Ferndale, Gardiners Creek and Anniversary Trails Loop

This loop stitches the Ferndale Trail, the Gardiners Creek path and the Anniversary Trail into a 7.7 km circuit through Ashburton and Glen Iris. It is flat suburban walking on sealed and gravel path, and every metre of it is on lead.

The walk. AllTrails logs 7.7 km at a moderate grade, around an hour and forty minutes, with the grade coming from distance rather than hills. The route runs through Ferndale Park, follows Gardiners Creek, and picks up the Anniversary Trail along the old Outer Circle Railway alignment. Surfaces are mostly sealed with gravel sections. It is a loop, so you finish where you started.

The rules. The City of Boroondara's default is that dogs must be walked on a lead when they are not inside a designated off-lead area, and no part of this route is one. Ferndale Park is on lead, the Gardiners Creek shared path is on lead, and the Anniversary Trail is on lead. Dogs are not allowed inside playgrounds and must be on a lead within 10 metres of the perimeter, and they are not allowed on sporting ovals during organised sport, including training. Council puts the rest plainly: taking your dog off its lead before you are inside a designated off-lead park is an offence.

Off lead nearby. If the point of the outing is a run rather than a walk, Boroondara's off-lead areas at Markham Reserve, Ashburton Park and Warner Reserve all sit close to the loop.

Hazards. This is a commuter cycling route as much as a dog walk, and the busiest hours for people are the busiest hours for bikes. Lower sections get boggy after heavy rain, and Gardiners Creek runs high and fast after storms, so keep the lead short near the water.

Getting there. The loop starts near Ashburton station, which makes it one of the easier long walks in Melbourne to reach without a car, though you will be walking in rather than training in with a dog. Free parking is available at Ferndale Park and on surrounding streets. Tram routes along High Street and Burwood Highway come close to the route.

Nearby with the dogs. Solway to Burnley via Gardiners Creek Trail extends the same creek corridor if you want more distance. Nettleton Park and Gardiners Creek Reserve are further off-lead options along the way.

When to go. Mid-morning or early afternoon on a weekday. Avoid 8am to 9am and 4pm to 6pm, when commuters and recreational cyclists share the path. Weekends are steadily busy rather than peaked. Good for big runners who need distance without a drive.

Sources

• Off-lead dog parks - City of Boroondara · boroondara.vic.gov.au
• Park etiquette for dogs and their owners - City of Boroondara · boroondara.vic.gov.au
• Ferndale, Gardiners Creek and Anniversary Trails Loop - AllTrails · alltrails.com

Compiled from public sources and verified listings. Always confirm current rules with the venue or council before you travel.