This new trail is making Sydney‘s Inner West bike-friendly (finally!)

Liz Whitehead Liz Whitehead
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Sydney’s inner city is getting a green fix, thanks to a brand-new walking and cycling trail that links the Cooks River in Earlwood with Iron Cove in Balmain.

The Inner West is Sydney’s creative hub, known for its converted warehouses, vibrant street art and community spirit. Now, a new six-kilometre ‘GreenWay corridor’ is injecting the area with a fresh dose of greenery. Designed to make the region more accessible for walkers and cyclists, the long-awaited project is set to change how locals and visitors move through the vibrant region.

Originally conceived over 20 years ago, the GreenWay has been a grassroots project, with the community campaigning for funding for more than a decade. Now, the corridor is nearing completion, promising to deliver better connectivity, recreation and some much-needed green space.

render of the GreenWay
An artist’s impression of the GreenWay, which is designed to encourage walking and cycling around the Inner West. (Image: Inner West Council)

What is the GreenWay corridor?

The GreenWay stretches from the Cooks River in Earlwood to the Iron Cove foreshore walk in Balmain, linking two major waterways and existing trails in the Inner West. It follows the path of the 130-year-old rail line, transforming it into an exclusive pedestrian and cycling thoroughfare. The Inner West is already home to a surprising amount of natural habitat. The Cooks River in particular consists of expansive mangrove ecosystems, where lizards, snakes and more wildlife are regularly spotted.

map of the GreenWay corridor
The GreenWay corridor runs from the Cooks River to Parramatta River, connecting two of the Inner West’s major foreshore walks. (Image: Inner West Council)

The GreenWay will be lined with new green spaces, including dog parks and conservation zones supporting wetland habitats. Once complete, the corridor will offer a scenic, car-free route through some of the city’s most beloved suburbs and change the way locals and visitors interact with it.

According to NSW Premier Chris Minns, “The GreenWay won’t just link two of Sydney’s most popular walks, it’ll become one in its own right, complete with a shared walking and cycling path, public art, playgrounds and cafes for everyone to enjoy."

artists render GreenWay
The GreenWay will connect different precincts in the Inner West to create a six-kilometre continuous pedestrian trail. (Image: Inner West Council)

Jo Haylen, member for Summer Hill, adds: “The shared pathway has a strong connection to the community and the environment… [and] provides a great space for enjoying the outdoors and travelling across our community."

When will the GreenWay corridor open?

The GreenWay links the Cooks River (pictured) with Iron Cove. (Image: Flickr/Martin7d2)

The project is currently 80 per cent complete. The remaining works focus on linking all six precincts of the trail together, and is set to be completed later this year.

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Liz Whitehead
Elizabeth Whitehead is a writer obsessed with all things culture; doesn't matter if it's pop culture or cultures of the world. She graduated with a degree in History from the University of Sydney (after dropping out from Maths). Her bylines span AFAR, Lonely Planet, ELLE, Harper's BAZAAR and Refinery 29. Her work for Australian Traveller was shortlisted for single article of the year at the Mumbrella Publishing Awards 2024. She is very lucky in thrifting, very unlucky in UNO.
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Your first look at Australia’s brand-new luxury camp

    Kate Bettes Kate Bettes
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    The heavens take centre stage at this Outback NSW glamping lodge.

    Crane your neck. Look up. If it’s nighttime in a major Australian city, you might see a faint dusting of stars. Now imagine yourself out in the bush. Here, those stars aren’t just scattered dots – instead, they’re smudged across the sky in endless, glittering streaks. Welcome to Wilderluxe Lake Keepit, a new glamping lodge in one of the most picturesque corners of outback NSW.

    Between its eight stargazing tents, Gilay Guest Lounge, and shared tales of the Dreamtime night sky, this retreat is designed to exist in harmony with the breathtaking lake and surrounding landscape. Intrigued? Here’s everything you need to know.

    Bathed in warm light, a couple watches the sun dip beyond the horizon.
    Watch the sky melt into magic at Wilderluxe.

