Yarra River Short City Loop

The Yarra River Short City Loop is a 4 km circuit along both banks of the Yarra through central Melbourne, flat, sealed and doable in under an hour. It is a city walk rather than a nature one, and its value is that you can do it on lead straight off a tram stop with no planning at all.

The walk. Four kilometres, rated easy, around three quarters of an hour. Sealed promenade on both sides of the river with bridges at either end closing the loop. No climbing and no rough ground, but the surface is shared with runners, cyclists and a lot of foot traffic.

The rules. City of Melbourne is the land manager and dogs must be on lead in public places here unless you are inside a designated off-leash area. There is no off-leash section on the loop itself. The nearest fenced options are Southbank Small Dog Park and Moray Street Reserve Fenced Dog Park.

Water. This is the city, so taps and cafes are never far, but there is nothing dog-specific on the promenade itself. Carry a bowl.

Nearby with the dogs. Capital City Trail and Flinders Street to Chapel Street via Yarra River both extend the same riverside walking, and Caretaker's Cottage takes dogs.

When to go. Early morning or evening on a weekday. The promenade is busy through the middle of the day and at lunchtime, and the crowds, scooters and bikes are the whole difficulty of this walk. Good for seniors, and for dogs unbothered by a busy footpath.

Sources

• Walking your dog - City of Melbourne · www.melbourne.vic.gov.au
• Yarra River Short 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.