Downer-Dickson-Ainslie walk directions
Summary
This mostly flat walk explores the prettiest parts of the older northside suburbs of Downer, Dickson and Ainslie. It features lush, spacious off leash playing fields perfect for dogs to run and play; beautiful tree-lined streets and paths for humans to admire; and a contrasting short foray into the Mount Ainslie Nature Park. There's also an optional loop around the very pleasant Dickson Wetlands and a shorter option again for those wanting only an easy stroll. The walk starts and ends at the little Downer shops in Frencham Place where there is a super dog friendly café, free parking and bins.
Start/Finish - Downer shops, Frencham Place
Time/Distance - Allow 75 minutes/approx 5 km (short option allow 45 minutes/approx 3 km)
Off lead rating - ♥♥
Parking - In Frencham Place and nearby streets
Dog friendly café - Our pick Gang Gang café
Public toilets - Ask at the café
Bins - At the shops, the Downer and Dickson playing fields, and the Dickson Wetlands
Distractions - None
Playgrounds - Adjacent to the Dickson Wetlands
Photo gallery - See photos taken on the Downer-Dickson-Ainslie walk.
Note - All our dog walks assume you are a responsible dog owner with an obedient and well-socialised dog. See our Important Stuff page before starting any of our walks.
Map
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Directions
Downer shops to Dickson District Playing Fields (10 minutes)
1. Starting at the super dog friendly Gang Gang cafe, walk across Frencham Place to enter the green space straight ahead (the Downer Playing Fields).
Off leash opportunity on these playing fields when not booked for sports.
There are bins on the edge of the playing fields.
2. Wander left through the middle of the playing field, veering left again as you enter the adjoining playing field. Walk across to the far end of the second field from where you entered, to reach a road (Frencham Street). Walk left along the edge of the oval until a pedestrian access through the railing to the street.
3. With your dog back on leash, cross Frencham Street, turn left, and then nearly immediately turn right to enter another street (Cadell Street), then right again into the next street (Gardiner Street).
Cadell and Gardiner Streets have very pretty street trees.
4. Just after Gardiner Street curves left, look for the concrete footpath heading right between the houses. Turn right here and follow the path to another street (Bonython Street). Cross Bonython Street and continue walking straight ahead on another street (Gale Street) for a short distance until you reach a major road (Antill Street).
5. Walk left a short distance then cross Antill Street using the pedestrian island to reach the large playing fields (the Dickson District Playing Fields) on the other side.
Crossing Antill Street using the pedestrian island will allow you to enter the playing fields via the carpark.
Dickson District Playing Fields to Mt Ainslie (25 minutes)
6. After entering the playing fields, turn left to wander across to the far right corner of the fields from where you just entered. If you would like to complete only the short option of this walk, see notes below.
Off leash opportunity on the playing fields if not booked for sports.
This is an enormous green space providing ample opportunity for your dog to run and play. You may wish to dawdle here a while longer.
There are bins next to the amenities block which you will pass on your left as you walk across the playing fields.
To complete the short option of this walk, wander to the far right hand corner as above, but rather than exit the playing fields here, turn around and walk in the opposite direction along the edge of the playing field, with the stormwater drain on your left. Continue past a pedestrian footbridge crossing over the stormwater drain, and keep walking parallel to the stormwater drain until you exit the playing field and reach a second pedestrian bridge. You can then pick up the walk from direction 17 below.
7. At the far right corner of the fields, you'll reach a dirt track running between a high wire fence and a stormwater drain. Follow the dirt track until you reach a pedestrian bridge crossing the stormwater drain. Cross using the bridge then follow a concrete footpath (not the bitumen cycle path) to a road (Majura Avenue).
8. Cross Majura Avenue using the pedestrian crossing, turn hard left to cross another road (Officer Crescent) and continue a short distance on the footpath until you reach the stormwater drain again. Turn right to follow the dirt track which runs alongside the stormwater drain, with the drain on your left and the back fences of houses on your right.
Off leash opportunity starts here.
This is a very pretty track passing under beautiful, mature deciduous trees that are stunning in autumn.
9. Continue on the dirt track, past a pedestrian bridge on your left. As the track curves to the right and a little uphill, you'll reach another pedestrian bridge on your left and a footpath leading right back into the suburb. Just after this you'll see a signpost indicating that you are entering the Mt Ainslie nature park and that dogs must be on leash.
Off leash opportunity ends here.
