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Walking time: 2 hours

Distance: 4.75 Kilometres

Birrarung Marr, Royal Botanic Gardens and Melbourne’s famous  sports precinct.

Federation Square (1) Ferry Landings (2)

From Federation Square, step down to the Ferry Landings on Princes Walk.

Moreton Bay Figs (3)

Walk along the avenue of Moreton Bay Figs, following the bluestone edging on the Yarra bank that shows where the river was widened to prevent flooding.

Birrarung Marr (4)

Continue through the tranquil riverside until you arrive at Birrarung Marr, Mourne’s 21st century riverside park. ‘Birrarung’ means ‘river of mists’ in the language of the Wurundjeri people who originally lived here. ‘Marr’ was their name for the side of river we are on. Today, Melbourne’s residents and visitors come to enjoy the great outdoors and soak up the superb city views.

Sea Wall (5) Federation Bells (6) Redgum Gully (7) Billabong (8)

Walk from the Sea Wall to the Footbridge and Federation Bells on the middle terrace. Pass over Redgum Gully, planted with the type of trees that lined the Yarra before Europeans arrived. The Billabong beside the river symbolises the lagoons that once dotted the area.

Speakers Corner (9)

To the left of the Billabong, under the trees, is Speakers Corner. From the 1880s to the 1960s, Prime Ministers, communists, evangelists, suffragettes and ordinary citizens gathered here to state their case. Look among the mounds for the Speakers Sculptures that interpret the site.

Floating Landing (10)

Continue past the Floating Landing near Swan Street Bridge.

Melbourne Park (11)

To your left is Melbourne Park, home of the Australian Open. Rod Laver Arena is named after the Australian tennis great who won the ‘Grand Slam’ twice. Today, audiences at the Open top half a million every year. The park also includes the state-of-the-art Vodafone Arena that hosts tennis, basketball and cycling.

Melbourne Cricket Ground (12)

Further on, across the footbridge, still on the left, is Yarra Park, where Australian football evolved in the 1850s with gum trees as goal posts. Look for the light masts of the Melbourne Cricket Ground or MCG – affectionately known as the ‘G. Every September crowds of over 100,000 come to watch the finals and Grand Final of Australian Rules Football. In the summer, cricket fans laze in the sun at Test matches which run for up to five days.

The MCG was also the legendary stadium of the 1956 Olympics. If you have time, take a tour and discover more about its place in sporting history.

Olympic Park (13) Domain Tunnel (14)

Continue along the river, under the bridge, past Olympic Park. Athletics, cycling, soccer, speedway, rugby league, even greyhound races have been held here. Alongside Olympic Park you are walking above the underground CityLink Expressway, over the Burnley Tunnel (3.4 km long and 60 metres deep) and the shallower Domain Tunnel (1.6 km long).

Follow the elms to Morell Bridge, built over dry land in 1899 before the river was diverted underneath.

Royal Botanic Gardens (15)

Cross over to the Royal Botanic Gardens, and enter through Gate A under the magnificent Durmast Oak. Stroll down to the old river bend, now an Ornamental Lake. The River Red Gum on your right is a remnant of the natural vegetation that grew here before the Gardens were first planted in 1846.

The Separation Tree (16)

Walk straight ahead to the Separation Tree Rest House. Opposite the rest house is The Separation Tree, where Victorians in 1850 celebrated news of their coming independence from New South Wales (which became effective in 1851).

Terrace Tea Rooms (17) Ornamental Lake (18)

Follow the signs to the elegant Terrace Tea Rooms and relax with a drink and a snack. Enjoy the sweeping views over the Ornamental Lake. Spot the bird life, eels in the lake, and Government House where Victoria’s Governor lives.

William Tell Rest House (19)

Stroll on past the William Tell Rest House and over the bridge, hugging the lake. The lake system was progressively developed from the 1850s and incorporates a natural lagoon and an old river bend that remained after the Yarra River was straightened between 1897 and 1900.

Aboriginal Heritage Plaque and the Garden Directors’ Names (20)

Arrive at Gate H, near the rare plants of the Southern Chinese Collection. Look for the Aboriginal Heritage Plaque and the Garden Directors’ Names on a rock face near the gardens exit.

Temple of the Winds (21) Yarra Barbecues (22)

Through Gate H, look up to the Temple of the Winds as you jog the ‘Tan’ track for an easy 100 metres, then cross Alexandra Avenue to a Melbourne institution, the Yarra Barbecues.

Swan Street Bridge (23) Judge’s Box (24) Melbourne University Boat Club (25)

Walk under Swan Street Bridge and continue along the river towards the city. Look out for cyclists, roller bladers and power walkers passing by. In the early morning and late afternoon, you’ll see rowers here. Pass the Judge’s Box (1930) then round a bend to the boatsheds. The first building, with its picturesque tower, was built in 1908 for the 50th anniversary of Melbourne University Boat Club (Australia’s oldest rowing club).

Princes Bridge (26) Federation Square (27)

Walk up the ramp to Princes Bridge and return to Federation Square.