RJ Hamer Arboretum, Olinda

Arboretum - a place for trees.

150 species of trees, to be exact.

If you ever wanted to take a quiet, peaceful, at one with nature, contemplative walk in the woods - this place is for you.

The track varies from flat, leaf strewn dirt paths...

...to narrow dirt tracks...

...to even more narrow tracks...

...before opening up to wide bush roads.

The walking trails take you through plantations of Oak, Giant Sequoia, Himalayan Cedar, Cypress and Monarch Birch as well as Willow, Liquidambar, Maple - just to name a few. You'll be transported to far away lands as you walk amongst some of these exotic species.

Gum Trees, Tree Ferns,native birds and the occasional echidna bring you back home. Not to mention the incredible sweeping views to the Yarra Valley and Warburton area.

Also wildflowers. Millions of wildflowers. 

Meadows filled with them. 

That make you want to run and twirl and dance and sing. 

Or was that just me?

We worked up such an appetite with all that walking and twirling through meadows, we headed for The Cuckoo for a smorgasbord of Bavarian delights, where we ate one of everything, to the accompaniment of a piano accordion and an Oompah band (Wed-Fri $39). There was also some yodelling. Brilliant.

A day well spent.

What: RJ Hamer Arboretum
Where: Olinda-Monbulk Rd, Olinda
When: Daily
Why: walk, nature
How Much: FREE

National Rhododendron Gardens, Olinda

I had the National Rhododendron Gardens on my to-do-list, but thought that a visit in Spring would be the best time to go, when the flowers are in full bloom.

A Parks Ranger told us that right now in Autumn is just as good, and we shouldn't wait until September.

Thank you - Parks Ranger. So glad we listened to you.

A kaleidoscope of colours bombarded us as we walked along the trail. Red, yellow, orange, green, gold, crimson,white, pink, purple....it was like opening a box of Derwents.

The 4.5km of paved trails were easy to walk, with many information posts along the way that detailed the history of the gardens and explained more about the various flowers, shrubs and trees in the garden.  

Looking towards Silvan Dam, the Yarra Valley, the townships of Healesville and Warburton and all the way to Mt Baw Baw.      

 

Many flowers are still in bloom and the bright colours pop right out of the earthy palette of the Autumn hues. The gardens are home to over 270,00 varieties of flowers. Azalea, Protea, Chamellia, Magnolia, Cherry and Daffodil share the space with the Rhododendrons. 

Droplets of overnight rain looked like a layer of Swarovski crystals on the leaves...

...and the leaves on the ground looked like Mother Nature's confetti.  

A creek formed from a natural spring trickles under this stone bridge. The  bridge was built by a volunteer group of ladies in the 1960's. Apparently, the ladies took too long to finish the job and the menfolk took over. How rude.

The lake  and the pond provide many photo opportunities to capture the beautiful reflections of the trees in the still waters.

Deciduous trees like English Beech can be found in the gardens and giant Mountain Ash - the world's tallest flowering tree - border the site. 

Pack a thermos of hot soup and some fresh bread and have a picnic at one of the many tables in the gardens. Remember to rug up - it's chilly in the hills!

What: National Rhododendron Gardens

Where: The Georgian Rd, Olinda

When: Daily,  10am–5pm

Why: flowers, gardens, picnics, walks

How Much: FREE  (you might like to drop a donation in the box, to help Parks Vic continue their fab work of caring for our beautiful parks and gardens)