Grade: S-X
Distance: 14.5km, one way
Road Conditions: Mainly cycle paths
Route: From the Family Court, University Ave, City via Commonwealth Ave Bridge, Lake Burley Griffin, Government House, Curtin, Yarra Glen to Woden Town Centre Library
Map: Location Map (Ride No 13) and detailed map of ride
Starting Point: Family Court, University Ave, City
Description: Directions for the start of this ride are the same as for Commuter Ride 12 until you meet the Yarralumla turnoff after the second of the two bridges near Alexandrina Dr. Instead of taking this turnoff, simply ride straight on to cross Alexandrina Dr. and then make another crossing of this road where it leads to the Water Police Headquaters and AIS Rowing Sheds. The path continues on to cross Banks St, giving access to Weston Park, and enters parkland adjacent to the fenced-off fairways of the Royal Canberra golf course.
The cycleway climbs gently, then sweeps down to return to the lake and hug the shoreline while running through woodland. It rattles across a Warrina Inlet bridge, crosses Dunrossil Dr. near the entrance to Government House, and then climbs through pine trees before beginning a long downhill run to a tunnel under Lady Denman Dr. As you emerge from the tunnel be sure to take the left-hand turning with a sign pointing to Woden. By now, you have been riding for about 9 km. The path climbs in a semi-circular fashion to forge past a horse-riding school before swinging right through paddocks. It rushes down to move beneath a Cotter Rd bridge before spiralling up to meet this road and cross the bridge. Cyclists are inclined to swing wide when approaching or leaving this underpass, so take care to avoid a collision.
Immediately over the bridge find the cycleway turns left to run past sporting fields on the right and a stormwater channel on the left. A path to the right, just after you leave the bridge, gives access to the ridge behind West Curtin, while further along, just before the cyclway passes beneath McCulloch St, a connector on the right will take you into Central Curtin.
The cycleway continues on behind houses before swinging right to proceed parallel with the Yarra Glen thoroughfare on the left. An underpass takes the bike path beneath Carruthers St where it turns right to meet the alternative route from City to the Woden Town Centre as described in Commuter Ride 12. This meeting of the paths occurs at a 'North Canberra' sign, about 12 km from City, pointing back the way you have come. From here, simply follow the directions given in Commuter Ride 12 to reach the Woden Town Centre Library near the Corinna St/Furzer St intersection after riding about another 2.5 km.
Pedal Power is grateful to Graeme Barrow for agreeing to allow this material and
maps to be reproduced here from his book "Riding Canberra's Bike Paths: A
commuter/tourist cycling guide". Other titles by Graeme Barrow include:
