Walking trails and bike paths
Moreland has many trails for walkers and cyclists that link to parks.
The two main shared paths in Merri-bek are along the Moonee Ponds and Merri Creeks. These paths link to other trails to the city. Recommended bike trails and routes in Merri-bek map (PDF 6Mb) describes key routes.
Merri Creek Trail
The Merri Creek Trail starts at Dights Falls near where the Merri Creek and Yarra River meet. The trail follows the creek, with most of the path right next to the creek. Along the way it passes Coburg Lake Reserve, the Brunswick Velodrome and CERES Community Environment Park.
Length and connections
The Merri Creek Trail is 21 km long. The path joins the Western Ring Road Trail in the north. In the south it meets the Yarra River Trail and the Capital City Trail.
Difficulty
Easy.
Public transport
The path goes past Clifton Hill and Rushall stations as well as St Georges Road, Nicholson Street and Sydney Road trams.
Moonee Ponds Creek Trail
The Moonee Ponds Creek Trail starts at Melbourne Docklands on Footscray Road. It follows the creek and goes under and around the Tullamarine Freeway. After Bell Street it goes north through a series of parks, including the Boeing and Charles Kingsford Smith Ulm reserves. It goes under the large trestle bridge at Jacana Retarding Basin, Glenroy and meets the Western Ring Road Trail.
The Moonee Ponds Creek Trail goes into Willowbrook Reserve near Mickleham Road in Westmeadows and then path continues along the fence line of the Woodlands Historic Park next to Melbourne Airport.
Temporary Path Detour
Due to the CityLink Tulla Widening project, the Moonee Ponds Creek will be closed between Ormond Park and Fenton Street from January 2016 for approximately 12 months. There are on-road, sign posted detours in place on the east and west sides of the Creek. Refer to this map for further detail (PDF 679Kb).
Length and connections
The Moonee Ponds Creek Trail is 25 km long. It meets the Broadmeadows Valley Trail and the Western Ring Road Trail in the north. It meets the Capital City Trail in the south.
Difficulty
Easy
Public transport
The path goes past Jacana, Pascoe Vale and Flemington Bridge stations.
Capital City Trail
The Capital City Trail is a shared use path for cyclists and pedestrians, which circles the Melbourne city centre and some inner eastern and northern suburbs of Melbourne.
It is 29 kilometres in length, and mostly consists of sections of other trails, such as the Merri Creek Trail, Main Yarra Trail, Moonee Ponds Creek Trail and Inner Circle Rail Trail.
The Capital City Trail uses the same path as the Main Yarra Trail up to Dights Falls, where it continues, using the same path as the Merri Creek Trail, as part of its loop around the city.
See the Moreland Totem Bike Counter to see how many bikes have travelled on the path (the counter is located on the Capital City Trail, near the corner of Nicholson Street and Park Street, Carlton North).
Guides and maps
- Google map of off-street shared paths and on-road bike routes in the City of Merri-bek.
- Recommended bike trails and routes in Merri-bek map (PDF 6Mb) describes key routes
- Merri Creek Trail Map has detailed and clear information on trail highlights, public transport, and points to enter the trail.
- Bicycle Victoria Merri Creek Trail
- Bicycle Victoria Moonee Ponds Creek Trail
- National Public Toilet Map