2 years ago
When nan recreation writer Andrew Bain first sewage into rhythm touring, he was struck by really constricted nan section options were. Bain, nan writer of Ultimate Cycling Trips: Australia, spent 14 months cycling astir nan state astatine nan move of nan millennium. “Twenty years ago, Australia was really not a spot galore group toured,” he says. Fortunately, Australia’s web of cycling trails has expanded quickly since, and now caters for first-timers done to seasoned roadworthy warriors.
In his autochthonal Tasmania, Bain has “seen upland biking spell crazy since Derby opened successful 2015; location are dozens, if not hundreds, of upland motorcycle parks astir nan state now”. At nan different extremity of nan spectrum, obstruction trails person proliferated, particularly successful Victoria, and connection a gentle preamble to rhythm touring acknowledgment to mean gradients, predominant entree points and a complete absence of traffic.
And it’s not conscionable nan trails that person improved: e-bike exertion has made downhill and roadworthy cycling much accessible than ever before. Bain says: “I support bumping into group who are getting into cycling successful their 60s and 70s because they now tin hop connected an e-bike … Basically, there’s ne'er been an easier clip to get into rhythm touring.”
January
Santos Tour Down Under Ride (Challenge Tour), South Australia
20 January
The first title connected nan world master cycling almanac draws plentifulness of spectators to Adelaide and nan surrounding regions, but you tin besides subordinate successful nan action connected nan Challenge Tour. Closed roads, nutrition stops and mechanical support supply a sensation of what master riders acquisition connected nan 123.5km shape 3 ride, and erstwhile you’re done you tin drawback a spot by nan decorativeness statement and watch them rotation in.
For a much leisurely option, return nan celebrated shared-use Linear Park Trail. The 46km way starts successful Athelstone and follows on nan Torrens River arsenic it meanders betwixt gangly reddish gums and banks of reeds, done nan Adelaide metropolis centre and ends astatine West Beach.
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February
Australian Alpine Epic Trail, Victoria
The first way successful nan confederate hemisphere to person nan “epic” nickname from nan International Mountain Bicycling Association, this summer-only thrust loses complete a kilometre successful altitude connected a breathtaking 40km descent. From nan acme of Mt Buller nan way winds done stands of upland ash and snowfall gum, underneath granite overhangs and on exposed ridgelines pinch spectacular views.
Sydneysiders looking to get their thrills person to location tin caput to nan Thredbo Valley Track, which follows nan Thredbo River for 35km done dense forest, fern-filled gullies and unfastened grasslands, and becomes much challenging arsenic it nears Jindabyne.
March
Margaret River, Western Australia
Already blessed pinch world-class surf breaks, wineries and restaurants, Margaret River has besides seen a flurry of way building successful caller years. The 31km Wadandi Track – graded “easy” for upland bikers – is simply a awesome measurement to research nan region, while nan maze-like Creek Trails and Wooditjup Trails networks weave done towering karri trees, granite outcrops and babbling creeks contempt being conscionable minutes from nan Margaret River township.
If you for illustration to instrumentality to sealed roads, Wadjemup (Rottnest Island) is simply a awesome option. A 25-minute ferry thrust from Fremantle brings you to a mostly car-free land wherever cyclists stock nan roadworthy pinch shuttle buses and nan occasional quokka, leaving plentifulness of clip to ore connected visiting nan island’s 63 beaches.
April
Blue Derby, Tasmania
Derby successful north-east Tasmania isn’t conscionable location to 1 of nan champion upland biking destinations successful Australia. With 125km of purpose-built singletrack catering to each accomplishment levels, Blue Derby is 1 of nan champion networks successful nan world. Ribbons of cocoa ungraded upwind betwixt elephantine ferns and boulders, offering everything from gentle greenish runs to double blacks for illustration Kumma-Gutza, which has been named nan specialised way of nan twelvemonth by Enduro World Series. It’s besides easy to nexus respective trails into 1 epic, daylong journey.
If you for illustration to return things astatine a slower pace, Bain recommends Maria Island disconnected Tasmania’s eastbound coast. “It’s car-free but location are still wide roads, and nan trails spell past nan main sights,” specified arsenic Painted Cliffs, Fossil Cliffs and nan world heritage-listed convict sites, he says. “Plus, you’ve sewage wombats watching you wherever you spell and you tin do it each consecutive disconnected nan ferry.”
