Bike ride to the Bay
If you’re planning a cycling trip from the CBD to Glenelg, you can choose from two bike tracks. The Westside Bikeway follows an old railway alignment, and the Mike Turtur Bikeway hugs the tram line.
Westside Bikeway (9km)
Every good trail has a backstory.
From 1880, there were two rail services to Glenelg, run by separate companies.
The Adelaide, Glenelg and Suburban Railway Company operated from Victoria Square along what’s now the City to Bay tram line.
The Holdfast Bay Railway Company ran a separate line, starting from Adelaide Railway Station on North Terrace. This service closed in 1929, and in the late 1980s the abandoned rail reserve became the Westside Bikeway.
You can access the bikeway from the section of the Adelaide Park Lands Trail that runs along Port Road’s southern footpath, from Gladys Elphick Park/Narnungga (Park 25), opposite the new Women’s and Children’s Hospital.
Just over the rail bridge, the pathway to the left that heads into a patch of urban bush is the start of the bikeway. Follow this through to James Congdon Drive, then continue on the path beside the road, past the SA Athletics Stadium, to the junction of Railway Terrace and James Congdon Drive. Cross to the western side of James Congdon Drive, then follow the bikeway over Sir Donald Bradman Drive to South Road.
After crossing South Road and Deacon Road, you’ll begin a joyful cycle among trees and lawned parks, initially through a light industrial zone to Richmond Road, followed by the front yards, eucalypts and solar panels of suburbia.
Just after Barwell Avenue, you’ll see pooches at play in the popular West Torrens Dog Park. Less than 1km further along is the magnificent, recently renovated Weigall Oval, complete with picnic facilities, toilets, excellent playgrounds, tennis courts and playing fields.
Approaching Marion Road, you’ll encounter the last remnant of former railway glory – the substantial Plympton train platform.
After crossing Morphett Road, the trail swerves around Camden Oval, and if you’re lucky you might catch a footy match or athletics meet.
From here, the route crosses Anzac Highway to join the Sturt River Linear Park, where it squeezes between the river’s culvert and backyard fences, before crossing the tram line and connecting with the Mike Turtur Bikeway. Read on…
Mike Turtur Bikeway (9km)
The trail is named in honour of Tour Down Under founder and cycling champion Mike Turtur, whose four-man team won gold in the 4000m Team Pursuit at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
Mike also competed at three Commonwealth Games, winning four medals. But rest easy, these results aren’t expected from families using his namesake bikeway.
The route starts at the South Terrace tram stop, using the shared-use footpath to Greenhill Road.
After crossing Greenhill Road, the bikeway continues along the King William Road footpath for about 300m before veering right to follow the dedicated shared-use bikeway beside the tram line.
Once narrow and bumpy, the section of the trail between King William Road and Goodwood Road was substantially upgraded, widened and landscaped in 2022.
West of Goodwood Road, there’s an on-road stretch along Railway Terrace South, which is a quiet backstreet.
Where this street veers left to become Devon Street South there are two choices. You can take the narrow tunnel beneath the tram overpass to the right, which leads to a pedestrian subway under Goodwood Train Station, before popping out at pretty Forestville Reserve.
Alternatively, follow Devon Street South and turn right onto Victoria Street. Cross the train line and turn right to follow Lyons Parade, which passes through a tunnel beneath the tram line. This also ends up at Forestville Reserve.
Straddling Brownhill Creek, and equipped with picnic shelters, a barbecue, playground, shady trees, a skatepark and basketball hoop, Forestville Reserve is a magical spot, and it’s right beside Unley Pool.
From the reserve, follow Norman Terrace, which has been thoughtfully modified with cyclists in mind, before hitting the shared pathway again across Leah Street.
As you drop a gear or two to huff and puff up the South Road overpass, you might hear the raucous mocking of kookaburras that hang out in the mighty gum trees trackside.
You’ll need to cross the tram line at the Glandore stop to continue along the bikeway, which remains on the southern side of the rails for the rest of the trip to the Bay.
The next major feature is Morphettville Racecourse, just before Morphett Road. During race meets, speed-reduction barriers are erected to protect punters crossing the bikeway from the racecourse tram stop.
From Morphett Road, it’s a straightforward run to Brighton Road with a quick stop for a selfie beside Gene Giraffe.
With trams running down the middle and cars parked either side, Jetty Road is hardly bike friendly.
For a safer, alternative route, follow the footpath south for 50m after crossing Brighton Road, then turn right onto one-way Nicholson Lane. Then:
- left onto Marion Street
- right onto High Street
- cross Partridge Street
- right onto Moseley Street
- left onto College Street
- right onto St Johns Row
- through the little gap just south of the Stamford Grand Hotel
- click your heels, and you’re at the beach.
The wash up
The Westside Bikeway is easily the prettier trail, with lots of greenery, plenty of shelters, park benches, drinking fountains and playgrounds. There’s also a bike fix-it station with tools and a pump in front of the West Torrens Dog Park, and another one where the Mike Turtur Bikeway crosses Brighton Road.
The Mike Turtur Bikeway is the busiest commuter cycling path in Adelaide, and for good reason. The King William Street and Peacock Road bike lanes lead straight to Greenhill Road, then it’s bikeway and backstreets direct to the Bay.
This is an enjoyable ride but because it follows an active tram line, there aren’t a lot of green spaces en route, apart from Forestville Reserve.
If you want to get to the Bay asap, then the Mike Turtur Bikeway is the track for you. If you’re after a more leisurely day out with the clan, the Westside Bikeway is the winner
Happy and safe cycling.