La Petit Armoire & Quirky Best Bits would perhaps be the classiest of clothing boutiques in the…read morehills. It has two rooms filled elegantly with the latest fashions, designer clothing and cute accessories. The prices cater for everyone - from people like me who think they are rich if they have $20 in their wallet, up to people who can afford the $269 bright orange beach bag that I fell in love with, (and left behind...hint hint). Despite the orange bag being out of my budget I found plenty of other delights to tempt myself with including gorgeous heart outline silver necklaces and a funky pair of red velvet pants that were a steal at just $20. The girl who served me was friendly and welcoming and it was nice to see someone in a fairly up market shop doing work - hanging up clothes, styling the mannequins and generally making sure everything looked good - rather than eyeing me off from behind the counter. It would be right to say I felt very comfortable browsing with no fear that if I touched something alarm bells would go off - quite a pleasant experience. There are two 'rooms' to the shop and in the back one there is a tall gold-framed mirror resting against the wall. I wanted to try something on just to be able to use it - yup, that's how impressive it was. It seems like the place used to be two separate shops - one called La Petite Armoire and the other Quirky Best Bits. I didn't get the feeling that I was leaving one shop and walking into another as I passed under the doorway that links the two, so the owners have done a good job of combining them. The winter trading hours are 10-5 Monday to Friday and 10-5.30 Saturday and Sunday.

Such a cute store! Wonderfully curated Aussie made goods that are nicely displayed. This store has…read morebooks, cards, arts, Knick-knacks, clothing, jewelry, and even beauty products. The perfect place for an after lunch browse and great if you're looking for an unique souvenir or gift. Definitely worth a visit if you're in the area. They also have an online store (website).

From the owner: Come visit our retail store in the picturesque Dandenong Ranges and be inspired and intrigued by…read moreour eclectic range of delectable locally handmade goods. A must see for that cool gift or product!!

The Oracle of Sassafras is a mystical shop of all things magical and fleeting. It is filled with…read morethe pleasant aromas of candles and incense and the rooms are dim and almost musty. In any other shop this would likely be reason to leave however in The Oracle it only betters the mood. Expect to find gemstones, charms and decorative scarves amongst all manner of bizarre statues and gorgeous accessories. The staff conduct tarot readings in a small room in the back - by appointment only- as well as occasional story telling. There are books on magic and psalm reading and interesting little trinkets fill every surface, bench space and shelf in the store. With a dark shop front and little square glass panes it reminds me of the buildings in Gringotts Lane in Harry Potter and it is hard not to feel as though you haven't just stepped into another realm when you step inside. It is open seven days per week: Monday-Friday 11.30am -4.30pm and Saturday-Sunday 10-30am-5pm. Conveniently located in the heart of Sassafras Main Street it is easy to find.

I went here many years ago, when I was living in the area for a tarot reading with one of the…read morebeautiful French women who work there. It was the best reading I've ever had and she really helped me through some things along with predicting that I would move overseas in the next couple of years. As it were, I moved to NYC and have been happy here since. These guys are spot on and do everything from a really gentle, positive place. They're irreplaceable and one of the best things about the Dandenong Ranges

Mallalieu is tucked away behind the main strip of shops on Olinda-Monbulk road but it is well worth…read morea visit. It is a little boutique style accessory shop with a small selection of designer clothing, shoes, handbags, antique furniture and home wares. It is quite small but the space is really well utilized with benches and tables. The shop is colour coded into areas and had distinct green, pink and black areas when I went there today. The shop itself is quite beautiful and it is hard to walk away without taking something home with you. The displays of stock were quite artistic and I quite liked a lot of their accessories. In particular there was a set of earrings that were little square white tiles with the shadow of a sparrow printed onto them. They were very sweet and priced at $19. I also fell in love with a round stone bracelet, which was great value at just $25. The lady who was running the shop was lovely and very friendly. She knew a lot about the products and was quite helpful when I had questions. Mallalieu is open 11-5 Monday to Friday and 10.30-5 on weekends.

