Sandringham to Brighton Bay Walk

The Sandringham to Brighton Bay Walk runs 7.1 km one way along Port Phillip Bay, a flat, easy coastal path linking the two suburbs with barely a hill to trouble any dog. Budget 1.5 to 2 hours for the full stretch, or treat it as a there-and-back if you don't fancy the train home.

The walk. It is an easy-graded 7.1 km trail, mostly sealed path, running along the foreshore rather than looping. It passes Green Point, Brighton Beach Gardens, the row of Brighton bathing boxes, and a few short clifftop sections before beach access points open up along the way. The surface is flat the whole way, so it suits older dogs and puppies as well as fit walkers.

The rules. Bayside City Council requires dogs on lead on the trail itself and on all foreshore reserves year round, including beach paths and car parks. The catch is the sand itself: from 1 November to 31 March, named beaches such as Middle Brighton Beach, Dendy Beach and Brighton Beach are dog-prohibited between 10am and 7.30pm, with off-leash access allowed from 7.30pm to 10am. Sandown Street Beach in Brighton is a fenced, gated off-leash area open all year. Check the council's beach-by-beach page before you go, since rules vary by exact beach.

Water and hazards. Water stations for people and dogs sit along the trail, and toilets are at Green Point and Hampton Beach. The path is largely exposed to sun and wind off the bay, so watch paw pads on the sealed surface in summer heat, and keep dogs close on the short clifftop stretches.

Getting there. Both ends sit on the Sandringham railway line, so you can start at Sandringham Station and finish at Brighton Beach Station, or the other way round, without doubling back. Paid parking is available at Green Point and the foreshore reserve, at roughly $7 an hour.

Nearby with the dogs. Continue the coastline south with the Sandringham Jetty to Ricketts Point walk, or head north to link up with the Bay Trail: Brighton to Half Moon Bay and the North Road to St Kilda Pier via Elwood Beach.

When to go. Outside the 1 November to 31 March summer window, dogs get off-leash beach access before 10am and after 7.30pm, making early mornings the best time for a swim as well as a walk. Good for seniors and nervous swimmers, given the flat surface and gentle bay entry points.

Sources

• Old summer dog restrictions - beaches · bayside.vic.gov.au
• Dog-friendly or dog-free - which beach is right for you? · bayside.vic.gov.au

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