Dandenong is a Melbourne region for those who like the convenience of being close to town, but still crave nature – with beautiful bushland, rainforest covered mountains and plenty of wildlife, this is a nature lovers dream. It’s also a vibrant multicultural area with plenty of wonderful things to explore. For foodies, there’s a plethora of opportunities to participate in a farm-to-table style of gourmet exploration here – here’s our recommendations.
Hook a Trout
The Australian Rainbow Trout farm lets you experience fishing in a whole new way – their very well stocked pools make it so simple anyone can catch a fish in mere minutes, or for a bit more of a challenge, you can try the big lake, where fish are slightly less plentiful. You pay for your catch by the kilo and you can have it expertly filleted on the spot for a little extra. Fishing rods and everything you’ll need is provided, including kid-sized rods for smaller anglers. They have a great BBQ area too, so if you can’t wait to devour your catch, you can enjoy a pescatarian lunch straight away.
Fruits of your Labour
Berries, cherries and fresh fruits are even more delicious when they’re freshly picked, and there are plenty of places where you can do this around Dandenong. There’s a whole U-Pick trail to follow that gives you lots of options – choose your favourites and make some room in the freezer for the fruits. Blue Hills Berries and Cherries have strawberries and blueberries, along with cherry trees to sample, while Chappies are known for their sweet raspberries. The largest Cherry orchard in the area is at Cherryhill Orchards, so if you’re wanting the widest selection this is the place to head. Jay Berries have a flourishing vegetable garden you can pick from as well, to add some greens and other savoury options to your berry bounty. If you don’t have the time or inclination to pick or process your own fruit then these places also sell fresh and frozen bulk produce along with jams, syrups, chutneys and all kinds of delicious goodies.
Sweet Rewards
The Basin Backyard is a collective of honey producers – they not only have more than two hundred and fifty hives of their own, but they collect the best honey of the region as well. This is a great place to pick up some sweet treats for your pantry and also get any advice you need about your own beekeeping aspirations. They have a range of lovely beeswax products in their store as well.
Blooming Plants
One of the biggest and best nurseries in the area is the Tessellar Nursery – a family run operation that sells cut flowers, seeds and seedlings along with a wide range of plants, both native and exotic. They’re more than happy to share their knowledge and expertise so they can give you some great suggestions for your garden as well – whatever your climate or style you’ll be able to get growing here with ease.