The Sassafras Wool Store is an amazing collection of all things woolen and warm. Located in the…read moreSassafras main strip of shops it is a fun shop to explore. They stock both international and Australian wool as well as antiques, vintage items, jewellery, soap and of course, knitting needles. The store has a great range of woolen clothing and hats although it was a bit pricey for my liking. It was fun to walk around the balls of wool and be able to feel the textures. They have a great range and a lot of variety so there will definitely be something to suit your next knitting project. There was a lot of items in stock with some old and some new as well as some really cool auto memorabilia which was quite random to find in a wool shop but still pretty interesting. At least it gives any guys accompanying you to the shop something to look at! The store is open seven days a week from 10am-5pm.

Gepettos Workshop is an oasis of toys, colour and fun. There are incredible puppets hanging from…read morethe ceiling, wooden trains curving around shelves and all manner of exciting games and trinkets decorating every bit of space. It is great for children and parents will be hard spent to get their kids out without being convinced to buy something. The store specializes in toys that don't use batteries as they would rather kids make the sounds and use their imaginations. I reckon this is a really cool philosophy for a toyshop to have and I wish I were young enough to put their toys to good use. Perhaps my favourite items they sell are the Doll Houses. They are so elaborate and detailed with everything from carpeted staircases to windowsills and architraves. They are absolutely gorgeous. They are open every single day of the year from 10am to 5pm with the exception of Christmas day and the staff are always very welcoming. They accept cash, eftpos and visa and have the option of lay-by (which is just as well because some toys are pretty expensive)! Overall they are really fun stores that have been built with a lot of love and they really stand out from the little rooms full of plastic that are our modern toy stores. It's a fantastic little haven for the young and the old.

Came to browse around this wonderful toy workshop while waiting for our reservation at Miss…read moreMarple's tea room. As soon as you walk in, you can tell this toy store is unlike any other. It is absolutely packed with toys of every description- on their shelves, hanging from their ceiling, free standing on their floor- we spent a fair time just admiring every single product. They specialise in wooden toys for all ages, from the past era of Pinocchio- with a range of sized marionettes in the ceiling, every kind of hand puppet imaginable, spinning tops and wooden puzzles. They also have every other toy under the sun: dolls, their houses and accessories, dress up costumes, various puppets (animals, stage, fantasy, people etc), those for construction, games, soft toys, old school favourites, role play sets, books, figurines, musical instruments as well as mobiles, rock, roll & ride toys for the very young. Our teaching friends had a real good time looking at the potential ideas for their classroom. Walked out smiling just like they said I would. Definitely come in and have a look around this charming store with its unique collection of toys.

Smits and Bits are hidden down a little alleyway on Mount Dandenong Tourist Road in Sassafras…read more There are plenty of signs to showcase its presence however so you shouldn't worry about missing it. It is true to its name with plenty of random bits and pieces to choose from. There are garden accessories from the smallest little gnomes to large concrete benches with prices that vary on a similar scale. Music lovers will enjoy their music sheds, which are filled to the brim with old records, CDs, cassettes and posters. There is another shed next to that filled with old books. As a big reading fan I raced over there but found nothing of interest. The prices are awesome for items in these sheds with most items only being around a couple of dollars. As well as the records, books and garden accessories they also have a huge historic dollhouse on display. Even if this is the only thing you come to see your visit will be well worth it. Belonging to Dame Zara Bates the Dollhouse is housed in a little wooden building. If you're afraid of spiders I wouldn't advise looking above head height as there are cobwebs galore near the ceiling...and it has a very low roof. There are also a variety of ceramic plates, clocks and little trinkets for sale in the main store. This is the kind of place where you have to look to see what you want rather than follow the sign leading you to it - so make sure you have an hour or so to visit this one. Smits and Bits are open from 11-4.30 Monday to Friday and 10-5 on weekends.

Tucked away behind the shopfronts in the main street of Sassafras lies Smits And Bits. Walk down…read morethe little alley and you'll find an antique store, record shop and if on a weekend, tourists cooking marshmallows on the huge open fire in the cauldron. As a keen record collector, the records are a bit hit and miss, however if you're like me and don't mind flicking through for a while, you're sure to grab something you'll enjoy. Most of the antiques are more gift oriented than actual antique pieces, and while you may find some of the same fare in the city, the prices here are surprisingly fair for such a touristy market. The common area in the outdoor courtyard has a large cauldron filled with an open fire in winter, and you can toast your self a marshmallow over the flames if the shopping isn't doing it for you.