Barwon River Loop

The Barwon River Loop is a 10.6 km flat circuit on sealed shared path through Belmont, tracing the Geelong side of the river through parkland, reserves and wetland. AllTrails grades it easy, and the length is the only real commitment: at a walking pace you are looking at about two hours, with the option to cut it short at any bridge.

The walk

The full circuit is paved the whole way, which suits paws that hate gravel and legs that hate hills. The route connects into the wider Barwon River trail network, so you can extend the loop or turn it into a one-way saunter with a car shuffle. Being a shared path, expect cyclists; keep your dog on the left and shorten the lead when passing.

Leash status

Dogs are on lead here. The City of Greater Geelong designates all public open space as on-lead unless a sign says otherwise, and requires leads to be kept to about two metres when passing other people, dogs, wildlife or cyclists. Dogs are prohibited within 10 metres of playgrounds. Off-lead stretches do exist along the river, but they are defined by signage, so read the sign at the spot rather than assuming the grass beside the path is fair game.

Water and hazards

The Barwon is a working river, not a swimming pool: it runs tidal towards the mouth and the banks can be steep or muddy in places. Bring water for the dog, because drinking fountains are spaced out along the route. In summer, large sections of the path sit in full sun, so early morning is kindest. After rain, low spots near the wetlands can hold water and mud.

Getting there and parking

There are several access points along the Belmont side, with car parking at reserves along the route including near Belmont Common. Buses run through Belmont and South Geelong station is a reasonable ride away, though most visitors drive. Weekend mornings are the busiest stretch on the path; weekday daylight hours are quieter.

More walks nearby

Belmont Dog Park sits right by the river at Barrabool Road, a fully fenced off-leash option for the leg of the day where your dog actually gets to run. The wider Barwon River trail network offers shorter riverside sections if the full loop is too much.

For coffee afterwards, Bilby and Paddington Cafe in Belmont both welcome dogs at outdoor tables, and Tasman Holiday Parks Geelong is a handy base for a dog-owning weekend in town. The Victoria dog friendly trails guide and the Belmont destination page list the rest.