wellness
Oakleigh Trails Network Rates Three Top Walking Routes by Distance
Three local routes stand out after a fresh assessment by the Oakleigh Trails Network.
How we reported this
Oakleigh Trails Network released its updated ratings on July 8 for three main walking routes, measuring each by total distance and rated difficulty from easy to moderate.
Residents have increased their use of nearby parks for daily movement since the start of the year, when the council expanded its Active Oakleigh initiative to include trail maintenance crews working twice weekly.
The ratings place the shortest loop at Oakleigh Park along Drummond Street at 1.8 kilometres and easy grade, while the path through Huntingdale Reserve reaches 4.2 kilometres at moderate effort with some gentle slopes near the railway line.
Routes through central neighbourhoods
Oakleigh Park sits between Drummond Street and Eaton Street, where the easy loop circles the main oval and passes the playground installed in 2023. Further east, the Huntingdale Reserve trail starts at the car park off North Road and follows a gravel path maintained by the Oakleigh Community Fitness group, which holds monthly group walks open to anyone who registers at the reserve kiosk.
Measured distances and conditions
The Network report from June 2026 recorded 5,200 individual uses across the three routes in the prior month, with the moderate trail at Huntingdale Reserve drawing the highest numbers on weekday mornings. Parking at the North Road entrance costs $2 for two hours, while the Drummond Street side offers free street spots before 9am. The third route, a 6.7-kilometre moderate path along the edge of the Oakleigh Golf Course, begins at the corner of Warrigal Road and Connell Street and includes one steeper section near the 14th fairway.
Walkers should begin with the shortest loop at Oakleigh Park if they have not checked the route conditions recently, carry water, and speak with a local medical professional before increasing distance on any trail.