wellness
Three New Family-Friendly Cycling Routes Open Across Craigieburn Parks
Three marked paths through Craigieburn Gardens and along Aitken Creek now connect residential streets to flat, low-traffic loops.
How we reported this
Craigieburn City Council opened two new sealed cycling loops on 1 July 2026 that start at the corner of Hanson Road and Bridgewater Drive and stay inside park boundaries for their full 4.8-kilometre length.
Local families have asked for protected routes since the 2024 opening of the Craigieburn Recreation Reserve extension, and council records show weekend bike counts at the reserve rose 38 per cent last summer. The new loops avoid main roads and use only paths at least 2.5 metres wide with painted centre lines.
Named routes and local programs
The Hanson Loop runs from the Hanson Road entrance of Craigieburn Gardens past the playground and ends at the Aitken Creek footbridge. The shorter Creek Trail begins at the same bridge, follows the creek path inside the reserve, and returns via the new boardwalk installed in March. Both routes are lit until 9 pm and marked with green directional signs every 300 metres. The Craigieburn Active Transport group runs free Saturday morning meet-ups at 9 am from the Gardens car park, supplying helmets and basic bike checks for first-time riders.
Craigieburn Primary School parents have already booked two group rides through the school’s after-hours program, which starts on 12 July and costs $8 per child for a two-hour session including a map and water bottle.
Usage numbers and next steps
Council traffic counters recorded 214 family groups on the Hanson Loop in its first week. Bike hire at the Gardens kiosk costs $12 for two hours or $25 for a full day, with child seats available at no extra charge. Riders must stay on the sealed surface and give way to pedestrians at every crossing.
Printed maps are available at the Craigieburn Library on Bridgewater Drive and at the reserve office. Families planning their first ride should arrive before 10 am on weekdays to avoid any organised school groups and should carry water, as the only drinking fountain sits at the Hanson Road entrance.