All rides begin and end at the Portland Visitor Information Centre on Lee Breakwater Road. There is ample parking and toilet facilities
Cape Bridgewater Bike Ride
Distance 36-60 kms. dependent on option taken.
Option 1; direct to Cape Bridgewater and return the same way = 36 kms
Option 2; Cape Bridgewater Lakes Loop = 42 kms
Option 3; Ride to Cape Bridgewater and back around the Lakes Loop = 60 kms
Grade; Difficult with some awesome hills including the Big Dipper and the Shuffler;
Time; Dependent on the route taken.
Points of Interest;
The Fauna Park, The Blowholes, Petrified Forrest, Shelly Beach, Bridgewater Bay / Beach (Cafe), Fresh Water Lakes, Limestone Caves, Views of Discovery Bay Coastal Park.
Option 1
- Leave the car park turning left into Lee Breakwater road
- Along Lee breakwater road and turn right and go up the ramp
- Turn left onto Bentinick Street
- Turn right at the round-a-bout into Gawler Street
- Straight through the next round-a-bout (corner of Gawler& Percy Streets)
- Turn right into Hurd Street
- Turn left into Ottway Street at the round-a-bout
- Follow Otway Street ( name changes to Bridgewater Road)
- Follow Bridgewater Road past Shelly Beach
- Stop and rest at the Cafe
- Return the same way
Option 2
- Follow option 1 till you get to Shelly Beach
- Turn right at the Bridgewater Lakes Road
- Follow Bridgewater Lakes Road ( great views of Discovery Bay)
- Turn left into the Lakes (a gravel road) opposite the TarragalCaves
- Exit the same way
Option 3
- Follow option 1 all the way to the cafe.Follow another 4 km along Bridgewater Road to the car park for the Blow Holes and Petrified Forest
- There are two options for the return journey. You can return using either option 1 or option 2
Hazards
- There are a number of blind corners on the way to Cape Bridgewater
Cape Grant Bike Ride
Distance; 12 kms.
Time; 1.5 – 2 hours
Grade;Medium
Points of Interest;
Maritime Discovery Centre, Playground & Skate Park, Portland Cable Tram, Gannets, Portland Aluminium, Cape Grant
The Route;
- Turn left out of the car park into Lee Breakwater Road
- Follow Lee Breakwater Road to the end and turn left into Cliff Street
- Veer left at the round-a-bout (over the railway crossing)
- Turn left into Wellington Road
- Turn left into Bancroft Street
- Turn left into Kingsley Court and then return to Bancroft Sterret
- Turn left into Bancroft Stree
- Turn left into Barkley Street
- Along Barkley Street travel along the 500 metres of sand/dirt track
- Turn right on to the purpose built bike path
- Follow this to Portland Aliminium
- Once over the timber bridge turn Right then next left
- Turn right after the give way sign and follow the Madeira Packet Road around to the smelter.
- Turn left into the quarry car park (Views of Cape Grant and Lawrence Rocks
Option;
- Take the path on the left of the quarry carpark(quite bumpy) and follow the path behind the Smelter to the Gannet carpark
- Follow the gravel road from the carpark keeping left until you reach the sealed road.
- Turn right onto Madeira Packet Road
- Follow this road past the golf course
- Turn left into Finlay Street
- Turn right immediately into Victoria Parade and follow into Battery Point and have a look at the cannons. Exit via the same route
- Turn right into Bancroft Street
- Turn right onto Wellington Road and follow the “i” signs back to Glenelg Street
- Turn right into Lee Breakwater Road until you reach the visitor information centre
Hazards
- Be careful pulling out of the car park as there is lots of traffic that uses Lee Breakwater Road
- There is a lot of traffic including the tram that uses Cliff Street
- Once near the smelter be alert for trucks entering and leaving
Cape Nelson Lighthouse Ride
Distance; 22 kms return
Grade; Quite difficult with one long hill up to Picnic Hill (and a great down hill) and several small steep hills on the way home along the scenic drive.
