City guide 02 · Sydney, New South Wales

Ride Sydney properly.

Ten local favourites, from the Eastern Beaches–La Perouse loop to the Royal National Park climbing test. Every route includes a Google Maps preview and a ready-to-load GPX track.

Routes
10
Total options
597 km
Biggest day
1,250 m
Centennial Park

01 Local consensus, not generic tourism loops

02 GPX files ready for cycling computers

03 Google Maps links for quick planning

Sydney shortlist

Ten rides worth knowing

From harbourside loops to the Royal National Park and the northern beaches, ordered by local consensus.

10 of 10 routes

01 Moderate

A scenic introduction to Sydney road riding

Eastern Beaches–La Perouse Loop

35.7km
340metres up

A scenic introduction to Sydney road riding

Route notes

A coastal city loop through Bondi-side streets, Coogee, Maroubra and La Perouse.

Surface
Paved roads and cycleway connections
Watch for
Dense traffic, parked cars, tram tracks and beach crowds; use cycleways where available.
02 Expert

Long descents, sustained climbs and spectacular views

Akuna Bay–West Head Loop

60.5km
960metres up

Long descents, sustained climbs and spectacular views

Route notes

A Ku-ring-gai Chase classic combining Akuna Bay, Church Point and West Head.

Surface
Paved national-park roads
Watch for
Steep blind descents, wildlife, buses and limited water; check park and fire alerts.
03 Expert

Sydney's canonical climbing circuit

Three Gorges from Hornsby

58.6km
760metres up

Sydney's canonical climbing circuit

Route notes

A compact Three Gorges circuit through Galston Gorge, Berowra Waters and Bobbin Head.

Surface
Paved roads with a vehicle ferry crossing
Watch for
Very steep descents, ferry operations, narrow roads and traffic. Confirm the ferry and park access before leaving.
04 Expert

A long Sydney climbing day

Royal National Park Loop

79.3km
1,250metres up

A long Sydney climbing day

Route notes

A major southern loop through Audley, the coast, Stanwell Tops and Waterfall.

Surface
Paved national-park and connecting roads
Watch for
Park traffic, narrow descents, wildlife, rockfall and closures after storms or fire. Check NPWS alerts.
05 Hard

Traffic-light-free aerobic distance

M7 Cycleway Return

63.3km
520metres up

Traffic-light-free aerobic distance

Route notes

A long out-and-back on Western Sydney's continuous motorway-side cycleway toward Prestons.

Surface
Separated shared path
Watch for
Fast path users, exposed heat, few shaded stops and works near motorway projects; carry plenty of water.
06 Easy–Moderate

A lower-stress urban ride with train access

Olympic Park–Parramatta Loop

25.2km
140metres up

A lower-stress urban ride with train access

Route notes

A western Sydney path loop linking Olympic Park with Parramatta Park.

Surface
Sealed shared paths and low-traffic streets
Watch for
Event closures, pedestrians and construction detours along the river corridor.
07 Hard

Flat-to-rolling endurance and exposed coastal scenery

Kurnell–Cape Solander Return

79.8km
320metres up

Flat-to-rolling endurance and exposed coastal scenery

Route notes

A long Botany Bay ride to Kurnell and Cape Solander, returning to Centennial Park.

Surface
Paved roads and cycleway connections
Watch for
Airport and port traffic, strong wind, industrial roads and exposed shoulders; ride early with lights.
08 Expert

Long rolling climbs and classic old-highway riding

Mount White–Brooklyn Return

85.3km
970metres up

Long rolling climbs and classic old-highway riding

Route notes

A northern endurance route through Berowra and Brooklyn to Mount White.

Surface
Paved roads
Watch for
Fast traffic, narrow shoulders and long descents; roadworks can materially change the route.
09 Hard

Ocean views and rolling coastal endurance

Manly–Palm Beach Return

68.1km
660metres up

Ocean views and rolling coastal endurance

Route notes

A Northern Beaches out-and-back through Narrabeen to Palm Beach.

Surface
Paved coastal roads
Watch for
Busy beach traffic, parked cars, buses and door zones; very early starts are strongly preferred.
10 Moderate

A shorter scenic ride with city transport access

North Sydney–Manly Harbour Loop

41.5km
540metres up

A shorter scenic ride with city transport access

Route notes

A harbour-side out-and-back through Mosman, the Spit and Manly.

Surface
Sealed shared paths and paved roads
Watch for
Shared paths, bridge approaches, dense traffic and pedestrians. Some foreshore alternatives include stairs and are unsuitable.

Take it with you

From this page to your handlebars.

  1. 1
    Choose your ride

    Check distance, climbing, surface and cautions before committing.

  2. 2
    Download the GPX

    Use the GPX button on any route or grab the complete Sydney pack.

  3. 3
    Sync to your computer

    Import through Garmin Connect, Wahoo, Hammerhead, COROS or Bryton.

Before rolling out

Routes change. Check before you ride.

Traffic conditions, weekend event closures and National Park access rules can alter a route. Treat the GPX as a planning aid, ride to the conditions and follow signs on the day.

All ten. One download.

Your next Sydney ride is in here.

Download route pack