Merri Creek urban hike: Preston to City via Fitzroy
Merri Creek urban hike: Preston to City via Fitzroy
This great 10km walk traverses one of the nicest stretches of the Merri Creek. Start at a market, weave through Brunswick East, then traipse through Fitzroy and Carlton into the city.
Summary
This great 10km walk traverses one of the nicest stretches of the Merri Creek. Start at a market, weave through Brunswick East, then traipse through Fitzroy and Carlton into the city.
Description
This great 10km walk traverses one of the nicest stretches of the Merri Creek. Start at a market garden on the banks of the Merri in Coburg, then weave through Brunswick East. Keave thge creke trail to traipse through Fitzroy and Carlton, before finishing your great urban hike at the Paris end of the city.
DOGS: Dogs can come along on this big urban hike. There is a leash-free area in the Edinburgh Gardens. But please note dogs must be on-leash at all times on the Merri Creek trail.
Start: Harding Street bridge over the Merri Creek. You can approach the bridge from the Coburg side of the creek or from the Preston side (Kendall Street). If you have time, take a peek at Joe's Market Garden - just to the north of the bridge. Sometimes there are weekend food markets held here.
Follow the Merri South on the east side of the creek. This is a pretty, green stretch of the Merri carefully restored with indigenous vegetation. YOu may wish to stop at CERES (environment park) in Brunswick East for lunch (see photo for details).
Head back up to street level following the Inner Circle rail trail in Fitzroy North to the popular Edinburgh Gardens. Stroll along bustling Brunswick Street, through Carlton Gardens then past Parliament House and into the city.
What a walk!
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Points of Interest
1. Joe's Market Garden
This is a certified organic market garden now managed by CERES (environment park) in Brunswick. Some of the vegies are sold through its Fair Food program.
2. Harding Street Bridge
Take care, it feels wobbly. Cyclists must dismount.
3. Brunswick Velodrome
Still in use as a bike club, but also popular with dog walkers. How about a lap?
4. Merri Creek trail, Brunswick East
The Pokrov (Russian Orthodox Church) is an impressive site as you leave the Velodrome.
5. Sumner Park
Continue past Sumner Park, home of the Brunswick Zebras soccer club (many kids, women's and men's teams play here).
6. Edinburgh Gardens
This is a very popular park, particularly in the evenings when many people gather for picnics and barbeques. Take care, some of the paths through here are shared walk-cycle paths.
7. Bustling Brunswick Street (Photo: Gyorgy Bakos)
Its great, eclectic mix of fashion, art, food stores and cafes has made Brunswick Street one of Melbourne's more popular shopping strips. Great for window shopping! Photo: Unsplash
8. Carlton Gardens
Wander through the gardens any which-way you please. They're home to the Royal Exhibition Building and the Melbourne Museum.
9. Parliament House
Victoria's Parliament House.
10. Collins Street (the 'Paris' end)
The top-end of Collins Street is one of the Central Business District's more beautiful street fronts - with wide footpaths and lovely shopfronts from the gold rush era.
Features
Public Transport
Playground
Dog off-leash area
Public toilets
Pram friendly
Park / Garden
