I started a series of blogs called “Easy Bicycle Trails in Melbourne” about two years ago. The idea was to look for relatively easy bicycle trails for leisurely weekend rides with the wife. Times have changed, we now have a 4-year-old who can, and prefers to ride on her own. This is when the “easy” part becomes really subjective and needs to be defined further. Now when I say easy, I mean, somewhere my 4-year-old can ride comfortably without training wheels. Which means, if your kid is around that age, or currently on a 12-inch bike, you should be all right.

First stop, and one of my favourite spots during this time of the year (late summer/early fall), Williamstown.

Location

Williamstown is located approximately 11km southwest of Melbourne CBD. It’s easily accessible by car or public transport which makes it a popular destination for locals and tourists alike.

Bike Route

The best starting point is around Williamstown beach (you can type it in your maps). There are paid and free parking areas around, but it gets busy during summer starting at around mid-day to late afternoon. We got there at around 9am and it was perfect – heaps of parking and less people around the trail.

Going on either direction from Williamstown beach will give you some good scenic views. I would suggest that you park your car around 3km away from the main beach area (just type Williamstown beach in your maps) and bike or walk heading that way for some coffee or brunch at one of the local cafes in the area. After that, you can go further up to check out the place. There are a few easter eggs along the way like the Jawbone Marine Sanctuary – shallow and calm waters for the kids to play around. Or, you can just head back to your car which gives you about 5 to 6km in total – achievable even for kids on 12-inch bikes.

Here’s what our 5km+ ride looked like:

Trail Difficulty

For the ones with kids in tow, it’s always good to know the trail conditions, difficulty and other possible challenges the little bikers may have. I will cover that in this section.

The good news is, it’s a sealed path. Smooth and even. We have been there multiple times, starting when my daughter was on her 12-inch bike and she had no problems with it. Most recently, we came back with her 16-inch Trek Precaliber and it was even better. It just seemed easier and faster with the bigger wheels on.

One thing you want your kid to practise beforehand, if possible, is to stay on the left side of the lane or at least be able to tag along right behind you at all times. Just spend time biking with your kids at local parks and get them to listen and follow instructions on the fly – that needs some practise as well. Williamstown is a shared path so there will be other cyclists, joggers and dogs around – safety first. Speaking of safety, please don’t forget your helmets.

Conclusion

With its scenic view, cafes and convenient location, Williamstown will always be one of my favourite destinations for quick summer morning bike rides or walks along the beach with the fam. Coffee or brunch in one of the local cafes is also a must-have for me.

Have you been to Williamstown? Share your thoughts and experience.

P.S. This has been sitting in my draft for 3 years (I know..). Williamstown hasn’t changed much in the more recent times I’ve been there so everything here is still relevant. Except for my daughter’s bike in the photos – totally outgrown. 🙂