Bay Trail: Port Melbourne to Mordialloc

The Bay Trail runs 29 km along Port Phillip Bay from Port Melbourne south to Mordialloc, taking in St Kilda, Brighton and Sandringham on the way. The one fact that matters most: dogs are banned outright from a section of Mordialloc foreshore near the trail's southern end, so know that stretch before you plan a walk there.

The walk. At 29 km end to end this is graded moderate, around 6 to 6.5 hours on foot, and almost nobody does it in one go. The surface is mostly paved asphalt and concrete shared path with some gravel, and it is flat the whole way. Heading south you pass Port Melbourne pier, St Kilda foreshore, the Brighton bathing boxes, Sandringham jetty, Ricketts Point marine sanctuary and Mordialloc pier. It is a serious cycling and training route, so keep dogs on a short lead rather than letting them wander towards the bike traffic. Most owners walk it in sections, and the sibling pages cover each stretch in detail: Port Melbourne to Brighton Beach, Elwood to Sandringham, Brighton to Half Moon Bay, Sandringham Jetty to Ricketts Point and Black Rock to Hampton.

The rules. Three councils manage this route: City of Port Phillip, Bayside City Council and Kingston City Council. On the Bay Trail path itself and on all boardwalks, dogs must be on lead at all times, and that does not change anywhere along the 29 km. The beaches beside the path are separate, and each council sets its own rules for its patch of sand, off-lead in some sections, on-lead or closed in others, with tighter limits over summer and looser ones over winter. The exact dates and hours differ between councils, so treat the sign at the beach access ramp you are using as the real authority. The hard exclusion to know: Kingston City Council runs a No Dog Zone on the Mordialloc foreshore reserve, covering the ground between Mordialloc Creek and the end of Bay Street through to the off-street car park. Dogs are not allowed in that reserve at all. You can still walk the path along Beach Road past it, you just cannot bring a dog into the foreshore reserve itself. Full detail on local dog rules sits on the Kingston City Council site. Bag dispensers and bins are provided along the trail, but carry your own bags too.

Water. Port Phillip Bay is shallow along this entire coast and the tide goes out a long way. High tide gives the best swimming for a dog where dogs are permitted on the sand, while low tide leaves wide sandflats.

Getting there. The trail runs alongside Beach Road, with many beachside car parks, often metered at peak times, including one opposite 186 Beach Road in Mordialloc. The Frankston train line gives easy access at North Brighton, Middle Brighton, Sandringham and Mordialloc stations, and the northern end is reachable from Port Melbourne and St Kilda. Public toilets are at Brighton Beach, Sandringham and Mordialloc, and dog drinking taps are dotted through many parks and beach access points, including near St Kilda West and Port Melbourne.

Nearby with the dogs. Near the northern end, let dogs off lead properly at Garden City Reserve Dog Off Leash Area or Peanut Farm Reserve Dog Off Leash Area, then stop in at Dogs Bar. Further south, Sandy Kiosk suits a break near the jetty. At the Mordialloc end, Kevin Hayes Dog Park and Hendriks Cafe make a good finish, and Boutique Stays Sea Breeze works well if you are basing yourself near the northern end.

When to go. The Brighton to Port Melbourne stretch gets busy, especially on weekends and sunny days, so aim for before 9am or a weekday if you want space. In summer, walk at sunrise or sunset to keep dogs off hot pavement and clear of the crowds. The whole route is exposed to sea breezes, so bring wind protection whatever the season. Good for big runners.

Sources

• Dog ownership, City of Kingston · kingston.vic.gov.au
• Mordialloc Beach, City of Kingston · kingston.vic.gov.au

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