Bay Trail: Brighton to Half Moon Bay

The Bay Trail runs 12.9 km along Port Phillip Bay from Brighton south to Half Moon Bay near Black Rock, a flat, paved coastal path rated easy and taking most walkers around 2.5 to 3 hours end to end. Along the way it passes the Brighton bathing boxes, the sandstone cliffs of Red Bluff, and the wreck of the HMVS Cerberus offshore near Half Moon Bay.

The walk. This is a return or point-to-point walk rather than a loop, so plan for a lift back or a there-and-back trip if you are not doing the full distance one way. The surface is sealed the whole way, flat, and easy on paws, with no real elevation to worry about.

The rules. Bayside City Council manages this stretch, and Bayside is an on-leash municipality: dogs must stay on lead on the trail itself at all times, no exceptions, year-round. The beaches beside the path are a different story. From 1 November to 31 March, dogs are banned from the beaches between 10am and 7:30pm, allowed off-leash from sunrise to 10am, and must be on-lead from 7:30pm to sunrise. From 1 April to 31 October, off-leash access on beaches is permitted at all times, but only within designated off-leash areas. The paved trail stays on-leash regardless of season.

Water. There's a freshwater tap near the big dog statue at Sandown Street, plus waste bag dispensers and bins at the Sandown Street Beach gates. Public restrooms are at Brighton Beach, Green Point, and Half Moon Bay, and there are shaded picnic tables near Green Point if you want a proper break.

Getting there. Middle Brighton Station or Brighton Beach Station on the Sandringham line are the easiest way in at the northern end. If driving, there's paid parking at Brighton Beach (Bathing Boxes), Green Point, and Half Moon Bay, or limited free street parking in the residential streets east of the Esplanade, though enforcement there is strict.

Nearby with the dogs. Refuel at North Point right on the pathway in Brighton, Sandy Kiosk in Sandringham partway along, or The Colonel's Son near the Half Moon Bay end.

When to go. Winter mornings give the most off-leash beach freedom alongside the on-leash trail walk. In summer, aim for early morning or evening to dodge both the heat on the paved surface and the daytime beach restriction. Good for seniors and steady walkers who want flat, predictable footing rather than a workout.

Sources

• Walking your dog | Bayside City Council · www.bayside.vic.gov.au
• Summer beach restrictions for dogs | Bayside City Council · www.bayside.vic.gov.au
• Bay Trail: Brighton to Half Moon Bay, Victoria, Australia · www.alltrails.com

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