It was a cold and sunny winter morning, childcare day for our little one, so we decided to bring our bikes with us upon dropping her off. Given that she won’t be with us for the day, it was our chance to finally try the Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail. It has been in our bucket list for a while now but since it’s a 75-minute drive from our place, we didn’t really want our daughter to be on the car seat for that whole trip, then spend another hour or so riding our bike. We’ll save the nearby parks for her.
Is it a Child Friendly Trail?
The short answer is, it depends. For kids around 3 years old and below, maybe not. The trail is mostly fine gravel, at least for the first 8km we have covered. Our daughter’s bike isn’t the lightest and I just know she will have a hard time pedalling her way through.
However, I did see a number of kids on their balance bikes, some could be a little under 3 years old and just riding away with gusto. So it depends. In our video, hopefully you will get a good idea of what the place looks like and are able to gauge the trail based on your child’s skills and abilities. Also, there’s a bike/skate park somewhere at Mount Evelyn, you can’t miss it. You can go straight there, get the the kids to play around with their bikes while having your take-away coffee from any of the nearby cafes.
Is it for Beginners and Novice Riders?
Absolutely. We are novice riders ourselves and we were so relaxed, just taking it easy, listening to some subtle chirps, barks and rustles – it’s a peaceful place to be in. I would recommend it for people who just want to ride or walk whilst letting the mind wander. Well there are some sections where you will need to cross a highway or a 60km street, that you’ll have to be careful with. There are traffic lights but always be safe around those areas — just be mindful.
Some of the things I noticed that you may want to note are hikers, other bikers, some dog walkers and a few horseback riders. So make sure you have your bell and a good pair of brakes. As tempting as it is to make haste due to the relatively straight roads, always watch your speed – just take time to appreciate the place.
Final Thoughts
Depending on how far you are from there, the place can be one of the best places to bike regardless of skill level. Though I think it was one of the easiest rides I’ve had, 48km is a decent goal for beginners, considering you’ll have to come back to where your car is at, which makes it just a little shy of a 100km in total.
Regardless of whether you are into biking or not, the Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail is one of the best places to pass the time outdoors. And we will be back for sure, our goal is to cover the whole trail. It needs some planning on our part.
Video
Here are some clips we have captured during our ride. Hopefully it gives you an idea of how the place looks like so you can prepare accordingly.
Please feel free to leave a comment or Contact Us for any questions and suggestions.
Helpful Links
https://visityarravalley.com.au/lilydale-warburton-rail-trail
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