Ride50

WSI Ride 50 - M12 Emu Trail

The Emu Trail on the edge of the brand new M12 motorway opened on the 14th March 2026 and I heard ABC Radio say. “There are a lot more cyclists here today than cars” . And the bikes kept coming and they all looked pretty happy with the Emu. Lets look at the track and the crowds and then I will explain to Paid Subscribers some of the finer points of enjoying the trail at the end. The Emu is 16km long.

The Emu footprints and one of the colourful stops along the track

First of all, where is the M12 and where is the track. The M12 starts where Elizabeth drive intersects the M7 in the east. The Emu trail starts about a km south of the intersection on a new Parklands track down to Wylde MTB park. The first time the path follows the M12 is after Wylde MTB park. Lets check out the ride in 3D with a few photos in location. The ride is shown from the Northern Rd back to the M7. If you want to see path, head here and look for the green trail in the west of Sydney.

Lets Check the riders on day 1. It looked like every M7 rider diverted and then some.

Cyclists on the M12 Cycleway on Day 1

No what follows is the huge crowds I encountered at the Emu in the Sky. I surmise this 30m steel beauty. "The 'Great Emu in the Sky' is a 30-metre-high, illuminated public art sculpture located at the Western Sydney Airport interchange on the M12 Motorway. Created by Balarinji and local Aboriginal artists, it represents a giant emu nest that transforms at night to symbolise the Dharug Dreamtime story of Mariong, the Emu Mother Spirit, serving as a landmark to welcome visitors."

Now I will go into a few extra details for my paid subscribers.