Blackburn Lake - Whitehorse Heritage Trail

Blackburn Lake Sanctuary, threaded by the Whitehorse Heritage Trail, is a large pocket of native bushland around a central lake in the middle of Blackburn, with an unsealed loop through eucalypt forest that most dogs will happily walk end to end. It is a leash only reserve rather than an off leash park, but the lake setting and established canopy make it one of the best on lead walks in Melbourne's east.

The walk

The main loop is flat and manageable, a mix of gravel path and boardwalk under eucalypts, with playgrounds and picnic areas along the edges. Free parking sits at the main visitor centre off Central Road, with public toilets close by, and water fountains are generally on hand near the visitor centre though supply is not guaranteed trailside, so carry your own bowl.

Leash status

Dogs stay on lead throughout the sanctuary, and Whitehorse City Council sets a maximum lead length of 1.5 metres in its on lead public spaces, so leave the flexi lead at home. Dogs must stay at least 2.5 metres clear of playgrounds, permanent BBQs and organised events.

One boundary matters: the council's dog restricted areas list prohibits dogs from the sanctuary's wetlands and the Melbourne Water retarding structure on the inlets, to protect the environmental values there. Keep to the formed paths around the lake edges and respect the wetland signage.

Watch outs

The sanctuary protects genuine habitat, so keep leads short around the lake edges and avoid letting a dog that likes to chase near the waterbirds. Bring your own bags and use the council litter bins, as there is no bag dispenser at every entrance.

Getting there

Enter off Central Road for the main car park, though it fills on sunny weekends, in which case try the northern entrances near Lake Road. It is a short walk from Blackburn or Nunawading stations on the Belgrave and Lilydale line, and local buses run along Blackburn Road. The reserve is open around the clock.

Pair it with

For a proper off lead run afterwards, the Nicoll Park off leash area in Nunawading is the closest designated space. The Blackburn Lake Sanctuary trail covers the sanctuary's own circuit in more detail, the Gardiners Creek Trail extends the day south, and The Peddler Cafe in Nunawading handles the post walk coffee.

More options are on the Victoria trail guide and the Blackburn destination page.

Max: the 1.5 metre lead rule is actively enforced around the wetlands, so shorten up before you are in sight of the water.

When to go

Weekend mornings from about 10am to 1pm are the busiest window, when families fill the playgrounds and paths. Go early on a weekday or after 2pm for a quieter lap with the lake mostly to yourselves.