Bonza Bike Tours, The Royal Botanic Garden SydneyCredit: Destination NSW
Cycling through Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden, backdropped by the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House, with Bonza Bike Tours.
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Scale mountain tops, weave through ancient forest, zip past vineyards and take in ocean views — the options for exploring New South Wales on two wheels are as diverse as they are dramatic. From the Snowy Mountains to Sydney, the state’s dedicated cycleways and cross-country mountain-bike trails range from short, easy rides suitable for the whole family, to full-day adventures across challenging terrain. Whichever you choose, bring your pedal power.
Sydney
Cycling is the ideal way to explore Sydney, which is blessed with expansive parks and gardens, blissful beaches linked by clifftop trails, and vast tracts of protected national parkland. For a day of flat-trail fun with the family, bike the 3.5km loop around Centennial Parklands in the city’s inner-east. For something more challenging, tackle the 60km Three Gorges loop in the north of Sydney, with views of the Hawkesbury River and Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park en route.
Snowy Mountains
There are plenty of reasons to visit the Snowy Mountains in winter. But once the weather warms, Australia’s highest mountain range — 600km south of Sydney — becomes a mecca for cyclists, offering a textbook mountain-bike experience across dirt tracks and sealed roads. For a solid workout, test the Thredbo Valley Track, with routes of between 12km and 35km traversing alpine terrain through Kosciuszko National Park and along the Thredbo River.
Another highlight is the Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail — 21km of sealed and safe tracks following the region’s onetime rail line. Historic sites, rolling fields and eucalypt forest are just some of the scenic attractions.
Blue Mountains
Nothing beats the adrenalin rush of zipping along clifftops, through deep canyons and around untouched bushland in the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains on two wheels. Test your stamina on the hilly 58km between Glenbrook and Wentworth Falls along the Oak and Anderson fire trails.
Or enjoy never-ending vistas of Lake Burragorang on the McMahon’s Point trail, a challenging 36km return from the Blue Mountains town of Wentworth Falls, a 1.5-hour drive west from Sydney.
Centennial Park Cycles, Centennial Park Credit: Destination NSW
Family enjoying a day out at Centennial Park in a hired 4-seat pedal car from Centennial Park Cycles.
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Centennial Park Cycles, Centennial Park Credit: Destination NSW
Family enjoying a day out at Centennial Park in a hired 4-seat pedal car from Centennial Park Cycles.
Mountain Biking, Blue Mountains Credit: Destination NSW
Family enjoying a day of mountain biking in the Blue Mountains National Park.
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Mountain Biking, Blue Mountains Credit: Destination NSW
Family enjoying a day of mountain biking in the Blue Mountains National Park.
South Coast
Pedal the scenic 90km from Sydney to Wollongong via the Royal National Park — the oldest national park in Australia — across the breathtaking 665m Sea Cliff Bridge and along the Grand Pacific Drive. From clifftop lookouts to deserted beaches, it’s a route you won’t forget in a hurry.
Other heart-starting cycle routes take you through Mogo State Forest, south of Batemans Bay (280km from Sydney); the Narooma trails, through Bodalla State Forest (350km from Sydney); the Bundanoon trail through Morton National Park (140km from Sydney); and the cross-country trails around Murramarang National Park (270km from Sydney).
Hunter Valley
Explore the rolling vine-laced countryside of the Hunter Valley, 250km north of Sydney, at your own pace, using pedal power to visit cellar doors, sample local produce or drop in on art galleries. Not for the faint of heart, the 22km Big Yango loop trail traverses through the Yengo and Wollemi wilderness areas in Yengo National Park, with steep climbs, challenging descents and tight switchbacks. Admire the rugged landscape and keep an eye out for wombats, wallabies and goannas as you navigate this tricky trail.
Lord Howe Island
It’s just a two-hour flight from Sydney to Lord Howe, but you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time when you touch down. Explore the 12km-long island’s wild, Jurassic-like landscapes on two wheels, cooling off at beaches, pausing to wander through rainforest and popping your stand down when you find a café that takes your fancy. The island’s roads have a 25km/h speed limit, making cycling the favoured mode of transport for residents and visitors.
Events and competitions
For competitive cyclists, NSW offers the chance to partake in a number of events, not in the least the L’Étape Australia by Le Tour de France. This annual festival of Lycra — held amid the rolling hills of Kiama, Shoalhaven and the Southern Highlands on the South Coast — covers two distances: 80km and 136km.
Not just for cyclists, Gears + Beers unites bikes with beer, cider, great food and entertainment. There are multiple courses pencilled out around Wagga Wagga, 450km southwest of Sydney, catering to riders of all ages and fitness levels.
Cycling, Lord Howe Island Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a relaxing and scenic bike ride on Lord Howe Island.
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Cycling, Lord Howe Island Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a relaxing and scenic bike ride on Lord Howe Island.
L'Étape Australia 2016, Snowy Mountains Credit: L'Étape Australia
Cyclist competing in the L'Étape Australia in the scenic Snowy Mountains.
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L'Étape Australia 2016, Snowy Mountains Credit: L'Étape Australia
Cyclist competing in the L'Étape Australia in the scenic Snowy Mountains.
More Inspirational Stories
Glasshouse Rocks, NaroomaCredit: Destination NSW
Father and son heading out for a morning surf at Glasshouse Rocks, Narooma.
