Best Cycling Treks In and Around Sydney For The Adventurous

Cycling in Sydney is great for all kinds of travellers - you do not need to be a world-class rider to achieve the feat. While some treks may require a certain level of riding capability, others are easy to accomplish.

If you have already visited most of the city’s main landmarks by foot, drop into your itinerary a few cycling treks in and around Sydney to complete the experience. We put together six of Sydney’s best treks for you to make your pick.

Should the trek take you to the outskirts of Sydney, believe us, it will be worth the pedal.

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Leave the bustling city-centre and take a half-hour train ride west to the historical city of Parramatta. Australia’s second European settlement, this suburb in greater Sydney had once been home to the Burramattagal people, a Darug clan. They were the first group of Aborigines who settled on the upper reaches of the Parramatta River. As you can guess, the city is home to a rich chapter to the country’s history. Cycling in this part of Sydney offers a wonderful opportunity to get up and close with most of its historic nodes along the 19-kilometre trail.

The Parramatta Heritage Trail covers 27 landmarks comprising the significant sites that are pertinent to Australia’s colonial history. Stop by the Old Government House, which was the home for the first 10 governors of Australia. Constructed by convicts, the building is the country’s oldest publicly owned structure.

There is also the St John’s Cemetery, built in 1790, where 17 of the world’s First Fleeters had been buried. The First Fleeters are referred to as the earliest European settlers who had made their voyage in the 11 ships that sailed from England to Australia in 1787.

You will also visit the country’s oldest surviving European building that has been standing firm on its soil since 1793 - the Elizabeth Farm. A classic Australian colonial homestead, the building belonged to a couple who had been pioneers of the Australian wool industry. The route also cuts through Parramatta Park and trails along the Parramatta River.

Source: sv1ambo/Flickr

While the trek is not arduous, it does take cyclists to a few low-speed roads. As long as you are confident to ride on the roads, this trek will be great for you.

More information on the Parramatta Heritage Trail can be retrieved from the Visitor Centre upon arrival. You may rent a bike from mainland Sydney and take them onto the Sydney or Intercity trains towards Parramatta station. Alternate cycling routes are also available at this western hood of Sydney. There is the 15-kilometre Parramatta Valley Cycleway that starts from Morrison Bay Park in Ryde - eight kilometres east from Parramatta - and heads west through the Ermington Nature Reserve, along the Parramatta River. It then winds into the suburb’s central business district. This route also links to the Sydney Olympic Park that boasts more than 35 kilometres of varying cycling routes, making it perfect for riders young and old. You won’t need to bring a bike for this - you can rent one from Bicentennial Park!

Eastern Sydney is home to the Centennial Parklands, a picturesque tranquil heaven for cyclists of all ages ever since 1900. Today, the park welcomes more than 750,000 riders every year. An important link between the network of routes in the City of Sydney and those in the eastern suburbs, the Parklands plays a prominent role as both a recreational and commuter space.

Source: SAKARET/Shutterstock.com

Encircling this massive riders’ heaven is the 3.8-kilometre Grand Drive, one of the four cycling courses in the Parklands. The car-free flat roads are perfect for a smooth ride. You can admire the flora and fauna at every turn as you pedal around the calming greenery.

Those on the Grand Drive will have access to all entry and exit points, making it convenient for cycling enthusiasts to make their way to and fro the eastern suburbs in greater Sydney.

Fret not if cycling has never been your thing - you can head over to the Learners Cycleway where many of Sydney’s kids, across generations, pedalled for the first time. You can bring your kids over for an exciting cycling lesson away from home!

Bikes are also available for hire at the Centennial Parklands. Just off the Grand Drive, your ideal wheels await you at Centennial Park Cycles.

The Parklands do offer a whole lot more experiences beyond cycling. You can immerse yourself in vestiges of history at several places. Some highlights include the Korean War Memorial and the Federal Pavilion.

One of the longest continuous off-road cycling tracks in Sydney, the Prospect Reservoir & Orphan School Creek Trail is 29 kilometres long. Cutting through tranquil parklands in the west as well as bushlands, townships and rural hills, this path offers a calm and peaceful ride that takes you closer to the stunning panoramas of Greater Western Sydney. Do explore the Western Sydney Regional Park to soak in the atmosphere and meet some furry friends while you set yourself down for a good picnic lunch.

The route also accommodates amazing Instagrammable spots such as the aqueducts at Greystanes. These sandstone arches are just on the way to the Prospect Reservoir right after Merryland.

The view along Orphan School Creek between Abbotsbury and Canley Vale is itself mysteriously charming, perfect for your social feed.

Source: Sam Wilson/Flickr

If time is short and you are unable to complete the full 29-kilometre loop, you can choose to explore the Prospect Creek Cycleway that links the Prospect Reservoir to Fairfield Town. The latter is a fascinating suburb for history buffs who are interested to learn more about the Darug people and their Aboriginal culture. There is also an easy 5.5-kilometre cycling route along the Parramatta-Liverpool Rail Trail that connects Canley Vale to Guildford.

Depending on where you intend to start on the route, you should be able to find bike hire available before setting forth on your cycling escapade to the western wilderness of Sydney.

North of the city-centre, the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park covers a massive 14,882 hectares of land, stretching from St Ives all the way to the shores of Hawkesbury River in the Brooklyn suburb. An enclave of history, the national park is a living outdoor museum of Aboriginal heritage boasting many rock art sites and hand stencils found all over this serene paradise.

