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MELBOURNE: Exploring a new city is best done on two wheels. From beachfront boardwalks to twisting river paths, lush green parklands, and hidden gems, on a bike you’re bound to have a great day out.   

A Wheelie Good Time on Merri Creek 

Luckily, Melbourne is home to lots of trails frequented by both serious and recreational bike riders. And one of the best, in our opinion, is the popular Merri Creek trail – and - it’s just 600m from the brand-new Adina Apartment Hotel Pentridge Melbourne! 

Rising high above the historic bluestone walls, Adina Pentridge Melbourne is located in the city’s newest entertainment and dining destination at the historic Pentridge gaol site. But what lies beyond the bluestone walls? With bikes at the ready, saddle up and clip in - our guide below takes you on an adventure through Melbourne’s creative north. 

Pick up a bike from reception, take a right towards the end of the Pentridge Boulevard and you’ll find Coburg Lake - an old bluestone quarry that provided stone for the gaol and nearby housing estate. Today, this very pretty lake is an outdoor urban oasis home to lush green parkland, lined by weeping willows and dotted with picnic rugs, lazing people, and the smells of Sunday BBQs.  

Joe’s Market Garden is a must-do! 

Continue 3km southwards along the Merri Creek trail for picturesque bridges and meadows. Just before Harding Street Bridge you’ll find Joe’s Market Garden, previously known as Merri Creek Market Garden. For more than 50,000 years, the two-acre certified organic farm was used for agriculture by the Wurundjeri people and, for the last 150 years, it has been farmed by Chinese and Italian gardeners.  

Most recently, the area has been farmed under the guidance of Joe Garita, whose father bought the land in 1945. After perusing Joe and resident farmer Emily Connor’s line-up of seasonal produce, head to his quaint farm-gate for organic produce, coffee, and baked pastries. It’s open every morning from 8.30am-1pm.  

Stop and smell the roses at the CERES Community Environmental Park  

Just 5-minutes further along the trail you’ll find the Brunswick Velodrome, a track cycling ring where avid cyclers test their skills. Insider Tip: Cycle a further 700m to find the CERES environmental park, a real highlight on the Merri Creek trail.  

Roaming chooks, a dam with frogs, quirky garden plots and weekend gardeners... it’s about as far removed as you can get from a typical Melbourne staycation. You’ll also find a coffee shop serving good coffee (it’s a must in Melbourne), a cute nursery, a bike shed (for any urgent repairs), windmills, energy efficient buildings and an energy education centre onsite. This one-of-a-kind community and social enterprise encourages people to fall in love with the Earth again.   

Sydney Road is the longest shopping road in the Southern Hemisphere… 

From here, we recommend you veer off the trail towards Brunswick’s Sydney Road where cosy cafes, boutique shops, second-hand stores and lively restaurants await. For culture vultures, there are pockets of artists, musos and hipsters as well as Middle Eastern, Greek, and Italian communities that have lived in the area for decades - it’s an eclectic and buzzing place with never a dull moment. 

Space to Unwind 

After a long day on two wheels, immersing yourself in Melbourne's north, pedal back to the Adina and unwind in your apartment style room with kitchen facilities, a laundry, large living areas and some phenomenal dining options like the newly opened Olivine wine bar and North & Common bistro.