Bikes are the best way to get to the football. As Quentin Frayne explains, the Capital City Trail takes you right to Melbourne’s finals venues and a number of team training grounds to boot.
On ya bike, Cazaly! Diehard footy fans living in Melbourne pride themselves on their city’s heritage as the traditional heartland of Aussie Rules footy. It’s a legacy that often fuels the ire and envy of interstaters who have to travel long distances to the hallowed turf of the MCG come finals time.
What many may not realise is that Melbourne also offers the opportunity to couple unbridled enthusiasm for the game with the joys of pedal power. The Capital City Trail is an essentially hill-free zone, a 30km loop around the inner city on sealed, shared off-road paths that pass within a Malcolm Blight match-winning torpedo of the ‘G’, Etihad Stadium (Docklands) and training grounds for several Melbourne-based clubs.
There are a number of ways to access the trail depending on where you’re coming from. You can ride in via a connecting bike path or use the train–bike or car–bike combo (see panel to the right). A fun way to familiarise yourself with the circuit beforehand is to take in a training session or visit some of the historically significant footy venues that the trail passes. Bring a ball and you may even get to test your punt action on some of the grounds.
Most clubs have at least one open training session weekly that the public are welcome to attend, and four of Melbourne’s clubs train at venues that can be accessed directly from the Capital City Trail. Absorb the history of Punt Rd Oval while watching the Tigers running free – and with no public parking at the oval, the bike assumes favoured transport status. Catch your favourite Roos in action at the Arden St ground, just east of the Citylink section. You might spy Coach Malthouse giving Rocca a roasting at Gosch’s Paddock or at the Maggie’s Lexus Centre home base in the Yarra–Olympic Park precinct. The Blues hone their skills at Visy Park (aka Princes Park) on Royal Pde, and the trail passes just north of the stadium. Training times vary and can change at short notice, so check via your club’s link on the AFL website before heading off.
Perfect for
• Traffic-free access to the finals
• Seeing the stars train
• Visiting historic grounds for a kick around
Trails connecting to the Capital City Trail
• Moonee Ponds Creek Trail
• Upfield Path
• Merri Creek Trail
• Main Yarra Trail
• Gardiners Creek Trail
• Footscray Rd Path
Train and bike
The following stations will get you within easy riding distance of the Capital City Trail:
• Southern Cross
• Flinders St
• Richmond
• Rushall
• Royal Park
• Flemington Bridge
Park and ride
• Melbourne Zoo northern carpark
• Yarra Boulevard between Walmer St and the Gipps St steps
• Various carparks at Docklands
• Alexandra Ave beside the Royal Botanic Gardens
• Various carparks at Southbank