Kallista


Kallista, along with the other towns of the Dandenong Ranges is celebrated for its picturesque natural setting, wealth of heritage houses and gardens, and country atmosphere all within commuting distance to inner Melbourne. Kallista Village is particularly known for its proximity to Sherbrooke Forest.

Grants Picnic Ground is in Monbulk Rd, just be the intersection with Sherbrooke Rd at Kallista. It has barbecues, picnic tables, toilets, an information board, a kiosk, a picnic shelter, a disabled toilet and several walking tracks. Large numbers of Sulphur-Crested Cockatoos, Crimson Rosellas, Galahs and Australian King Parrots gather to be fed bird seed by on-lookers. They will usually fly down and sit on hands, arms and (sometimes) heads.

Margaret Lester Forest Loop Walk (300 m) passes through mountain ash forest and has been especially designed for the ease of the disabled.

The Hardy Gully Nature Loop Walk (700 m) is only a short distance from the picnic area. The kiosk can provide a pamphlet which provides details relating to 10 numbered signs (it is meant to be followed in an anti-clockwise direction) relating to the forest, tree ferns, bats, blackwood, blackberry, epiphytic ferns, mountain ash, lichens and native flowers.

Johns Hill Reserve, to the south-east of Kallista, on Ridge Rd offers excellent views of Melbourne, Port Phillip Bay and Westernport.

Eastern Sherbrooke Forest Loop Walk (7.1 km); also starts from the picnic area. It follows Lyrebird Walk, then Neumann Rd, passing through cleared areas created by a series of bushfires and through mountain ash and messmate-stringybark forest. At Paddy Track Junction turn south and cross Hardy Creek before climbing Welch Track and following Coles Ridge Rd back to the picnic ground.

George Tindale Memorial Gardens: A popular attraction located on hillside terrain in Sherbrooke Rd (about halfway between Kallista and Sherbrooke). Covering 2.4 hectares, the Gardens have an impressive range of exotic flowering plants and shrubs under a canopy of mountain ash. In springtime, the garden boasts magnolias, azaleas, camellias, cornus and spring bulbs. Summer sees liliums, fuchsias, hydrangeas and perennials in bloom. There are cyclamen, nerines, lapageria and autumn foliage in autumn and camellias, luculia, rhododendrons and hellebores in winter.
The gardens are open from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. daily. Ph: 131 963.



Kalista Community Market: a favourite local markets with over 60 stalls of locally produced, homemade, handmade and homegrown crafts and produce in an outdoor market setting. This is a vibrant country market with hand made and home crafted goods including jewellery, plants, wood crafts and delicious food. Enjoy lunch or just a coffee with a range of choice from the various food stalls. There are markets on most weekends from fresh produce to arts and crafts. 2 Church Street, Kalista. First Saturday of the month 9am - 1pm.