Tan Track |
No visit to Melbourne is complete without a walk, jog or run around Melbourne's iconic 'Tan Track', a 3.827km track around the Botanic Gardens.
Melbourne's most popular running route, The Tan is suitable for runners of all abilities on a gravel track except for a bitumen footpath along Anderson Street.
Locals, visitors and famous alike now share the space as its international reputation has grown.
Time clocks were first installed in 2012 for runners to see their times. Two new digital clocks were installed in March 2024.
Walk Jog Run The Tan
On any given day/time, there are a mixture of walkers, joggers and runners and at times can be quite busy. The 3.9-km loop track is very easy to navigate with distance markers every 250m and fully floodlight (5am-Midnight). [map]
The official start point of a clockwise lap is at the Pillars of Wisdom near the junction of Alexandra Avenue and Olympic Boulevard (opposite Swan Street bridge).
Proceed east along Alexandra Avenue turning right onto Anderson Street (footpath), turn right (just before Domain Road), a short distance veer right onto Birdswood Avenue past the main entrance of Royal Botanic Gardens (right), Shrine of Remembrance (left), onto Linlithgow Avenue back to Alexandra Avenue.
The one tough part of running the TAN is 'HeartBreak Hill' which is a 30m hill up Anderson Street, the rest being flat.
Enjoy a coffee at one of the cafes along Domain Road once you're done.
Easy parking near all entrances and park on the opposite side which does not require paid parking.
There are drinking fountains all around the Tan. Most convenient public toilets to access are inside the Anderson Street entry of the Royal Botanic Gardens, plus toilets and more facilities throughout the Royal Botanic Gardens and Kings Domain.
Weather
Melbourne Weather
Name: Tan Track
It's officially named Tan Track, but known locally as The Tan, The Tan Track, The Course or simply the TAN.
The Tan was originally constructed in the early 1900's as a tanbark horse-riding track.
The origins of the name are disputed: a surface of TAN-coloured stone aggregate or, the track is around the Royal BoTANic Gardens or, it once was covered by TAN bark.
Fastest Lap
The current record is 10 minutes and 8 seconds, run by Craig Mottram in 2006. He set this record whilst running with the Richmond Football Club during their pre-season training. Mottram gave the footballers a two-and-a-half minute head start and still managed to beat them comprehensively.
Refer to the Hall of Fame on the Run the Tan website for the official Top 10 and Top 100 fastest male and female laps around The Tan and other interesting stats.
Tan Video's
The joggers and walkers of Melbourne's Tan Track (2.35m) The Tan Running Track (27m) DJI Osmo raw footage Why people love The Tan Run the Tan 2022 Highlights
❊ What's On ❊
➼ Tan Time Trial: Victorian Road Runners
➼ Run Club: Tan Track
❊ Address ❊
℅ Naarm
⊜ Birdwood Avenue, South Yarra 3141 View Map
❊ Web Links ❊
➼ Tan Track
➼ en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Botanic_Gardens,_Melbourne
➼ www.mapmyrun.com
➼ Tan Facts: JOHN CHARLES SYSSM Podiatrist
➼ www.thelongrun.com.au
➼ www.runthetan.net
➼ melbourne.vic.gov.au
❊ Also See... ❊
➼ Go The Tan
➼ Royal Botanic Gardens | Melbourne
➼ Shrine of Remembrance
Disclaimer: Check with the venue (web links) before making plans, travelling or buying tickets.
Accessibility: Contact the venue for accessibility information.
Tan Track Map
Update Page
Tags: "the tan", tan running track, tan, tan track