Time; 1.5 hours
Points of Interest; Major Mitchel Trail, Cape Nelson State Park, Cape Nelson Lighthouse & Cafe, Enchanted Forest, Yellow Rock
The Route
- Turn left out of the car park onto Lee Breakwater Road
- Turn right onto the ramp
- Turn left into Bentinck Street
- Follow Bentinck Street ( name changes to Cape Nelson Road)
- Keep on this road till you reach the lighthouse
Return Journey
- Follow the Cape Nelson Road out of the car park
- Turn Right into Scenic Road ( name changes to Sheoke Road)
- Stop at the scenic lookouts, Enchanted Forest and Yellow Rock for a short walk.
- Turn right at the “T” intersection back onto Cape Nelson Road and follow back to the Visitor Information Centre
Hazards
- There are quite a few blind corners on the scenic route due to overgrown vegetation. Stick as close to the edge of the road as possible
- Trucks use this road so be aware of heavy vehicles
Fawthrop Lagoon Ride
Distance; 6 kms (around the lagoon) or 10 kms (Lagoon and Fauna Park)
Grade; Easy (great for kids and families)
Time; 1 hour plus
Points of Interest; Maritime Discovery Centre, Play ground and Skate Park, Portland Cable Tram, Canal with fishing boats, Fawthrop Lagoon (nature/bird life over 140 species) Fauna Park
The Route
- Turn left out of the car park into Lee Breakwater Road
- Follow Lee Breakwater Road.
- Turn left into Cliff Street and ride over the bridge
- Turn right into Canal Court and follow under the overpass
- Veer left this will take you around the lagoon.Follow the path till you get to a “T” intersection (with pedestrian traffic lights on your left)
For the shorter Route
- Turn right at the “T” intersection
- Follow this around the lagoon keeping to the right
- Follow the path left just past the exercise station
- Take the path left just before the overpass into Bentinck Street and return to the Visitor Information Centre
For Longer Route
- Follow the path next to the highway
- Turn right over over a wooden swing bridge, cross the road and join onto the bike track
- Turn left into Wyatt Street and follow across highway
- Turn right into Smith Street
- Turn Left into the Fauna Park
Return Journey
- Turn right into Smith Street
- Turn Left into Wyatt Street and across the highway
- Veer right onto the bike trail following this over the foot bridge
- At the “T” intersection follow the shorter route back to the Visitor Information Centre.
Hazards
- Be careful riding out of the car park as there is heavy traffic along Lee Breakwater Road
- Cliff Street is very busy with traffic. Be aware of the tram crossing the street
- Take care when following the track around the lagoon as school children use this route.
- Be cautious when crossing the highway in Wyatt Street as it is extremely busy especially with trucks
Old Portland Cemetery Ride
Distance; 10 kms
Time; 1 hour
Grade; Easy (Great for kids)
Points of interest; Maritime discovery Centre, Ploughed Field opposite the Hospital, Portland Lighthouse, North Portland Cemetery ( grave of Captain Fawthrop), WWII Memorial lookout Tower, Portland Cable Tram
The Route
- Turn left out of the car park on Lee Breakwater Road
- Turn right onto the ramp& veer left
- Turn left onto Bentinck Street
- Double back at the round-a-bout and along Bentinck Street
- Turn right into Lighthouse Court to see the Lighthouse
- Double back down Lighthouse Court and turn right into Bentinck (name changes to Hanlon Parade)
- Just past Journey Training ( Dutton Way Lowe Street Corner) veer left along the track. ( this is before you would descend the hill on Dutton Way
- Into the back of the cemetrery
Return Journey
- Back onto the track behind Journey Training
- Turn right and follow along
- Turn left into Wade Street to visit the WWII Memorial Lookout Tower (Open 10 am- 4 pm daily)
- Turn left back into Bentinck Street and return to the Visitor Information Centre
Hazards
- Be careful riding out of the car park onto :ee Breakwater road as this is a busy road.
- Take care on Bentinck Street for cars reversing out of car parks.
- Hanlon Parade is quite narrow in some spots with no bike lane.
- Once at the back of Journey Training the track is not very well sign posted. The dirt track may become slippery in winter