What could you not love about a trip to Australia mountain biking? This huge country is full of wide open spaces to explore on two wheels. It also has pretty much every landscape you could want to visit within its shores: mountains, rolling countryside, coastal cliffs, forests, deserts and tropical jungles. Mountain biking in Australia will get your heart racing.
If you’re looking for downhill trails, many winter ski resorts turn in mountain biking destinations in the summer. The Snowy Mountains is the place to head for the biggest trails: it’s Australia’s highest mountain range. The resort of Thredbo is particularly well set up for downhill riders, with lots of dedicated trails as well as some lovely cross-country runs through national parkland. Mount Buller, a few hours drive north of Melbourne, is also a popular hub for mountain bikers, with a tough downhill course and a network of cross-country trails.
Australia has plenty of mountains and hills. But it is also the world’s flattest country. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that means it’s an unexciting place to get on a bike! Riding through the desert outback is seriously challenging. If you think you’re up to it, you’ll have to carry everything you need on your back: you could easily ride for days without seeing a soul. The best marked tracks are often old stock routes. Try the Birdsville Track through South Australia’s Stony Desert, or head for the ‘red centre’ where you can take in Uluru.
Australia’s long coast also offers plenty of opportunity for mountain bikers. A ride along the beautiful Queensland coast is a classic, with the option of turning off into the hills just inland.
You’ll need several Australia mountain biking trips under your belt to even feel as if you’ve scratched the surface of this huge country. Don’t let that put you off, though: rides in Australia are unforgettable.
