Cafe to Pub. The Royal Park Urban Adventure Tour

Join Eat Drink Dance Melbourne for a cheeky Saturday social stroll that blends Melbourne’s best coffee, off-trail adventure, and pub-side refreshment into one glorious afternoon!

🕜 Start Time: 1:30 PM
📍 Meeting Point: Wilson Street Bouldering Wall (opposite McDonald's, just 50m from Green Refectory) Get there early to grab a coffee.
👟 Distance: ~9km loop, relaxed pace
🍺 End Point: Sydney Road. Brunswick (pub of choice – Village green Green suggested!)

We’ll kick off with optional pre-walk coffees at Green Refectory, Brunswick’s legendary hipster haunt with arguably the best brew in Melbourne. Then we’ll gather at the Wilson St.. bouldering wall, literally a hop, skip and jump from the cafe to begin our scenic ramble.

Expect a playful, off-trail wander through the secret back lots of Royal Park Golf Course, past the Melbourne Zoo and the Netball centre and then through the lushest corners of Royal Park via the Royal Children's Hospital and their award winning kids (really a big adults) playground and some of the best views of the inner Melbourne skyline from the north.

We’ll loop around Princes Hill running track, swing by the Carlton Football Ground, and return via leafy laneways to Sydney Road for a well-earned refreshment—coffee, pint, or cocktail, your call.

This is a social primer for your Saturday night: meet new faces, stretch your legs, and share stories over drinks. Whether you're caffeinated, curious, or just craving connection, this walk is your gateway to good vibes and spontaneous plans.

🎒 Bring water, comfy shoes, and your best banter.
🌦️ Weather permitting – check the forecast and dress accordingly.
💃 Optional: kick on with fellow walkers for beer, dinner or dancing after!

Notes:
Don't forget, The Green Refectory is the coffee and snacks point, but the Bouldering wall (the big metal sculpture thing in the tiny park opposite McDonalds) about 50 metres walk down towards the city from the cafe is the meeting point..

Look for a tall guy probably in an orange top (you can't miss me at least) this is the host!

Bring your happy and friendly self, it'll be a relaxed walk around 4km/hr. Not a dawdle and not a run.Some of the route is along rough tracks and grass, other parts on well formed tracks or pavement . You'll be pleasantly surprised by this little adventure so close to the city.

Being off the beaten path so to speak, there won't be crowds of people until we get around Princes Hill and back into Sydney Road and Brunswick.

About 2 hours walk, we'll have short rests along the way. Most people in Melbourne are very friendly I've found, so feel free to strike up a conversation or say hello if you don't know anyone 🤗

Feel free to enter and exit at any point, There will be some supervision around this walk as I guide people through some fun but safe terrain, you can exit if you wish at any point as we'll be passing numerous tram stations.

Be safe and responsible for yourself and your possessions as no responsibility will be taken for those aspects of the walk

Cheers, Mark