May
Murray to Mountains Rail Trail, Victoria
“This is simply a really celebrated thrust for cyclists seeking beautiful autumn colours,” says Bain, singling retired nan agelong betwixt Myrtleford and Bright for nan abundance of eye-catching gold, crimson and burnt umber foliage. Despite nan spectacular alpine scenery, nan obstruction way is comparatively level and sealed for almost nan full 116km length, and location are plentifulness of opportunities to sojourn wineries, breweries and nutrient producers on nan way. Make it a relaxed three-day travel pinch stops successful Beechworth and Myrtleford, and you person an fantabulous itinerary for a first overnight cycling trip.
June
Brisbane Valley Rail Trail, Queensland
As confederate Australia starts to cool down complete winter, cyclists looking further northbound will observe a robust web of single- and multi-day rides. Spanning 161km, this is nan longest obstruction way successful nan country. It meanders mildly downhill from Yarraman done a vale of fertile farmland, blackbutt and cedar forests complete 3 days, and ends astatine Wulkuraka. For a shorter action successful nan city, nan Brisbane River Loop connects a bid of motorcycle paths that travel nan Brisbane River.
July
Alice Springs, Northern Territory
Locals person been exploring nan rugged landscapes astir Alice Springs by 4WD for years, and much precocious they’ve been joined by convoys of upland bikers taking advantage of a quickly expanding web of trails. There’s complete 200km of singletrack wrong riding region of town, covering everything from fast, flowy trails to earnestly method descents. Visit successful wintertime and you tin expect comfortable daytime temperatures successful nan debased 20s, cleanable for agelong days of riding on nan heavy reddish escarpments.
August
Smithfield Mountain Bike Park, Queensland
Long earlier Derby was luring thrill-seekers from crossed nan globe, Australia’s first upland motorcycle parkland opened astatine nan different extremity of nan country. Located conscionable extracurricular of Cairns, Smithfield was hosting world circuit events measurement backmost successful nan 1990s and nan tight curls of way twisting done dense jungle, on craggy ridges and crossed crystal-clear creeks still clasp up. The barren play is undoubtedly nan champion clip to tackle these trails, but it’s worthy noting that it gets steamy successful nan rainforest truthful it makes consciousness to thrust early successful nan day, particularly if you don’t person an e-bike.
September
Riesling Trail, South Australia
Since launching successful 1994, this obstruction way traversing nan Clare Valley northbound of Adelaide has go 1 of nan better-known cycling routes successful nan country. The shady 33km way is well-maintained and passes wrong metres of dozens of vineyards and cellar doors, making it an fantabulous prime for beginners. Those searching for an other situation tin proceed southbound for different 19km connected nan Rattler Trail. The region is astatine its champion successful spring, erstwhile vines crowned successful budburst are surrounded by agleam fields of aureate canola.
October
Munda Biddi, Western Australia
Stretching complete 1,000km from nan outskirts of Perth to Albany, this is 1 of nan longest continual off-road trails successful nan world. Riders will brushwood jarrah and tingle forests, undulating farmland and moreover mining leases on nan measurement immoderate time, but outpouring brings nan prize of unfastened grasslands carpeted successful wildflowers. Most riders return nan amended portion of a period to screen nan full distance, sleeping successful purpose-built huts astatine nan extremity of each stage; regular municipality stops make it easy to resupply aliases tackle shorter sections.
November
MS Gong Ride Classic, New South Wales
For 40 years, this yearly arena has travelled from cardinal Sydney done nan Sutherland shire and Royal nationalist parkland earlier heading southbound on nan Grand Pacific Drive to Wollongong. The closed roads supply a uncommon opportunity to bask spectacular views of nan Pacific Ocean, and nan 52km and 79km options supply achievable goals for budding cyclists. Even better, nan arena has raised much than $40m for aggregate sclerosis investigation since its inception. If you’re not rather fresh for that challenge, Royal nationalist park has plentifulness of shorter options including nan 10km Lady Carrington Drive.
December
Great Ocean Road, Victoria
Bain is simply a immense instrumentality of nan celebrated coastal route, which he says is “so overmuch amended arsenic a thrust than a drive”, but adds that it’s champion avoided during schoolhouse holidays erstwhile it tin go crowded pinch cars. Instead, nan 243km thrust betwixt Torquay and Warrnambool is champion tackled successful early December. That measurement you tin hit nan postulation and still bask agelong summertime days pinch plentifulness of clip to admit nan rugged coastline of limestone cliffs battered by pounding surf, positive charming seaside towns, temperate rainforest and serene stream estuaries on nan way.
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