Birrarung Valley Walk | Williamstown to Upper Yarra Reservoir

Birrarung Valley Walk is a 220km self-guided walk/trail from Williamstown Beach to the Upper Yarra Reservoir, with an app that tells First Nations stories. Birrarung Valley Walk Inc. is mapping existing pathways to create a 220+ km, multi-day walk along Birrarung (Yarra River) from Port Phillip Bay to the Upper Yarra Ranges. A long-distance walking experience that honours Country, connects communities, and celebrates the remarkable Birrarung landscape. This unique "whole-of-river" walk will protect the Birrarung's public lands and natural environment, supporting the goals of Burndap Birrarung burndap umarkoo (Yarra Strategic Plan) and the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation's Whole of Country Plan 2025-2035. It will foster community appreciation of the river's ecological, cultural, and recreational significance, as well as its vital role in Melbourne's water supply. The Walk is a collaboration between Traditional Owners and Custodians, state and local government authorities, and Birrarung Valley Walk Inc. Together, we are developing a nationally significant, nature-based walking experience through the Birrarung valley. A supporting mobile app will provide maps, practical information and rich storytelling content to guide walkers and inspire protection, understanding and care for this precious environment. Birrarung Valley Walk We would love your support. Keep updated with our progress. Donate to support our work. Subscribe Donate bvw.org.au Birrarung Valley Walk The Birrarung Valley Walk is a 220-kilometre hiking trail following the Yarra River from Williamstown Beach to the Upper Yarra Reservoir in Victoria's east. Scheduled to open in 2029, the walk has been developed as a major long-distance walking experience, showcasing the natural, cultural and historical significance of the Birrarung, the Woi-wurrung name for the Yarra River. Created in partnership with the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Aboriginal Heritage Corporation, the trail highlights First Nations connections to Country and celebrates the river's importance to Aboriginal culture, environmental conservation and the development of Melbourne. The walk is divided into 13 daily stages ranging from 12 to 22 kilometres, with accommodation and visitor services available along the route. Walkers can complete the entire trail as a multi-day journey or explore individual sections at their own pace. Beginning at the river's estuary in Williamstown, the trail passes through some of Melbourne's most significant landscapes and attractions, including the Royal Botanic Gardens, Heide Museum of Modern Art, Warrandyte, Healesville and Warburton. The route then continues through towering mountain ash forests before reaching its final destination in the Yarra Ranges. The project includes new trail construction, upgraded pathways and improved visitor infrastructure, connecting existing walking tracks into a continuous route. Environmental restoration programs along the corridor support the health of the river and surrounding ecosystems, while creating opportunities for cultural tourism and community engagement. The Birrarung Valley Walk incorporates interpretation of Aboriginal heritage, local history, environmental values, art and architecture. A dedicated mobile app provides route guidance, Woi-wurrung language resources, cultural stories, historical information and environmental education throughout the journey. The trail traverses diverse landscapes, from Melbourne's urban waterfront and parklands to rural valleys, forests and mountain environments. Along the way, visitors experience the changing character of the river while exploring one of Australia's most significant waterways. The walk concludes at the Upper Yarra Reservoir, near the headwaters of the Yarra River and the protected water catchments that supply much of Melbourne's drinking water. When completed, the Birrarung Valley Walk will provide a unique long-distance walking experience linking Melbourne to the source of its most iconic river, while promoting cultural understanding, environmental stewardship and sustainable tourism across the Yarra Valley and Yarra Ranges. Birrarung Valley Walk We would love your support. Keep updated with our progress. Donate to support our work. Subscribe Donate bvw.org.au