Fabulous City Cycle Tours

For a fun, stress free, tour cycling weekend. Perfect for beginners.

With cycling routes that wind along the rivers, through the cities and on to wide open beaches, Australian cities are great places to cycle.

With FarOut App the paths are easy to follow, find return transport, places for lunch and camping/accommodation options to plan your overnight stay. There is fun stuff too!

Keep a lookout for our new Trails – COMING SOON! They will be Perfect for your very first cycle tour or visiting cyclists.

1. Southern Cross to Phillip Island (Peninsula Link and Beyond)

Distance: 96km Time: 2 Days Transport: Train return from Stony Point.

Melbourne Southern Cross, right in the heart of Melbourne, is a great place to start your very first cycle tour. With access to many parts of the city it allows you to come into town by train and start your ride on the cycle paths.

Total Distance 96km.

Find the ride in FarOut App Melbourne Paths Network.

We rode out in a light fog, through Port Melbourne, past the cute little cottages, to the docks, where so many began their lives in Australia. If you’d like a coffee, Port Melbourne is a perfect place to fuel up. The trail then heads right along the beach with artwork, fabulous views and places to swim. The cute little port at Mordialloc, full of wooden boats, makes you imagine places far away.

The ride then heads down the Mornington Peninsula through parks and Ramsar Wetlands full of birds, along the canals and past the history of Eel Race Creek. We include an option to head into Frankston on a side route in case you need a swim or would like to spend the night there.

Soon you will reach Baxter where you can choose ride on a busy road for 4km. Or you can take the train from Baxter to Sommerville and continue on the trail which is close by the station. A new path for this missing sector is being built.

The wetland ride to Hastings has great views across Westernport bay as you cycle on boardwalks, cycle paths and a really quiet back road to the Stony Point jetty. Take the ferry to Cowes via French Island and enjoy the views along the way.

How far is this ride?

This ride is 96km from Melbourne Southern Cross to Cowes. After Cowes we have added additional trails and paths all through Phillip Island if you wish to ride through to San Remo, explore Rhyll and see the Phillip Island surf beaches. You can work out these distances using the Plan My Route feature in the farOut App. Open the map, touch the tool box bottom right and open the Plan a Route tab. You then touch the mapped routes where you wish to start and touch the mapped route along the route you wish to take. When you are finished save it so you can follow your route around the island when you choose. It will have all of the info on distances, cafe, scenic vistas and elevations. See App Features and How To Guides

Accommodation

There are plenty of places to stop for the night along the way – you might make this a 2 or 3 day trip. For accommodation we would consider Frankston, which is a short side trip to the beach and about half way to Cowes. Hastings has a lovely Motel and Cowes is full of good accommodation located throughout the township. The North Shore Pier Hotel has lots of accommodation and is close by the ferry terminal. Hastings, Stony Point, Frankston and Cowes all have camping.

Travel

Note that the train line from Frankston to Stony Point Station allows bikes. It operates all day and is a PTV service. Trains connect with the Frankston trains to Southern Cross.

The ferry to Cowes is close to the Stony Point Station. It travels via French Island which is also a great place to ride if you wish to take some time there. Westernport ferries operate the ferry Details at: Western Port Ferries . You will need to book your bikes at approx $5 one way and $10 return.

Download Melbourne – Rail Trails and Paths

2. Brisbane – Riverwalk to Moreton Bay

Distance: 83km Time: 2 Days Transport: Train return

Wow Brisbane has changed. I could never have imagined, growing up in Brissie in the ‘60s, that this city would be so beautifully transformed by cycle paths.

We have chosen a mix of paths to create a first cycle tour that will leave you wanting more. Start the Kedron Creek cycleway from the Grovely station. This is a lovely parklands ride along the creek with shady trees and birdcalls. Then cycle into Brisbane city and join the hustle and bustle on river paths with city views, street art, rock climbers, Botanic Gardens, and the stunning Riverwalk. We really wanted to see more and experience the Brissie dining scene, so we stayed in town for the night.

After a fresh tasty breakfast, we jumped on the bikes bound for Redcliffe on the Moreton Bay Trail. River, wetland and beach cycling constantly surprised us as we rounded the curves in the trail. We stopped for lunch in Redcliffe at one of the many cafes with good vibes and great views all the way to Moreton Island and its sandy beaches. Our last pedal took us to Deception Bay before our cycle return to Brisbane.

We recommend you take 2 days for this ride. Total Distance ….. .

Find the ride in FarOut Queensland Rail Trails and Paths.

Download Queensland – Rail Trails and Paths

3. Melbourne Southern Cross Station to Warburton

Distance: 115km Time: 2-3 Days Transport: Train return from Ringwood

The stately city of Melbourne is a perfect place to start your tour cycling life. We arrived midmorning at the bustling Melbourne Southern Cross Station to begin.

It was a warm and sunny winter morning and we were excited to be heading to Warburton in the beautiful Yarra Ranges. The trail from Southern Cross takes you straight to the Yarra River, past the rowers, through native bushlands and right into the beautiful Yarra Valley, with sweeping country vistas, to meet up again with the Yarra at Warburton.

There are plenty of places to stop for the night along the way – you might make this a 2- or 3-day trip. You can even return from Warburton to Lilydale by bike so you can train back to Melbourne. There is plenty of accommodation along the way.

