The best Melbourne cycling routes are Beach Road, the Warburton Rail Trail, Yarra Boulevard, the 1 in 20, Arthurs Seat, Kinglake and the Dandenongs Crucifix. Below: checked distances and climb numbers, an early coffee stop for each, and what to wear when the temperature swings 15 degrees in a morning.
- 7routes
- 7coffee stops checked
- Mar to Maybest months
Coffee stops confirmed open in October 2026. Distances and elevation are approximate. Plot a route before you rely on it.
Melbourne cycling routes at a glance
| Route | Distance | Climbing | Level | Coffee stop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beach Road: St Kilda to Mordialloc | About 45 km | Flat | Easy | The Colonel's Son |
| Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail | 38 km one way | Gentle | Easy | The Warburton Bakery |
| Yarra Boulevard loop, Kew | About 12 km lap | About 200 m | Moderate | Studley Park Boathouse |
| The 1 in 20, Dandenongs | About 20 km | About 350 m | Moderate | 1 in 20 Cafe |
| Arthurs Seat and Red Hill, Mornington Peninsula | About 40 km | About 450 m | Hard | Laneway Espresso |
| Kinglake via St Andrews | About 80 km | About 1,100 m | Hard | Songbird Cafe & Larder |
| The Crucifix, Dandenong Ranges | About 85 km | 2,000 m+ | Epic | Proserpina Bakehouse |
Beach Road: St Kilda to Mordialloc
The flat bayside classic and the busiest bike road in Melbourne.
- Distance
- About 45 km return
- Climbing
- Flat
- Start
- St Kilda foreshore
- Effort
Beach Road is where Melbourne rides on a weekend morning. It follows Port Phillip Bay from St Kilda through Brighton, Sandringham, Black Rock and Beaumaris to Mordialloc, and it is flat, fast and easy to follow: keep the water on your right heading south.
Ride it at any pace. Solo tempo, a social roll with mates, or a seat in one of the bunches that roll out of Black Rock. The Saturday Hell Ride leaves the Black Rock clock tower around 7am. It is fast and big, and messy at the back, so start with a smaller group until you know the etiquette.
Turn at Mordialloc for about 45 km, or push on down the Nepean Highway towards Frankston for more distance. The wind is the real hill here.
The Colonel's Son
Right on Beach Road at Black Rock, roughly halfway and the home of the Saturday bunches. The upstairs windows look straight over the bay. Grab a flat white and something from the counter, then roll on to Mordialloc.
DirectionsRide notes: traffic, surface and bail-outs
- Traffic is heavy all day on weekends. Ride two abreast at most and single out where the road narrows.
- Parked cars line long stretches. Hold a door-width gap, especially through Elwood and Brighton.
- The Bay Trail shared path runs beside much of Beach Road if you want a slower ride away from cars.
- Water and toilets at most beach car parks. Sandringham and Mordialloc both have train stations if you need to bail.
Kit for this one: Pinnacle Jersey, Pinnacle Bib Shorts, sunglasses for the glare off the bay.
Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail
Car-free gravel through the Yarra Valley, with a train to the start.
- Distance
- 38 km one way
- Climbing
- Gentle rail grade
- Start
- Lilydale Station
- Effort
The Warburton Rail Trail follows the old railway line for 38 km from Lilydale Station to Warburton. It passes Mount Evelyn, Wandin, Seville, Woori Yallock, Launching Place, Yarra Junction and Millgrove.
The surface is mostly fine gravel with some sealed sections. A road bike on 28 mm tyres copes, but a gravel bike is more comfortable. The steepest part is the early drag towards Mount Evelyn. After that it settles into gentle rail grades.
Take the Lilydale line to the start, ride to Warburton and either ride back for about 76 km or organise a lift. Good for new riders, families and recovery days.
The Warburton Bakery
A proper country bakery at the end of the trail, a short roll from the river. Pies, sausage rolls and vanilla slice for the ride home. It runs as takeaway, so eat outside by the Yarra.
DirectionsRide notes: traffic, surface and bail-outs
- The trail crosses the Warburton Highway at uncontrolled crossings. Stop, look and walk across if traffic is heavy.
- Gravel goes soft after rain, and timber bridge decks get slippery.
- Drinking water is available at points along the trail and in most towns.
- Shared with walkers, dogs and hire e-bikes. Ring early and pass slowly near Lilydale and Warburton.
Kit for this one: bib shorts for a long day in the saddle, our gravel kit guide.
Yarra Boulevard loop, Kew
The inner-city hills loop, five minutes from Richmond.
- Distance
- About 12 km per lap
- Climbing
- About 175 to 200 m per lap
- Start
- Burnley, Richmond
- Effort
Yarra Boulevard (the "Boulie" to locals) winds around the river bends between Burnley and Kew. A lap from the Richmond end is about 12 km with a handful of short climbs, and most riders stack two to four laps before work.
The road never stays flat for long, so it rewards riders who can hold power over short rises.
Stay alert on the descents, where the road narrows and cars come up behind on blind bends. At dusk, look up for the flying fox colony in Yarra Bend Park.