Source: Phil Whitehouse/Flickr

Long occupied by the Darramuragal People before the European settlers arrived, the park was their spiritual heaven which they related to through their distinct language, customs and laws. Amid its flora and fauna, locals and tourists who visit this park will be able to feel its character and charm.

Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park is also famous for its waterways, river valleys, majestic estuaries and sheltered coves. Being situated within Sydney’s Metropolitan Area makes the park very popular among the locals who want a day’s getaway to the outskirts of Sydney just 16 kilometres from the city-centre.

There are vantage points to whale watch, large spaces for picnics, horses to ride and most importantly, tracks to pedal through!

Hop on the 3.5-kilometre Centre Trail for an easy mountain bike experience and capture scenic views of all things beauty. Take in the scent of blooming wildflowers mingling with the aroma of the eucalypt while you admire their blossoming colours. Catch a glimpse of waterways like Coal and Candle Creek as well as Akuna Bay.

You will also come across a small mound on which lies a rock escarpment and tessellated pavements revealing faint sketches of footprints engraved into the sandstone. Pay your respects to the Aboriginal people here as you reflect on their significance and the reason why Ku-ring-gai is the way it is today.

Another popular cycling route in this northern territory of Sydney runs between Mount Colah and Pymble stations, a route longer and more exhilarating than the Centre Trail. This trek is a tough 20-kilometre ride that will surely put your adrenaline on fire. Highly recommended for those who want an extensive tour of the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, the route offers an all-rounded mountain biking experience you will never forget. If you are adventurous enough to push your boundaries, this is it!

Starting from Mount Colah station, pedal towards south and turn into Ku-ring-gai Chase Road and begin your trek through the lush greenery of this gigantic park. After eight kilometres, you can greet the beauty of Apple Tree Bay and bask in its expanse of emerald blue.

Following a downhill run, make your way to Bobbin Head, a waterfront picnic spot for lunch with a view. Take a plunge for a quick swim before getting back on the trek.

Source: Oriane Perrin/Shutterstock.com

As you carry on with your journey towards the southern park entrance, take a little detour to the Sphinx Memorial to catch the famous Sphinx made of sandstone.

Source: Michael Lynch/Flickr

A significant monument to remember the lives lost in the First World War, the Sphinx was carved out by a returning soldier back in the 1920s. It is a historic symbol of the Australian military, one that paints a picture of bravery, sacrifice and honour.

As you turn south onto the Pacific Highway after an eight-kilometre trek along Bobbin Head Road, you will then end the trail at Pymble Station.

Read more: Australia: A Vast Continent with Immense Beauty

Another adventurous escapade to Sydney’s countryside, the Narrow Neck Peninsula is not for the weak.

Sitting within the Katoomba area of the World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains National Park, home to the famous Three Sisters, the 19-kilometre trail takes you through the open forest, heath and swamplands across the isolated and unsealed Narrow Neck Road.

You should be an experienced mountain biker to conquer this trek.

Travelling the length of a high plateau, you will make your way to the Clear Hill that takes you deep into the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. There are breathtaking views of the majestic mountains to admire, alongside the blooming wildflowers and chirping birds. Once you hit the narrowest point of the plateau, you will find the Jamison Valley and Megalong Valley on either side of the cliff.

You can also take a glimpse of the Wild Dog Mountains, Kanangra Boyd Wilderness and Lake Burragorang at the end of the trail.

The Blue Mountains National Park offers many more cycling treks to suit different strength levels. Do check them out and find one that matches your ability. Renting a bike at the park is easy - the popular Blue Mountains Biking Adventures offers great rentals for a range of tours. Reach out to them for more details if you are planning your adventure here.

If you cannot match your stamina to the cycling treks in the Blue Mountains National Park, drive south from central Sydney towards the Royal National Park and pedal through some of Australia’s beautiful nature spots for a relaxing and therapeutic experience.

Named after the wife of former Governor of New South Wales, the 10-kilometre Lady Carrington Drive was the first scenic route built as a carriageway through the park from Audley in the north right up to the southern precinct at Sir Bertram Stevens Drive.

Now a historic cycling track in southern Sydney, you can enjoy a smooth and scenic ride through this route at a comfortable pace. Rent a bike from Audley Boatshed and start riding!

Following the Hacking River upstream from Audley, the trek takes you over 15 creeks, each named in the Aboriginal language. Along the way, listen out for the peculiar call of the mimicking lyrebird and spot some lace monitors and echidnas.

You can also stop by any one of the three picnic areas along the track for a good refreshment before hitting the route again!

For those who prefer a little more adrenaline while on an easy route, the Loftus Loop Trail will be the best fit.

Beginning and ending at the Royal National Park Office, the trail is a combination of flat wide paths and steeper single-track rocky stretches. Get off the bike if the path is too steep to ride on, especially along Temptation Creek.

Source: Philip Terry Graham/Flickr

These diverse terrain track loops around the Loftus Oval and can be completed easily in one and a half hours.

There is a mammoth of cycling treks in Sydney. Some are well known while others are waiting to be explored. While those within the cities are easier to access, we urge you to step out of your comfort zone and conquer those in the mountainous regions - be sure to look out for alerts, especially in the summer where bushfires are rampant which could force the closure of certain routes.

Do you have a favourite cycling trek in Sydney? Book your flight & hotels to Sydney through Trip.com!

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