Sassafras a small town, east of Melbourne in the Yarra Valley region. In the forest, this beautiful town has many sights and eclectic stores.
Understand
[edit]Sassafras was originally named Sassafras Gully due to the large numbers of Doryphora sassafras trees in a gully in the area.
In 1918 there were 13 guest houses in the town, making it a leading resort in the Dandenong Ranges. Tourists travelled to Sassafras by railway, alighting at Upper Ferntree Gully.
Get in
[edit]By train
[edit]Catch the Belgrave line train and get off at Upper Ferntree Gully station then catch the 688 bus (Ferntree Gully - Croydon). To use public transport requires a Myki card, which costs $6 (or $3 for children/concession) from post offices, milk-bars, petrol stations and train stations. Once you have the Myki card it needs to be topped up with money. An adult fee (for one trip) is approximately $3 (it changes frequently) whilst the child/concession fee is $1.50. The number of stops taken doesn't change the cost.
By car
[edit]Head east on Burwood Hwy, then drive towards Ferny Creek and keep going past it up until you get to Sassafras.
Get around
[edit]By bus
[edit]- 688 Olinda - Belgrave via Sherbrooke Road
- 694 Croydon - Upper Ferntree Gully via Olinda and Tremont
By car
[edit]Consider Car Next Door[dead link] because lots of people in the Dandenong Ranges hire their cars. It is cheaper than a standard car hire company.
See
[edit]- 1 Alfred Nicholas Memorial Garden, 1A Sherbrooke Rd, Sherbrooke. A beautiful scenic garden with walking trails, a boathouse, waterfalls and islands.
Do
[edit]- 1 Olinda Pool, 79 Olinda-Monbulk Rd, Olinda, ☏ +61 3 9751-2232. Open in Summer. Great pool on a hot day, has a baby pool, fun for children.
Buy
[edit]- 1 Geppetto's Workshop, 371 Mount Dandenong Tourist Rd, ☏ +61 3 9755-3300. Handmade wooden toys that children and adults will adore.
Eat
[edit]- 1 Miss Marple's Tearoom, 382 Mount Dandenong Tourist Rd, ☏ +61 3 9755-1610. Weekdays 11:00 - 16:00, weekends 11:00 - 16:30. Cute little tearoom.
- Sassafras Cafe, 391 Mount Dandenong Tourist Rd, ☏ +61 3 9755-3788. Cosy, casual, free Wi-Fi. Suitable for children.
Drink
[edit]- 1 Sassafras Tavern, 327 Mount Dandenong Tourist Rd, ☏ +61 3 9755 1241. A cute little pub.
Sleep
[edit]- 1 Marybrooke Manor, 10 Sherbrooke Rd, Sherbrooke, ☏ +61 3 9755-2755. A beautiful venue often used for weddings and graduations, Marybrooke Manor is a pretty place to stay. $240.
- 2 GiGis bnb, 1769 Mountain Hwy, ☏ +61 4 1602-6348. Free Wi-Fi, Free breakfast, Free parking, Child friendly. $330.
- 3 Franklin Cottage, 361 Mount Dandenong Tourist Rd, toll-free: 1300 48 84 48 (domestic). Child friendly hotel. $315.
- 4 Chudleigh Park Cottages, 6 Chudleigh Cres, ☏ +61 3 9755-2356. Inclusive Wi-Fi, parking and breakfast. $175.
Connect
[edit]Internet
[edit]Most cafes and accommodation have free WiFi and mobile data should work anywhere in Sassafras. Note that Optus data blacks out in Kallista.