Way way way over packed, full or tourists and litter... really not worth the walk in my opinion…read more Not enough parking, no bins, a few toilets and a small cafe at the start. A couple of playgrounds that were overpacked.. Not worth the drive either :(

The Tim Neville Arboretum in Ferntree Gully is a perfect spot for an afternoon out with a young…read morefamily. There is a large playground that has been recently renovated and is brand new. It has a child safe gates and a fence around it to encourage supervision. It is a pretty popular playground and gets quite busy on sunny days. The park has two really pretty lakes complete with ducks. There are boardwalks and bridges to walk over and a nice track that meanders all around the park. To appreciate the peace and the beautiful scenery make sure to take a seat at one of the park benches scattered all around - they are perfectly placed for the best views. Although if you are coming for peace and quiet you'd be best off coming during a weekday as on weekends and school holidays there will be kids everywhere. The Knox Bicycle Track runs alongside the park making it a great picnic lunch spot if you're going on a big ride. Kids often ride their bikes around the tracks in the park and there are plenty of grass areas big enough to kick a ball around and be more active. Supervision of kids is essential around the lake as there are no barriers or anything to prevent people from falling in. Dogs are common visitors to the park and must be kept on a leash at all times. The park is really unique in that it caters to every member of the family, young and old and it really is a beautiful spot. Very popular for wedding receptions and events there is a pergola at one end that often plays host to quite a crowd. There are adequate parking spaces available as well as side street parking.

With the outer east slowly building up and attracting more and more new residents to the area, one…read moredifference we have to the west is the amount of greenery we hold dear. At the foot of the Dandenongs, between Fern Tree Gully and Boronia, sits the Tim Neville Arbouretum, a huge expanse of lakes, fountains and open space that has been a favourite for picnics, weddings and lazy Sunday afternoons for as long as I can remember. As a kid we used to come here on our bikes and tear around the paved track that winds its way through, across the footbridge and past the amphitheatre, that is home to yearly Christmas Carols by Candlelight. Perfect on a warm day, there are also BBQ's to use, and plenty of rooms for a large group.

Greenery? Check. Fresh air? Check. Uphill walking tracks that will guarantee a good workout? Check!…read more I love the 1000 steps! It seems to have gained in popularity over the years so if you're coming on a weekend, prepare to arrive super early. I came at 8am on a Saturday, quite pleased with myself at waking up so early and the carpark was entirely full. It does detract from the experience a little bit but I'll just have to learn to share. Returning on a weekday was completely different. Barely any people on the track and I thoroughly enjoyed my walk up those steps! The 1000 steps don't take too long to complete and the hardest part is that last 5-10 minutes where the steps get bigger. Thankfully, there are plenty of rest stops and people are generally courteous about moving out of the way if your smashing out a workout without needing a rest. I love the sound of water running, kookaburras laughing and the different birds rustling around in the trees. The only slight inconvenience is the parking situation at peak times and high volume of people passing through.

This place puts even the fittest of fit to shame. If you think this is just a nice stroll up the…read moremountain, you'll wish you wore your exercise clothing instead. In case anybody wonders (and people always do), there are actually less than 1000 steps. But the walk uphill before the actual stairway makes up for the shortage of steps of the stairway. Before you start, there is a sign that tells you to leave your water bottle and other belongings. As long as you know not to litter, you can disregard that sign. I'd recommend going up the stairs and then taking the other non-stair path back down. But then everybody has their own preferences. Plenty of shade, so you won't be baking in the sun. On the other hand, you can't actually see your progress since all you'll see are more and more stairs. There are certain parts that are leveled, and you'll see a few benches available to sit. Most people we encounter along this trail seem to be at least somewhat fit. The most resilient hikers end up being the older individuals. Overall, it's a great place to get a good exercise. You'll be compelled to finish the trip the moment you start.