Federation Trail

__NOTOC__MelbourneBikePath


DESCRIPTION=Federation Trail near Werribee
NAME=Federation Trail
LENGTH=Approx. 23 km from Brooklyn to Werribee
DIFFICULTY= Easy
HILLS=None
HAZARDS=Magpies during breeding season
WATER= Infrequent
PATH= Shared use, bitumen and gravel
BUS= 232, 411, 412
TRAIN= Werribee line (Werribee and Hoppers Crossing stations)
TRAM=

The Federation Trail is a shared use path for cyclists and pedestrians, which mainly follows the old "Outfall Sewer" through the western suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. [ [http://maps.vicroads.vic.gov.au/website/bikes2b/viewer.htm VicRoads - Bicycle Facilities Map] ] [ [http://www.bigyak.net.au/gmaps/vicbiketrailsgmap.html?slct2=15 Melbourne and Geelong's shared paths in Google Maps] ] [ [http://www.bigyak.net.au/bike/bike.html#melgel Melbourne and Geelong's shared paths in Google Earth] ]

For safety reasons cyclists are not allowed to use the Princes Highway between Melbourne and the intersection of the highway and Geelong Rd. West of this point cyclists are allowed on the highway. The Federation Trail is the preferred alternate route in the no go area.

It officially opened on October 22, 2006.

Following the Path

Much of the trail follows the historic reservation of the "Main Outfall Sewer" which was built in the 1890s. At that time the sewer was the largest civil engineering project ever undertaken in Victoria.

(Be aware that Snakes may be seen while travelling past Skeleton Creek and Werribee River areas during hot weather. Stay to the path and you'll be fine and enjoy the scenery)

Landmarks

RAAF Williams (Laverton Base), Lawrie Emmins Reserve, Skeleton Creek, Werribee Mercy Hospital, Victoria University (Werribee campus), Werribee Park, Werribee Open Range Zoo, Werribee River.

Connections

The trail meets the Werribee River Trail in the west, at Werribee and provides access to the Princes Highway at this point. Near Hoppers Crossing it intersects with the upper section of the Skeleton Creek Trail. It terminates at Millers Rd in the east in Brooklyn near Altona North. 3.7 km west of Millers Rd, it intersects the Western Ring Road Trail.

The Hobsons Bay Coastal Trail can be accessed from Millers Rd but the road sections here are extremely busy and not recommended for the inexperienced. Forget Francis St. Go south under the West Gate Freeway next to Millers Rd then into Marigold St, Kyle St/Mills St, Mason St, cross the train track under Melbourne Rd then North Rd to the Hobsons Bay Coastal Trail.

West end at coord|37.918980|S|144.658795|E.East end at coord|37.823560|S|144.848403|E.

References

External links

* [http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/RoadsAndProjects/RoadProjects/WesternSuburbs/FederationTrailSharedPath.htm VicRoads - Federation Trail shared path]
* [http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Federation-Trail Bikely - Federation Trail map]