Ride to the Regatta

The Golden Oar 2026 is making it easier than ever to get to Black Mountain Peninsula on two wheels, with the return of the free Trek Bicycle Valet Service and, new for 2026, a Lime Mobility Station at the Red Shed for all three days of the festival, 30 October to 1 November, plus two park-and-ride sites across the weekend.

Whether you’re coming to cheer on Olympic champions, catch live music by the water or grab a bite from Canberra’s best local producers, you can now ride in, hand over your bike, and walk straight into the action.

Trek Bicycle Valet returns: ride in, hand over, enjoy

Back after its debut at the inaugural Golden Oar in 2025, and in Trek’s 50th anniversary year, the Trek Bicycle Valet works like a cloakroom for your bike. Ride up to the valet area at the Red Shed, hand your bike to the Trek team, and collect a numbered ticket. Your bike is stored securely and supervised while you enjoy the racing, then returned when you present your ticket on the way out.

There’s no need to bring a lock or hunt for a rail to lean on. Helmets are stored with your bike, so there’s nothing to carry around the festival.

• Location: at the Red Shed, 41 John Cardiff Close, Acton [exact spot TBC]
• Hours: From 8am, Saturday and Sunday

New for 2026: Lime Mobility Station

No bike? No problem. New this year, Lime is setting up a dedicated Mobility Station at the Red Shed, so you can grab an e-bike or e-scooter in the city, Acton or across inner Canberra and ride straight to the festival.

End your trip at the station, park in the marked bays, and you’re steps from the racing. When it’s time to head home, you can pick up a vehicle at the station to ride back to town, to dinner or to your accommodation.

• How to ride: download the Lime app, scan a vehicle and go
• Where to park: in the marked Lime bays at the Red Shed station only
• Ride safe: helmets are required by law in the ACT; please ride at walking pace through crowds and on shared paths

Park and ride: make the journey part of the day

Driving in from further afield? Park the car and finish your trip on two wheels. Two park-and-ride sites will run across the weekend, each with free car parking and Lime e-bikes and scooters available from daybreak Saturday through to dusk on Sunday.

• West: National Arboretum Canberra — Lindsay Pryor National Arboretum carpark
• City: Acton Foreshore — Barrine Drive carpark

From both sites, picturesque routes on safe, paved cycle paths take you directly to Black Mountain Peninsula. Bring your own bike, or grab a Lime when you arrive. Lime devices are available on a first-in, first-served basis, so early arrivals have the best pick.

Better for you, better for the lake

The Golden Oar returns bigger in 2026, now running across three days with more than $200,000 in prize money and elite crews from around the world. More visitors means more pressure on parking around Black Mountain Peninsula, and riding in is the quickest way to beat the queues.

It also fits the Red Shed’s mission. As a community rowing not-for-profit, the Red Shed wants more Canberrans getting active and enjoying Lake Burley Griffin, and turning up on a bike or scooter is part of that.

Plan your ride

See you by the lake. For the full racing program, festival line-up and hospitality options, visit goldenoar.com.au.