Easy hikes and walks in Yellingbo Nature Conservation Reserve

Not many places combine natural beauty, family friendly facilities, and historic steam engine railways like Emerald Lake Park. A day here could entail a swim in the park's namesake lake, a walk or cycle on some of the many pathways, a visit to a state of the art visitor centre, and a ride on an authentic steam train. You can plan your visit down to the minute or take it easy and just see where the day takes you, either way you'll have a good time!

The Nobelius Track follows the historic Puffing Billy Railway through Emerald Lake Park. Along the way you'll pass by various historic sites and train stations. You'll also find an outdoor fitness station and children's playground, which makes this moderate pathway ideal for families.

Set near the shore of Emerald Lake and surround by lush fern gullies and rainforests, the Lakeside Visitor Centre offers a great mix of modern facilities, natural habitats, and railroad history. You can go for a swim, dine in the café, or walk along the many pathways that weave through the forest. Or, for a touch of something whimsical you can ride through the Dandenong Ranges on the Puffing Billy Railway. However you plan to spend your time at Emerald Lake Park be sure to stop by here first to get all the up to date information you need.

The Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden is open every day, except for Tuesday, from 10 am to 4:30 pm. The gardens are very impressive, spanning 50 hectares, and there's a gift shop, restrooms, and a café on-site as well.

Mathias Road is popular with locals and dog walkers and also open to equestrians and mountain bikers. This road is now a wide track because it is closed to vehicles. Dogs should always be leashed, and this track can get muddy after rain. Wait until the track is dry to enjoy it.

KC Track is a well-formed, generally easy-to-navigate pathway with access to the diverse tree plantings within the 101-hectare beautifully landscaped park, which is known for its stunning autumn colours and panoramic views of the Yarra Valley. It is part of a larger network of walking trails, ideal for an extended walk, with plenty of lookouts and native forest sections to explore while you're here.

The Rock Track (or Golf Course Track) is a moderately challenging, relatively short circuit walk that starts near the old Olinda Golf Course and offers beautiful views across the valley. Along the way, there are prominent rocky outcrops, and in some places, the path can be narrow with exposed roots, making it a bit rugged and slippery in wet conditions. It connects to the wider, gravelled Mathias Track and is a lovely, shady walk through towering forest, making it a great route for birdwatching.

Yallambee Way is a quiet walking track winding through beautiful tall mountain ash forest in the Dandenong Ranges. It's an easy, wide path, passing through dense fern understory and shaded sections of cool-temperate rainforest. It connects to nearby tracks and lookouts and is a peaceful, immersive stretch within the forest.