Black Rock to Hampton

The Bay Trail between Black Rock and Hampton is an 8.4 km coastal walk in Melbourne's south-east bayside suburbs, running mostly flat from Black Rock Village to Hampton Pier via Half Moon Bay, Black Rock Beach, Sandringham Beach and Hampton Beach. Allow 1.5 to 2 hours at an easy pace, and know before you go: strict seasonal beach rules dictate when your dog can be off-lead.

The walk follows sealed footpaths above the sand with several ramps down to the beach itself, so you can mix a firm walking surface with sandy detours as the tide allows. The path is well used by cyclists and runners, so keep leads short on the narrower sections.

The rules require dogs to be on-lead at all times on the Bay Trail footpaths themselves, managed by Bayside City Council. The beaches below are where it gets complicated. In summer (1 November to 31 March), dogs are prohibited on the beaches from 10am to 7:30pm, with off-leash access only between 7:30pm and 10am. In winter (1 April to 31 October), off-leash is permitted at all times on the designated beaches. Half Moon Bay is on-lead from 7:30pm to sunrise and off-leash sunrise to 10am. Black Rock Beach is off-leash 7:30pm to 10am in summer and prohibited 10am to 7:30pm otherwise. Hampton Beach is prohibited to dogs in summer and off-leash in winter. Dogs are banned at all times on the intertidal rock platforms within the Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary further south, and must stay on-lead within 20 metres of playgrounds and BBQ areas.

Water is well provided for, with drinking fountains and dog bowls along the route, including near Sandringham Beach, plus waste bag dispensers and bins the length of the trail.

Hazards mainly come down to tide timing at Black Rock Beach, where a high tide swallows most of the sand and pushes dogs and walkers up onto the higher path.

Getting there is easiest via free street parking on Beach Road (ticketed 8am-8pm near the busier spots), the Black Rock House car park, or the smaller lot near Black Rock Life Saving Club. By train, get off at Sandringham Station and catch bus 600 or 922 to Black Rock Village, or simply walk on to Hampton in about 15 minutes.

Nearby with the dogs, extend the walk south past the Marine Sanctuary on the Sandringham Jetty to Ricketts Point route, or head the other way on the Sandringham to Brighton Bay Walk. For off-leash time away from the sanctuary rules, try Ricketts Point Dog Off-Leash Area, and refuel afterwards at The Colonel's Son in Black Rock.

When to go. Go in winter for the most off-leash freedom, or in the early morning or evening year-round to catch the permitted windows. Good for owners who like a long, sociable coastal walk and don't mind checking a timetable before letting the lead go.

Sources

• Dog-friendly or dog-free - which beach is right for you? - Bayside City Council · www.bayside.vic.gov.au
• Bayside Council - Off Lead Beaches · www.baysidedogownersgroup.com.au

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