Dandenong Ranges
Mountain ash forest, fern gullies and the Puffing Billy line — about an hour from the city, with a car that meets you at the other end of the train.
Discover Dandenong Ranges
The Dandenongs start where Melbourne's eastern suburbs stop: mountain ash, tree ferns, and a handful of villages strung along the ridge. It is the closest of our day routes, which makes it the easiest one to do with children or with grandparents along.
Puffing Billy is the reason many families come. The useful part of having a driver is that you do not have to ride it as a return trip — we drop you at one station and collect you at another, so the train is one leg of the day rather than two.
Around that there is the Rhododendron Garden at Olinda, the walks through Sherbrooke Forest, and Sassafras and Olinda for tea. Tell us the ages of the group and how far anyone wants to walk, and the day is set to that.
Tour Highlights
- ✓Puffing Billy — one way, with the car meeting you at the far station
- ✓National Rhododendron Garden at Olinda
- ✓Walks through mountain ash forest and fern gullies
- ✓The ridge villages — Sassafras, Olinda, Emerald
- ✓Kookaburras, lyrebirds and wallabies in Sherbrooke Forest
- ✓Devonshire tea or lunch in one of the villages
- ✓Door-to-door chauffeur service from your Melbourne address
What's Included
- ✓Private vehicle and professional chauffeur for the full day
- ✓An itinerary planned with you before you travel
- ✓Puffing Billy and restaurant bookings arranged in advance
- ✓Child seats fitted on request, free of charge
- ✓Tolls and GST in one fixed price, quoted before you book
- ✓Entry tickets, attraction fees and meals are not included — you pay those on the day
Reserve Your Dandenong Ranges Tour
Every MPJ Australia tour is private — your group only. Tell us the date, the ages of the group and whether you want Puffing Billy booked, and we will come back with a fixed price.
Get a QuoteOther days out from Melbourne
A short drive further out, and the natural pairing.
Bay beaches and hot springs, south of the city.
The penguins, and a later finish.
An evening in the city — laneway bars, rooftop views and dinner, with nobody driving home.
Tour Essentials
- Duration
- 10–12 hours, door to door. The closest of our day routes, so it can run shorter than the full window if that suits your group. If your day runs longer, the additional time is charged at your vehicle's hourly rate.
- Departure Time
- Agreed with you when you book. If Puffing Billy is in the plan, the pick-up is set around the departure you hold. Daylight hours change through the year, so we set the pick-up time to suit the season and your itinerary rather than fix it in advance.
- Vehicle & Capacity
- Matched to your group: Mercedes-Benz CLA 200 for couples; Toyota Alphard, Alphard 40, Mercedes-Benz V-Class or Kia Carnival for families and small groups; Mercedes-Benz Sprinter for larger parties. Tell us the group size and roughly what luggage you have, and the vehicle is confirmed with your quote.
- Included
- Private vehicle and chauffeur for the full day, tolls and GST. One fixed price, quoted before you book — no surge pricing and no per-kilometre extras.
- Not Included
- Entry tickets, tastings and activity fees are not included. Meals and drinks are not included. On this route that includes Puffing Billy tickets and garden entry. You pay these directly on the day, so you decide where you eat and what you spend.
- Child Seats
- Baby capsules and booster seats are supplied free of charge on request. Tell us your children's ages when you book so the right seats are fitted before pick-up.
- Payment
- Payment in full confirms the booking. Major credit cards and bank transfer accepted.
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation more than 24 hours before pick-up. Within 24 hours, 50% of the fare is charged. Tours run in all weather. If a tour cannot go ahead on the day because of an official closure, we reschedule it at no cost.
Full terms, luggage guidance and payment detail: Booking Information. Common questions are answered in our FAQs.
Ride the Train One Way.
Most visitors ride Puffing Billy out and back because they left a car at the station. With a chauffeur the train is one leg, and the rest of the ridge fits into the same day.