You would think after a wedding celebration I’d be sleeping all day long the very next day. I declined a night out of after partying from the wedding. That wasn’t the case with me and remembered I only just arrived the day before on the Saturday jet lagged.
Morning breakfast at my cousins I got a taste of vegemite, it’s similar to marmite but sweeter. She and her husband decided to take me to do a trek up Dandenong ranges known as 1000 steps Kokoda Track memorial in Mt. Dandenong. It’s great for fitness freaks from all over Melbourne that needs to get away from the city for some fresh air and greenery. Mt Dandenong framed for the forested areas, bushlands and various scenic points.
Dandenong Ranges National Park, Mount Dandenong Tourist Road, Ferny Creek, Victoria, 3786
1000 steps were created in the 1900’s, made up of wooden steps, trunks of fern trees and concrete to ensure tracks can be used all year round in any type of weather. Plaques along the trail are in honour of soldiers who walked the real Kokoda Trail in Papua New Guinea in World War II.
1000 steps don’t seem much but boy did the track test my fitness levels. When I was huffing and puffing I sat by shaded areas to catch my breath. Back to the top after drinking water and some rest we headed to Ripe Australian Café for some lunch.
Ripe – Sassafras is a café with an outdoor area overseeing the scenic outdoor settings of overgrown fern trees. The menu is filled with modern Australian dishes, using fresh Australian produce. If you ever have room for sweet treats a lamington is a popular Australian cake cut into a square sponge coated in coconut, chocolate and desiccated coconut.
For lunch, 
I opted for some carbs, a nice big fat slice of lasagne, layered with pasta sheets, mince in tomato sauce, melted cheese sauce and a layer of grilled cheese, sprinkles of Parmesan along with a side salad. Each bite detected the fresh produce of meat and vegetables from the fields to the table. Simply delicious and nutritious, and of course a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice topped it off.
Address: 376 Mount Dandenong Tourist Rd, Sassafras VIC 3787, Australia
Phone: +61 3 9755 2100