Throughout Melbourne’s inner and outer suburbs, wild and wonderful pockets of nature offer an easy way to ‘go bush’ without leaving the city. We’ve found 9 of the best day hikes and nature walks that are near Melbourne so you don’t have to travel far, to escape the hustle and bustle.
This meandering bike and walking path takes you from pretty Dights Falls (spot the ducks splashing in the water) at Yarra Bend out to Melbourne’s north, passing by Ceres Environmental Park (a great place to stop for a coffee), Joe’s Farm – where there’s a weekly market – and the placid Coburg Lake.
On hot days, the towering mountain ashes of the Dandenong Ranges provide a delicious shady reprieve. Listen for the call of the Lyrebird – if you’re lucky, you may even see one. It’s picnic perfection and one of the best walks near Melbourne.
Melbourne’s largest natural bushland park is just 4km from the city. The sprawling Yarra Bend hugs the river, so it’s great for a meandering walk under the river red gums. Stop by one of the park’s two teahouses for people and wildlife watching: Both offer kayak rental for exploring the park by water.
An easy 10km, this bayside walk includes beaches, mangroves and coastal parks. It’s a great spot for birdwatching or enjoying the sunset. Dogs are welcome (on a leash), and the flat, well-maintained path is suitable for all ages and abilities.
Offering 17 kilometres of cliff-top, beach and foreshore paths, jump into the trail for a breezy hike any point along the bay. Interpretive signage and maps offer various perspectives – from its Indigenous culture to the artists who lived and worked in the area, local history, and its unique coastal environment.
Only an hour long, this easy river walk is perfect for families. Tall manna gums line the river, and in hot weather, you’ll want to join the kids happily floating by on old tyres. As you’d expect, there is plenty of fascinating wildlife, and you may even spot a ‘roo, too.
This 127-hectare park in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs has 9 kilometres of walking paths taking in various creeks, Jells Lake (popular for fishing), and wetlands. Head to the bird hide to nab a prime position for spotting native birds and ducks. Open grassed spaces are perfect for a game of frisbee or a shady picnic.
A flat 29.6-kilometre trail that loops inner Melbourne, the CCT traverses city and natural landscapes including the Yarra River, creeks and many parks. Pass (and stop to visit) Melbourne landmarks such as Arts Centre Melbourne, Royal Botanic Gardens, Abbotsford Convent and Melbourne Zoo. It’s a mix of old and new, urban and nature, that’s hard to beat.
Located on the edge of western Melbourne, this spectacular park sits on an ancient volcano, and the shape of its ancient lava flows gives the park its name. It’s not just filled with geological marvels, you’ll also want to keep your camera nearby for snapping platypuses, echidnas, ‘roos and wallabies.
