The O-Bahn is a German designed railway concept that utilises buses on a concrete guide track instead of conventional train and carriages.

The trail is a rail side trail that follows the O-Bahn for the majority of its length and, while it is predominantly a sealed shared use trail, there are sections of the trail that are located on quiet side roads. The trail makes use of the many overpasses and underpasses to provide trouble free riding. The few road crossings that you will encounter are generally quiet roads that are easy to cross.

There are trails on both sides of the O-Bahn however we have chosen a trail that provides a more scenic and continuous ride for cyclists.

Adelaide CBD to Paradise Interchange – 11km

The rail trail commences at the eastern end of Grenfell Street in the Adelaide CBD, where the O-Bahn buses enter a tunnel which takes them under the parklands, avoiding traffic congestion, before it resurfaces on Hackney Road. The trail commences on the southern side of the tunnel entry and proceeds past Rymill Lake and follows the Parklands Trail to the corner of Botanic Road and Dequetteville Terrace. Cross Botanic Road and follow the narrow footpath which opens up into a good-sized shared use path. The Wine Centre and Botanic Gardens are on the left and the O-Bahn tunnel ends in the middle of the road on the right.

Continue to the River Torrens, crossing it using the pedestrian / cyclist bridge and then turn sharp left and ride under the road bridge. Continue heading up stream and cross the River Torrens again, using the low-level bridge. Follow the path which is adjacent to the river, past St Peters Park on the right and St Peters Weir on the left, the path will go under the O-Bahn bridge and then continue to follow the river.

Key points of interest along this section are

• Gilberton Suspension Bridge – built 1920 and reconstructed in 2018
• Dunstan Adventure Playground – If you are cycling with children you cannot go past this playground. There are toilets and other amenities here.
• There a several sections where the trail is adjacent to the O-Bahn track.
• Once you have passed under OG Road, the Klemzig interchange can be seen on the left.
• Felixstow Reserve – a large reserve and wetland with playground and amenities

The trail crosses the O-Bahn just past the Felixstow Reserve. This bridge crossing gives a good view of the O-Bahn track. The path continues onto the river, which is crossed using the low-level bridge then continues to the right, following the river up stream.

Paradise Interchange to Tea Tree Plaza Shopping Centre – 5km

When the trail goes under Darley Road, the O-Bahn track can be seen ahead, and the Paradise Interchange is over Darley Road on the right. Continue on to Brookvale Road

There are two options for approaching the hill on Brookvale Road. You can ride up the steep bit or cross under the O-Bahn and ride up the less steep Willowbrook Road. The return trip down Brookvale Road is a lot of fun.

At Parsons Road turn left and then turn right into the small reserve on the corner of Parsons Road and Glenwood Walk and follow the path until you come to Lyons Road. Cross Lyons Road and follow the path adjacent to the O-Bahn and then through the bridge under the O-Bahn track. Alternatively, you can take the side trail (see below) and cross Lyons Road and follow Lyons Road until you get to the entrance to the Hope Valley Reservoir. Follow the path along the top of the Reservoir head wall then up through the park to the northwestern corner of the reserve and follow the path through the gate to reconnect with the O-Bahn Rail Trail.

The trail continues adjacent to the O-Bahn track and tack the first left turn leading under the O-Bahn track and then turn right and follow the path adjacent to the O-Bahn track. Alternatively, Baymor Reserve can be accessed by turning left at the exit from the O-Bahn Track underpass. This will lead to the connection with the Dry Creek Trail, which is only 400m away, but you will need to take care crossing North East Road.

The trail follows the O-Bahn track, going under Reservoir Road and then exiting briefly onto Meadowvale Road to the left. Follow Meadowvale Road for 100m and then rejoin the path in the reserve on the right, following it and the O-Bahn track across a creek and up to Smart Road.

The trail can be followed into Tea Tree Plaza shopping centre however it is not a bike friendly area. Your best option is to return to Adelaide on the O-Bahn Rail Trail. You may want to consider returning to the city via the Dry Creek Trail and the City to Levels Trail if you have the time.

Side Trails

Adelaide Parklands Trail – 19.5km

As the Adelaide CBD is surrounded by a 600m wide strip of parklands which contains gardens, sporting facilities, recreation facilities, art and cultural facilities. A myriad of trails have been constructed throughout the parklands however the council has developed a single shared use path, 19.5km long, that forms a loop around the city. The trail overlaps with the O-Bahn Rail Trail and is the starting point for five other rail trails (Gawler, Outer Harbor, Westside, Mike Turtur and Marino Rocks rail trails).

River Torrens Linear Park trail – 32km

The River Torrens Linear Park trail overlaps with sections of the O-Bahn Rail Trail northeast of the Adelaide CBD however the Linear Park Trail extends a further 8km to the Adelaide foothills. The Linear Park Trail also extends west of the Adelaide CBD for 12km to the coastline where it connects with the Coast Park Rail Trail.

Frome Road (North-South CBD Connector) – 1.5km

The City of Adelaide has created a north – south trail from the north parklands to the south parklands. The trail is located on the Frome road/street roadway however cyclists are isolated from traffic by physical barriers and garden beds.

Jubilee Exhibition Rail Trail – 1.25km

The Jubilee Exhibition Railway was constructed in 1887 to link the Adelaide Railway Station with the Jubilee Exhibition Building. The line was used to transport stock and passengers to the Adelaide Showgrounds, located next to the Exhibition Building. The line was also used to transport World War I and Boer War troops from the Torrens Parade Ground to ships docked at Port Adelaide. During the 1919 influenza pandemic the line was used to transport passengers from Melbourne straight to the quarantine camp at the showgrounds. The line passed under King William Road via a 10m long and 5m wide tunnel. When the Adelaide showgrounds were relocated to Wayville in 1927 the Jubilee Line was removed. The River Torrens Linear Park Shared Use Path is located close to the alignment of the Jubilee line.

City to Levels Bikeway – 18km

The City to Levels Bikeway links with the O-Bahn Rail Trail at Fuller Street, Walkerville. The trail is located on minor, low traffic roads and extends 18km to link with the Dry Creek Trail and the Stockade Rail Trail.

Hope Valley Reservoir Trail – 2.2km

The Hope Valley Reservoir Trail provides a short diversion from the O-Bahn Rail Trail as it passes along 950m clay-cored earth wall. The reservoir was constructed in 1873 and is the oldest reservoir still in use in South Australia. The trail provides toilets, shelters and seating.

Dry Creek Trail / Stockade Rail Trail – 17.5km

At Baymor Reserve, 804 North East Road, Modbury, a 400m path, connects the O-Bahn Rail Trail with the Dry Creek Trail. The Dry Creek Trail extends 6.5km northward to Wynn Vale Dam and 5km west to link with Stockade Rail Trail (it also connects with the City to Levels Bikeway at this point). Dry Creek Trail continues for a further 6km to link with the Gawler Rail Trail.