Pedal to the Metal, on the Emu Trail
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 6 hours ago
What better day out, than one combining good food, culture, the great outdoors and a healthy dose of exercise. For a different kind of adventure, join WEST as we put pedal to the metal and explore the ‘Emu Trail’, the 16km M12 shared user path. Integrating local Dharug First Nations culture and storytelling into the surrounding landscape, this is a day of discovery that will have your curiosity levels heightened with all there is to take in.
If you’ve travelled along the M12 Motorway, you would have noticed colourful sculptural canopies, overbridge artworks and of course the striking Great Emu in the Sky sculpture. Along with the build of the motorway, a shared pedestrian and cycle pathway has been added, allowing you to immerse yourself in the surrounding countryside and beautifully curated First Nations artworks.
Connecting Luddenham in the west, the Western Sydney Parklands to the east, and the Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport (WSI) in-between, there are multiple points you can start your day. The easiest place to start is at the Western Sydney Parklands end of the track.
For that all important morning coffee, stop at Parx Coffee House Abbotsbury for your caffeine fix. Serving a great cup of Will & Co coffee and tasty brekkie options, it’ll help fuel you up for the day. The best place to park to join the Emu Trail, is at Wylde MTB & BMX Park in Cecil Park. With more than 15km of trails and racetracks, you can have some fun here too before or after. There’s free parking, facilities and it joins directly to the M12 pathway. Before starting out, make sure to pack some water and snacks for all the energy you’re about to burn.
Through First Nations public art and Balarinji Designing with Country principles, the M12 Motorway incorporates an immersive ‘Welcome to Country’ experience. Curated and co-created by Balarinji Studio with First Nations artists Danny Eastwood, Jamie Eastwood, Jasmine Seymour, Leanne Watson, Barry Gunter and WEST First Nations Cultural Ambassador Danielle Mate, along with knowledge holders Frances Bodkin, Julie Jones and Corina Norman, the design theme centres on interconnectedness, reflecting the First Nations principle of physical and spiritual belonging to Country.
For thousands of years, First Nations people have used seasonal indicators to guide movement, food gathering and care for Country. As you bike along the pathway and encounter the brightly coloured eucalyptus leaf canopies, it’s a chance to rest, admire your stunning surroundings and take in the Dharug landscape. Curated and co-created by Balarinji Studio with First Nations artists Barry Gunter, Jamie Eastwood and Jasmine Seymour, these canopies highlight the Aboriginal Six Seasons of Western Sydney through their tri-colour patterns and placements along the pathway, lighting up at night. At each canopy you’ll discover seasonal native plantings, wayfinding emu footprints and Dharug storytelling, a wonderful way to connect to local Dharug culture.
Passing the overbridges on the Emu Trail, reflective artworks share the six phases of The Great Emu in the Sky story, each stunning in their own right. The best way to view the artworks is by car, but you’ll be able to see the outlines and of themselves. Approaching The Great Emu in the Sky sculpture at the intersection of the M12 and Warami Drive is a big wow moment. Follow the signposts which lead right to the installation, a powerful Connection to Country through the Dharug story of the Great Emu constellation. Take the time to explore its large, mirrored branches, learn about its storytelling and the landscape around you.
From here if you’re enjoying the ride, you can continue along to The Northern Road and cycle back, or loop back around and return to your car at Cecil Park. You’re sure to notice things you didn’t spot on your trip in, which is what makes exploration and discovery so fulfilling.
By now you’ll be starving and ready for some good food. Green Valley and Abbotsbury are both just around the corner and have all you could want for a post-ride trip. Green Valley is full of delicious cultural cuisine, from Indian to Chinese, Vietnamese, Middle Eastern and more. In Abbotsbury, Cugini & Co crafts Italian dishes that taste straight from the Italian mainland itself. From saucy meatballs to their delicious rigatoni vodka pasta – every mouthful is Bellissimo. With a long list of exciting things to see and do for your next day out, the possibilities are endless. Time to get exploring with WEST!
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