Monbulk

Rich with history, Monbulk's name, originally Monbolok or Monbolac is derived from the Aboriginal name meaning 'hiding place in the hill. Mrs Aeneas Gunn, author of "We of the Never Never" and "Little Black Princess", was responsible for tracing the name back to its origins. The source was John of the Terrick Terrick tribe, who died in the district at more than 90 years of age.

True to its name, it's an ideal spot for a quiet retreat with the charming villages of Kalista, Olinda and Sassafras, packed with cafes, shopping and more, just a five-minute drive away.

Writer Nettie Palmer lived in the Dandenong Ranges in the first decades of the 20th century, noting the region's swift popularity for berry farming. As such, from 1913 up until the early 1990s, you'd find a jar of Monbulk jam in many Aussie kitchens.

This town has remained a popular place for visitors travelling through the Growers and Farmgates sub-region of the Dandenong Ranges. It is a great spot for a snack break or lunch if walking or cycling through the Dandenong Ranges National Park or its surrounding hills.

Screenshot 2025 12 08 at 14 37 09 Baynes Park Yarra Ranges Council

Kick back and relax under the shady trees or near Sassafras Creek in the local Baynes Park. Once a fruit and berry farm, then a caravan park from the 60s to the 80s, today it's a great spot to enjoy a BBQ under the rotunda or a picnic while the kids burn off energy at the onsite playground.

Lace up your hiking shoes as a walking path cuts through the 40-some hectares of the park, which links to Frank Irvine Reserve.