Anthony & Bek's Guidebook
Sightseeing
Take a journey over the old trestle bridges, through beautiful forrests and wave to people as you pass them by along the way.
You can catch it from Belgrave, Menzies Creek, Emerald or Gembrook and book online via their website.
234 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Puffing Billy Railway
1 Old Monbulk RdTake a journey over the old trestle bridges, through beautiful forrests and wave to people as you pass them by along the way.
You can catch it from Belgrave, Menzies Creek, Emerald or Gembrook and book online via their website.
Unfortunately this place is currently closed indefinitely due to storm damage.
102 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Santuario de William Ricketts
1402 Mount Dandenong Tourist RdUnfortunately this place is currently closed indefinitely due to storm damage.
A local icon that gets repainted regularly. Check it out if passing by and take in the views over Cardinia Reservoir.
Elephant Rock
142 Beaconsfield-Emerald RoadA local icon that gets repainted regularly. Check it out if passing by and take in the views over Cardinia Reservoir.
Eat and Drink
Great food and drinks (with a bit of a better selection than most "hills" pubs in our opinion), with an extensive beer garden that Puffing Billy rolls right past! It's the perfect sunny day outing for families, friends and couples!
11 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Paradise Valley Hotel
249 Belgrave-Gembrook RdGreat food and drinks (with a bit of a better selection than most "hills" pubs in our opinion), with an extensive beer garden that Puffing Billy rolls right past! It's the perfect sunny day outing for families, friends and couples!
Amazing bottle shop showcasing local wines and with a great selection of craft beers! Danny is very nice and extremely knowledgable too!
Harvest Cellars
168 Colby DrAmazing bottle shop showcasing local wines and with a great selection of craft beers! Danny is very nice and extremely knowledgable too!
Great food, drinks and often have well-known local and international bands playing.
35 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Sooki Lounge
1648 Burwood HwyGreat food, drinks and often have well-known local and international bands playing.
A local Rum and Gin distillery that is the sister store to the Little Brew Brewery in Ferntree Gully. They do great burgers and cocktails, but also do breakfast and coffee; they're a bit of an allrounder!
6 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Killik Handcrafted Rum
64 Monbulk RoadA local Rum and Gin distillery that is the sister store to the Little Brew Brewery in Ferntree Gully. They do great burgers and cocktails, but also do breakfast and coffee; they're a bit of an allrounder!
Not your typical Indian cuisine but it’s delicious! Their Samosa Chaat is 10/10! These guys recently received a hat in the Age Good Food Guide for 2023.
6 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Babaji's Kitchen
1644 Burwood HighwayNot your typical Indian cuisine but it’s delicious! Their Samosa Chaat is 10/10! These guys recently received a hat in the Age Good Food Guide for 2023.
Lovely cafe but can get quite busy on weekends with cyclists and tourists, so best to go early or during the week.
44 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Proserpina Bakehouse.
261 Mount Dandenong Tourist RdLovely cafe but can get quite busy on weekends with cyclists and tourists, so best to go early or during the week.
Our favourite cafe! Mexican-inspired and very “Melbourne” so you can expect good coffee and great food. Vegan/Vegetarian friendly and Bek highly recommends the Vegan Benedict with cashew hollandaise.
8 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Maria Cafe
56-58 Main StOur favourite cafe! Mexican-inspired and very “Melbourne” so you can expect good coffee and great food. Vegan/Vegetarian friendly and Bek highly recommends the Vegan Benedict with cashew hollandaise.
Recently got new owners who’ve spruced up the menu a bit. Good food and drinks, with a stunning beer garden! It’s also dog friendly 😉
17 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Micawber Tavern
71 Monbulk RdRecently got new owners who’ve spruced up the menu a bit. Good food and drinks, with a stunning beer garden! It’s also dog friendly 😉
This has recently been taken over by new owners and is incredible. We loved our first meal here and can’t wait to go back! The steak was pricey but worth every penny and they cater to vegetarians too, which Bek appreciated.
Ask if you can sit out the back! We only discovered this after we’d finished our meal 😩
Cognoscenti
1628A Burwood HighwayThis has recently been taken over by new owners and is incredible. We loved our first meal here and can’t wait to go back! The steak was pricey but worth every penny and they cater to vegetarians too, which Bek appreciated.
Ask if you can sit out the back! We only discovered this after we’d finished our meal 😩
If you’re looking for a bar with a great craft beer and local wine selection, live music and a “cool” vibe, then try The Black Bee out! Food is prepared by a restaurant/cafe a few doors down and is perfect for soaking up those beverages. There’s not many places like this around the hills so we appreciate it immensely 😎
The Black Bee Craft Beer & Wine Bar
7 Bayview RdIf you’re looking for a bar with a great craft beer and local wine selection, live music and a “cool” vibe, then try The Black Bee out! Food is prepared by a restaurant/cafe a few doors down and is perfect for soaking up those beverages. There’s not many places like this around the hills so we appreciate it immensely 😎
Great wood fired pizza/American-style bbq with a cool vibe. It took us a while to get around to going there but now it’s a staple. Extensive vegan menu too!
7 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Tin Pan Alley Foodsmiths
60 Main StGreat wood fired pizza/American-style bbq with a cool vibe. It took us a while to get around to going there but now it’s a staple. Extensive vegan menu too!
