Doongalla Picnic Ground

This is a hidden gem. Unfortunately it is currently blocked to cars due to hooning. It is a beautiful place for a picnic.

This is by far my favourite spot in the Dandenong Ranges.
Heaps of walking tracks.the toilets at the bottom picnic ground has been closed for years with no sign of opening anytime soon. However, the top picnic ground has toilet facilities.
I frequent this place for photoshoots. The hydrangeas over the summer are stunning along the drive into the reserve. Autumn is by far my favourite time here though. Attached some images from today

Definitely worth a visit for pumice, walking and birdwatching. Some of the toilets at lower picnic site were closed for renovation but you can use upper picnic site for that. Parks was busy upgrading picnic tables to stainless steel, which will stand the rest of time.

Amazing forest park. I never knew something so beautiful and serene is tucked away near Upwey. A must go to place if you like to soak yourself in nature.

Doongalla is said to mean “place of peace’.
Located on the Western side of Mt Dandenong, Doongalla Homestead was a magnificent mansion home, consisting of 32 rooms, built in 1892.

Owned at the time by a member of parliament, Sir Mathew Davies, it was sold In 1908 to Miss Helen Simson. The stables were built, gardens developed and the property renamed as ‘Doongalla’, which means place of peace. Doongalla was sold in 1922 and was purchased by a local estate agent, T. M. Burke.

The 279ha Doongalla Forest Reserve is comprised of several properties originally established between 1885 and 1993. The reserve extends to the top of Mt Corhanwarrabul, the second-highest peak in the Dandenong’s.

Unlike most English owners at the time who cleared the land and turned them into English gardens to remind them of home, non native plants where included into the native bush vegetation which can still be seen today if you look for them.

Beautiful hiking and picnic area. Historical site which is quite interesting. Anytime of the year would be perfect but Autumn would be spectacular. Walk, drive, bike or horse ride.
Toilets, wood bbq and picnic tables
Base for further hikes through the ranges

The Doongalla Picnic Grounds sits cosy in the surrounds of tall eucalypt trees and on the site of the historic Doongalla Homestead.
Summer they come alive with blooms of hydrangeas

Doongalla feels like a hidden gem. Nice picnic area with some great tracks. Always much quieter than most of the other parks around Dandenong’s.

This very green and lush picnic area is nestled in a valley towards the base of the Dandenong mountains. It is set on 2 levels both of which have ample parking. The lower toilet facilities were closed when I visited, but the upper ones (shown in my pic’s) was open. They were spacious and clean. The upper grounds are on the site of an old homestead only some parts of which remain. For a picnic area that is not well know, it really has a beautifully maintained grassy area with lots of tables, and even some fireplaces (with differing levels of usability, and all requiring wood burning). There are a variety of walks and you can choose the level of difficulty. The ones around the upper level are truly beautiful with lots of ferns, flowers and a bubbling creek. One negative is the unsealed, one-lane road that leads to the picnic area – but if you go slowly, you will be OK. But it is a bit rough in places and there are some hairpin turns where you need to slow down. The other pesky thing are the mosquitoes, so go prepared. You go there to eat, not be eaten! So, in summary, not the easiest place to get to, but well worth the trip. If there was only one spot I had to take a visitor to introduce them to typical fern gullies, and temperate rain forest, this is where I would take them. With insect repellent.

Nice monolith, good place to eat chippies and watch season four of cracker, not season 3 though

Beautiful place it's magic I love it
After a hard climb to the mountain, the perfect place to relax and recharge to continue the mountain walk!

There are facilities at this site and large grassed area to spread out a picnic rug which is mainly level. If you want some peace, look for the slanted / angled grass areas.

The birdlife and variety of walking tracks is great, but note if you go up after a storm these paths can become blocked if trees are downed. When trees do block the trails do not to push on as many do as any emergency services to you would be delayed.

The only reason not to give 5 stars is due to popularity and the limited parking available. Ensure you get there early and never go on high fire days.

Lovely picnic area on old style European grounds (albeit not well maintained). We stopped for a picnic lunch with the kids and went for a long walk afterwards.

The area is only basically maintained, but still makes for a nice place to visit.

Pretty Good Spot for family activities! Lots of covered bush land for non-suspicious activity that may or may not include digging a hole and putting a monolith in it.

It's a nice place for picnic，there have a big tree like umbrella which has more than 140 years history。

I found a three-sided metal structure while picnicking here. It made me really want to watch Aunty Donna's Big Ol' House of Fun on Netflix.not sure why. It also smelt like KFC. 10/10 would visit to kiss it again.

Amazing place, especially for extraterrestrial life. Hoping to see traces of it someday, it's really a welcoming place for all sorts of creatures.

I found a freaking monolith! I would have given 5 stars but I found lip marks all over the thing. Aliens couldn’t get enough of themselves!

Official location of big metal structure that was mysteriously found here one day. Who could it possibly be?

Really stunning triangular hole. Would be perfect for monolith installation. Phenomenal.

Ps. Would recommend going up Bill’s track