Olinda Tea House & Restaurant

The Olinda Tea House sits on forested grounds at 86A Olinda-Monbulk Road in the Dandenong Ranges, pairing a contemporary Asian-fusion kitchen with garden high teas and a paddock of resident alpacas. This is the rare high-tea house that plans for dogs: they are welcome across the outdoor seating, verandah and garden gazebos, and the venue even runs a canine afternoon tea so the dog gets a course of its own.

The dog setup

Dogs stay outside the dining rooms but the garden territory is generous: landscaped grounds, shaded lawns and private outdoor gazebos, with the lower garden leading down to the alpacas (and, on some visits, a miniature horse). Keep your dog leashed and clear of the resident animals, and bring a water bowl as backup. Confirm dog arrangements when you book, because wedding and event bookings can change what parts of the garden are open. High tea runs roughly 11am to 5pm with pre-booking strongly recommended on weekends; the venue closes Tuesdays and otherwise trades 11am to 10pm.

The food

The signature high tea swaps finger sandwiches for Asian-inspired savouries such as pork buns, dumplings and lobster sliders, alongside warm scones, petit fours and premium teas. There is also an a la carte modern Asian fusion lunch and dinner menu built on Victorian produce, with vegetarian and vegan options properly handled. Weekends fill with weddings and events, so book ahead.

Getting there and parking

The tea house is on Olinda-Monbulk Road just outside the Olinda village, with on-site parking at the property. It is an easy hop from the Mount Dandenong Tourist Road, and the village's other dog-friendly outdoor tables are minutes away.

Close by with the dogs

For off-lead time, the former Olinda Golf Course is the designated off-lead space nearby, sitting between the botanic garden and the R. J. Hamer Arboretum; dogs need effective voice control and a lead on hand. One trap to avoid: the Olinda walking tracks are on-lead territory, and Olinda Falls itself is inside the national park and completely dog free, so leave the pup at the tea house garden or the golf course instead. Cork at Cook's Corner in Kallista is the next dog-friendly table down the ridge. More sit on the Victoria restaurants page and the Olinda guide.

Max: my own afternoon tea arrived on a little stand while the alpacas watched from the fence. I shared exactly nothing.