Outer Circle Rail Trail

A shared path along the old Outer Circle railway through Melbourne's inner east suburbs, from Hughesdale station past Malvern East, Ashburton, Camberwell, Deepdene and Kew East to the Yarra River near Fairfield. The railway opened in the early 1890s and closed in stages soon after; signs mark former station sites. It links with the Gardiners Creek, Scotchmans Creek and Main Yarra trails, and the Alamein line still runs beside the middle section.

Hughesdale to East Malvern (about 2km): from the elevated Hughesdale station, through the Urban Forest bushland park at the former Waverley Road station, which has the only unsealed stretch, and across busy Dandenong Road/Princes Highway at the pedestrian lights about 200m west. East Malvern to East Camberwell (about 7km): over a shared bridge across the Monash Freeway and Glen Waverley line, through Malvern Valley golf course (watch for golfers) and across Gardiners Creek, then beside the Alamein line past Riversdale, Willison and Hartwell stations. The Toorak Road crossing is busy with a short steep descent, and Boroondara Park has a narrow kerbed section. Cafes at Toorak Road and High Street. East Camberwell to Fairfield (about 8km): a long cutting of about 1km before Canterbury Road, a narrow shared path over the Eastern Freeway, a long climb to High Street Kew East (Harp Junction is busy, cross at the lights), and the iron Yarra River Railway Bridge near Chandler Highway. Toilets, water fountains and bike repair stations are spaced along the way. Signage is limited in places.