This ride has some hills so you will need a little training – or just take it slowly.

Total Distance 115km.

Find the ride in FarOut App Melbourne Paths Network.

Download Melbourne – Rail Trails and Paths

4. Sydney South Coast Beaches

Distance: 80km Time: 2 Days Transport: Train transport both ends

Just south of Sydney, easily accessed by train from Central Station and the Airport, are the beautiful Wollongong beaches and stunning beachfront cycle paths perfect for your first Sydney cycle tour.

Hop off the train at Thirroul Station and follow farOut App straight to the beaches. We lucked in on a beautiful sunny day and were very excited to see a pod of whales cruise past almost as soon as our cycle began.

The ride to Kiama took us along the surf beaches, alongside Lake Illawarra with plenty of time to enjoy the famous rock swimming pools. At Kiama, after you marvel at the blowhole, it is easy to access the train for your return journey.

Or you can take an extra day to enjoy the Kiama Coastal Walk.

This ride is best during the whale migration season – north bound May to July or south bound with their calves September to November. We suggest that this 80km ride is enjoyed over 2 days leaving you time to see, taste and experience everything along the way.

Find the ride in FarOut App NSW South and ACT Network

Download NSW South and ACT Cycling Network

5. Canberra Lakeside Journey

Distance: 67km / Optional 153km Time: 2 / 3 Days Transport: Circuit ride

Canberra is the first city where I found a bus with bike racks! Such a great idea in a flat city with plenty of places to build cycle paths.

This first cycle tour is all on paths with a challenging optional out and back section which takes you to Hospital Hill Lookout. Worth it we think!

Start out anywhere around Lake Burley Griffin or the Acton District Park close to North Canberra. There is certainly a day of exploring on this loop – historic Blundells Cottage, the Chinese garden, Government House, The National Art gallery, lots of little beaches and sandy coves with great views all sprinkled throughout. At the end of your lakeside circuit its time to ride out to Tuggeranong, also set on a lovely little lake with lots of ducks and a perfect place to enjoy the sunset. We stayed in Tuggeranong overnight. You can sleep in and return to Canberra around the other side of Lake Tuggeranong and Lake Burleigh Griffin. 66km 2 days.

Find this ride on the NSW & ACT Rail Trails and Paths

Extension Option to Hospital Hill: Alternatively, after leaving Tuggeranong in the morning we headed out to Namadgi National Park on the quiet roads through Tharwa. The road is very pretty and winds uphill through the countryside until a final steep section just before you reach Hospital Hill with its spectacular views of the Bimberi Wilderlands and Gudgenby Valley. After a break and a snack turn around and cruise back to Canberra. You might make this a 2 or 3 day trip. Total Distance 153km.

Find this ride on the NSW South ACT Cycling Network

NSW & ACT Rail Trails and Paths

6. Adelaide – Ride to the Vines

Distance: 83km Time: 2 Days Transport: Train return

South Australia is the leader in linking Rail Trails and city paths to make the longer ride for your first cycle tour. Laid back and friendly, Adelaide loves bikes.

Start This tour starts in central Adelaide and heads towards the coast along the pretty Linear Park Trail where there are lots of parks and places to stop for a coffee.

What we Love On the coast we loved the quirky artworks backed by the landing planes and seascapes. The paths thread through Adelaide with lots of lunch options and onto the Coast to Vines Rail Trail where you meet the vineyards and finish your first day at McClaren Vale where there are lots of accommodation options and great restaurants. Next morning, finish the Coast to Vines trail to Willunga for breakfast before you head back to Seaford Railway Station where you can train back to central Adelaide or ride back the way you came.

When to Go: Autumn is a great time to do this trip as the vineyards are spectacular with all of the beautiful autumn colours.

This ride is part of the South Australia – Rail Trails and Paths

We suggest 2 days, 83km.

Download South Australia – Rail Trails and Paths

7. Hobart River Derwent

Distance: 80km Time: 2 Days Transport: Circuit ride

Hobart is surprising. For a small city it has wonderful rides all with views of the ever-changing moods of Mt Wellington which can be covered in mist, snow, or sunshine on any given day.

Start at Constitution dock in the historic centre of Hobart. Follow the Derwent River to visit the world-famous and quirky Mona, Museum of Old and New Art. Return and cross the Derwent River. You may feel like walking across the bridge as it gets windy! The views are excellent. Then turn north on the Clarence Foreshore Trail. Enjoy the views across the Derwent to Hobart and Mt Wellington as you ride to Geilston and its protected little harbor. And then to Shag Bay. The rough tracks towards the end of your ride make this feel like a real adventure! Retrace your tracks to Orana House where we suggest you stay for the night.

After their yummy breakfast, continue cycling under the bridge to Clarence Foreshore South. You cycle through Rosny, Bellerieve and finish at Tranmere. We loved this harborside ride with lots of places to stop and enjoy a café or vista. Return ride to Hobart, or take the ferry from Bellerieve, and finish your first cycle tour with a ride along the Hobart Rivulet to the Cascade Brewery. The beer will be cold and the buildings impressive!

This ride is 80km and we suggest you do it over 2 days.

Download at Tasmania Rail Trails and Paths

Download Tasmania – Rail Trails and Paths