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

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.

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.

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.”

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.