Sydney’s GreenWay Is Opening

Sydney’s GreenWay Launches – What you need to know

Imagine stepping out your front door, grabbing the scooters or bikes, and cruising along a leafy, completely car-free corridor that stretches from Earlwood all the way to Iron Cove. No traffic, no stress — just playgrounds, murals, shady rest stops and strategically placed cafés (because this is the Inner West).

That’s the new Sydney GreenWay, a 6 km environmental walking and cycling corridor that’s been decades in the making — and it’s finally set to officially open on Sunday 14 December 2025.

After almost 20 years of community campaigning, the GreenWay will deliver a seamless active-transport link connecting the Cooks River in Earlwood to the Parramatta River at Iron Cove and the Bay Run — and it’s about to transform how Inner West families move, play and explore.

That’s the Sydney GreenWay, a much-awaited 6 km linear park and transport hub currently under construction. When it opens in full this year, it promises to revolutionise how families move, play, and connect across the Inner West.

Cantilevered walkway under Parramatta Road and along Hawthorne Canal. Illustration: Inner West council

What’s the GreenWay, Anyway?

The GreenWay is a purpose-built car-free corridor designed for walking, cycling, prams, scooters and wheelchairs. It closely follows the Inner West Light Rail line and Hawthorne Canal, weaving through:

Earlwood
Dulwich Hill
Summer Hill
Lewisham
Leichhardt
Lilyfield
Haberfield
and into Iron Cove

The corridor includes new underpasses, upgraded foreshore links, boardwalks, tunnels under major roads, and beautifully landscaped green spaces. Think of it as an uninterrupted, family-friendly “green spine” linking the Cooks River Path and the Bay Run.

The GreenWay ‘active transport’ corridor connecting the Cooks River to Sydney Harbour is expected to open later this year. Illustration: Inner West council

Why Families Are Going to Love It

Car-Free & Stress-Free – A safe, traffic-free corridor where little ones can wobble on training wheels or zoom along on scooters without cars whooshing by.
Effortless Exercise – A walk or scoot after school or on the weekend can become part of your daily rhythm without a gym membership.
Neighbourhood Connectivity – Schools, playgrounds, cafés, and parks all linked. That Summer Hill café + playground pit stop? Now just part of your route.
Green Reconnect – Expect native gardens, shady plantings, and even wildlife buzzing around – perfect for little nature lovers.

Kids playing in playground. Image courtesy of Inner West Council.

What You’ll Find Along The Way

The GreenWay isn’t just concrete – it’s a mini urban adventure:

Playgrounds at strategic intervals, offering toddler bribery or teen hangout zones.
Public art and heritage markers, turning every walk into a mini cultural tour.
Cafés & local amenities – Dulwich Hill village, Summer Hill, Leichhardt’s Norton Street are all within easy reach.
Light rail, bus, and train links, ready to rescue you if someone’s legs tap out mid-ride.

Volunteering for Bush Care Program. Image courtesy of Inner West Council.

GreenWay Adventures: Route Ideas for Families

Once sections open, here are a few family-friendly itineraries to try:

The Mini Loop (1–2 km): Start at Croydon, scoot to Summer Hill, enjoy a playground stop and coffee, then light rail or stroll back.
The Half-Day Escape (3–4 km): Cycle from Lewisham to Leichhardt for a relaxed picnic leg-stretch break.
The Full Day Out (6 km): Power through from Cooks River to Iron Cove with older kids. Cap it off with gelato in Leichhardt or fish and chips in Haberfield.

Want to know more about the precincts? The GreenWay has been divided into six precincts, which are defined by major road crossings:

Hawthorne Canal Precinct: From Iron Cove to south of Marion Street, including the parklands around Hawthorne Canal including Richard Murden Reserve, Hawthorne Reserve and Blackmore Oval.
Gadigal Reserve Precinct: From south of Marion Street to south of Longport Street, Including Gadigal Reserve itself as well as the section between Parramatta Road and Marion Street (including the distinctive avenue of figs).
Mills Precinct: From south of Longport Street to Weston Street, including the area around the Lewisham West light rail station and the stretch along Weston Street.
Dulwich Hill Parks PrecinctFrom Weston Street to south of New Canterbury Road, including Hoskins Park and Johnson Park immediately adjacent to the GreenWay corridor, and Arlington and Laxton Reserves nearby. Also including the deeply cut rail corridor between Constitution Road and New Canterbury Road.
Dulwich Grove PrecinctFrom south of New Canterbury Road to north of Ewart Street, including the new linear park proposed in the light rail corridor east of Hercules Street and the existing Jack Shanahan Reserve.
Cooks River PrecinctFrom north of Ewart Street to the Cooks River, including links on-road, past the golf course and across the Cooks River.

🎉 Mark Your Calendar: GreenWay Official Opening

📅 Sunday 14 December 2025

🚲 A full community celebration to launch the completed 6 km corridor

Families across the Inner West are invited to celebrate the opening of one of Sydney’s most anticipated urban projects. Keep an eye out for:

Community rides & walks
Live music and local performers
Guided GreenWay tours
Café specials and pop-ups
Bushcare activities
Kids’ events along the corridor

👉 More info will be released here: Inner West Council – GreenWay

About Author

Francesca Millena

Writer, foodie and ideas-sponge, Francesca grew up in the Inner West and loves writing about all things IW related from playgrounds and podcasts, restaurants and retail, bubble tea and basketball courts. Mum to an active child, she also knows a thing or two about keeping a little one entertained on a rainy day.

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