8 Mason Grove, SASSAFRAS

School mornings begin without the usual rush of traffic, parking and last-minute chaos, replaced instead by a gentle wander to Sassafras Primary beneath the trees. Weekends might start with coffee and something sweet from the village, while afternoons can disappear into tree ferns, birdsong and forest trails almost from the front gate. At the very end of a no-through road, where the next neighbour is quite literally the forest, this original three-bedroom home on more than half an acre offers a wonderfully rare combination of village convenience and full immersion in the Dandenong Ranges.

Established hills gardens wrap around the home, with tree ferns, camellias and rhododendrons creating colour and texture through the seasons. The forest edge brings wildlife and walking trails practically to the doorstep with local birdlife providing most of the soundtrack. There is even a resident magpie who may consider themselves part of the inclusions.