Ride8
East Ride 8 - Queens Park to Surry Hills via Centennial Park
We begin at the top of Queens Park in Randwick East. While everyone knows the famous Centennial loop, Queens Park is actually the best place to start your cycling in Sydney’s East. It features a 2.5km sealed track that is perfect for beginners and kids to learn on, offering a tranquil warm-up before you hit the more energetic pace of the main park system.
From there, we roll into the green heart of the city. Between 7:30 am and 8:30 am on a dry day, Centennial Park is a fantastic cycling scene. Everyone rides the 4km loop here because it has one incredibly important feature: you don’t have to stop. You just go around and around in a dedicated four-meter bike zone. However, a word of caution for families—the loop can be tricky for kids due to the presence of cars, high-speed riders, and the drop-off verge. For a safer alternative, the mini kids’ track at Fearnley Grounds is a much better bet.
As we exit the park and transition into a more urban commute, we zip along Federation Way. This stretch takes you past the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground and the Sydney Football Stadium, where on game days you’ll see large numbers of share-bikes avoiding the busy trams. Of note here is tackling the unique spiral design of the Albert “Tibby” Cotter Bridge. This pedestrian and bike bridge soars over bustling South Dowling Street and the light rail line, offering spectacular views before a quick descent toward our destination.
I’ve chosen a path that crosses Anzac Parade in the same spot as the trams to. The ride leads you directly to the finish line on the famous, bike-friendly Bourke Street in Surry Hills. Whether you are on a road bike or a legitimate e-bike like mine, the Centennial Park route will be on your compass at some stage
You can view this ride in the following tools with RideWithGPS giving you an optional GPX download or in Google Maps with a MyMaps overlay layer
RideWithGPS East Ride Collection (ride 8) On CycleSydney Map
And here is a video of the full Ride 8 from Queens Park to Bourke St
