Cycling in Canberra: Lake Burley Griffin Circuit

Location - Canberra, Australia
Distance - 32 km or three separate rides of 5km, 11km and 16km
Terrain - Flat and sealed the entire way.
Difficulty - Really easy - this is a great family ride.
Highlights - Lake Burley Griffin and all the iconic public buildings on its shores.
Map and Info - For a 'Lake Cycling Loops' map and info click here. For a Canberra/Queanbeyan cycling and walking map click here.

For a well-developed cycle network in Australia it is impossible to go past Canberra. There are cycle paths everywhere. The only problem is there are so many it is easy to get lost. I would recommend getting a map from the Visitors Centre as you drive into the A.C.T but when we called in there recently they had no Canberra cycling maps in stock and no intention to obtain any more. Their solution for cycling tourists was to download and print a map from the internet - yeah right - easier said than done when you are away from home.

Lake Burley Griffin with The National Library and the High Court in the background.

Okay, whinge over! Fortunately, the Visitor Centre does stock copies of a useful pamphlet entitled 'Lake Burley Griffin Cycling Loops' and this contains a map of Canberra's most scenic cycle path. To be honest, though you don't really need it. The three separate rides which make up the loop of Lake Burley Griffin follow the shoreline for most of their length and are well-signposted. Stick as close to the water as you can and you can't go wrong.

The National Library

You can start the ride anywhere. If you need to hire bikes there is a bike hire place called Mr Spokes just to the west of Commonwealth Avenue Bridge or pick up a bike at one of Canberra's Spinway Stations. Spinway bikes can be hired for $11 for one hour, $33 for four hours or $44 for 24 hours. The stations are fully automated so if you suddenly get the urge to start your ride at 3 a.m. in the morning or you need to return the bike after office hours you can do so without penalty. These automated bike rental schemes are popping up all over the country. We even saw one in Newcastle recently. The bikes are built for sturdiness, not for speed or climbing hills but in dead flat Canberra that is hardly an issue. 

Ride 1 - Bridge to Bridge 4.9 km round trip

As the name implies this ride takes in two of Canberra's most striking bridges - Kings Avenue Bridge and Commonwealth Avenue Bridge. The whole loop is an easy, flat 4.9 km. If you have time for only one of the loops this is the one to do. You will ride past many of Canberra's landmark buildings such as the National Gallery, High Court, National Library and my favourite - the National Carrillon.

The National Carillon

The Carillon, a gift from Great Britain, is a musical instrument consisting of cast bronze bells which are played by striking a 'keyboard' of batons and pedals, called a clavier. Canberra's Carillon has 55 bells housed in a 50 m high tower. The Carillon chimes every quarter hour and regular recitals are held on Wednesdays and Sundays between 12.30 pm and 1.20 pm.

Blundells Cottage

Not so well known but well worth stopping to look at is Blundells Cottage. The cottage was built in 1860 and is reminder of Canberra's early history. The cottage is open on Saturdays between 11.30 am and 2.30 pm.

Ride 2 - The Eastern Loop 9km round trip

This route travels through the Jerrabomberra Wetlands - platypus country. Don't expect to see any actual platypus unless you are very lucky but you'll see signs indicating these shy and curious little creatures inhabit the wetlands. If you want to see an actual platypus pay a visit to Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve just outside Canberra. Tidbinbilla is without a doubt the best place in the world to see platypus in the bush.

Jerrabomberra Wetlands Nature Reserve

As you arrive at the wetlands from the south-west you have a choice either to diverge left onto a dirt track through the heart of the wetlands or continue on the sealed path toward Dairy Rd. On the advice of another cyclist we took the sealed path but if you're riding a mountain bike and have plenty of time exploring the track looked like fun.

We had lunch here. The rugs over the back of the chairs are to keep the patrons warm in Canberra's often chilly weather.

About halfway between Kings Avenue Bridge and Dairy Rd, just after Bowen Park the path travels past a block of very un-Canberra like cafes and bars. In this small area at least Canberra has finally escaped that over-planned, artificial air which so many visitors complain about.

Ride 3 - The Western Loop 16 km round trip

At 16km for the round trip this is by far the longest loop.  We had planned to do all three rides together but Canberra put on a freezing cold and windy day in a way that only Canberra can. The maximum temperature struggled to get to 10 degrees C while the wind chill make it feel a lot colder. A few kilometres into this last loop we cycled past the very warm and inviting looking National Museum of Australia. What we intended to be a quick look inside turned into several hours wandering through the exhibits. By the time we faced the elements again it was far too late to continue the ride. 

The National Museum was a great refuge from the cold.

However we have done this ride quite a few times before on visits to the nation's Capital and on a nice day it is a lovely cycle.  It used to be that you had a good chance of spotting kangaroos near Yarralumla, the Governor-General's residence, and on the headland at Weston Park. I don't know if it is still the case but it is worth keeping your eyes open as you cycle the southern shore of the lake.

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