Belgrave

Stumble upon bustling Belgrave nestled on the lands of the Wurundjeri People in the lush surrounds of Sherbrooke Forest, just 40 kilometres from Melbourne. Get your fill of the quaint and urban, mainstream and alternative, and of course, the iconic steam engine Puffing Billy.

Swing your feet out the sides of Puffing Billy's open carriages or watch the scenery unfold from first class as the 100-year-old train chuffs between Belgrave and Gembrook.

City and country

Learn more about alternative living in Belgrave's diverse range of wholefood, natural healing and fair trade shops. Browse the second-hand bookshops and the galleries like Belgrave Art Stockade.

Embrace the quirky side of the ranges at Horatio's Amazing Home, a 1917 cottage made of flattened kerosene tins fixed to a eucalyptus tree frame.

Acknowledge Melbourne's proximity and indulge in some urban pastimes. Catch a summertime movie under the stars, enjoy an evening of French cuisine, and see unexpectedly high-profile bands on stage at Sooki Lounge.

Trees, lakes and winding trails

Flee the busy village by disappearing deep into Sherbrooke Forest. Discover the exotic plants in the George Tindale Memorial Gardens and see the water features in the Alfred Nicholas Garden.

The kids will enjoy some time bushwalking, swimming and cycling in popular Lysterfield Park, while twitchers will relish an afternoon in the Birdsland Reserve.