As well as Puffing Billy, there are some great things to do around Gembrook, or if you feel like a drive there are wineries, restaurants and beautiful townships within an hours drive.
Walking distance:
- Gembrook’s Bushland Park – 1 hour return walk on a made trail through the forest just 10 minutes from Signal Box.
- Puffing Billy Station – even if you don’t have time to go on the train it’s fun to meet it at Gembrook Station. Talk with driver and volunteers, have a look in the engine compartment; watch the water top up and check out the station building.
- Eastern Dandenong's Trail is around 12kms. You can take a walking loop around Gembrook; view the ‘Camaraderie’ sculpture on the corner of Main Road and Launching Place Road and check out cafes, supermarket and the Post Office / Newsagent. The Eastern Dandenong's Trail is wheelchair friendly with various ramps and wheelchair rest points at the steeper sections. There's various parking places to access the trail if you just feel like a short walk.
The trail follows the Puffing Billy Line to Cockatoo and then through Wrights Forest to Emerald Lake and Emerald township. If you time it well, you can walk one way and catch the train or a bus back. The Emerald trail is also suitable for bikes. Cog Bikes in Monbulk hire bikes, including ebikes from Lakeside Station, Emerald Lake, or Warburton on the trail. You're welcome to bring your own bike. It can be housed securely at Signal Box.
People ask about Gembrook’s Historic Hotel. The Pub burnt down in 2018. The ‘Gemmie’ is sorely missed for its ambiance, history and as a centre piece in the railway precinct. Planning is underway for another ‘establishment’ so guests will just need to keep visiting to see what replaces our beloved hotel. The 'Local', on Main Street is a licensed premises serving meals, that aimed to fill the gap when the old pub burnt down.
Worth the drive:
- Healesville Sanctuary – 35 minutes
- Warburton – 40 minutes
- Mount Dandenong – 35 minutes
- Yarra Valley wineries – 40 minutes
- Closer wineries: Paternoster; Monbulk Winery, Swallowfield; Gembrook Hill, Emersleigh, Yarra Ridge, Cannibal Creek, Five Oaks and more. Some have cellar door or hold weddings.
- Kilcunda Surf Beach – 50 minutes
- Mont De Lancey stately home – 30 minutes
- Chelsea Australian Garden, Olinda - 30 minutes
- Blue Lotus Water Garden, Wandin – 30 minutes and lots more…