Bridge to Bridge Loop

A flat 5 km circuit of Lake Burley Griffin's central basin, crossing Commonwealth Avenue Bridge and Kings Avenue Bridge to close the loop. It is sealed the whole way and takes about an hour at walking pace, which makes it one of the few Canberra walks a dog of any age can finish comfortably. The National Capital Authority manages the land, and the shared path is on lead from end to end.

The walk. Five kilometres, flat, sealed and pram width for its full length, with no steps and no climbing. Most people take an hour. Because it is a true loop you finish where you parked, so there is no doubling back and no return leg to plan. The Parkes side takes in Questacon, the National Library and Rond Terrace.

The rules. On lead, all of it. The National Capital Authority's position is that dogs in a public place must be on a lead unless a sign says otherwise, and its shared pathway rule reaches ten metres either side of the path, so stepping onto the grass does not release you. Several places on and near the loop are prohibited dog exercise areas outright: the Regatta Point and Boundless playgrounds, the Fort, Old Parliament House Gardens, and the areas close to barbecues in Commonwealth Park. Dogs must be under effective control at all times, and the ACT rules the NCA defers to carry a $250 fine where they are not.

Water. Bring your own. Off lead swimming on Lake Burley Griffin is limited to two marked spots, Orana Bay and Kurrajong Point, so check the NCA map before you let a keen swimmer near the edge. Everywhere else the lake is scenery rather than a swim.

Getting there. Free weekend parking on Wendouree Drive is the easiest start; Rond Terrace and the Questacon car parks are paid. Buses run close to the lake on the Parkes and Acton sides. The loop being sealed and flat, it also works as a pram and wheelchair route, worth knowing if you are walking with mixed company.

Nearby with the dogs. The wider Lake Burley Griffin Loop picks up where this one stops if 5 km was not enough, and Weston Park sits on the western shore. For off lead running, Yarralumla Dog Park is the closest fenced option. Coffee afterwards at Margot Espresso Bar, or a longer sit at Lager House by Capital Brewing Co.

When to go. Early morning or the hour before sunset, both for the light and because the path fills with cyclists and runners through the middle of the day. Summer afternoons are the one time to avoid outright, since the sealed surface holds heat and the bridges offer no shade. Weekday mornings are the calmest the loop gets. Good for seniors, and for dogs who need a predictable, step free hour.

Sources

• Dogs on National Land | National Capital Authority · www.nca.gov.au
• Recreation with my dog | ACT City Services · www.cityservices.act.gov.au

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