Sydney’s Most Leisurely Bike Rides
Bring out that rusting bike from its hiding place and take it to one of Concrete Playground's picks of Sydney's most scenic cycle paths.
Fair-weather cyclists, rejoice! It’s time to bring out that rusting bike from its hiding place (your stairwell/balcony/side-alley) and take it to one of Sydney’s most scenic cycle paths.
From easy to not-that-tough cycle routes, we’ve got five choice routes to take your bike, or if you’re without your own set of wheels, places to pick up a hire bike for an afternoon. Triathletes and regular bike-commuters, you’d better look away, this post is for the leisurely cyclist - the ones who like to stop part way for a coffee and a chat. If you’re more hardcore, check out the cycle routes offered by City of Sydney.
The Sightseer
When you’re sick of showing out-of-town guest the obligatory route around Circular Quay and The Rocks, make it a bike tour and add a bit of speed to the sightseeing. Bonza Bike Tours has cycles available to hire for $15 per hour, or $30 for half a day, per adult. Try cycling past Walsh Bay to Barangaroo (or Hickson Road, depending on construction works), then on to Darling Harbour, Pyrmont Bridge, and around the wharves to Pirrama Park. The route takes in views of Sydney’s Harbour and ANZAC bridges, with plenty of places to stop for food and drink along the way.
Distance: approx 8km
Level: Easy
Website: www.bonzabiketours.com
The Family-Friendly
The Bay Run in Drummoyne is a favourite with runners, joggers, dog-walkers, cyclists and everyone else in-between. The kid- and pet-friendly cycle loop is 7km of split and combined cycle and walking paths that hug the bay. There are parks and cafes along the route so it’s easy to make a day of it, stopping for brunch or a play break along the way.
Distance: 7km
Level: Easy
Website: www.canadabay.nsw.gov.au
The Picnic Date
Centennial Parklands is one of the most cycle-friendly public spaces in Sydney; it has shared cycle ways, a 3.8 km dedicated cycle lane on the Grand Drive, a kid’s learners’ path and cycle hire that operates every day of the week. Make the most of the 189 hectares of inner city parklands and pack a picnic for a romantic date or lazy day in the sun.
Distance: Whatever you fancy
Level: Easy to tough-as-you-like
Website: www.centennialparklands.com.au
The Big Day Out
With over 35 km of cycleways in 430 hectares of parklands, Sydney Olympic Park has bike safari circuits for all levels, bike hire facilities, racing lanes, BMX and Mountain X Monster tracks - so something for everyone. Take a trip down sporting memory lane with the Olympic Circuit suggestion and ride past Sydney Olympic venues including the ANZ stadium and the Olympic Cauldron.
Distance: 7.6km
Level: Easy to intermediate
Website: www.sydneyolympicpark.com.au
The Mini Adventure
If ‘off the beaten track’ is a little too scary, but cycling around a park isn’t adventurous enough, try taking a self-guided tour in Manly. If you need to hire a bike, Manly Bike Tours offers bike hire from $15 per hour for beach cruisers to mountain, road, tandem and full guided tours of Manly Beach and Harbour National Park. For the best value, and to avoid the increasing crowds at the beach, opt for a hybrid and go the Dobroyd Head and Spit Bridge route.
Distance: 13km
Level: Intermediate
Website: www.manlybiketours.com.au
Main image via Poppiin
