Supriya Ghosh (Editor)

Capital City Trail

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Length
  
Approx 29 km

Trail difficulty
  
Easy

Capital City Trail httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommonsthu

Location
  
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Surface
  
Shared use concrete or bitumen

Hills
  
Minor hill at Rushall Station

Water
  
Drinking fountains every 2km approx

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, Victoria, Australia. It is 29km 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.

Contents

Map of Capital City Trail, Docklands VIC 3008, Australia

A popular starting point for the trail is at Princes Bridge near Flinders Street Station. The rider can head off in an easterly or westerly direction. If heading off in the westerly, either side of the river can be used, but the south side tends to be more popular.

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.

Following the path

The trail follows the Yarra River to Yarra Bend Park on the Yarra River Trail and meets Merri Creek at Dights Falls. It follows the Merri Creek Trail up the Merri Creek to Rushall Station, where it follows the former Inner Circle rail reserve and Royal Park. It then meets the Moonee Ponds Creek Trail, which continues back to Docklands and Southbank. At its farthest, the trail is 5 kilometres from the centre of Melbourne.

Construction

Recently completed improvements to the trail include a footbridge crossing Manningham Street in Parkville (which removes a flight of stairs and a road crossing), and re-paving of the path and landscaping on the section that passes under the Hurstbridge railway line. Lobby group Bicycle Network continues to advocate for improvements to the trail, notably the removal of a staircase that interrupts the path at Gipps Street in Collingwood.

Landmarks

The trail passes by the following attractions and landmarks:

  • Southbank
  • Alexandra Gardens and Royal Botanic Gardens
  • Melbourne Park and Melbourne Cricket Ground
  • Yarra River
  • Yarra Bend Park
  • Collingwood Children's Farm
  • Hardy Gallagher Reserve
  • Merri Creek
  • Rushall Garden, a community garden in North Fitzroy.
  • Princes Park, location of the Ikon Park football stadium
  • Royal Park
  • Melbourne Zoo
  • Moonee Ponds Creek
  • Docklands Stadium
  • Docklands
  • Connections

    The trail acts as central hub and has many spokes. Starting in the north and going clockwise there is the Upfield Rail Trail, Merri Creek Trail, Yarra River Trail, Gardiners Creek Trail, Sandridge Trail, Maribyrnong River Trail & Hobsons Bay Coastal Trail (via the Footscray Road path at Docklands) and finally the Moonee Ponds Creek Trail.

    The Princes Bridge starting point is at 37.819744°S 144.968516°E / -37.819744; 144.968516.

    References

    Capital City Trail Wikipedia