Overview
The Dandenongs (or Dandenong Ranges) are a chain of low mountains, around 35 km east of Melbourne. The highest point is Mount Dandenong at 633 metres. The hills and steep gullies are covered with temperate rainforest and dense ferny undergrowth.
Most of the forest is conserved within the Dandenong Ranges National Park.
Birds
Superb Lyrebird is probably the number one attraction for birders here. They can be found most easily in Sherbrooke Forest by walking slowly along the tracks and watching out for movement on the ground. Australian King Parrot sometimes joins other parrots at the car parks and restaurants. Eastern Whipbird is more difficult and Red-browed Treecreeper needs some luck.
Check-list
Birds you can see here include:
Whistling Kite, Nankeen Kestrel, Brown Falcon, Spotted Dove, Crested Pigeon, Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo, Galah, Long-billed Corella, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Rainbow Lorikeet, Crimson Rosella, Australian King Parrot, Shining Bronze Cuckoo, Southern Boobook, Laughing Kookaburra, Superb Lyrebird, White-throated Treecreeper, Red-browed Treecreeper, Superb Fairywren, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Little Wattlebird, Red Wattlebird, Crescent Honeyeater, Eastern Spinebill, Spotted Pardalote, White-browed Scrubwren, Brown Thornbill, Striated Thornbill, Eastern Whipbird, Australian Magpie, Pied Currawong, Eastern Shrike-tit, Australian Golden Whistler, Grey Shrikethrush, Willie Wagtail, Grey Fantail, Magpie-lark, Little Raven, Eastern Yellow Robin, Rose Robin, Welcome Swallow, Common Myna, Common Starling, Bassian Thrush, Eurasian Blackbird, House Sparrow, Red-browed Finch
Site Information
History and Use
The forests were formerly used as a timber source for Melbourne before the creation of the National Park. There are also many small settlements inside the mountains. The Dandenongs are popular among people from Melbourne and especially during the weekends the tracks can be rather crowded with runners, walkers, cyclists and nature lovers.
Areas of Interest
Sherbrooke Forest
The best site for Superb Lyrebird. Australian King Parrot can be found at the carpark. For the Lyrebird explore the tracks in the forest. Eastern Whipbird can be found, too. Leeches can be a nuisance, especially in wet weather.
Upper Ferntree Gully
A lot of tracks start from here, including the famous Kokoda Track Memorial Walk. However, the Kokoda track is usually rather crowded and birdwatching may be difficult. But there are many other tracks to find birds.
Access and Facilities
The Dandenongs can easily be reached from Melbourne for a half day or a day trip. Upper Ferntree Gully has a train station with regular services to Melbourne. To reach other parts of the Dandenongs a car is the easiest.
