The Maribyrnong River Trail runs for 28 kilometers from
Southbank in the city all the way to
Brimbank Park in the North West.
The Trail follows the Maribyrnong River for the majority of its length after travelling through the Docklands and west along Footscray Road (until it hits the river).
Here is a
map of the trail.
If you are going to tackle the entire track I'd recommend cycling. The full track can be easily biked in 3 hours. Walking takes around 6 hours.
However you can also begin at one of the parks along the way, skipping the cityscape (although it is quite interesting) for more open vistas.
Good starting points are
Fairbairn Park, Coulston Gardens, Riverside Park, Cranwell Park reserve, or anywhere else along the river.
When you get to Brimbank Park there is also cafe to grab a bite to eat and relax before heading home.
If you want to avoid using public transport, you could also park at Brimbank Park (a nice attraction in itself) and walk the trail south for a while before turning back.
Unfortunately catching a bus from the park requires a 2km walk to the bus stop
Flora St, although it's a short ride if you have a bike.
Consult the
MetLink website for your best route.
Why? A pleasant ride or walk along an interesting waterway.