Preparing for a day of cycling on the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail | Tourism and Events Queensland
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The 5 Cycling Trips Now Trending with Aussies
Travel is better by bike! People are fast realising two things: how much fun can be had on a cycling adventure; and that Australia is home to a bunch of great routes.
Whether you're interested in the sweeping plains and rural charms of the country, lush rainforests and tropical waters, or seeing native wildlife in their natural environment, there's a cycle tour in Australia that will suit you. Read on for the top 5 bike trails favoured by locals.
How does a cycle tour work?
It's easy as! Our services include everything you need, just turn up and go.
✅ Top quality bike or ebike hire (or BYO for a discount)
✅ Cosy accommodation that's full of character
✅ Daily luggage transfers
✅ Helpful navigation app
✅ Any transfers
✅ 24/7 support hotline
Read on to discover the top 5 Australian cycle tour itineraries loved by Australians, or
get in touch with Erin and the team if you need advice or questions.
1. Central West Cycle Trail
The 400km long
Central West Cycle Trail takes cyclists on a loop through country New South Wales. There is everything you would expect from rural Australia, including sweeping views, lonely roads and charming towns packed with character. The route traverses the territory of the Wiradjuri people, the First Nations people of this area.
We have handpicked accommodation in a combination of country pubs with shared bathrooms and family run motels with private facilities, with friendly hosts and tasty food options. The sense of achievement as you roll into Mudgee on the last cycle day is a true highlight on this groundbreaking cycle trail.
"I could not overstate what a fantastic trip the Central West Cycle trail was. Huge shoutout to Shawn who continued to check on our progress. Communication was excellent and the assistance with booking accommodation and luggage transfers was invaluable. We found the app to be invaluable, it made navigating the trail incredibly easy and the direction were particularly helpful in the forest sections." J. Charles, Sydney. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
How to get there? Fly into Sydney then drive/bus to Mudgee.
Grade: Introductory to Moderate
2. Brisbane Valley Rail Trail
At 161km in length, the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail (BVRT) qualifies as the longest rail trail in Australia. Our self-guided cycle tour starts at the top of the range, giving you an easy start downhill to the plains of the Brisbane Valley and back to Wulkuraka over three days. The cycling is on mixed surfaces of gravel, dirt and asphalt and is achievable for anyone of reasonable fitness and cycling ability.
Along the route, you'll pass through prime agricultural land, a rugged mountain range and forests of Blackbutt, Hoop Pine and Cedar. Stops at historical townships with good coffee and bakery treats, interesting museums and friendly pubs are all part of the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail experience.
"We loved our trip down the Brisbane Valley rail trail, thank you. All the arrangements made by Australian Cycle Tours went smoothly - the accommodation was good, the pickup and transport to the start of the trail, luggage transport, bike hire and return all occurred without a hitch. A very enjoyable four days!" J. Garben, Concord. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
How to get there? Fly into Brisbane or the Gold Coast, then train or bus to Ipswich.
Grade: Introductory to Moderate
3. Townsville, Rainforest & Magnetic Island Cycle
This tour captures the wonder of the World Heritage Paluma National Park, the beauty of the North Queensland coast, the vibrant city of Townsville and the tranquil beauty of nearby Magnetic Island. There are opportunities to explore the amazing World Heritage Great Barrier Reef or head off on a self guided cycle or walk along the east coast of this fascinating island.
Highlights include seeing rock wallabies, local birds in the wetlands and the opportunity to join a snorkelling trip to explore the undersea wonders of the Great Barrier Reef. Kylie, a journalist, recently went on this trip and
described her cycling adventures.
"This is a great trip which we thoroughly recommend. A great way to explore Townsville and Magnetic Island with plenty of time to relax after each day's excursion. We are regular (non-electric) cyclists but opted for the e-bikes and recommend them. The accommodation was clean and comfortable and allowed us to prepare breakfast before each day's early start. Ian and Julia were very friendly, informative and helpful leaders." M. Williams, Hawker, South Australia. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
How to get there? Fly into Townsville in Queensland.
Grade: Introductory to Moderate
4. Kosciuszko to the Sea
This journey comes with a great sense of achievement: start in Australia's highest mountain and finish with views of the sparkling Sapphire Coast.
