.
Jay is friendly,...
Manju L,
Dec 11, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00
Jay is friendly, knowledgeable, and accommodating. I thoroughly enjoyed my day trip to the Dandenong ranges and botanical gardens. Lunch was at a very quaint cafe where the food was good and the ambiance was peaceful. We got to take the hikes in at a good and moderate pace and still enjoy the scenery. I highly recommend this tour into nature.
Amazing day trip to the Dandenong Ranges
nutty 4 nature,
Dec 3, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
I was so glad I found Jay’s company. He offered the perfect day trip allowing for me to immerse myself in a beautiful temperate forest and observe amazing flora and fauna. The commute to the Dandenong Ranges is only 1 hour from city. If you are looking for a nature filled excursion while in Melbourne I would highly recommend this tour. The two botanical gardens we also visited were incredible and we also stopped off at an awesome spot for brunch. Jay has a lot of insight into the surrounding nature and went above and beyond knowing my interest in wildlife to show me some iconic species. I was amazed to see different types of parrots, kookaburras, swamp wallaby, and echnidnas to name a few. I wish I had time to take some more of his tours.
Excellent Tour for Nature Lovers
H91VGkent,
Nov 21, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
This tour fit us perfectly because it included a hike through the National Forest and guided walks through two excellent botanical gardens. In addition, Jay picked us up at our downtown hotel and took us to lunch at a tea room featuring local cuisine. The rhododendrons were huge and in full bloom. We have never seen any like that in the SE US. Jay was very considerate of our walking mobility while giving us the full tour in spite of downtown traffic delays. Highly recommended.
Natural
Diana G,
Aug 20, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00
Enjoy nature and fresh air meditate our body and soul. Our guide Joe being a great job to explain all kinds of plants and flowers👍
Great tour to be out in nature
Cheryl12,
Aug 7, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Excellent tour with Jay! He picked us up at our hotel right on time. He is very personable and told us about the areas we were driving through on the way to the forest. He guided us through the forest describing the local ecosystem. We went to a couple fascinating botanical gardens after that. Lunch (on our own) was at a great restaurant where we could see cockatoos in the tree. As it was a private tour, Jay took us to a store that made its own chocolates to pick up a few treats for friends. All in all, it was a worthwhile tour :)
Private tour.
Goran M,
Jun 30, 2024
- Review from Viator
4.00
I went during the winter, on a day that was cold and wet but that just added to the experience. I got to see the area in a different climate whereby the mist made it all that more enchanting. Thanks to Jay for being very friendly, knowledgeable and helpful.