The Melbourne Bayside Cycling Trail starts in Melbourne’s south-eastern suburb of Seaford and follows the coastline of Port Philip Bay through to just beyond the Westgate Bridge in Port Melbourne.
We were staying at Yarra Junction on the upper Yarra River. As we were very happy in our current campsite and as I had already completed the Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail, I thought it would be a good chance to complete a couple of rides I had long wanted to do in Melbourne.
My plan went like this:
- Catch the train from nearby Lilydale to Brighton Beach Railway Station.
- Ride along the Melbourne Bayside Cycling Trail to the West Gate Bridge (17 kilometres).
- Take the punt across the river to Spotswood.
- Ride south on the Hobsons Bay Coastal Trail to Williamstown Railway Station (another 6 kilometres).
- Catch the train back to Lilydale.
Brighton Beach
It was just after 10:30 am on a beautiful Monday morning when I arrived at Brighton Beach Railway Station. With signs pointing me in the right direction, I had no trouble finding my way to the Melbourne Bayside Cycling Trail on the beach.
It was only one kilometre along the trail to the iconic Brighton Beach Boxes. I had never seen these before, so I locked the bike to a fence and took a stroll down to see.
A little further on I came to Middle Brighton Jetty. I rode out along the jetty and on to the marina breakwater – 800 metres each way!
By now I was hungry. I bought a yummy salad roll from the kiosk at The Baths Middle Brighton.
As I continued on, I was delighted to find separate paths for cyclists and pedestrians. This was luxury indeed!
St Kilda
I stopped briefly at St Kilda Marina
and then cycled on past St Kilda beach. When I arrived at the start of the St Kilda pier, I had cycled 11 kilometres.
The iconic St Kilda Pier kiosk was built in 1904. Sadly, it was destroyed in an arson attack in 2003. Eventually the kiosk was reconstructed using the original plans and re-opened in 2006.
It was time to get a move on. I was really enjoying my separate cycling path, although it was a bit disappointing to note that sometimes pedestrians still wandered onto it anyway.
After a good clear stretch, I arrived at Princes Pier, which was a major arrival point for many immigrants in the post-war years. The Spirit of Tasmania was berthed at its terminal nearby.
Westgate Bridge
As I neared the end of the Melbourne Bayside Cycling Trail, the track passed underneath the Westgate Bridge three times, north, south and then north again. I found it fascinating to see the bridge from below.
Punt Problems!
I arrived safely at the Westgate Punt terminal and waited for a while in the sun (there was no shelter). By now I had cycled a little more than 21 kilometres.
After ten minutes or so, I thought it strange that I had not yet seen a punt, even on the water. I began to scrutinize the timetable. OH NO! The punt was only running during commuting hours on weekdays. The next ferry was not due until 3:40 pm and it was now 1:30 pm!
[So that you don’t encounter this situation yourself, I recommend that you consult the Westgate Punt website when planning a ride. On the weekend, the punts run all through the day between 9 am and 5 pm.]
As for me, it was time for a new plan. Fortunately I saw a bike sign that indicated it was six kilometres to the CBD from where I was. From there I could catch the train back to Lilydale from Southern Cross Station.
I began to follow the path, which according to my map, is part of the Main Yarra Trail. The next kilometre was on a quiet cycling path, but after that the trail joined Lorrimer Road. Lorrimer Road was fairly quiet, but I always prefer to cycle away from cars. When I reached Yarra’s Edge, I cut across to the riverside.
Arriving in Melbourne CBD
It was magical to arrive in the city of Melbourne from this direction.
Before long I was nearing the bridge to Southern Cross Station and safely on the train back to Lilydale.
I had cycled 29 kilometres and climbed 308 metres. Although not quite what I had planned, it had been a fabulous day. The Hobsons Bay Coastal Trail would have to wait for another visit to Melbourne.
To read about a similar ride in Melbourne, read Karen’s account of her participation in the Melbourne Around the Bay Event or if you are willing to travel further afield, try the Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail.