    Getting to Wilderluxe Lake Keepit

    Wilderluxe Lake Keepit is in the NSW Northern Tablelands, bordered by the Great Dividing Range. The lake itself is hard to miss: this mammoth body of water is two-thirds the size of Sydney Harbour.

    Just 40 minutes from Tamworth and close to Gunnedah, it’s on the inland route between Sydney and Byron Bay. Drive or take one of the daily flights to Tamworth’s airport.

    Aerial view of Wilderluxe.
    Let vast waters and towering ranges set the scene for your escape.

    Wilderluxe Lake Keepit rooms

    Don’t settle for a paltry room when you can sleep directly under the cosmos. Wilderluxe offers eight domed ‘Star Tents’, all named after Aboriginal sky stories – like Djirri Djirri, the sacred messenger bird, Baiame, the Sky Father and great creator, and Dhinawan, the Emu in the Sky constellation.

    On a clear night, use your tent’s retractable roof for gazing above or wander to the outdoor bathtub on your private deck to soak under the night sky. No need to go anywhere. You can stay put come evening with a kitchenette inside and a gas barbecue on the deck.

    A couple gazes up at a sky ablaze with stars at Wilderluxe.
    Sleep beneath the stars.

    Style and character

    When it comes to aesthetics, Wilderluxe Lake Keepit stays on trend. The encampment blends with its surroundings, building up layers of minimalist visuals that mirror the ever-changing curves of the water.

    Earthy tones, natural materials and timber finishes also anchor the retreat in its bushland surrounds. It’s enough to deepen the sense of calm you’ll experience as you drive off-grid, and this is only heightened as you spot kangaroos grazing at dawn or hear the chatter of native birds by the lake.

    The dreamy sunset at Wilderluxe.
    Go off-grid in style at Wilderluxe Lake Keepit.

    Wilderluxe Lake Keepit dining

    ‘Dinner and a show’ hits differently with the property’s Big Sky dinner experience. Hosted in the Gilay Lounge, enjoy complimentary drinks and a grazing table with the host, followed by a screening of Big Sky Dreaming, a film produced exclusively for Wilderluxe guests in which Kamilaroi storyteller Uncle Len Waters narrates tales of the Dreaming above.

    Once your imagination has been fed, it’s time to take a seat fireside for a glass of Australian port and a serving of s’mores.

    Keen to explore the wider area? Staff can provide barbecue and picnic hampers, stuffed with regional meats, cheeses and organic local fare.

    Wilderluxe Lake Keepit facilities

    While you could very well spend all your time in your tent, sometimes it’s time to hit pause on the celestial show. Instead, make your way up to the Gilay Guest Lounge, where you can relax on the deck overlooking the lake or the outdoor fire pits. It’s a great way to unwind and clink glasses with other stargazers.

    The Gilay Lounge with the view of the lake.
    Unwind by the fire and raise a glass at Gilay Lounge.

    Wilderluxe Lake Keepit experiences

    No need to turn nocturnal; when the sun rises, there are still plenty of ways to touch the sky.

    Lake Keepit hosted the 2020 Women’s World Gliding Championships, and it’s one of the best places in Australia to stretch your wings. The local Soaring Club operates year-round, meaning you can book a gliding experience any day of the year – or opt for a scenic flight to take in the vast beauty from above.

    Prefer to keep your feet on solid ground? There are plenty of walking and cycling trails in and around the area. Luckily, bikes are part of the Wilderluxe package. All you have to do is ask a staff member for their favourite route, throw a picnic onto the back and cycle off into the great beyond.

    Alternatively, nab a stand-up paddleboard (SUP) or kayak and head out onto the lake. Or, if you’re feeling lucky, borrow a fishing rod and try your chances.

    A person kayaking through serene waters.
    Paddle into peace.

    The details

    A two-night minimum twin-share accommodation package includes Big Sky dinner and drinks experience, plus daily continental breakfast. As well as access to leisure equipment including mountain bikes, kayaks, SUPs and fishing gear.

    The interiors of the glamping tent.
    Let nature restore you, while luxury takes care of the rest.

    Start planning your outback glamping adventure at wilderluxe.com.au.