Airport to Waterloo: The Bourke Road Link
City Ride 13: A vital connection from the Airport and Cooks River through Mascot and to the heart of the inner-city cycle network at Redfern East
We begin this journey at the Observation area under Airport Drive, a unique starting point where you can watch the planes before heading north. This route is a vital link for anyone coming from the Cooks River Cycleway; you can ride that trail down to Mascot, pick up this path, and eventually find your way to Sydney Park or further into the city.
From the airport, we head along the canal for a bit and then we are on the road to Mascot. It is called Coward St. There actually is a shared path on the south side that switched to the north side near Mascot. Its ok but most folks take the lane and ride the road. Once you hit Bourke Rd, you’ll be on a dedicated northward bike path that starts outside Mascot Station (Central - Revesby line). See the 3D Flyover
As we progress, the scenery shifts from the dense apartments of Mascot into a corridor that is, shall we say, “less than splendid.” This is a working-class industrial stretch. The off-road cycleway here is popular but requires your full attention. You’ll be weaving through multiple industrial driveways and bus stops. Keep a sharp eye out for construction, roadworks, and the narrower shared path sections where the path can get a bit tight.
The Alexandria Pit-Stop At the cafes of “The Mills Of Alexandria” it’s a great spot for a snack and a selfie, but a word of advice: take a bike lock. You won’t be able to drag your bike into the cafe areas or the market itself, and you'll want it secure while you grab a coffee.
The Green Square Avoidance Trick Green Square can be a bit of a maze and very heavy traffic with scant regard for the cyclist. So we use the City of Sydney cycling bypass to keep the momentum going. We duck off the main drag via Mandible St in Waterloo—stay alert for concrete trucks here!—then transition through Allen St and Short St to rejoin Bourke Rd. This "trick" saves you the hassle of the busiest intersections while keeping you on track.
The Final Bourke Rd section is average. Its a not so wide shared footpath and now there are gigantic apartment blocks being built in the Dank St area. Take it easy. It ends and the fun begins at Waterloo near Coles where Bourke Rd becomes Bourke St - Our Ride Numero Uno.
Distance: 5.8 km RideWithGPS link See it on the Google MyMaps
Where to next?
🌳 Sydney Park: A perfect spot to end the day with a snack before heading to St Peters station. Soon after leaving Mascot you passed Campbell Rd. Take that to Sydney Park.
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