Riding the Moonee Ponds Creek Trail

The southern end starts at Docklands and follows the Moonee Ponds Creek to Woodlands Homestead and Melbourne Airport. We've described the route from the city to the airport.

Docklands to Flemington Bridge (Capital City Trail intersection)

Using Docklands stadium as a landmark, ride along the shared path that runs along the waterfront, paralell to Harbour Esplanade. (See photo - left).

Follow the path which runs alongside Footscray Rd until you reach the Moonee Ponds Creek and the CityLink off-ramps (Melway 2E C1). You will need to cross Footscray Rd at this point.

The Moonee Ponds Creek will be on your left as you ride along the good quality concrete path built by CityLink. Underpasses will take you under Dynan Rd (see photo - right), Arden St and Macaulay Rd.

Eventually you will reach Flemington Rd and the ramp to Flemington Bridge station will be on your right. For those wanting to follow the Capital City Trail, go up the ramp towards the station. Otherwise, turn left and go over the road bridge to the other side of the creek.

Take the first trail on your left which curves underneath the bridge and follows the creek northwards "to Moonee Valley".

Flemington Bridge to Boeing Reserve, Strathmore

The trail continues northward under the freeway with the creek on your right. It passes through Travancore Park (Melway 29 B11). The creek is concreted through much of this section and the path runs above creek level.

At Dean St keep close to the creek and follow the concrete path under the bridge (Melway 29 B8). The trail eventually leaves CityLink as the creek turns westward. The surface changes from concrete to bitumen and is narrow in places.

At Vanberg St the trail leaves the creek and you will need to ride along some back streets for a short distance before rejoining the trail at Primrose St (Melway 28 K4)

The creek is in a more natural state through this section (see photo - left) and the trail continues north until it meets up again with the CityLink freeway near Bell St.

Continue to follow the creek until you reach Boeing Reserve in Strathmore Heights (Melway 16 D5).

Boeing Reserve to Jacana Wetlands (Western Ring Path intersection)

From Boeing Reserve cross over the creek (don't take the path that continues up the left side of the creek as it runs out). On the other side of the creek continue northwards (the creek will now be on your left) until you reach Jacana Wetlands (Melway 6 E11).

The trail passes under the Western Ring Rd and there is a bridge on the other side. If you want to go onto the Western Ring Path turn right at the bridge and go up the slope to Eleanor St. Jacana Station is on the other side of the Ring Road.

To stay on the Moonee Ponds Creek Trail cross the bridge to the western side of the creek and continue northwards. The creek will now be on your right.

Jacana Wetlands to  Melbourne Airport & Woodlands homestead

Continue northward through the wetlands. Don't take the bridge that crosses the creek (unless you want to follow the trail through Broadmeadows Valley Park to Roxburgh Park) and continue along the left side of the creek (Melway 6 D8).

There is another short on-road section along Grundy St into Bent St in Westmeadows (between Fawkner St and Mickleham Rd - Melway 5 K6). Cross under Mickleham Rd bridge and continue along the trail all the way to Woodlands Historic Park.

Turn left at the end of the trail onto a gravel road near the flight positioning towers. Follow this up the hill and to the left and jump the gate to follow Marker Rd. Follow this under the freeway into the airport grounds (Melway 5 D3).

 

The trail

This trail needs these improvements

 

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Starting point: Southern Cross train station

Finishing point: Broadmeadows train station

Distance: about 24km

From Docklands to Flemington Bridge train station

Starting point: Southern Cross train stationFinishing point: Broadmeadows train stationDistance: about 24kmFrom Docklands to Flemington Bridge train stationThe bike path starts at Docklands behind Telstra Dome near Southern Cross train station. Going north you will reach Footscray Road. Ride along the shared path until you reach an intersection which there is a sign showing you to Moonee Ponds Creek Trail. You need to cross the Footscray Road.The creek is on your left and it is under citylink. Ride along the smooth concrete path until you reach Flemington Road and you will see Flemington Bridge train station. Turn left and then continue the path.From Flemington Bridge train station to StrathmoreThe creek becomes on your right. You will pass Ormond Park and Holbrook Reserve. Beware of some sudden steep slope and sharp corner. Eventually the path turns left and leaves citylink. The trail becomes bitumen.There is a small section where you need to ride on road. You need to turn left at Vanberg Road and go straight until you reach a roundabout. Turn right according to the sign and you will join the trail again. The backstreet is quiet and only with very little traffic.Continue the path. You will pass Cross Keys Reserve, Strathmore Secondary College and then J P Fawkner Reserve. Finally you will get to Boeing Reserve in Strathmore Heights.From Strathmore to BroadmeadowsFrom Boeing Reserve, you need to cross the creek and so the creek is on your left hand side. Eventually you will reach Western Ring Road. Cross the bridge and the creek will be on your right. There is a shared path along Western Ring Road. It takes you to Merri Creek trail if you go east and Maribyrnong River Trail if you go west.Jacana Reserve will be reached soon. To go to Broadmeadows train station, you have to turn right and cross the bridge. Ride along the shared path and a bit on road. Finally you arrive at Broadmeadows train station.