WHERE TO RUN: VICTORIA AND TASMANIA

Blessed with a multitude of ideal running destinations within immediate proximity to the city, Melbourne is a running mecha to the state of Victoria.

If you're a tourist staying near the city, the Tan Track, Princes Park and Albert Park Lake are the most popular spots, but we're here to provide you with something different.

"Sunset - Melbourne CBD and the Yarra River as seen from the Eureka Tower" by Jorge Lascar is licensed under CC BY 2.0

On the north side of the city you’ll find Yarra Bend Park, home to many sealed and unsealed trails that wind their way around the Yarra River as it flows towards Richmond and into the city.

Conversely, you can equally follow the river upstream towards Kew and Ivanhoe.

A further benefit of Yarra Bend Park is its connecting trails to the Merri and Darebin Creek that provide runners with further off and on-road options north of the city. 

"Fork in path at Yarra Bend Park, Abbotsford" by Phillip Mallis is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Heading south of Melbourne towards Port Phillip Bay and down the coast towards the Mornington Peninsula, you'll be heading in the direction of Braeside Park.

Around a 40-minute drive from the CBD, Braeside Park's blissfully wide gravel trails form one of the most underrated running spots in Melbourne, with the outer perimeter loop coming to a little under 6km.

To the east of Braeside Park you’ll be heading in the direction of the Dandenong Ranges and Lysterfield Lake and Churchill Park's.

For the trail runners, the Dandenong Ranges and Churchill Park offer endless. single track and fire-road opportunities often accompanied by hills.

Conversely, Lysterfield provides a wider mix of options to suit all abilities, with the easiest running found closest to the Lake in the immediate vicinity of the park. 

Prior to hitting these sprawling areas of bush, you’ll find the connecting Jells, Nortons and Koomba Parks which feature a mixture of flat, sealed trails and undulating single track weaving through lush forest.

West of the city, the Maribyrnong River's trail network is a lot more varied than most people think.

Whilst you'll find largely sealed, flat paths along the river in the Footscray and Aberfeldie areas, the best section comes further west as you head closer to Brimbank Park.

In this section you'll experience a shaded gravel trail from Canning St Reserve all the way to Brimbank Park.

Further west heading towards Geelong, the You Yangs offer an abundance of easy fire-road running and technical trails that climb up to the top of the park at Flinders Peak. 

Beyond Melbourne, the bustling Alpine town of Bright, home to the famous Buffalo Stampede, welcomes runners, walkers and cyclists year-round for the abundance of trail and road based options.

The regional cities of Bendigo and Ballarat are both home to rugged bushland and lush forest, promoting a thriving running culture across both cities.

Tasmania

Hobart features a multitude of excellent running options both in and close to the CBD.

The Queens Domain is used by many runners and walkers on a daily basis, featuring excellent views over the River Derwent across a mix of sealed and gravel trails. 

Only 20 minutes out of the city is the Risdon Brook Dam Track.

Featuring an undulating yet shaded 4km gravel loop, the Risdon Dam area provides a tranquil setting with a mixture of pine and native trees.

Similarly local to Hobart is the Pipeline Track; about halfway up kunyanyi (Mount Wellington).

Impressively scenic, the Pipeline Track gradually rises in the direction of kunyanyi while maintaining complete shade coverage for virtually the entire length of the trail. 

The East Coast's mountain-bike mecha in Derby is largely covered by two-wheeled enthusiasts, yet the scenic landscape also provides for ample running opportunities.

Great soft-surface options can be found on the track recently built between Derby and Branxholm, while Mutual Road provides a hillier, dirt-road option when you take a left off the main road to St Helens. 

"Fish Boulder, Derby, Tasmania" by Steven Penton is licensed under CC BY 2.0

In Launceston, Heritage Forest is an excellent option for a shorter run or if you’re keen on running a few loops coming to about 3km per lap.

You’ll also find Launceston runners jogging along the River Tamar, central to the city.

Featuring paths on both sides of the river, this provides a great flatter option in Launceston.