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Mount Dandenong Tourist Road, Dandenong Ranges, Victoria
Photo: Deborah Pickett · CC BY 3.0 · cropped

Drives Victoria, Australia Melbourne, the Surf Coast and the Otways

Mount Dandenong Tourist Road

Mount Dandenong Tourist Road, Mount Dandenong Road, Ridge Road · Montrose → Sassafras

Intense8.7 mi20 min1,700 ft climbHigh point ≈ 1,900 ftOne way
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The drive

Mount Dandenong Tourist Road runs 14 km (9 mi) from Montrose up the Dandenong Ranges through Olinda to Sassafras. It is a short drive with tight bends and a climb of about 1,700 feet, among tall mountain ash and fern gullies, with a high point near 1,900 feet.

The Dandenong Ranges National Park is on either side of the road, and Burkes Lookout and Kalorama Lookout in the park have wide views across Melbourne and the Yarra Valley. Olinda is a regular stop for riders. At Sassafras the road meets the Mountain Highway, which climbs back down to the eastern suburbs.

Because it is short and twisty, it is popular with motorcyclists and cyclists, and weekends draw heavy traffic.

Along the way

  1. Montrose (Mount Dandenong Tourist Road)
  2. Olinda
  3. Sassafras (Mount Dandenong Tourist Road)
Elevation
1,700 ft of climbing · high point ≈ 1,900 ft
MontroseSassafras
Curves
Twisty most of the way
MontroseSassafras
GentleHairpins

Good to know

  • Expect many motorcyclists and cyclists on weekends, so give them room.
  • A Department of Transport project added uphill shoulders at Tremont and Sassafras to reduce conflict between bikes and cars.
  • Dandenong Ranges National Park closes on days of Extreme Fire Danger Rating or severe weather; check Parks Victoria before planning stops.

Open all year, weather permitting. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check VicTraffic.

Questions about this drive

How long does Mount Dandenong Tourist Road take?

Mount Dandenong Tourist Road from Montrose to Sassafras is 14 km (9 mi) and takes about 20 minutes without stops.

Is Mount Dandenong Tourist Road twisty?

Yes. It is twisty most of the way, with a climb of about 1,700 feet over 14 km.

When is Mount Dandenong Tourist Road busiest?

Weekends. The road is popular with motorcyclists, cyclists and sightseers, so weekday mornings are quieter.

What lookouts are near Mount Dandenong Tourist Road?

Burkes Lookout and Kalorama Lookout in Dandenong Ranges National Park have wide views over Melbourne and the Yarra Valley.

What you get in the app

Turn by turn, on this roadSpoken directions along the exact route. Carve never reroutes you onto a faster one.
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More drives near here

All 19 drives in Victoria, Australia ›

Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.

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Map of Mount Dandenong Tourist Road, from Montrose to Sassafras