Tan Track

No visit to Melbourne is complete without a walk, jog or run around Melbourne's iconic 'Tan Track', a 3.827km track around the Botanic Gardens.

The Tan

The Tan was originally constructed in the early 1900's as a tanbark horse-riding track.

The track is affectionately known locally as THE TAN, officially it's the Tan Track.

The TAN name origins are disputed: a surface of TAN-coloured stone aggregate or, the track is around the Royal BoTANic Gardens or, it once was covered by TAN bark.

Melbourne's most popular running route, The Tan is suitable for runners of all abilities on a gravel track except for a bitumen footpath along Anderson Street.

Locals, visitors and famous alike now share the space as its international reputation has grown.

Fastest Lap

The current record is 10 minutes and 8 seconds, run by Craig Mottram in 2006. He set this record whilst running with the Richmond Football Club during their pre-season training. Mottram gave the footballers a two-and-a-half minute head start and still managed to beat them comprehensively.

Walk Jog Run The Tan

The track is very easy to navigate with distance markers every 250m and fully floodlight until midnight. [map]

The official start point of a clockwise lap is at the Pillars of Wisdom near the junction of Alexandra Avenue and Olympic Boulevard (opposite Swan Street bridge).

Proceed east along Alexandra Avenue turning right onto Anderson Street (footpath), turn right (just before Domain Road), a short distance veer right onto Birdswood Avenue past the main entrance of Royal Botanic Gardens (right), Shrine of Remembrance (left), onto Linlithgow Avenue back to Alexandra Avenue.

The one tough part of running the TAN is 'HeartBreak Hill' which is a 30m hill up Anderson Street, the rest being flat.

Enjoy a coffee at one of the cafes along Domain Road once you're done.

Video

The joggers and walkers of Melbourne's Tan Track (2.35m)

The Tan Running Track (27m) DJI Osmo raw footage

❊ What's On ❊

→ Tan Time Trial: Victorian Road Runners

→ Run the Tan 2021
Saturday 24 April 2021

❊ Address & Contact ❊

⊜ Birdwood Avenue, South Yarra | Map

❊ Web Links ❊

→ Tan Track

→ en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Botanic_Gardens,_Melbourne

→ www.mapmyrun.com

→ Tan Facts: JOHN CHARLES SYSSM Podiatrist

→ www.thelongrun.com.au

→ www.runthetan.net

MyCity Save

❊ Also See... ❊

→ Go The Tan

→ Royal Botanic Gardens | Melbourne

→ Tan Time Trial: Victorian Road Runners

→ Shrine of Remembrance

Tan Track Map

→ Tags: "the tan" tan running track tan tan track

❊ Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update ❊

As Victoria takes action to stop the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), businesses may temporarily close.

→ Disclaimer: Check with the operator before making plans ...