Studley Park Boathouse
A short spur off the Boulevard down to the river. It opens at 8am, so do your laps first and roll down for coffee by the water. It gets busy on weekends, so takeaway is quicker than a table.
DirectionsRide notes: traffic, surface and bail-outs
- A shared road with cars. Single out on the narrow bends.
- Several intersections now have raised safety platforms. Slow down over them.
- No water on the loop itself. Fill up before you start.
- Bail out at any point back to Richmond on the Main Yarra Trail.
Kit for this one: a race-cut jersey, Core Gilet for 6am laps.
The 1 in 20, Dandenongs
Melbourne’s best-known climb, steady enough for anyone to pace.
- Distance
- About 20 km loop
- Climbing
- About 350 m
- Start
- The Basin
- Effort
The 1 in 20 is the climb most Melbourne riders do first in the Dandenongs. It runs up Mountain Highway from the traffic lights at The Basin shops to the 50 km/h signs just before Sassafras: 6.8 km at an average of 4%, gaining about 274 m.
It is gentler than the name suggests, and there is a long false flat about a third of the way up. Under 20 minutes is a respectable time.
For a short loop, climb to Sassafras, roll through Ferny Creek and descend the Devil’s Elbows to Upper Ferntree Gully, then ride back to The Basin. Go early: Mountain Highway is a busy car and truck route by mid-morning.
1 in 20 Cafe
At the foot of the climb it is named after. Meet here, ride, then come back for a long breakfast. Their app lets you pre-order if the group is big.
DirectionsRide notes: traffic, surface and bail-outs
- Mountain Highway carries cars and trucks. Ride single file and start early on weekends.
- The Devil’s Elbows descent is tight and steep, with 1000 Steps traffic near the bottom on weekends.
- The ranges are often cooler, wetter and foggier than the city. Roads under the canopy stay damp long after rain.
- Sassafras has shops for water at the top.
Kit for this one: Thermal Arm Warmers, Core Gilet, when a gilet earns its pocket space.
Arthurs Seat and Red Hill, Mornington Peninsula
Three steep kilometres up from the beach, then rolling wine country.
- Distance
- About 40 km loop
- Climbing
- About 400 to 500 m
- Start
- Dromana
- Effort
Arthurs Seat is the Mornington Peninsula’s signature climb and it starts almost on the sand at Dromana. From the park entrance off Point Nepean Road it climbs 3 km at an average of 8.1% to the summit, gaining about 208 m. The sharp left-hander at Franklin Point, about halfway up, hits roughly 20%.
It is steep from start to finish, with hairpins at Bowens Point, Franklin Point and Murrays Lookout and little chance to recover until the final 600 m.
From the top, roll along Arthurs Seat Road into Red Hill, loop through the vineyard back roads around Red Hill South and Main Ridge, then drop back to the bay.
Laneway Espresso
On the Dromana foreshore strip, a few minutes from the bottom of the climb. Open early enough for a coffee before you go up, and a good breakfast spot once you are back down.
DirectionsRide notes: traffic, surface and bail-outs
- The descent has tight hairpins with poor sightlines. Keep it to around 15 km/h through the corners.
- Traffic up the mountain is moderate on weekends and noticeably lighter on weekdays.
- Peninsula back roads can be patchy, with gravel washed onto corners after rain.
- Check VicTraffic for any closures on Arthurs Seat Road before you drive down.
Kit for this one: Pinnacle Jersey, arm warmers for sea-breeze mornings.
Kinglake via St Andrews
The big northern hills day, with valley views you earn.
- Distance
- About 80 km loop
- Climbing
- About 1,100 m
- Start
- Eltham
- Effort
Kinglake is the ride that turns weekend riders into climbers. A popular loop from Eltham heads out through Kangaroo Ground to St Andrews, climbs to Kinglake, then returns via Arthurs Creek and Hurstbridge: about 80 km with roughly 1,100 m of climbing.
The main climb starts on Heidelberg-Kinglake Road about 6 km past St Andrews. It is 7.2 km at an average of 4.8%, gaining 349 m. The first 4.8 km winds along a narrow ridge at around 4%. The second half straightens and steepens before the road flattens into Kinglake.
The 2009 bushfires cleared much of the roadside, which opened up big views into the valley. It also means very little shade, so start early in summer and carry more water than you think you need.
Songbird Cafe & Larder
In Kinglake township at the top of the climb. Leave Eltham around 7am and you arrive close to opening. Good pies, and a garden to sit in before the long descent.
DirectionsRide notes: traffic, surface and bail-outs
- Heidelberg-Kinglake Road is narrow in places. Cars coming up often cut corners, so hold your line on the descent.
- Few services between St Andrews and Kinglake. Fill bottles at St Andrews.
- Weather changes quickly up top, and summer afternoon storms are common.
- Want an earlier coffee? Flour Flower Bakery in Kinglake West opens at 6am, about 8 km further along Whittlesea-Kinglake Road.
Kit for this one: Core Gilet for the descent, two big bidons, bib shorts that stay comfortable for 80 km.
