Bicycle Network: Where to Ride

You can start at any point along the trail. We have described it from it's westernmost point all the way around to Carrum in the south east.

There are lots of refreshment and toilet stops along the way and train stations at various points.

In the west you can get off at Altona, Westona or Williamstown stations.

In the south east the stations at Brighton, Sandringham, Mordialloc and Carrum and near the trail.

Altona Meadows to the Yarra

The trail starts in Altona Meadows at the Cheetham Wetlands (Melway map 208) and heads north east towards the city. It crosses the Laverton Creek and follows the coast along the Espanade past Seaholme.

At the Altona Coastal Park you can take a side trip to Cherry Lake over the railway tracks (Melway Map 54) or continue along the banks of the Kororoit Creek and Jawbone Conservation reserve until you reach the Esplanade in Williamstown.

The trail is a bit disjointed through this section but follow Battery Rd around until the trail starts again at Nelson Place. You can cut a bit of distance of the trip by catching a ferry from Williamstown to St Kilda (operates weekends and public holidays) or continue along the Strand until you reach Scienceworks Museum (Melway map 55).

Campaign: Point Gellibrand redevelopment

The Bay Trail is missing through the Point Gellibrand Coastal Heritage Park.  Parks Victoria is the Committee of Management of this park and are in the process of developing it into a new urban park.  Bicycle Network Victoria wants to see the Bay Trail extended through here with a good quality wide path with minimal road crossing points.  For more on the park see Point Gellibrand Coastal Heritage Park.

Yarra Punt to Elwood

The Punt operates on weekends and public holidays and crosses the Yarra River underneath the Westgate bridge. It departs from a landing outside Scienceworks and crosses to a landing at Westgate Park.

At Westgate Park the trail winds through the wetlands until it reaches Todd Rd.  Follow the trail along Todd Rd until it reaches Sandridge beach and passes through Beacon Cove. At Station Pier the trail splits into two, with a separate path for pedestrians (Melway map 56).

Follow the beach until you reach Pier Rd at St Kilda, where a short on-road detour is required. Ride past the rotunda and St Kilda pier and onto the bike path in front of the St Kilda baths. Poor design means that lots of pedestrians also use the bike path so take care through this section.

Continue along the foreshore and follow the path behind Elwood lifesaving club.

Campaign: Complete trail at Pier Rd

Bicycle Network Victoria would like to see this road downgraded to allow for a designated bike path through this section.  The City of Port Phillip is undertaking a Foreshore Management Plan and Pier Rd should be addressed within this framework. Some minor design work would also improve the bike path in front of the St Kilda Baths which is currently used heavily by pedestrians.

Elwood to Ricketts Point

Continue along the foreshore from Elwood until you reach Bay St, Brighton (Melway 67 B8). There is a short gap at this location.  You can either get off and push your bike through the sand until you reach the Middle Brighton Baths or zig zag through back streets (follow your nose) until you pop out at St Kilda St where you will have to push your bike along the footpath to the Middle Brighton Baths (taking care at driveway crossings).

Bayside Council has begun work to complete this gap, work is expected to be completed by July 2005.

From Middle Brighton Baths the path reverts back to a shared path so give way to pedestrians. There's a couple of hills to negotiate but you can take a refreshment break at Ricketts Point tea house.

Ricketts Point to Carrum

From Ricketts Point the trail continues for a short distance until it reaches the Beaumaris Motor Yacht Squadron at Cromer Rd (Melway 86 F8). The trail becomes a sandy track and this section is not designated as a shared path.

You can get off and walk through this section until you reach the ramp down to Mentone. Here you have a choice between riding the dirt cliff top paths or the concrete forshore path. Neither are ideal and a path that meets the Australian standards is required. Follow your nose until you reach Mordialloc. 

Campaign: Cromer St to Mordialloc Gap

The gap between Cromer St and Charman Rd has been identified in the Bayside Bicycle strategy. The City of Kingston is investigating improving the trail between Charman Rd and Mordialloc. Bicycle Network Victoria and Kingston BUG attended a consultation meeting in May 2004.

From Mordialloc the trail heads inland and follows the Mordialloc Creek.  It goes under the Nepean Hwy bridge and pops up on the other side.

You can either cross over the Nepean Hwy bridge and follow the creek on the south side or continue along the north side and cross at the first pedestrian bridge (Melway map 92).

It has dangerous bollards on either end so take care.

Ride past Mordialloc College and at the first trail intersection take the right fork and follow the Longbeach Trail (part of the Bay Trail) south. The trail is fairly straight and goes past Edithvale-Seaford wetland areas. Eventually the trail crosses Thames Promenade at Chelsea Bicentennial Park (Melway 93 E12), where you will need to take a right hand turn and follow the edge of the park before turning left and riding south through the middle of the park.

Continue south along the trail until you reach an embankment and the Patterson River.

There is a Longbeach Trail sign here and the trail goes along the top of the embankment. This is where the Dandenong Creek Trail meets the Bay Trail. A left turn inland will take you along the Dandenong Creek Trail to Bayswater.

Turn right and follow the river until the trail reaches the pedestrian bridge. Cross the river and either follow Station St to Carrum train station or turn left and go down the ramp inland along the river for about 200m. There are toilets, kiosk and BBQs at the boat ramps.

Enjoy your ride!