Story by Jesse
Tall Timber
Adventure in Sassafras, Dandenong Ranges, VIC, AU
Driving into The Dandenongs is an instant hit to the reset button. With epic towering ferns, the tallest of timber, quaint little mountain towns and beautifully manicured gardens. It’s calm, quiet and deep in nature. Tucked away in the trees, Whitelodge Mountain Retreat lives up to its name. High vaulted ceilings, 2 open fireplaces, a kitchen and entertaining area designed for foodies filled with beds so comfortable you won’t want to leave! Seriously though, we wanted to take the mattress home with us. Thought they might notice it missing though. Rain head showers bigger than dinner plates and the ensuite has a surprising, rock star-worthy toilet. Every window looks out to lush greenery, with a couple of outdoor tables for meals outside with the resident kookaburras!
Where We Stayed
Luxury house in Sassafras, Dandenong Ranges, VIC, AU
83% Recommended•
8 people
No pets
Features and Amenities
4 bedrooms
7 beds
3 bathrooms
Air conditioning
BBQ
Heating
Details
- Check in after 3:00pmCheck out before 11:00am
- Weekday minimum booking: 2 nightsWeekend minimum booking: 2 nights
Cancellation Policy:
Receive a 50% refund of the total booking amount (minus service fee) up until 1 week prior to check-in.
Learn More
For more information about Whitelodge Mountain Retreat, check out the listing or ask the host a question.
Things We Did
- Walk
- Forest
- Sunset
- Bakery
- Gear
- Experience
- Café
Under the management of Parks Victoria, Alfred Nicholas Memorial Garden is the original garden of the historic Burnham Beeches estate and is renowned for its extensive water features and landscaped gardens. Access to the gardens is just a short stroll down the road from the lodge.
After an incredible and relatively easy trek from the lodge through the epic Alfred Nicolas Memorial Gardens you'll reach The Piggery @ Burnham Beeches. One of the Dandenongs well known gems built upon the philosophy of farm-to-table food. Sadly the pandemic put a stop to our sit-down lunch plans but they still came through with delicious baked goods to go. We also picked up some local strawberry + rhubarb cordial and a few impeccably made coffees for the walk back through the perfectly manicured gardens, past the lake, down the hill and back to the lodge. Trip takes around an hour each way. Up hill on the way but down hill on your return.
With trees so big you can climb in them! The sheer scale of the gums in Sherbrooke Forest is humbling. We explored the forest for a couple of hours trekking along Sherbrooke trail, one of the many forest trails within a 5 minute drive from the lodge.
One of the best sunsets in Melbourne! We headed up to Burkes Lookout to see the last light of the day. It’s a short, flat walk from the carpark that opens-up to an epic view from the top of Mt Dandenong back to Melbourne. Well worth getting rugged up for especially when the night lights start to appear.
After failing at baking a 1st birthday cake for our son, we took the 30-minute trek on foot up into Sassafras village to drop by Proserpina Bakery which has some of the most mouth-watering bakery goods around. Everything from bread fresh out of the oven to pies, pastries, tarts, treats, relishes, jams, chocolates and more importantly, cakes. So good, we ate there twice that day!
A beautifully curated boutique shop we stumbled upon while waiting for a takeaway pizza, showcasing local, handmade, upcycled and vintage pieces. We picked up a cosy locally made bonnet to keep Odin’s ears toasty.
If you have kids, this institution is a must. Geppetto’s Workshop specializes in wooden toys made with old-world charm. From marionettes and hand puppets to spinning tops and kaleidoscopes, wooden puzzles and games. Their toys are chosen for their uniqueness, style and quality. With most of their products made from wood. The perfect place for our son, Odin, to pick out something special for his very 1st birthday. I never thought I’d have that much fun in a toy store, but this place is literally covered from floor to ceiling with toys. Odin ended up picking out a beautifully made sustainable wood, shape sorting, tip truck!
With a craving for wood-fired pizza, Dudleys, located in Olinda village came through for us! With tasty takeaway pizzas in hand to enjoy back at the lodge we accidentally on purpose stopped in at Only Mine next door to pick up some artisanal chocolate. Highly recommend their Honeycomb + dark chocolate block. Yum!
Our Adventure Map
Where we stayed
Things we did
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$950per night