The Cooks River Cycleway is a roughly 23 km, mostly flat and traffic-separated shared path that follows the river from Strathfield South down to Botany Bay at Kyeemagh — and it makes one of the easiest all-day e-bike outings in Sydney. On an e-bike you can ride the whole thing and back without arriving home wrecked, which is exactly why we point so many riders at it from the shop.
At Cyberbikes on 281 Parramatta Road, Leichhardt, the Cooks River is practically our backyard, and it links straight into the Inner West path network. Here’s how to ride it.
Where does the Cooks River Cycleway actually go?
The Cooks River Cycleway runs about 23 km between Strathfield South and Botany Bay at Kyeemagh, and it’s often called the “Bay to Bay” path (Wikipedia: Cooks River cycleway). For most of its length it’s a sealed, off-road shared path hugging the water through a chain of riverside parks — think Gough Whitlam Park and the green corridor around Tempe — so you’re separated from traffic far more than on a typical Sydney road.
It’s graded easy and it’s pancake-flat, which is what makes it such a forgiving ride. You don’t have to do all 23 km either: pick a park to start from, ride until you’ve had enough, and turn around. The path is a genuine local favourite for exactly this reason (Sydney Cycle Paths).
How do you get to the Cooks River from Leichhardt?
From the Inner West, you don’t need to touch a main road to get there. The neatest way is to roll down to Iron Cove, then take the 6 km GreenWay shared path from Iron Cove to the Cooks River, which meets the Cooks River Cycleway around Hurlstone Park. From there you simply turn onto the river path and follow it as far as you like toward Botany Bay.
Stitching the Bay Run, the GreenWay and the Cooks River together gives you a long, almost entirely traffic-separated loop through the Inner West and Inner South — the kind of ride that feels a world away from Parramatta Road, even though it starts a few minutes from it. An e-bike quietly erases the extra kilometres, so linking the paths becomes a pleasure rather than a chore.
Is it a good ride for families and beginners?
Yes — the Cooks River Cycleway is one of the best beginner and family rides in Sydney because it’s flat, sealed and largely away from cars. Kids and nervous riders get the confidence of a wide path, and the riverside parks give you plenty of natural stopping points for a break or a picnic.
An e-bike is what turns a “maybe” into an easy day out. Pedal-assist flattens the few gentle rises and means a slower rider never holds the group back. Our Cyberbikes Centauro is a good example of the type: a step-through, full-suspension e-bike with a 48V 25Ah (1200Wh) Samsung battery and a 150 kg load rating, so it soaks up path joins and carries the picnic without fuss. If you’d rather try before you buy, it’s available rent-to-own from $99.99/week — ride the route first, decide later. For more Inner West and Sydney ideas, see our guide to the best e-bike routes and group rides in Sydney.
What are the shared-path rules on the Cooks River?
It’s a shared path, so the etiquette is simple: keep left, use your bell before you pass, and ease right off around walkers, kids and dogs — especially near playgrounds and the busier park sections. Helmets are mandatory for riders in NSW, and your e-bike should be a legal pedal-assist model (up to 250W, cutting assistance at 25 km/h) to ride on paths like this one. Ride to the conditions, not the speed limit, and everyone gets home happy.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the Cooks River Cycleway?
The Cooks River Cycleway is about 23 km one way, running between Strathfield South and Botany Bay at Kyeemagh. You can ride any portion of it and turn back whenever you like, so the distance is entirely up to you.
Can you ride the Cooks River Cycleway on an e-bike?
Yes. Legal pedal-assist e-bikes (up to 250W, with assistance cutting out at 25 km/h) are allowed on the shared path. An e-bike makes the flat 23 km route comfortable to ride out and back in a single day.
How do you get to the Cooks River Cycleway from the Inner West?
From Leichhardt and the Inner West, ride to Iron Cove and take the 6 km GreenWay south. It meets the Cooks River Cycleway near Hurlstone Park, letting you connect the Bay Run, the GreenWay and the river path almost entirely off-road.
Fancy swapping one weekend drive for a river ride? Come talk routes with us at Cyberbikes, 281 Parramatta Road, Leichhardt — we’ll help you find the right e-bike for it.
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