Wurundjeri Spur Lookout

Wurundjeri Spur Lookout sits on a wooded ridge above the Yarra in Yarra Bend Park, reached on a 7.2 km loop that opens out over the river, the pipe bridge and the Melbourne skyline. It is one of the best sunset vantage points in the inner north, and dogs are welcome on lead across most of the park.

The dog setup

The loop is an on-lead walk, with the surface switching between narrow dirt track and sealed shared path. Parks Victoria allows a maximum of four dogs per person, and dogs must stay clear of playgrounds and sporting events.

Leash status

On lead throughout the spur walk. Off-lead exercise areas sit at T H Westfield Reserve and Deep Rock, but Galatea Point is a no-dog zone under the Parks Victoria Yarra Bend dog walking fact sheet, so check the map before you commit to a route.

The walk

AllTrails rates the loop moderate, and most walkers take an hour and a half to two hours. The spur climb is the honest part of the effort, and the dirt sections turn to mud after rain.

The track runs past a large grey-headed flying-fox colony, which is worth seeing and worth keeping a dog moving past, and the lookout itself is a wide clearing with bench seating and the full city view.

Max: the shared path carries fast commuter cyclists and the dirt sections are narrow. Keep the lead short on the paved stretches and step aside when you hear a bell.

Water and hazards

There is no water at the lookout itself, so carry what you need. The Bellbird Picnic Area has toilets and bins and is the sensible break point, and snakes move through the warmer months along the river flats.

Getting there

Street parking runs along Yarra Boulevard and is competitive on weekends, and Fairfield Station is a 20 to 25 minute walk away. The Main Yarra Trail links the park to the wider cycling network if you are riding in.

Close by with the dogs

The wider Yarra Bend Park page covers the rest of the trail network, and the off-lead run at T H Westfield Reserve Dog Off Leash Area is the designated release valve nearby.

Afterwards, Fairfield Park Boathouse & Tea Gardens does riverside coffee by the canoe launch, with Hoppa and Joe closer to the station.

More options sit on the Victoria dog friendly trails guide and the Fairfield destination page.

When to go

Go mid-week in the morning, or late afternoon for the sunset view. Weekend afternoons bring the parking squeeze and the cyclist traffic together, and give the dirt sections a day or two to dry out after heavy rain.