Melbourne Tour: Walk the Yarra to the Heritage Abbotsford Convent

Embark on a scenic journey through Yarra Bend Park, one of Melbourne’s most treasured natural spaces, where history, culture, and wildlife come together along the banks of the Yarra River. This guided walk invites you to slow down, reconnect with nature, and explore the rich stories woven into this iconic landscape.

As you make your way through riverside trails shaded by native bushland, you’ll encounter the mesmerising sight of over 50,000 flying foxes roosting high in the trees. Discover their vital role in the local ecosystem and the conservation work that helps protect them in this important sanctuary.

Your path then leads to Dights Falls, a place of cultural and historical significance. Learn about its importance for the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people, and how this site has evolved through time, from Indigenous meeting place to early industrial development.

The journey concludes at the iconic Abbotsford Convent, a stunning heritage-listed site renowned for its rich history and vibrant creative atmosphere. You'll have some free time to wander through this cultural haven – once a place of spiritual life, now a thriving hub for the arts, learning, and community. Take a stroll through the peaceful Convent Gardens, discover thought-provoking visual art and current exhibitions, enjoy delicious food from a variety of cafés and eateries, and visit the unique studios of local artists and makers now nestled within the old convent rooms before making your way back to the city.

Tour Inclusions:

1. Guided trail walk through the iconic Yarra Bend Park alongside the river

2. Observation of Melbourne’s largest flying fox colony

3. Visit of Dights Falls and its cultural significance for the First Nations people

4. Free time at the Heritage-listed Abbotsford Convent

5. Pickup and drop-off from a central Melbourne city location

Tour Details:

• Group Size: 10 participants (small group)
• Walking Duration/Distance: 2.5hr 8km 
• Walking Level: Beginner, Easy, Grade 2 (includes sections with uneven terrain)
• Free Time at the Convent: 1 hour
• Total Tour Duration: 3.5 hours (timing may vary depending on the group’s pace during the walk)