A Google maps link for more detail on the route is here.
Route Description
Our starting point was 101 Manningham St and this point (A) marked the first vertex of the triangle. First the route joins the Capital City Trail heading east around the north of the centre of Melbourne. After passing under Heidelberg Road bridge and climbing the short very steep hill, the route turns right to cross Heidleberg Road Bridge (point B). Either bike through the park bike paths or along the road to reach the beautiful pedestrian bridge that crosses the Yarra River near the Fairfield Park Boathouse. The route now follows the Yarra Trail until the junction where the Yarra Trail crosses the river in Burke Road Billabong Reserve (point C). Instead of crossing the river continue straight, under Burke Road then through a tunnel under the Eastern Freeway to join the Koonung Creek Trail heading east. This trail takes you east and eventually turns into the Mullum Mullum Creek Trail which passes through some great bushland in Yarran Dheran Reserve.
Follow these trails east for 16.5 km until you pass under the complicated highway junction where the second vertex of the triangle is located (point D).
Now the route south begins, follow the Eastlink Trail for 6 km.
When you reach a junction with a dirt walking bike track (point E) it is nice to turn right. This is easy to miss and not a big deal if you do as you can rejoin the route later. The reason for going right here is that there is a nice wooden boardwalk over some swamps as well as some other nice sections.
Bike 5.5 km from point E to point F, along the way the trail becomes the Dandenong Creek Trail at some point (Point F marks a junction that you can reach in case you missed the junction at point E and continued down the Eastlink Trail and turned right along the Blind Creek trail). From point F the route follows the Dandenong Creek Trail for some 31 km until you reach the sea at Carrum Port at point H. Along the way is Jells Park, a great place to stop for lunch. Look out for the bridge crossing in Dandenong Park at point G, it is not clearly signposted that you have to cross it.
The final section before reaching the coast is along the left bank of the broad Patterson River that Dandenong Creek flows into.
Finally a celebration is in order as you reach the sea at Carrum and enjoy the expanse of blue and beaches spreading out in both directions.
This is the 3rd vertex, now begins the long trek along the coast back to the 1st vertex. You can actually see the tops of the Melbourne skyscrapers from here, gives an indication of the distance you have to travel to get back home.
Unfortunately you have to follow an on road bike lane along Statton St for 7.5 km to reach Mordialloc after which things improve. Bike along bike paths or along Beach Road until the reliable and consistent bike path begins at point I. Now amble up the coast on the fantastic Bay Trail.When you reach a junction with a dirt walking bike track (point E) it is nice to turn right. This is easy to miss and not a big deal if you do as you can rejoin the route later. The reason for going right here is that there is a nice wooden boardwalk over some swamps as well as some other nice sections.
Bike 5.5 km from point E to point F, along the way the trail becomes the Dandenong Creek Trail at some point (Point F marks a junction that you can reach in case you missed the junction at point E and continued down the Eastlink Trail and turned right along the Blind Creek trail). From point F the route follows the Dandenong Creek Trail for some 31 km until you reach the sea at Carrum Port at point H. Along the way is Jells Park, a great place to stop for lunch. Look out for the bridge crossing in Dandenong Park at point G, it is not clearly signposted that you have to cross it.
The final section before reaching the coast is along the left bank of the broad Patterson River that Dandenong Creek flows into.
Finally a celebration is in order as you reach the sea at Carrum and enjoy the expanse of blue and beaches spreading out in both directions.
This is the 3rd vertex, now begins the long trek along the coast back to the 1st vertex. You can actually see the tops of the Melbourne skyscrapers from here, gives an indication of the distance you have to travel to get back home.
The trail continues non-stop for 20.5 km until finally you reach the Spirit of Tasmania terminal at point J. From here follow the bike path northeastward towards the city, join the Capital City Trail again and head through Docklands and then north to return to the starting point A. Enjoy a cool beer and take a nap.