The Crucifix, Dandenong Ranges
Four climbs into the Dandenongs from four directions in one ride.
- Distance
- About 85 km
- Climbing
- About 2,000 m
- Start
- The Basin or Olinda
- Effort
The Crucifix is the Dandenongs’ benchmark ride. You climb into the ranges from all four sides, so the map looks roughly like a cross. The basic version is about 85 km with 2,000 m or more of climbing.
The four climbs: the 1 in 20 from the west (6.8 km at 4.0%), the Devil’s Elbows from the south (5.5 km at 6.9%, starting at the Burwood Highway in Upper Ferntree Gully), The Wall from the east (5.2 km at 5.7%) and Inverness Road from the north (2.8 km at 8.5%). Inverness Road is the shortest and the steepest.
There is no fixed order. Riders start from The Basin, Olinda or the 1000 Steps car park and link the climbs to suit. Take two bottles and real food.
Proserpina Bakehouse
On the tourist road near the top of the Devil’s Elbows. Sourdough, pies and pastries baked on site. Weekend queues get long, so stop early in the ride.
DirectionsRide notes: traffic, surface and bail-outs
- Expect damp, leaf-covered roads under the canopy, even when the city is dry.
- Descents are narrow and twisty with blind corners. Take them slower than you think.
- Traffic builds through Sassafras and Olinda from mid-morning on weekends.
- Bail out by dropping down the 1 in 20 to The Basin or the Devil’s Elbows to Upper Ferntree Gully.
Kit for this one: Core Baselayer, Thermal Arm Warmers, winter kit for cold descents.
What to wear cycling in Melbourne
The problem with Melbourne is not heat or cold. It is both in one ride. A 9°C start at Black Rock can be 24°C by the time you are back in St Kilda, and the Dandenongs often run several degrees colder and wetter than the city.
That is the average range, but hot days push well past 35°C and northerly winds dry you out fast. UV is high from early morning. Ride early, wear light colours and carry two bottles.
The tricky months. Cold starts, warm finishes and spring winds that change direction mid-ride. Layers you can peel off and stuff in a pocket do the work.
Average city range. Dawn in the hills can sit near freezing and wet roads are normal. Thermal jersey, bib tights or leg warmers, and proper gloves.
Pinnacle Jersey (Blanc)Light colour for summer sun
Pinnacle Bib ShortsFor Kinglake-length days
Core GiletCold starts, cold descents
Thermal Arm WarmersFour seasons in one ride
Melbourne bunch rides and clubs
Check each club’s site for current times before you turn up.
- St Kilda Cycling ClubFounded in 1998. Crit and road racing, training rides and women’s rides, with a big presence on Beach Road.
- Hawthorn Cycling ClubRacing club in the inner east with a regular program of group rides. A good fit if you live near the Boulevard.
- Brunswick Cycling ClubNorthside club. Its Friday 7am social rolls out from the clubrooms to the Boulie and back, with harder efforts on the hills.
- Melbourne Bicycle Touring ClubLong-running touring club with day rides and tours around Melbourne and regional Victoria. Relaxed pace, good for finding new roads.
- Beach Road Hell RideNot a club, but the city’s best-known bunch. Leaves the Black Rock clock tower around 7am on Saturdays. Fast and big, so sit near the back until you know how it works.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best cycling routes in Melbourne?
Beach Road is the flat classic, Yarra Boulevard is the inner-city hills loop, and the 1 in 20 is the best-known climb in the Dandenongs. For bigger days, ride Kinglake, Arthurs Seat on the Mornington Peninsula or the Dandenongs Crucifix. The Warburton Rail Trail is the pick for a car-free ride.
Is Beach Road safe for cycling?
It is one of the most heavily cycled roads in Australia, so drivers expect bikes, but it is still a busy public road. Ride early, keep a door-width gap from parked cars, hold a predictable line and avoid the back of the big Saturday bunches until you know the etiquette. The Bay Trail shared path is an option for slower riding.
How hard is the 1 in 20?
It is 6.8 km at an average of 4% from The Basin to Sassafras, gaining about 274 m, with a long false flat about a third of the way up. Most riders can pace it comfortably, and under 20 minutes is a respectable time.
How long is the Warburton Rail Trail?
The Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail is 38 km one way, or about 76 km return. The surface is mostly fine gravel with some sealed sections, and it starts at Lilydale Station, so you can catch the train to the start.
What is the best time of year to cycle in Melbourne?
Autumn (March to May) brings the most settled riding weather. Summer is great before about 10am, but heat and northerly winds make afternoons hard. Spring is windy and changeable. Winter is fine with thermal kit, though the hills are cold and often wet.
Cold at 6am, cooked by 10am?
That is a normal Melbourne ride. Our race-cut jerseys and layers are built for starts and finishes that feel like different seasons.
More Australian route guides
Route details checked October 2026. Climb figures follow published climb guides. Loop distances are approximate and depend on the exact roads you link. Roads, closures and cafe hours change. Spotted something out of date? Email us and we will fix it.
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