The best cycling routes in Plenty Gorge Park

Darebin Creek Bridge passes under Heidelberg Road at Sparks Reserve. Walkers and bikers passing under the road here can get right next to Darebin Creek and follow alongside it, headed either north or south.

The Banyule Swamp and the Yarra River were originally occupied by the Wurundjeri people until 1838 during the earliest rural allotments. Today you can explore the area and see old farm equipment as well as exotic historic vegetation, swamps, billabongs, and parklands.

Bundoora Park is a large parkland in Melbourne’s northern suburbs, nestled along the upper reaches of Darebin Creek. There is plenty of open grassland, remnant bushland and wetlands, with a strong focus on conservation and recreation, including walking and cycling paths. The park is also home to a heritage farm and wildlife area, making it one of the more diverse green spaces in the region.

Darebin Creek is a picturesque waterway in Melbourne’s northern suburbs that flows south from near South Morang toward the Yarra River at Alphington. It runs through a mix of urban parklands, wetlands, and remnant bushland, forming an important green corridor in an otherwise built-up area. Sections of the creek have been heavily modified over time, but many parts now support restored vegetation and local wildlife within surrounding reserves and trails.

This beautiful park is a revitalised floodplain wetland along the Maribyrnong River, created to improve water quality and foster local biodiversity. There are picnic areas and a network of boardwalks and shared pathways throughout the grounds, where you can explore the area and observe the diverse birdlife and native plant species up close. This peaceful, nature-focused space is connected to the Maribyrnong River Trail, making it the perfect spot for a quiet escape amid the bustling surrounding urban environment.

Heavenly Queen Temple is a large Taoist temple dedicated to Mazu, the Chinese sea goddess, and is considered the largest of its kind in Australia. Set along the Maribyrnong River, the complex features traditional Chinese architecture inspired by Beijing’s Forbidden City, expansive gardens, and a prominent gold-painted statue of Mazu. Easily reached from nearby trails, the temple is open daily from around 9:30 am to 3:30 pm, and with free admission, it's a culturally rich and visually impressive stop along the river corridor.

The Maroondah Aqueduct is a historic water channel built in the late 19th century to transport water from the Maroondah Reservoir to Melbourne. The long open channel winds quietly through bushland and suburban reserves, tracing a gentle line across the landscape. Although no longer used for Melbourne’s water supply, today it's a reminder of Melbourne’s early water engineering and creates a unique corridor where history and nature meet.

This junction marks where the Maroondah Aqueduct Trail meets the Diamond Creek Trail, and is a convenient connection between the aqueduct corridor and the creekside trail that follows Diamond Creek. From here, you can extend your route by continuing along the Diamond Creek Trail through bushland and open park areas.