- Capital City Trail
__NOTOC__MelbourneBikePath
DESCRIPTION=Capital City Trail at Princes Park looking west
NAME= Capital City Trail
LENGTH=Approx 29 km
DIFFICULTY=Easy
HILLS= Minor hill at Rushall Station
HAZARDS=
WATER= Drinking fountains every 2km approx
PATH= Shared use concrete or bitumen
BUS=
TRAIN=Going clockwise: Flinders St, Southern Cross, Flemington Bridge, Rushall and Heyington stations
TRAM=The Capital City Trail is a shared use path for cyclists and
pedestrian s, which circles theMelbourne city centre and some inner eastern and northern suburbs ofMelbourne , 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=6 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] ]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
Yarra River Trail up to Dights Falls, where it continues, using the same path theMerri Creek Trail , as part of its loop around the city.Bicycle Victoria has an ongoing campaign to have the stairs in Manningham St effectively removed from the trail by continuing the path over a footbridge crossing Manningham St.Following the Path
The trail follows the
Yarra River toYarra Bend Park on theYarra River Trail and meetsMerri Creek atDights Falls . It follows theMerri Creek Trail up the Merri Creek to Rushall Station, where it follows the former Inner Circle rail reserve and Royal Park. It then meets theMoonee Ponds Creek Trail which continues back to Docklands and Southbank. At its farthest, the trail is 5 kilometres from the centre of Melbourne.Landmarks
The trail passes by the following attractions and landmarks:
* Southbank
* Alexandra Gardens and Royal Botanic Gardens
*Melbourne Park andMelbourne Cricket Ground
*Yarra River
*Yarra Bend Park
*Collingwood Children's Farm
*Merri Creek
* [http://home.vicnet.net.au/~nfcgg/ Rushall Garden] , a community garden in North Fitzroy.
* Princes Park, location of Optus Oval
* Royal Park
*Melbourne Zoo
*Moonee Ponds Creek
*Telstra Dome
* DocklandsConnections
The trail acts as central hub and has many spokes. Starting in the north and going clockwise we have 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 theMoonee Ponds Creek Trail .Starts and ends at coord|37.819744|S|144.968516|E.
References
* "Bike Paths Victoria" sixth edition, 2004. Edited and published by Sabey & Associates Pty Ltd. pp111, 119-122. ISBN 0957959117
* "Bike rides around Melbourne" 2nd edition, 2006, Julia Blunden, Open Spaces Publishing, ISBN 0-9752333-2-7External links
* [http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/dse/nrenrt.nsf/FID/-9889AE7088AA27274A25679A002868F0?OpenDocument Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment – Capital City Trail]
* [http://www.bv.com.au/bikes-and-riding/10352 Bicycle Victoria – Capital City Trail]
* [http://www.bv.com.au/change-the-world/12040/ Bicycle Victoria – Manningham St Bridge]
* [http://www.railtrails.org.au/states/trails.php3?action=trail&trail=1 Inner Circle Railway Trail - description of the trail]
* [http://www.rentabike.net.au/cct.pdf Capital City Trail notes]
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