We suggest you leash your dog as soon as you reach this second pedestrian bridge.
10. Continue a short distance further on the dirt track, with the back fences of houses still on your right and Mt Ainslie on your left, passing one gap between the houses, until you see a second gap between the houses. There is an enormous dead tree marking this spot and the house on the right side of the gap is distinctively modern.
Mt Ainslie to Dickson District Playing Fields (15 minutes)
11. Turn right to walk through this gap to reach a road (Duffy Street). Cross Duffy Street and walk straight ahead to follow another road (Agnew Street) downhill. Walk on the right hand side using the footpath. You'll shortly reach a small park (Calvert Park).
This small park is off leash except for the area around the children's playground in the bottom right hand corner.
12. Continue on Agnew Street until you reach a t-junction (with Officer Crescent). Cross to the other side of Officer Crescent, walk to the right for a very short distance, then turn left on the concrete footpath heading between the houses.
13. The footpath ends at another road (Hannan Place). Veer left to walk around a small park in the middle of Hannan Place. At the end of Hannan Place, cross the road to follow another concrete footpath straight ahead leading between the houses. This footpath ends at another road (Majura Avenue again).
14. Turn right here and walk a short distance on the footpath along Majura Avenue to reach the pedestrian crossing you used to cross earlier in the walk. Cross back over Majura Avenue but once over the road and lay-by, veer left off the footpath toward the trees and the back fences of houses. You should soon discover a dirt track leading through shady trees. Follow this with the back fences on your left and the stormwater drain on your right.
Off leash opportunity starts here.
Please bear in mind if walking your dog off leash on this section that a cycle path runs parallel to the stormwater drain and off leash dogs must be kept well away from this path.
15. Follow this pleasant track for approximately five/ten minutes until it eventually meets the cycle path.
Off leash opportunity ends here.
16. Once your dog is back on leash, join the cycle path. Nearly immediately you'll reach a pathway intersection: left towards the Dickson Wetlands; straight ahead to continue on the cycle path parallel to the stormwater drain; or right to take a pedestrian bridge over the stormwater drain onto the Dickson Playing Fields.
At this point, you can either add to your walk by turning left to complete a circuit around the Dickson Wetlands pond, or continue on the main route. If the former, see below text in italics for further information. Otherwise continue straight ahead on the cycle path until you reach a second pedestrian bridge crossing over the stormwater drain.
To complete a circuit of the Dickson Wetlands (approx 10-15 minutes), just follow the pedestrian paths clockwise around the pond. When the path nearly completes a circuit of the pond, it intersects with the cycle path again. Turn left here and walk a short distance to a pedestrian bridge crossing the stormwater drain. Now see direction 17 to pick up the main route.
This area is a very pleasant public space. The pond has attracted a lot of birdlife and the plantings have matured over recent years. There are several benches to stop and have a rest, and bins near the path as you walk around the pond. At one end of the park is a children's playground.
Dickson District Playing Fields to Downer shops (15 minutes)
17. Cross over the stormwater drain using the pedestrian bridge and following a pedestrian path for a few metres until you reach, on your left, the edge of an impressive stand of mature eucalyptus trees. Turn left to follow the inviting gravel path through the centre of these lovely trees; the path runs parallel to the stormwater drain (on your left) and fencing (on your right).
If you are following the directions of the short option of this walk from direction 6, walk straight ahead when you reach the pedestrian bridge (on your left), to join the gravel path through the centre of the trees ahead.
Of course you could spend a little more off leash time on the Dickson District Playing Fields - to your right - if you prefer before continuing, or even take a short cut back to your starting point by retracing your steps from the beginning of the walk.
18. Walk along the track a few minutes through the beautiful avenue until the end of a road appears on the right (adjacent to a small carpark). Turn right to follow this road (Rosevear Place) under an arcade of more beautiful mature deciduous trees. Join the footpath that will appear on the left about half way up this road.
This quiet road provides access to several community centres and facilities.
19. Rosevear Place soon meets a major road (Antill Street again). Turn left a few metres to cross Antill Street using the pedestrian island. On the other side of Antill Street, turn right and follow the footpath a short distance until another footpath leads left between the houses. Turn left to follow the footpath.
20. When the footpath reaches another street (Allport Street), turn right to follow the street to a t-junction (with Bonython Street). Cross Bonython Street to reach the Downer Playing Fields and the Downer shops.
If you'd prefer to join one of our regular guided group walks, find out more at our guided walks page.