tell me about the dandenong ranges

[ubba82]

I think there is a Montessori in Olinda, maybe it's Steiner not too sure. There is a Farmers Market at Yarra Glen. The hills are beautiful, we live in Mt Evelyn and we love it. One thing I can remember about driving up Mt Dandenong in the winter is it gets very foggy and can sometimes be impossible to see the road which is very windy.
DH grew up in Mt Dandenong and would love to live there again. As for safety, you can get creeps anywhere unfortunately . Would DH consider catching the train into work?
Good luck, I think you are making a great choice.

[allycat06]

Thanks for the replies....the community atmosphere is definitely one of the attractions, also the like minded people in regards to parenting etc

DH is not at all keen on public transport (not very green of him I know, I like to think we make up for it in other ways)...so he'd be driving

It's sounding like a winner....now to find a house!

[Ginger]

Hi Ally
we live in the hills too and absolutely love it. we did go through a stage after black saturday where we got very spooked and were seriousley considering selling up, but once we started looking at alternatives we realised just how good we have it up here and fell back in love with the place. we live on the other side of the hill to where you are looking and dh works in the city quite a lot. he drives along canterbury rd onto eastlink, and doesn't find it too bad. the only problem is the roundabout at montrose gets quite congested at around 4-5pm.
i think you will love it up here. kazbah is right that it is a real 'community'. i am always meeting people at the playground/park/bakery. everyone is up for a chat. it's great.
there is a montessori kinder in mt evelyn if that is what you were looking for?
my kids just love it up here. we have resident kookaburras and even an echidna. i think it's a wonderful place for kids to grow up.