A small venue with delicious pizza. It can get quite busy so book ahead.
11 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Mad Raven Pizza Deluxe
78 Monbulk RdA small venue with delicious pizza. It can get quite busy so book ahead.
Gregs Tender Joint
150 Colby DrFree Range meats, fantastic service and the best bacon I've ever had - Anthony
Shane started out as a cafe/market but has now grown into a Mexican restaurant (makes sense, right?). This is actually a vegan restaurant but you can add meat to any dish you like, so it’s suitable to any dietary requirements/preferences. Shane himself is cheeky, friendly and sometimes a little crude, but we have grown to enjoy his hilarious social media posts and banter. Highly recommend.
shane on colby
Shane started out as a cafe/market but has now grown into a Mexican restaurant (makes sense, right?). This is actually a vegan restaurant but you can add meat to any dish you like, so it’s suitable to any dietary requirements/preferences. Shane himself is cheeky, friendly and sometimes a little crude, but we have grown to enjoy his hilarious social media posts and banter. Highly recommend.
A great Italian restaurant serving all your faves. It’s a little bit of a drive but all the better to explore different parts of the hills. There’s even a playground for the little ones.
9 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Bam Bam Italian
445 Belgrave-Gembrook RdA great Italian restaurant serving all your faves. It’s a little bit of a drive but all the better to explore different parts of the hills. There’s even a playground for the little ones.
Nature, Walks and Picnics
A stunning place to walk your dog, exercise, or just wander and soak in the amazing wildlife. You will see sooooo many birds, hence the name.
11 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Birdsland Reserve
271 Mt Morton RdA stunning place to walk your dog, exercise, or just wander and soak in the amazing wildlife. You will see sooooo many birds, hence the name.
Edit: this might be closed due to park upgrades.
Great for a walk along the retaining wall with views across the reservoir, plenty of places to picnic and you can also BYO BBQs, and there's have play equipment for the kids. There's quite a lot of Kangaroos and Deer that roam around so chances are you'll catch a glimpse of them. There's also a number of walks through the bush if you're a bit more of an explorer. Although some parts haven't quite been looked after very well over the years, it still feels adventurous stumbling across old relics of picnics past. 🐶 friendly
27 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Cardinia Reservoir Park
Cardinia Reservoir Access RoadEdit: this might be closed due to park upgrades.
Great for a walk along the retaining wall with views across the reservoir, plenty of places to picnic and you can also BYO BBQs, and there's have play equipment for the kids. There's quite a lot of Kangaroos and Deer that roam around so chances are you'll catch a glimpse of them. There's also a number of walks through the bush if you're a bit more of an explorer. Although some parts haven't quite been looked after very well over the years, it still feels adventurous stumbling across old relics of picnics past. 🐶 friendly
Another great place to walk the dog and see some incredible flora and fauna! It's usually pretty quiet so you're likely to have it all to yourself.
Glenfern Valley Bushlands
Glenfern RoadAnother great place to walk the dog and see some incredible flora and fauna! It's usually pretty quiet so you're likely to have it all to yourself.
Great place for a little wander and a picnic. Can be done as part of your Puffing Billy journey or is an easy 10-15 minute drive from the studio. 🐶 friendly
40 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Lago Esmeralda
Emerald Lake RoadGreat place for a little wander and a picnic. Can be done as part of your Puffing Billy journey or is an easy 10-15 minute drive from the studio. 🐶 friendly
Lots of walk throughout this area and a great view over Silvan Reservoir. 🐶 friendly
8 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Rj Hamer Arboretum - Gardens Of The Dandenong
Lots of walk throughout this area and a great view over Silvan Reservoir. 🐶 friendly
Beautiful Gardens that come alive during Autumn and Spring. 🐶 friendly
54 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Alfred Nicholas Memorial Garden
1A Sherbrooke RdBeautiful Gardens that come alive during Autumn and Spring. 🐶 friendly
A great place for some off leash time for your furry friend and has a great playground and BBQ areas to enjoy with the fam.
Belgrave Lake Park
35 Park DrA great place for some off leash time for your furry friend and has a great playground and BBQ areas to enjoy with the fam.
Previously know as the National Rhododendron Garden, this place is incredible and has a new award winning garden called the Chelsea Australian Garden, which is well worth checking out. Spend a couple of hours or a day soaking in the beauty, you won’t be disappointed no matter the season.
89 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Jardín Botánico de Dandenong Ranges
The Georgian RoadPreviously know as the National Rhododendron Garden, this place is incredible and has a new award winning garden called the Chelsea Australian Garden, which is well worth checking out. Spend a couple of hours or a day soaking in the beauty, you won’t be disappointed no matter the season.
Shopping
Beautiful nursery with a cafe and nature walk.
51 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Cloudehill Garden & Nursery
89 Olinda-Monbulk RdBeautiful nursery with a cafe and nature walk.
Everyone loves a good local market and this one is one of the better ones in the hills! Bek and I were amazed at just how big this is. It has a great vibe, delicious food and some great local arts and crafts. Highly recommend.
Belgrave Big Dreams Market - 2nd Sunday of the Month
Reynolds LaneEveryone loves a good local market and this one is one of the better ones in the hills! Bek and I were amazed at just how big this is. It has a great vibe, delicious food and some great local arts and crafts. Highly recommend.