Adventure & Nature
HIT THE
ROAD More than one million West Aussies hit the cycle paths last year, according to the Australian Bicycle Council, and the McGowan government have invested $146 million into cycling. By
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TOM DE SOUZA
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ycling is booming in Western Australia. Much of the regional growth of cycling has been centred around Bunbury. South West Cycle Club vice-president Iain Ferris says this is because Bunbury has it all. “You’ve got the infrastructure of a small city without compromising wide open country spaces,” says Iain. “There’s challenging terrain, beautiful views, and a lack of metropolitan traffic. “It makes it the perfect venue to host the state championships every year, and there are more and more rides always being
FOUND | spring • summer 2020/21
developed.” Here, Iain shares some of their favourite rides in BunGeo. 1. Bunbury and Australind The Bunbury to Australind route has been redeveloped recently by the Department of Transport and various shires,” says Iain. You’re basically on cycle paths all the way, says Iain. You can start even as far south or as far west as Dalyellup or if you wanted to start in Bunbury, you could start at Washington Avenue, near the Maitlands Reserve. “You could go along Ocean Drive, around up to the Marslton Lighthouse, which is always interesting. Down to Koombana Bay, and following
Koombana Drive you can then follow Estuary Drive out to Australind,” says Iain. This route takes in the three waters of Bunbury. It takes in the ocean side, Koombana Bay and inlet, and it takes in the estuary up at Australind. “It’s very flat the whole way,” says Iain. “Families with kids could do stretches of that. For a shortened family version, starting in somewhere like Australind is really nice, through Eaton foreshore and Australind foreshore. You can go all the way around the Buffalo Beach, around the inlet and that is really safe and very flat.” The Melo Velo café is also a great supporter of cycling, visitbunburygeographe.com.au
