Ebike sales are surging in Australia, with retailers struggling to keep up with demand. Tony Morgan, manager of The Electric Bicycle Company in Melbourne, says, "We've sold three times as many ebikes for the first months of this year than we did last year. This is absolutely in response to the fuel price spikes." Compared to manual bicycles, ebikes can travel faster and further, allowing riders of all ages and abilities to conquer hills and headwinds. However, range anxiety remains an issue, and riders need to know where public charging facilities are. Fortunately, Victoria's infrastructure is improving quickly.
With public transport half price in Victoria for the rest of the year, it's a great time to take your ebike on the train and explore new bike paths. You can take ebikes on all metro and regional trains in Victoria without charge, but it's worth arriving early as spots are limited. Avoid relying on Google Maps for cycling, as it hasn't kept up with trail upgrades. Instead, use local bike trail websites like those from Bicycle Network.
Dixon Veloway
Opened in December 2025, the 2.5km Dixon Veloway Bridge, named after trailblazing cyclist Iris Dixon, is a jewel of Melbourne's cycling upgrades. Elevated above Footscray Road, it provides a safe bike-only connector from Melbourne's west to the CBD, linking to the Federation Trail and Docklands. The four-metre-wide, fluoro green veloway offers a glimpse of future city bicycle infrastructure.
- Trail length: 2.5km
- Difficulty: Easy – fairly flat and smooth
- Charging facilities: Free charging at Library at the Dock or Myrtle cafe beside Maribyrnong Creek
The Cross-City Caterpillar
Since April 2025, it has been possible to cycle from Melbourne's southern to northern suburbs completely on designated paths via a new 220-metre cable-stayed bike and pedestrian bridge, dubbed "the green caterpillar." It connects Docklands to the Capital City Trail and Moonee Ponds Creek Trail, a gamechanger for safe riding from St Kilda to Brunswick. Other improvements include separated bike lanes on Wellington Street, Heidelberg Road, St Kilda Road, Arden Street, and Macaulay Road.
- Trail length: Melbourne has over 2,000km of bike trails
- Difficulty: Mostly easy, as Melbourne is relatively flat
- Charging facilities: Detachable batteries can be charged at cafes; dedicated ebike charging stations at Lilydale trail head and Frankston foreshore; local libraries also work
Kororoit Creek Trail
Take the train to Sunshine, Albion, or Ardeer stations and ride to the Kororoit Creek trail, stretching about 15km north-west to Deer Park. Recent upgrades include missing links and a new underpass at Geelong Road, providing a safer connection to the Federation Trail. The shared-use path winds through regenerated bushlands, basalt cliffs, and rocky outcrops, teeming with native birds like pelicans, black swans, and rainbow lorikeets.
- Trail length: 22km
- Difficulty: Easy, mostly flat
- Charging facilities: Off-trail at Sunshine library or Kororoit Creek Neighbourhood House
Lilydale to Warburton Bike Trail
Often called the "Warby trail," this 40km ride through the Yarra Valley has significant improvements to intersection safety, connectivity, and ebike charging stations. Take the train to Lilydale; the path starts near the station and follows former train tracks through towns like Wandin, Seville, and Yarra Junction, ending in Warburton. The stretch around Mount Evelyn is particularly scenic, with wildflowers and tree ferns.
- Trail length: 40km
- Difficulty: Moderate – gentle climbs to Warburton
- Charging facilities: Universal charging ports at Lilydale trail head; cafes like Trail cafe in Mount Evelyn and Carriage cafe in Seville allow charging
Murray to Mountains Rail Trail
This beautiful trail in north-east Victoria is worth an overnight stay. Take the train to Wangaratta; a $8.5m enhancement completed in September 2025 added a 31km extension from Beechworth to Yackandandah and improved safety across the 180km network. The trail starts beside the Murray River and passes farms, wheatfields, and forests. The most popular route is Wangaratta to Everton to Beechworth, with options to stay in Beechworth and ride back through eucalypt forests to Milawa Cheese Company.
- Trail length: 130km total
- Difficulty: Moderate – some uphill riding in alpine foothills
- Charging facilities: No public chargers on trail; detour to cafes in Bright, Myrtleford, Beechworth, or Wangaratta
Omeo Mountain Bike Park
For off-road adventure, the new 114km Omeo mountain bike park in Victoria's alpine region offers trails for all levels. Opened in December 2025, the park features snaking dirt paths with freeriding, descents, and scenic rides through alpine national park foothills. Local guide Daniel Norris says there are enough options for three to four days of riding.
- Trail length: 114km of paths
- Difficulty: Easy, moderate, and difficult trails
- Charging facilities: No charging at park; public charging points in Omeo near Golden Age hotel and East Gippsland Shire Council building
