Portland Area Bike Rides
These are the best bike rides in the Portland area. All rides begin and end at the Portland Visitor Information Centre on Lee Breakwater Road where there is ample parking and toilet facilities.
CAPE BRIDGEWATER BIKE RIDE
Distance: 36-60 kms. dependent on option taken.
Option 1; Direct to Cape Bridgewater and return the same way = 36 kms
Option 2; Cape Bridgewater Lakes Loop = 42 kms
Option 3; Ride to Cape Bridgewater and back around the Lakes Loop = 60 kms
Grade: Difficult with some awesome hills including the Big Dipper and the Shuffler;
Time: Dependent on the route taken.
Points of Interest:
The Fauna Park, The Blowholes, Petrified Forrest, Shelly Beach, Bridgewater Bay / Beach (Cafe), Fresh Water Lakes, Limestone Caves, Views of Discovery Bay Coastal Park.
Cape Bridgewater Ride is pink line
The Route:
Option 1
- Leave the car park turning left into Lee Breakwater road
- Along Lee breakwater road and turn right and go up the ramp
- Turn left onto Bentinick Street
- Turn right at the round-a-bout into Gawler Street
- Straight through the next round-a-bout (corner of Gawler& Percy Streets)
- Turn right into Hurd Street
- Turn left into Ottway Street at the round-a-bout
- Follow Otway Street ( name changes to Bridgewater Road)
- Follow Bridgewater Road past Shelly Beach
- Stop and rest at the Cafe
- Return the same way
- Follow option 1 till you get to Shelly Beach
- Turn right at the Bridgewater Lakes Road
- Follow Bridgewater Lakes Road ( great views of Discovery Bay)
- Turn left into the Lakes (a gravel road) opposite the Tarragal Caves
- Exit the same way
- Follow option 1 all the way to the cafe. Follow another 4 km along Bridgewater Road to the car park for the Blow Holes and Petrified Forest
- There are two options for the return journey. You can return using either option 1 or option 2
CAPE GRANT BIKE RIDE
Distance: 12 kms.
Time: 1.5 - 2 hours
Grade: Medium
Points of Interest: Maritime Discovery Centre, Playground & Skate Park, Portland Cable Tram, Gannets, Portland Aluminium, Cape Grant
Cape Grant Ride is blue line
The Route:
- Turn left out of the car park into Lee Breakwater Road
- Follow Lee Breakwater Road to the end and turn left into Cliff Street
- Veer left at the round-a-bout (over the railway crossing)
- Turn left into Wellington Road
- Turn left into Bancroft Street
- Turn left into Kingsley Court and then return to Bancroft Street
- Turn left into Bancroft Street
- Turn left into Barkley Street
- Along Barkley Street travel along the 500 metres of sand/dirt track
- Turn right on to the purpose built bike path
- Follow this to Portland Aluminium
- Once over the timber bridge turn Right then next left
- Turn right after the give way sign and follow the Madeira Packet Road around to the smelter.
- Turn left into the quarry car park (Views of Cape Grant and Lawrence Rocks
- Take the path on the left of the quarry carpark(quite bumpy) and follow the path behind the Smelter to the Gannet carpark
- Follow the gravel road from the carpark keeping left until you reach the sealed road.
- Turn right onto Madeira Packet Road
- Follow this road past the golf course
- Turn left into Finlay Street
- Turn right immediately into Victoria Parade and follow into Battery Point and have a look at the cannons.
- Exit via the same route
- Turn right into Bancroft Street
- Turn right onto Wellington Road and follow the "i" signs back to Glenelg Street
- Turn right into Lee Breakwater Road until you reach the visitor information centre
- Be careful pulling out of the car park as there is lots of traffic that uses Lee Breakwater Road
- There is a lot of traffic including the tram that uses Cliff Street
- Once near the smelter be alert for trucks entering and leaving
CAPE NELSON LIGHTHOUSE RIDE
Distance: 22 kms return
Time: 1.5 hours
Grade: Quite difficult with one long hill up to Picnic Hill (and a great down hill) and several small steep hills on the way home along the scenic drive.
