If you’re searching for dog-friendly walks in the Yarra Ranges, you’re in the right place.
I spend a lot of time walking dogs throughout the Yarra Ranges and Yarra Valley — not just recreationally, but also while scouting locations for outdoor photography Sessions. Over time, certain walks stand out as consistently good options: beautiful, practical, and genuinely enjoyable with a dog on lead.
This list focuses on on-leash dog walks in the Yarra Ranges that are:
- Easy to adapt to different fitness levels
- Worth visiting in their own right
- Not just “dog-allowed”, but actually dog-friendly.
All walks listed here require dogs to remain on lead year-round.
Longer Walks/Hikes
Mathias Walking Track
- Location: Olinda
- Walk duration: 45 minutes to 1.5+ hours
- Difficulty: Easy to moderate
- Best time to visit: All year round (just mind the leeches in some parts when it’s wet)
Mathias Track is one of the more flexible dog walking tracks in the Yarra Ranges. You can start from either end, walk as far as you like, and turn back when it suits you and your dog – or go the whole length if you want something longer. There are also a few side trails if you want to extend the walk and don’t mind a bit of a climb.
It’s a proper bush environment with tall trees and filtered light with a formed gravel track, but it’s close enough to suburbia that it doesn’t feel remote. Weekends can be busy, so quieter visits are best early in the morning or on weekdays.
Why it works well with dogs: adaptable length, natural bush setting, space to manage distance.
RJ Hamer Arboretum
- Location: Olinda, Yarra Ranges
- Walk duration: 30 minutes to 2 hours
- Difficulty: Easy
- Best time to visit: All year round, but autumn is stunning
Just up the hill from one end of the Mathias Track, RJ Hamer Arboretum is one of the most beautiful places to visit in the Yarra Ranges with your dog, especially during autumn. The wide open lawns, huge trees, views over the valley, and changing seasonal colours make it a reliable choice year-round.
It’s popular — especially on weekends — but the layout makes it easy to move around without feeling crowded.
Why it works well with dogs: wide open spaces, predictable environment, excellent seasonal scenery.
Wright Forest Bushland Reserve
- Location: Cockatoo
- Walk duration: 60–90 minutes (longer if extended)
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Best time to visit: Autumn through to Spring (Summer is still pretty, but there’s always the risk of bushfires so depending on your comfort with this – it may be best to avoid this area in Summer)
Wright Forest Bushland Reserve is a quieter option if you’re looking for peaceful dog walks in the Yarra Ranges. Depending on the time of day, you may only see a handful of people across the entire walk (if any!).
Sections of the track run alongside Puffing Billy Railway, and there’s a connecting trail through to Emerald Lake Park if you want to turn this into a longer outing.
With lots of options to criss-cross through lots of different tracks, this location is quickly becoming a photography favourite for me. With year round sunrise and sunset lighting, what’s not to love for photographers?
Why it works well with dogs: low foot traffic, bush setting (while maintaining phone reception), optional extensions.
Lilydale–Warburton Rail Trail
- Location: Lilydale to Warburton (and all the towns in between)
- Walk duration: Flexible
- Difficulty: Easy
- Best time to visit: Spring and autumn
The Lilydale–Warburton Rail Trail is one of the most versatile dog-friendly walking trails in the Yarra Valley. You don’t need to walk the entire length — choose a section that suits your time, fitness, and dog.
Go with a friend so you can walk one whole section and get a ride back to your car. Or if you’re not taking your dog, jump on the convenient bus to go back to where you parked (if you’re riding a bike, they even have bike racks on the front of the busses!).
Flat terrain, wide paths, and varied scenery make this a great option for steady, low-stress walks. This is an area I’m slowly exploring, with a few spots identified as ones I definitely have to come back to with my camera.
Why it works well with dogs: flat, accessible, easy to customise.
Keppel Lookout Track
- Location: Just outside Marysville
- Walk duration: 2–3 hours return
- Difficulty: Challenging
- Best time to visit: Cooler months
I didn’t have a camera when I did this hike, so I definitely plan on coming back here and seeing what I can capture while trying not to die from an asthma attack.
Keppel Lookout is a more demanding hike and best suited to dogs (and humans) comfortable with longer uphill walks. Dogs aren’t allowed near the Falls, so you’ll need to locate the base trailhead and walk up the mountain for the lookout views instead.
Expect a steady climb with multiple switchbacks — it’s not a casual stroll, but it’s rewarding if you’re prepared. The next time I do this hike, I’m bringing lunch in a thermos because I was STARVING by the time I got back to my car.
While I don’t profess to have much fitness right now, I was fitter when I did this and I had to stop frequently to catch my breathe (thanks asthma) making the sign’s suggestion of 1.5-2hrs return massively underestimated. So if you’re like me and there’s room for improvement with your fitness, just come prepared with lots of water and snacks. Maybe even a picnic blanket to be able to sit down on and rest!
Why it works well with dogs: quiet, low traffic, mentally and physically engaging.
Shorter Walks
Sir Alfred Nicholas Memorial Gardens
- Location: Sassafras, Dandenong Ranges
- Walk duration: 30–45 minutes
- Difficulty: Easy (some steps and gentle slopes)
- Best time to visit: Spring and autumn
Sir Alfred Nicholas Memorial Gardens is a compact but visually rich walk. Even though it’s short, there’s a lot packed into a small area — winding paths, bridges, layered gardens, and plenty to look at.
Because it’s popular and relatively contained, it can feel busy at peak times. Visiting earlier in the day or on weekdays makes a big difference. It’s a good option if you want a relaxed stroll rather than a long bush walk.
Just be prepared for lots of stairs or the longer gentler sloping drive down to the lake.
Why it works well with dogs: short distance, structured paths, plenty of visual interest without being overwhelming.
La La Falls
- Location: Warburton, Yarra Valley
- Walk duration: ~30 minutes return
- Difficulty: Easy (with a little bit of a climb)
- Best time to visit: Winter or after rain
La La Falls is one of those walks that’s quick but still feels rewarding — especially after rain when the waterfall is flowing properly. The track is well-formed but narrow, with a gentle incline, making it accessible (there are steps nearer the Falls) for most dogs and people.
It’s a solid choice if you’re already in Warburton or want to stretch your legs without planning a full hike.
My main note here is, make sure you put the La La Falls Car Park into your GPS not La La Falls. If you just put La La Falls in – I hope you have a 4WD coz it’ll take you off road in the National Park!
Why it works well with dogs: short, predictable, and easy underfoot.
Closing Thoughts
One of the biggest strengths of the Yarra Ranges is how much variety it offers — even if you’re walking with a dog on lead. You can choose anything from a short garden stroll to a steep, multi-hour forest hike, depending on your dog’s needs and your own energy levels.
Given I’m used to finding quieter, reactive-dog friendly walks I’ve omitted some other locations that I’m sure are stunning. That doesn’t mean I don’t recommend them, just that I haven’t been there with my dog to tell you about my experiences there.
All of the walks I’ve listed here are:
- On-leash year-round
- Genuinely enjoyable with a dog
- Worth visiting for the walk itself, not just because dogs are allowed.
These are places I walk, revisit, and recommend because I know what they’re like in real life — not just on a map. Whether you’re local or visiting the Yarra Ranges with your dog, these walks are a solid place to start.