Mountain biking, Maria Island National Park, Tasmania © Matt Staggs
The best biking trails in Australia
From cruising around the city to taking on rugged mountain trails, look no further for the best cycling experiences Australia has to offer.
From pretty park trails to buzzing waterfront rides, there is plenty of cycling to be done in Australia’s cities. The enclosed 3.7km (2.3mi) loop track in Sydney’s Centennial Park is perfect for family cycling adventures. In Melbourne, combine the city's love of coffee and cycling with Melbourne by Bike, or take a solo trip along the 30km (19mi) Capital City Trail. With an enormous network of bike paths weaving their way through the city, Canberra is a serious contender for Australia’s most cycling-friendly city. In Queensland’s capital, the Brisbane River Loop is an absolute must.
Australia's rugged natural beauty makes the perfect backdrop for epic mountain bike trails. The tracks in Tasmania are particularly exhilarating, from the twisting network of Blue Derby near Launceston to the downhill hurtle towards Hobart from the top of kunanyi/Mount Wellington. In New South Wales, you’ll find some serious elevation, challenging climbs and thrilling descents amid the tracks in Kosciuszko National Park, home to Australia’s highest peak. A three-hour drive from Adelaide, Mount Remarkable National Park is an epic place for single-track mountain biking, with cyclists flocking to the Melrose Fat Tyre Festival each winter.
There’s no shortage of seaside rides along Australia’s endless coastline. Weave along the 13km (8mi) Bruns to Byron Beach ride in the famous town of Byron Bay, known for its laid-back beach culture. In Western Australia, Rottnest Island is a cyclists’ wonderland, with flat, car-free roads leading to many of the island’s 63 beaches. You can’t sum up the best coastal cycling without mentioning the Great Ocean Road, Australia’s most scenic road trip. Picture 664km (412mi) of uninterrupted clifftop, coastal and rainforest views.
From rugged desert to lush rainforest, there are spectacular landscapes to explore by bike in every corner of Australia. A quintessential Aussie journey is a self-guided cycle around Uluru, Australia’s spiritual epicentre. Experience this sacred Aboriginal land and observe ancient rock art along the way. Another notable cycling mecca is located an hour south of Sydney. The Royal National Park offers 70km (43mi) of roads that snake through the oldest nature reserve in Australia. Long haul trips for serious cyclists include the Gibb River Road and Tanami Road in Western Australia, both boasting plenty of watering holes along the way.
Leafy vines, world-class drops and gentle rides – cycling through Australia’s wine regions makes for an enriching experience. Along the Riesling Trail in the Clare Valley, join Tour De Vines to take in farmland, forests and award-winning cellar doors. Nearby McLaren Vale is perfect for families, with slight inclines and vineyard vistas along the Coast to Vines Rail Trail. In Victoria, Mornington Peninsula’s Cycling Vine Tours will weave you through an enchanting coastal wine region, or three hours north of Sydney, the Hunter Valley promises great wine, cruisy trails and mesmerising views.
There are plenty of exciting animals to spot when cycling Down Under, but certain trails are especially abundant. Tassie’s Maria Island doesn't allow cars, so the only traffic that exists are wombats and kangaroos. In the Northern Territory, the World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park is a place everybody should visit at least once. Here, you’ll find great opportunities for cycling as well as thundering waterfalls, ancient rock art and a luscious rainforest housing an array of native wildlife.
For a dose of history with your ride, take to the Goldfields Track, a 21km (130mi) route named for the abundant gold supplies responsible for making Melbourne – at one point in history – one of the richest cities in the world. As Australia’s capital city, Canberra is also littered with historically significant sites. Check out the Canberra Centenary Trail to weave past important sites such as Parliament House and Hall Village, or tailor your own adventure with Mulga Bicycle Tours.
