Yarra City Loop

The Yarra City Loop is a 10.9 km flat circuit along the Yarra through the inner north-east of Melbourne, taking in Abbotsford Convent, Dights Falls and the bush around Studley Park. Dogs walk it on lead, and the reason to bring them is what sits beside the path. Yarra Bend Park and several riverside reserves carry designated off-lead zones you can drop into along the way.

The walk. Graded easy, sealed for most of its length, and about two to two and a half hours at a steady pace. It is a genuine loop with no backtracking, and the Yarra Bend section reads like open country despite being minutes from the CBD.

The rules. Yarra City Council and Parks Victoria share this ground. Dogs must be on lead on the shared paths and within 10 m of picnic areas, barbecues and playgrounds. The designated off-lead areas are in the adjoining reserves rather than on the path itself, so the lead goes back on when you rejoin the trail. Dogs are not permitted in the Alphington Park wetlands or in mulched garden beds, and one person may handle no more than four dogs. Bins and bag dispensers sit in most of the parks along the route.

Water. Drinking fountains with dog bowls are spread along the main sections. Dogs can swim in the river inside the designated off-lead areas, under effective control. The current near Dights Falls is not the place to test that, and water quality drops after heavy rain.

Getting there. Free parking at Fairfield Park, at the Dights Falls car park on Trenerry Crescent, and near the Studley Park Boathouse, though all three fill early on weekends. The Hurstbridge line to Fairfield Station puts you a short walk from the trail. Kanes Bridge has been closed for works with a detour via Studley Park Road, so check before you plan a crossing there.

Nearby with the dogs. Yarra Bend Park holds the off-lead country beside the loop, and the Capital City Trail and Main Yarra Trail North Side extend it. Coate Park and T H Westfield Reserve are both off-lead. The Farm Cafe at Abbotsford Convent sits right on the trail, and Fairfield Park Boathouse & Tea Gardens is the riverside stop.

When to go. Before 9 am, weekday or weekend, is the difference between a walk and an obstacle course. Sunny Sundays around Dights Falls are the worst of it. Winter turns the unsealed side tracks to mud. Good for big runners, and for nervous swimmers who want river access without surf.

Sources

• Responsible pet ownership | Yarra City Council · www.yarracity.vic.gov.au
• Yarra Bend Park dog friendly areas fact sheet | Parks Victoria · www.parks.vic.gov.au
• Yarra City Loop, Victoria, Australia - AllTrails · www.alltrails.com

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