Beginning from the swish alpine village of Thredbo, the journey starts with an ascent on foot to the top of Australia, Mount Kosciuszko (2,228 metres), followed by a mostly downhill cycle to the shores of Lake Jindabyne. Continuing through an incredible diversity of scenery and passing through some of the prettiest towns in NSW, this is an epic cycle route you'll remember for years to come.
Enroute to the coast, your journey takes you through the Monaro region and the Snowy Mountains National Park. Here, historic properties and rolling hills abound as you pedal from the alpine zone where you will be joined at points by herds of kangaroos, a variety of birds, emus and wombats.
Nearing the beautiful Sapphire Coast you'll cycle past dairy farms and meander pretty forest tracts. Diving into the ocean at Tathra is a fitting conclusion to this ultimate cycle experience.
"Fantastic varied scenery. Alpine walks & cycling through Monaro high country to real outback sheep farming to forests & downhill runs on Mt Daragh & Myrtle Mtn to lushness of Bega Valley ending with a swim in Tathra." S. Yarrington, Byron Bay. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
How to get there? The easiest way to get to Jindabyne is by car. The drive from Sydney is 5 hours, from Melbourne it takes 6 hours, and 2 hours from Canberra.
Grade: Moderate to Challenging
5. Murray to the Mountains Rail Trail
Spend your time taking in the beautiful scenery and enjoying the local produce and wines of regional Victoria while cycling the
Murray to Mountains Rail Trail. This itinerary follows sections of the old Wangaratta to Bright railway line and sees you cycle on gentle, flat roads or fun downhill trails while soaking in the views of verdant farmland, bushland, forests, valleys and mountains.
"A very well organised trip. From the booking experience all the way through to the end of the trip, we were looked after very well. James provided great service in both transferring bikes, bags and ourselves. The hotels were as promised and everyone we met was friendly and welcoming. Erin and everyone else at head office we contacted couldn’t have been more helpful. Great app too for finding our way around. The rail trails were fantastic and the weather was great. First class trip!" P. Glyde, Campbelltown. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Starting in the historical town of Beechworth, you will get your first taste of the fine produce of the region on a scenic day cycle to Milawa, with stops to sample cheese, mustard and wines.
You then cycle onwards to picturesque Myrtleford through shaded forests and eucalyptus trees with a relaxing lunch at a beautiful winery. Your final day's cycle takes you to Bright, the perfect town to explore the nearby Mount Buffalo National Park and Alpine National Park.
"Very easy cycle trail with outstanding views and interesting small towns." R. Stephenson, Te Anau. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
How to get there? Fly into Melbourne, then drive or bus to Beechworth.
Grade: Introductory
Rising in Popularity: Northern Rivers Rail Trail & Tweed Valley Cycle
The Tweed Valley is a special place. It's where the ocean shores rise to the world's largest expanse of subtropical rainforest, creating a beautiful region that is truly breathtaking. You can experience it all on the
Northern Rivers Rail Trail & Tweed Valley Cycle.
The whole Tweed Valley was formed by an extinct volcano leaving behind a caldera. Right in the very centre of this timeless landscape sits Wollumbin (Mt Warning), the vent of this ancient volcano which is held with due reverence by the Bundjalung Indigenous people. After exploring this, you head out along the new Northern Rivers Rail Trail and the sparkling beaches and coastline of the Tweed Coast, where you'll stay in premium accommodation by the beach.
"The self-guided cycling tour out of Murwillumbah was terrific. Explored different landscapes and wonderful towns and got to know some of the locals. I enjoyed the route to Tyalgum and around Wollumbin. The gravel section around Wollumbin was in good shape and very peaceful, very nice riding. Riding the Northern Rivers Rail Trail was a treat and is well used by locals and visitors, a real bonus for the area. The logistics was well organised and communicated and everything worked seamlessly." M. Mahoney, Forrest. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
How to get there? Fly into Brisbane or the Gold Coast.
Grading: Introductory to Moderate
Have you been on an Australian cycling holiday before? Where did you go, what did you experience? Let us know in the comment section below.