Points of Interest: Major Mitchel Trail, Cape Nelson State Park, Cape Nelson Lighthouse & Cafe, Enchanted Forest, Yellow Rock
Cape Grant Ride is yellow/light green line
The Route:
- Turn left out of the car park onto Lee Breakwater Road
- Turn right onto the ramp
- Turn left into Bentinck Street
- Follow Bentinck Street ( name changes to Cape Nelson Road)
- Keep on this road till you reach the lighthouse
- Follow the Cape Nelson Road out of the car park
- Turn Right into Scenic Road ( name changes to Sheoke Road)
- Stop at the scenic lookouts, Enchanted Forest and Yellow Rock for a short walk.
- Turn right at the "T" intersection back onto Cape Nelson Road and follow back to the Visitor Information Centre
- There are quite a few blind corners on the scenic route due to overgrown vegetation. Stick as close to the edge of the road as possible
- Trucks use this road so be aware of heavy vehicles
FAWTHROP LAGOON RIDE
Distance: 6 kms (around the lagoon) or 10 kms (Lagoon and Fauna Park)
Time: 1 hour plus
Grade: Easy (great for kids and families)
Points of Interest: Maritime Discovery Centre, Play ground and Skate Park, Portland Cable Tram, Canal with fishing boats, Fawthrop Lagoon (nature/bird life over 140 species) Fauna Park
Fawthrop Lagoon Ride is dark green line
The Route:
- Turn left out of the car park into Lee Breakwater Road
- Follow Lee Breakwater Road.
- Turn left into Cliff Street and ride over the bridge
- Turn right into Canal Court and follow under the overpass
- Veer left this will take you around the lagoon. Follow the path till you get to a "T" intersection (with pedestrian traffic lights on your left)
- For the shorter Route
- Turn right at the "T" intersection
- Follow this around the lagoon keeping to the right
- Follow the path left just past the exercise station
- Take the path left just before the overpass into Bentinck Street and return to the Visitor Information Centre
- Follow the path next to the highway
- Turn right over over a wooden swing bridge, cross the road and join onto the bike track
- Turn left into Wyatt Street and follow across highway
- Turn right into Smith Street
- Turn Left into the Fauna Park
- Turn right into Smith Street
- Turn Left into Wyatt Street and across the highway
- Veer right onto the bike trail following this over the foot bridge
- At the "T" intersection follow the shorter route back to the Visitor Information Centre.
- Be careful riding out of the car park as there is heavy traffic along Lee Breakwater Road
- Cliff Street is very busy with traffic. Be aware of the tram crossing the street
- Take care when following the track around the lagoon as school children use this route.
- Be cautious when crossing the highway in Wyatt Street as it is extremely busy especially with trucks
OLD PORTLAND CEMETERY RIDE
Distance: 10 kms
Time: 1 hour
Grade: Easy (Great for kids)
Points of Interest: Maritime discovery Centre, Ploughed Field opposite the Hospital, Portland Lighthouse, North Portland Cemetery (grave of Captain Fawthrop), WWII Memorial lookout Tower, Portland Cable Tram
Old Portland Cemetery Ride is thick orange line
The Route:
- Turn left out of the car park on Lee Breakwater Road
- Turn right onto the ramp & veer left
- Turn left onto Bentinck Street
- Double back at the round-a-bout and along Bentinck Street
- Turn right into Lighthouse Court to see the Lighthouse
- Double back down Lighthouse Court and turn right into Bentinck (name changes to Hanlon Parade)
- Just past Journey Training (Dutton Way Lowe Street Corner) veer left along the track (this is before you would descend the hill on Dutton Way.
- Into the back of the cemetery
- Back onto the track behind Journey Training
- Turn right and follow along
- Turn left into Wade Street to visit the WWII Memorial Lookout Tower (Open 10 am- 4 pm daily)
- Turn left back into Bentinck Street and return to the Visitor Information Centre
- Be careful riding out of the car park onto Lee Breakwater road as this is a busy road.
- Take care on Bentinck Street for cars reversing out of car parks.
- Hanlon Parade is quite narrow in some spots with no bike lane.
- Once at the back of Journey Training the track is not very well sign posted. The dirt track may become slippery in winter