A new long-distance walking trail stretching the entire length of the Yarra River is being planned, with ambitions to create a world-class hiking experience linking Melbourne’s western shoreline to the pristine forests of the Upper Yarra.
According to The Age, the proposed 220-kilometre route known as the Birrarung Valley Walk, would take walkers on a 13-day journey from Williamstown Beach to the source of Melbourne’s drinking water near the Upper Yarra Dam. Scheduled to open in 2029, the trail is being positioned as Victoria’s answer to Spain’s famous Camino pilgrimage route.
Developed in partnership with the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Aboriginal Heritage Corporation, the project places First Nations culture and storytelling at its heart. The trail takes its name from Birrarung, the Woi-wurrung name for the Yarra River, and will showcase thousands of years of cultural connection to the waterway.
The route follows the river through some of Victoria’s most recognisable landscapes and attractions. Walkers will pass through Williamstown, the Royal Botanic Gardens, and the grounds of the Heide Museum of Modern Art before continuing through Warrandyte, Healesville and Warburton. The final stages climb into the towering mountain ash forests of the Yarra Ranges before reaching the trail’s endpoint.
Each day has been designed as a manageable stage of between 12 and 22 kilometres, with accommodation options available at the end of every section.
While much of the route already exists through established trails and parkland corridors, around 15 per cent remains either unbuilt or inaccessible to the public. New trail connections will be required, particularly in Melbourne’s north-eastern foothills.
A dedicated app is also planned as part of the experience, featuring Woi-wurrung language, stories recorded by Elders and cultural knowledge linked to locations along the walk. Visitors will also be able to use the platform to report environmental issues such as rubbish dumping, weed infestations and pest animals.
If realised, the Birrarung Valley Walk could become one of Victoria’s most significant tourism and cultural projects, offering a new way to experience the landscapes, stories and communities that have shaped the Yarra River for generations.
