Best rides around Sydney for kids?

breakloose

If you had 2 kids 9yr and 11yr (both girls) and want to take them on regular rides around the Sydney region on weekends, where would you take them? Lets assume we can keep them happy for a few hours without wearing them out to much . Actually, I'll be the one that needs the oxygen tank

They both have Mongoose Stormers which have 18 gears. And they are both keen to get out and do some riding which is great!

Just after some ideas that won't be too difficult for them at first.

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giantbike

There are two parks with riding tracks that I recommend especially for kids.One is the Parramatta Park which locates near the Westfield shopping centre.The other is the Centennial park which is near the Fox studio.

One other place is the Olympic Park which you can check it out on this website : http://www.sydneyolympicpark.com.au...ivities/cycling.

breakloose

Thanks for the info giantbike. Much appreciated. We'll give them both a try. We recently did the Lady Carrington Dr track at Royal National Park but as a walk, not bike ride. There were quite a lot of cyclists on this trail and the girls are keen to give that a go as well.

Does anyone know of any publications that show cycle routes around the Sydney region?

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enzed

Does anyone know of any publications that show cycle routes around the Sydney region?[/QUOTE]
I recommend "Cycling Around Sydney" , by Bruce Ashley. (It costs $25 from most bike /book shops.

I find this publication easy to understand and provides a variety of rides. They include among others, the Cook River Shared pathway, Olympic Park, Manly Dam Circut, Inner sydney and the Royal National park.

It's worth looking at.

artemidorus

The road beside the river inside Lane Cove National Park is scenic and quiet; it's there and back rather than a loop.

1id10t

I can recommend Olympic Park. There are three tracks, all of which are flat with optional hills (very mild). I take my wife as she is not yet confident to ride on the roads with me. Also, there is a section there near Homebush Bay drive where there is a kid specific track. This is very short ( a small loop) from which you could keep an eye on the children while enjoying a rest on the grass. Also, you could try down at Brighton Le Sands. This is also flat and goes all the way from Brighton to Dolls Point. Gets busy on the weekends and is a shared cycle/walking path.
BTW artemidorus, have you tried the dirt track in Lane Cove itself. I want to try it but have not yet gone to the info centre to find out exactly where it goes. I want to ride it from Pennant Hills to Lane Cove or even Hunters Hill.

breakloose

I know the path from Brighton to Dolls Point... yes, its crowded on weekends. You can head north from Brighton and follow it all the way to Olympic stadium so I'm told. Although I've only gone as far as Canterbury rd. I'd thought of this cycle path for the kids but it does come close to some major roads. Olympic park sounds good.

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mikeg

In Western Sydney amoungst the extensive network of offroad cycle paths
the Prospect canal between guilford and Prospect Reservior is good for younger children

7.5km without a road crossing. There and back type of route. There are places you can park along the canal without entering the reservior grounds.

Sydney & Parramatta, Parramatta & Liverpool, and Western Sydney maps are available from the RTA, and some Bicycle User Groups (BUG)

Mike

artemidorus

Is that the Great North Walk singletrack that you mean? If so, I haven't tried it.

turneron2wheels

I can highly recomend the Cook's river cycleway. Mostly in pretty good condition, quite flat, and few road crossings. The road crossings that do exist have a "refugee" island in the road to allow you to cross only one direction of traffic at a time (I would suggest supervision here though!). It never gets overly busy unlike Centennial Park on weekends! The best section would be from Tempe (train station) out to Strathfield. Unfortunately you can't easily do "a loop" so would mean a "there and back" trip.

Blundenb

The National Parks and Wildlife Service have recently published a guide to cycling in Royal NP see: http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au...ycling_plan.pdfIf you feel really like a day out, catch a train to any of the northern suburbs of Wollongong (Bulli and further south) for a great flat bike track ride long the beach. Good fish & chips at either end!

The bike track will soon be extended in a northerly direction, and will hopefully link up with the new bridge being constructed along the coast road (ie the usual MS ride). Fantastic views linking up with Royal NP. Pretty hilly though once you get north of Bulli.