Olinda

Olinda is a town within the Dandenong Ranges located 41km east of Melbourne's CBD. It is part of the Shire of Yarra Ranges and close to Belgrave, Wandin, Montrose, Kilsyth, Upwey and Boronia.

It was once the home of accomplished Australian artist, Arthur Streeton, who was inspired by the area’s beauty and painted the village’s scenery in several of his works. The region continues to have a thriving arts community today, attracting artists and craftspeople whose creations span a variety of mediums. Some artists have studios that tourists can visit or have their creations on the show and for sale in village shops.

The charming village of Olinda – the highest in the Dandenong Ranges – has a busy shopping strip of fascinating stores to explore from Olinda Collective to artisan foods, cooking spices to homewares, hand-crafted jewellery, fashion and old-fashioned sweets – you can spend hours browsing Olinda’s stores and boutiques for treasures and get some serious retail therapy while you do it. Check out our shopping guide here.

The town centre also has an enticing range of quality eateries, including the iconic Olinda Tea House, a pie shop, cafes, fine dining restaurants and traditional pubs, so visitors won’t need to look far for a snack, drink or hearty meal.

Located 500m from Olinda village is the spectacular The Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden and the stunning Chelsea Australian Garden at Olinda.

Another must-see tourist attraction is Cloudehill Gardens, inspired by England's arts and crafts gardens. The stunning property is divided into some 20 ‘garden rooms’ featuring changing exhibits of sculptures and garden art.

Other stunning gardens in the vicinity of Olinda include Pirianda Gardens, with its selection of plants from across the globe, and the RJ Hamer Arboretum, which has breathtaking views.

Book a pampering session at a day spa or wellness centres offering soothing massages and beauty treatments. Alternatively, many accommodation places are happy to arrange for therapists to visit you.

Olinda is an excellent base for a short stay in the Dandenong Ranges, with more than 100 great B&Bs – offering contemporary to classic style accommodation – in and around the village.

Make sure to explore another great Village of the Dandenong Ranges like Sassafras or Mount Dandenong, which are just minutes away.