Sandridge Rail Trail

The Sandridge Rail Trail is a short 4km urban cycling and walking route connecting central Melbourne with Port Melbourne, following the corridor of Australia’s first steam railway. The trail combines riverside riding, city views, parkland and fascinating transport history, making it an easy ride to add to a Melbourne cycling adventure. The route begins near Flinders Street and the Yarra River, crossing the historic Sandridge Bridge before continuing through Southbank towards the former railway corridor. From around Normanby Road, a shared path follows alongside the light-rail line through to the former Port Melbourne railway station. Surfaces are predominantly asphalt and concrete, with flat terrain suitable for recreational riders, hybrids, touring bikes and mountain bikes. There’s plenty of history packed into such a short ride. The original Melbourne to Sandridge railway opened on 12 September 1854, running approximately four kilometres from the site of today’s Flinders Street Station to Sandridge, now Port Melbourne. It was Australia’s first steam railway, created to transport passengers and goods between Melbourne and its busy port. The railway eventually closed in 1987 and was converted to light rail, with trams continuing to use much of the historic corridor today. The trail running alongside it provides riders with a glimpse of Melbourne’s transport history while creating a useful cycling connection between the CBD and Port Melbourne. RTS Tip: At only around 4km, Sandridge is more about connection and history than distance. Use it as the start of a bigger ride from Melbourne’s CBD towards Port Melbourne and the bayside cycling network. Take some time at Sandridge Bridge too — the bridge has been transformed into a pedestrian route with artwork recognising the Indigenous history of the area and the migrants who arrived through the nearby port.