Dandenong Creek Loop

The Dandenong Creek Loop is an easy 5.5 kilometre circuit following the creek through Wantirna in Melbourne's outer east. It is a flat, shared, suburban path rather than a bush walk, and dogs are welcome on lead the whole way.

Leash status

On lead along the trail: Knox City Council manages the reserve corridor alongside Melbourne Water, which holds the waterway itself. Keep dogs on the formed path near the wetland sections, where the birdlife is the point of the plantings. Koomba Park at the western end has designated off-lead ground if you want to finish with a run.

Pepsi: treat the loop as the walk and Koomba Park as the reward. On-lead for the circuit, then unclip at the off-lead ground at the western end if the dog has earned it.

The walk

Allow a little over an hour for the 5.5 km loop, graded easy, on a flat and mostly sealed path running between open creek flats, wetland margins and pockets of remnant gum. It forms one loop of the much longer Dandenong Creek Trail, so it is easy to extend in either direction if the dog still has legs.

Water and hazards

The creek is accessible in places, but it is an urban waterway carrying stormwater, so it is not a swimming creek, particularly after rain. Bubblers sit at the main access points, and it is worth carrying your own water on a hot day because the open sections have very little shade.

Getting there and parking

Free parking sits at Wantirna Road, Bungalow Road East and Koomba Park, and Bayswater and Heathmont stations are both within reach if you would rather arrive by train and pick the trail up on foot.

More walks nearby

Wantirna Reserve Fenced Dog Park is the closest fenced option, Knox Park Fenced Dog Park is a short drive south, and Spade 9 Cafe & Bar is the nearest dog friendly table.

More options are on the Victoria dog friendly trails guide and the Wantirna destination page.