Grants Picnic Ground is a wide clearing ringed by tall eucalypts and native bushland in Sherbrooke Forest. Stroll along interpretive walking trails and learn about this densely wooded section of the Dandenong Ranges National Park, where native birds flock in the temperate rainforest canopy. Visit the picnic ground’s kiosk to purchase birdseed and see some of these magnificent birds up close.
The trailhead connects with a selection of walking paths that lead into the surrounding bushland. Embark on a 30-minute loop around the Margaret Lester Forest Walk, which showcases some of the fragrant vegetation along a hard-surface path. See the drooping leaves of messmate stringybark eucalypts, which tower into the upper canopy. Walk along the Hardy Gully Nature Walk to experience the ancient remnants of a cool temperate rainforest and see ferns in the shady gullies. The more challenging 2-hour Eastern Sherbrooke Forest Walk loops around breathtaking mountain ash forests, where the world’s tallest flowering plant thrives in the temperate climate.
Lay out a picnic on one of the wooden tables and take in the surrounding greenery. If you didn’t bring your own food, head to the picnic ground’s kiosk, Grants on Sherbrooke, to grab refreshments. You can also purchase a token from the kiosk, which includes admission to the fenced-off bird feeding area and a handful of birdseed. Sulfur-crested cockatoos and crimson rosellas are among the native bird species that flock to this area. Feed the beautifully plumaged birds from your hands and take photographs as they clamber on your shoulders.
Grants Picnic Ground is located within Sherbrooke Forest. It is a 5-minute drive northeast from central Belgrave. The expansive native bushland reserve is free to enter at any time. The Grants on Sherbrooke kiosk is open daily until the late afternoon. Visit in the summer to make the most of the long, sunny days, or check out the forest in late winter to see the pretty blossoms of the eucalypts and scores of native nectarbirds.
