Sydneysiders love a walking trail, especially when it comes with water views. If you’ve already ticked off the recently opened Hungry Point Clifftop Walk, with its sweeping coastal views and dramatic headlands, there’s another route worth adding to your list, and this one’s tucked away in the inner west. Running for around six kilometres between the Cooks River at Earlwood and Iron Cove on the Parramatta River, The GreenWay is a dedicated walking and cycling track that connects two of Sydney’s major waterways. Much of the trail follows the Inner West light rail line and the route of Hawthorne Canal, making it easy to access from multiple suburbs and easy to break into shorter sections. Here’s what you need to know about the recently opened trail.
The GreenWay
The trail is mostly flat, with a few stairs, and is well suited for casual strolls, jogging and cycling. You can walk the full length in just over two hours without any breaks, or treat it as a series of shorter neighbourhood walks by starting and finishing near different light rail stops or stations along the way. There’s plenty of variety and scenery to enjoy along the way from cultural and historical sites, tunnels, parks and playground, green spaces, including Blackmore Oval, Johnson Park, Laxton Reserve and Shanahan Reserve and neighbourhood cafes if you’re keen to stop for a coffee.
The path is also clearly marked, well maintained and suitable for all ages, with gentle terrain that works for prams and bikes as well as walkers. Plus, walkers can look forward to plenty of shaded areas and places to rest — perfect for a weekend wander or a quick loop close to home.
Key features
Trail grade: Grade 2 (easy)
Duration: Around 2 hours and 15 minutes, excluding breaks
Area: Cooks River catchment and surrounding Inner West suburbs
Additional parks: Murden Reserve and Cadigal Reserve
Navigation: GPX and KMZ trail files available to download here
Parking: Street parking available near James Street in Lilyfield and Keith Street in Dulwich Hill
Read more about The GreenWay here.
Getting there
The GreenWay is easy to reach by car or public transport. The route runs alongside the Inner West light rail line, with access points near Leichhardt North and Dulwich Hill, and close to several train stations along the way, making it simple to join the trail from different parts of the Inner West. From Sydney CBD, the trip usually takes between 12 and 30 minutes by car, depending on traffic. Plan your trip on Transport for NSW.