Superb cycling trials are sprinkled all over Australia, combining pedal power with palatable produce, sparkling sea views, mighty mountains, and much more.
Don’t know where to start? Well, read on! Tourism Australia has found half-a-dozen fantastic cycling paths that will please cyclists of all levels.
Prepare for the ride of your life….
The Riesling Trail is a 36km bike path that follows the course of a disused railway through the gorgeous Clare Valley wine region, 90 minutes’ drive north of the South Australian capital, Adelaide. Connecting the towns of Auburn and Clare, the trail provides a gentle half-day ride with no climbs of note, and offers direct access to at least eight vineyards with cellar doors. Bike hire is available in Clare.
Visit when…on a daytrip from Adelaide.
Join the locals on Rottnest Island, Australia's most bike-friendly island, 10km offshore from Perth. Roads ring the flat island, but all cars are banned, making it a cyclist's dream. A full cycling lap of Rottnest covers about 25km, and the island has more than 60 inviting beaches. Two ferry services connect Rottnest Island to Perth, and both can arrange bike hire. Bikes can also be hired once you're on the island.
Visit when…staying in Fremantle or BIG4 Perth Midland Tourist Park or Perth Central Caravan Park.
Pedal to Produce is an interconnecting web of about 250km of bike trails through the wine and gourmet regions around the welcoming towns of Rutherglen, Beechworth, Milawa, and Bright, three hours’ drive north of Melbourne. It's as simple as picking a section and cycling to discover farm gates, craft breweries, vineyards, and providores. Bike hire is available in all major villages.
Visit when…staying in Victoria’s High Country region.
Let gravity do the work on Mt Wellington Descent, a pure downhill ride from the summit of Mt Wellington, the peak that dominates Tasmania's capital city, Hobart. On this guided ride, you will be driven by bus to the top of the mountain, 1270m above the city, where you'll find a view across much of southern Tasmania. Supplied with a mountain bike, helmet, and safety vest, you'll coast 21km back into the city, finishing among the colonial warehouses of historic Salamanca.
Visit when…staying at BIG4 Hobart Airport Tourist Park.
The section of Tasmania's east coast between the island’s two major cities (Hobart and Launceston) is Australia's most popular multi-day cycling route. The beaches are dazzling and towns are well spaced for each night's stop. Best of all, the effort of cycling presents the perfect excuse to indulge in Tasmania's excellent produce and wines in the cafés and vineyards along the way. Hire a bike in either city.
Visit when…staying in Hobart or Launceston or within the Freycinet and the East Coast region.
The Hidden Peaks Trail is a four-day guided mountain bike ride in Queensland's rural Scenic Rim region, a one-hour drive from the state capital, Brisbane. The ride will take you into World Heritage-listed rainforest and mountains.
Isn’t it time you enjoyed a cycling escape? Book your next BIG4 break now.
