Soak up the sun, breathe in the fresh air and listen to the sounds of nature when you take your family on a bike ride around Brisbane’s best bicycle paths.
There’s a plethora of bicycle paths within the area suitable for Brisbane Families ranging in difficulty from easy, medium and hard so that you can choose a path best suited to your level of experience. This makes it easy to choose a path to match your child’s age and skill level so that even young kids just learning to ride a bike can join in on the family fun.
Cycling is a healthy outdoor activity that the entire family can enjoy together and has many health benefits which include developing strength, balance and overall fitness, as well as strengthening the heart, lungs, lower-body muscles and bones.
Easy bicycle paths for kids
Flat paths and short distances, these are some of the easy bike rides for kids in Brisbane.
Carindale Minnippi Parklands
This bicycle path runs for approximately 9km return through the lush Minnippi Parklands. The track is ideal for younger or less experienced riders and is made up of a wide concrete path that winds through forest areas, across meadows and over small wooden bridges.
There’s a playground halfway that the kids can stop and play at for a break, or alternatively can be used as a starting point to halve the track distance. The creek running through the Parklands is home to turtles and water birds who quite often come up near the picnic shelters to find food scraps.
Jim Soorley Bike Path
Stretching seven kilometres between Toombul and Nudgee, Jim Soorley bike path is a scenic and laid back Brisbane family bike ride. Both ends of the route have toilets and car parking available, making it an easy and comfortable day out with the kids.
Wynnum to Manly
The Wynnum to Manly bicycle path is 6.1km one way travelling across flat, off-road pathways which make it ideal for beginners or younger riders. Absorb the views from the scenic pathway as you ride past the Manly boat harbour and marina, Manly Pool, playgrounds, Wynnum Pier and Wynnum Wading Pool where you can choose stop off for a dunk in Brisbane’s only tidal wading pool.
Bribie Island Foreshore
The beachfront bicycle path is an easy, flat and protected ride that travels about 7km return. It travels along the shoreline of Bribie Island through a number of parks, picnic and fishing spots and travels along a boardwalk through a bird hide. With plenty of places to stop, packing a picnic to enjoy along the way would be a great way to spend time amongst the picturesque scenery.
Clontarf to Redcliffe
The 13km bike ride from Clontarf to Redcliffe begins at the southern tip of the Redcliffe peninsula and travels through a pelican beach, 19th century shipwreck, headland views towards Redcliffe’s town centre. You can begin the bike ride at the pelican park which becomes an attraction at 10am for the daily feed time then continue the path around Clontarf’s bay.
The route ends as you go through Settlement Cove, where you can stop for a swim on a hot day. Finish up at Bee Gee’s Way and take a walk through the commemorative walkway that honours Redcliffe’s most famous young residents.
Northey Street Farm Windsor
A short 4km ride perfect for beginners, the Northey Street farm bicycle path is just north of Brisbane City. The cycle path begins at the end of Bishop Street where the road becomes an open reserve. Follow the shady trail along Enoggera Creek until you join onto the Bowen Bridge Heritage Trail which includes a rainforest grove, sculptures and pieces of art that you and the kids can spot amidst the trees.
Brisbane River – West End to South Brisbane
This bike path begins at Orleigh Park ferry terminal and follows the curves of the Brisbane River. It takes in the views across to Toowong and St Lucia and finishes under the William Jolly Bridge at South Bank. The parklands alongside the river are complete with playgrounds, amenities blocks and barbeque areas making it a perfect day out for families with young children.
You could even hire a segway here if the cycling proves too challenging! The river is also home to many Brisbane sporting clubs so you may just be able to spot some rowing or sailing as you cycle by.
Rocks Riverside Promenade Jindalee
The Rocks Riverside Promenade at Jindalee has a 6km return cycle path starting adjacent to the Centenary Highway Bridge at Amazons Place. The scenic path is surrounded by gum trees and winds its way through meadows until it meets with the Rocks Riverside Park. Along the way there are plenty of benches and picnic shelters available to stop and take a break, as well as a playground with a flying fox that is sure to be a hit among the kids. Made up of gentle hills and wide paved paths, the bicycle track is suitable for most ages and levels of experience.
