Ten Pram Friendly Walks – Melbourne

A big thank you to Sally Muir from Shape Up Mums, Fiona Trewhitt from Mumafit and Travis Giansiracusa from Tonic Personal Training. They have put together all the wonderful information below.

If you have other favourite pram friendly walks in Melbourne please send them through or add a comment below. My aim is to make it easier for more Mums to get out and enjoy some fresh air and sunshine even with a baby or toddler in tow.

I recommend researching any walk you intend to do in more detail and getting a map.

Walk 1: Royal Botanical Gardens – ‘The Tan’
Birdwood Avenue, Melbourne

This track is seriously iconic, picturesque, is great for people watching and will have you finish your walk without it ever seeming like a chore. It’s a 3.8km track around Kings Domain and the Royal Botanical gardens, and is adjacent to the beautiful Yarra River if you want to extend your walk.

•    Located on the city fringe it is quite accessible on weekends and weekdays if you avoid peak hour
•    There is parking almost all the way around the track, with easiest parking located on the South side of the track
•    You can opt to go clockwise or anticlockwise. Clockwise will see you going up the steep Anderson Street Hill; its short but definitely hard pushing a double pram! Anticlockwise includes a gradual uphill rise on the St Kilda Rd side
•    The surface varies from bitumen to gravel and is very pram friendly with very wide paths
•    This track is fairly protected so is a good option on a windy day
•    If you’ve got time to spare, there is cafes a plenty, duck ponds and the Ian Potter Foundation Children’s garden to visit at the end of your walk

Walk 2: Albert Park Lake
Aughtie Drive, Albert Park

A great circular, pram friendly walk with fantastic views, and no hills! Located 3km south of the CBD, this smooth track is great for walking and running and has plenty of places to stop for a picnic or to watch the swans. One full lap of the lake is 4.7km.

•    Parking can be found at several locations around the lake with the biggest car park at the city end, at the base of Clarendon Street
•    You can do the loop in either direction
•    For an extra workout, there are also activity stations located around the lake with instructions for you to follow
•    Carousel Cafe is another great pit stop if you’re after a refreshing break with gorgeous city views
•    There is a brilliant wooden adventure playground on the Middle Park side if you want to entertain the kids for a while (it’s a little walk off the main path inland from Carousel)
•    Best to avoid this walk around Grand Prix time in early March as it’s definitely not as peaceful as they are busy preparing or packing up the track

Walk 3: Capital City Trail – Merri Creek

This section of the well-known Capital City Trail follows the Merri Creek / Yarra River between Clifton Hill and the Collingwood Children’s Farm. The trail is wide enough for two prams if you’re walking with a friend but be mindful of bikes as it’s a shared path.

It’s a lovely scenic and slightly undulating walk with lots of green and of course the calming waterway. The walk is around 4km, taking about 45 minutes return and is well-signed.

You can start at either the Clifton Hill end or the Collingwood Children’s Farm, passing the picturesque Dight’s Falls in between.
Parking is available at both ends.
Both the Children’s Farm and the Abbotsford Convent next door are perfect for a coffee or lunch break. Little ones will love visiting the animals at the Children’s Farm!

If you’re feeling adventurous and feel like a longer walk, you can follow the Capital City Trail further at either end. Choose from Northcote (Clifton Hill end) or Richmond (Collingwood Children’s Farm end).

Walk 4: Yarra River trail

•    The options are endless for this path.
•    Start at the city, park on Boathouse drive and walk into Southbank, or walk in the opposite direction up to Herring Island (a great outdoor coffee spot).
•    Alternatively park at Victoria Gardens in Richmond, and walk down to the river along the path towards the city.

Walk 5: Williamstown Beach to Altona – Foreshore Trail
8km

•    Part of the Hobson’s Bay Coastal Trail, the Foreshore Trail is a fantastic stretch of around 8km which goes from the end of Williamstown Beach (with easy parking at the carpark beside Gloucester Reserve (Melways 55 K11) all the way through to Altona Beach.
•    Plenty of child friendly cafes at Williamstown too such as Amarosa, Ferguson Street Provisions and Sassi Café and Bar.

Walk 6: Fitzroy Gardens
2km = 1 lap

•    A walk very close to the CBD of Melbourne. Plenty of parking on all four sides of the gardens.
•    Either direction will result in a relatively steep gradient walk.
•    A café located in the centre of the gardens (including a fairy tree and miniature garden) are a great treat for the older children

Walk 7: Marribinong River walk – Pipemakers Park
4km

•    Maribyrnong’s Pipemakers Park is a great location for a family outing.
•    Head South along the majestic Maribyrnong River. Circuits the wetlands and billabongs before returning the same way.

Walk 8: Yarra Bend Park
4.5km

•    Starting at Studley Park Boathouse, you can enjoy a walk in either direction on a sealed path.
•    This walk does involve a number of steep hills, a great challenge with the pram for those looking for a more challenging pram walk.
•    Alternatively you can start at Fairfield Boathouse.
•    Both starting locations have lovely picnic locations.

Visitor Guide Yarra Bend Park (PDF)

Walk 9: Jells Park
Various

•    Jells park offers a range of walking trails, depending on your chosen path.
•    A great location for toddlers and older children, with a range of playgrounds on offer.

Visitor Guide – Jells Park (PDF)

Walk 10: Bayside Beaches
Port Melbourne to Mordialloc

There is a massive stretch of bay beaches from the Spirit of Tasmania terminal in Port Melbourne, all the way to Mordialloc, that are fantastic for good long pram walks. There is continuous paths right along the coast with great views and often exercise workout stations also.

•    Street parking is located from Port Melbourne to St Kilda and larger car parks can be found at Elwood, St Kilda, Brighton, Hampton, Sandringham, Black Rock and Rickets Point. Some locations will require you to purchase a ticket and understandably it might be difficult to get a spot on a hot summers day.
•    As these paths are continuous, be sure to wear a watch or it’s a great idea to download a free app that can help you measure how far you are going so that you can monitor your return trip and cover your preferred distance
•    These paths are totally exposed, which is great for the view, but not so pleasant on a windy day
•    If you are wanting to incorporate a cafe to complete your walk, you can opt for Sandbar in Middle Park, St Kilda Sea Baths, Brighton Baths, Rickets Point, Beaumaris or Mordialloc.