The lush rainforest of Sherbrooke is one of the prettiest and most accessible places for bushwalking near Melbourne. Situated 40 kilometres east of the city and served by public transport, this forest is part of the Dandenong Ranges National Park.
The seven kilometre Eastern Sherbrooke Forest Walk is a good way to see the fern-filled gullies in this area. This circular walk winds through tall mountain ash forest, tree fern gullies and grassy clearings perfect for a picnic.
The forested sections are excellent for spotting lyrebirds as well as many other birds, including blue wrens and yellow robins. Listening to a lyrebird imitate the calls of an array of other birds, including kookaburras, magpies, whip birds and cockatoos, is an experience that's hard to beat.