Sandgate
Cycling through Sandgate is a relatively easy ride of about 6km return and is suited to most ages and levels of experience. The pathway passes through a number of waterfront picnic spots and playgrounds until it reaches the historical jetty at Shorncliffe.
For a longer ride, begin at the Hornibrook bridge. or for a shorter ride begin by the Sandgate Swimming Pool on Flinders Parade and follow the cotton tree lined esplanade along Sandgate’s historical seafront stretch.
At the base of Shorncliffe’s cliffs you can find the Sandgate Baptist Church which has been around since 1887. Just around the cliff base is a sheltered beach area with grassy dunes which has a playground and picnic shelters to relax in at the end of your journey.
Medium bicycle paths for kids
If you have mastered most of the rides above, then we recommend moving on to these local Brisbane bike rides.
Boondall Wetlands
A cycle-way runs through the Boondall Wetlands between the Entertainment Centre and Nudgee Road, stretching a 7-8km path. The path allows you to enjoy the best of nature while you cycle past marshland, waterholes, woodlands and forests. Despite being suitable for most ages, the path is quite narrow and especially windy in some places. There is also a few narrow bridges and easy inclines that might prove difficult for less experienced cyclists.
Red Hill to Newmarket
This bike ride follows Ithaca Creek along a 7km return journey. The path starts at Woolcock Park, Red Hill, and allows you to spot plenty of wildlife amongst the creek bank along the way. While trees shade most of the route, there are a couple of on-road sections among quiet streets. There are a few gentle slopes along the way, and a short while into the track you come across a dirt jump bike circuit where experienced kids can show off their skills.
Scarborough to Newport
Follow the 8km return path through Scarborough’s colourful seaside café strip. The waterfront cycle winds around the tip of the Redcliffe peninsula through tree lined parks towards the canals of Newport. This cycling path is considered slightly more difficult as it has approximately 200m of on-road riding and about three roads to cross throughout the journey. The pathway takes you alongside the seaside then onto Fifth Avenue where you can spot the home of the Bee Gees where the Gibb brothers grew up.
Mitchelton to Alderly
Running for approximately 8km return, the Mitchelton to Alderly bicycle path has a strong rural feel. The pathway travels along Kedron Brook through old farmlands with remnants of machinery, sculptures and historical plaques from an early farming family who once lived in the area.
The diverse pathway allows you to travel along a creek through the parklands before you split down a hill and ride through a field of cows and ruins of feed sheds and sculptures made of old farm machinery. The cycling path then bypasses a bat colony and ends at Grinstead Park playground and picnic area.
Harder bicycle paths for kids
Looking for a bit more of a challenging ride, check out these great Brisbane bike rides.
Brisbane River Loop
The Brisbane River Loop is Brisbane’s most well known ride, stretching between 35 and 40km. It includes cycling paths and on road riding through a range of Brisbane suburbs including South Brisbane, Brisbane City, Milton, Auchenflower, Toowong, St Lucia, Indooroopilly, Chelmer, Graceville, Tennyson, Yeronga, Dutton Park, Highgate Hill and West End.
The ride is versatile and there are many variations to the loop. It can be done in either direction however many people begin and end the ride at South Brisbane. It is a long ride and is best suited to a family with more experienced cyclists.
Mt Coot-tha Loop
The Mt Coot-tha loop is a popular route for cycle hill training and would be ideal for a family who want to develop their skill level when it comes to bike riding. The ride begins at the base of Mt Coot-tha on Sir Samuel Griffith Drive and is approximately 10km long.
You can travel in a clockwise direction for a moderate incline or in an anti-clockwise direction for a super challenging ride. Better yet, once you complete the loop you are rewarded with the spectacular views from the Mt Coot-tha lookout point.
Best bicycle paths for kids in Brisbane
Gather up your family and take them on a bike-riding adventure around some of the best paths that Brisbane has to offer! Not only can you improve your health and fitness, you can be rewarded as you watch your skill levels grow together while you progress from the beginner paths to the more challenging trails.
Read more about the benefits of family cycling here.
This article was published in Issue 16 of our print magazine, June/July 2016.
We have done the Carindale bike path with my 2 boys who are 6 and 8 and can definitely say its a great beginner ride. Trying some of the others. Thank you for the ideas.