Entering O'Donohue Picnic Ground
Tucked away in the Dandenongs is O'Donohue Picnic Ground, a gem of a park surrounded by the tall mountain ash of Sherbrooke forest.
With picnic tables, free electric barbeques, very clean toilets and a wide green lawn, this picnic spot is perfect for a quiet picnic or barbeque. Given the popularity of the Dandenongs National Park, it's surprising this park is so peaceful and little-known.
Picnic tables at O'Donohue
On Sherbrooke Lodge Road, the picnic area was established in 1999 from a former pine plantation, and named after James O'Donohue, the first park ranger at Sherbrooke.
Parks Victoria cleared the pine plantation in the late 1990's and sowed mountain ash seed, creating what is now a lovely picnic ground surrounded by regenerating forest.
There are several picnic tables and a large grassy area for setting up a picnic blanket. There's some shade but no covered picnic shelters, so it's definitely worth bringing a hat and sunscreen.
Plenty of space for a picnic blanket
The park is maintained by volunteers from
Friends of Sherbrooke Forest who carry out regular activities, working bees as well as community events where the public can learn more about the wildlife of Sherbrooke Forest. They welcome new members.
There are some easy short walks from the picnic ground into the shaded, cool Sherbrooke forest. There's a walk to Sherbrooke Falls, an easy 2.4km on a path surrounded by mountain ash and tree ferns. There's also the slightly longer Sherbrooke Loop, a 4.8km walk, through mountain ash and also cool temperate rainforest. There's a map showing the walks on the information board at the picnic ground and also
here.
O'Donohue Picnic Ground is easily accessible by car, on Sherbrooke Lodge Road which is between Mount Dandenong Tourist Road and Monbulk Road.