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Put this glorious stretch of the New South Wales coastline on your holiday radar and drive four hours south from Sydney to discover the charming Eurobodalla region. You’ll have plenty of easy adventures on this laidback coastal getaway stretching from South Durras down to Tilba Tilba on the NSW South Coast. Elevate your visit with these 10 memorable experiences.
Go snorkelling with seals
Experience the unforgettable thrill of snorkelling alongside playful fur seals on a day trip to Montague Island, a protected nature reserve just off the coast of Narooma. Local operators such as Montague Island Adventures can take you on this exhilarating adventure and if you book between November and May you might be lucky enough to share your trip with migrating whales. You can also tour the island’s historic lighthouse and significant Aboriginal sites or seize the rare chance to stay overnight in a lighthouse keeper’s cottage.
Get back to nature with your family
Connect with your loved ones in the inspiring surrounds of Murramarang National Park, which offers a family-friendly taster of the magnificent coastal wilderness in the Eurobodalla region. Children will love the tree stump stepping ‘stones’ at the start of the Durras Lake Discovery Trail, with possible kangaroo sightings adding to the fun. Find the trailhead for the 1.5km loop at the end of Lake Road.
Enter cheese heaven
Feasting on local cheese is a quintessential experience in this historic dairy region, which has been producing quality cheeses since the 1870s. Live out your farming fantasies at the 1950s-style Bodalla Dairy in Bodalla, where fresh milk is produced onsite every morning to make artisinal cheeses with native flavours, as well as traditional milkshakes, great coffees and ice-creams. Stay the night in one the property’s five farm-chic guest rooms.
Sample more delicious cheeses and perhaps join a cheesemaking course at the ABC Cheese Factory further south in the charming surrounds of National Heritage-listed Central Tilba, which offers a living snapshot of 19th-century regional Australia.
Montague Island, Narooma Credit: Destination NSW
Montague Island Discovery Tours
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Montague Island, Narooma Credit: Destination NSW
Montague Island Discovery Tours
VIP Private Tours, Bodella Dairy Shed, Narooma Credit: Destination NSW
VIP Private Tours design bespoke and exclusive experiences exploring the Eurobodalla region.
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VIP Private Tours, Bodella Dairy Shed, Narooma Credit: Destination NSW
VIP Private Tours design bespoke and exclusive experiences exploring the Eurobodalla region.
Be mesmerised by whales
Seeing a whale in the wild is magical, whether it’s your first time or your 50th. The huge marine mammals are at their most playful in the Eurobodalla region from September to November, making this the perfect time to marvel at their aerobatic feats. Bring your binoculars to spot whales from the shoreline at Toragy Point near Moruya (which has the region’s only airport) or on Broulee Island. Or join an action-packed whale watching tour with the likes of Narooma Charters. You might also be treated to a very special whale encounter on a half-day kayaking tour with Region X as you paddle out into open water in search of hidden beaches and azure rock pools.
Sign up for more aquatic adventures
The Eurobodalla Shire is known as the land of many waters, with rivers, lakes and, of course, the ocean to enjoy aquatic adventures such as surfing, diving, fishing, and more. Revel in the accomplishment of learning to surf with Surf the Bay, a mobile surf school based in Broulee; get a buzz catching your own seafood dinner on a fishing trip with Narooma Charters;, and feel anew after an invigorating beach dip at pretty Mystery Bay.
Explore Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Garden with all your senses
Stop and smell the native flowers in the Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Garden, just south of Batemans Bay, where five walking trails weave around a collection of themed gardens. Learn something new on the Aboriginal Heritage Walk, a 1km walking path suitable for visitors with limited mobility that reveals the fascinating traditional uses of about 30 Eurobodalla plants. Feel your worries melt away as you wander the gardens, calmed by the trickle of water features and the buzz of the bees. Bring a picnic or grab a wholesome bite at the Mossy on Gardens Café, which overlooks the gardens.
Follow Eurobodalla’s oyster trail
Shuck and slurp to your heart’s content in the Eurobodalla region, which forms part of Australia’s famous Oyster Coast. Look out for these plump delicacies on menus across the region, as well as oyster specialists like the Oyster Shed on Wray Street in Batemans Bay, where you can sample oysters beside the Clyde River where they are farmed. The Oyster Farmers Daughter is an alfresco oyster bar nestled alongside the idyllic Wagonga Inlet in Narooma where you can pair fresh oysters with refreshing cocktails made with local gin.
Narooma Charters Montague Island Tours Credit: Destination NSW
Aerial view of the Narooma Charters Montague Island Tour boat travelling from Narooma to Montague Island
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Narooma Charters Montague Island Tours Credit: Destination NSW
Aerial view of the Narooma Charters Montague Island Tour boat travelling from Narooma to Montague Island
Wray Street Oyster Shed, Batemans Bay Credit: Destination NSW
Farmer returning to Wray Street Oyster Shed, Batemans Bay with fresh oysters.
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Wray Street Oyster Shed, Batemans Bay Credit: Destination NSW
Farmer returning to Wray Street Oyster Shed, Batemans Bay with fresh oysters.
Immerse yourself in Aboriginal culture
Transform your understanding of the Eurobodalla region’s Aboriginal peoples and their fascinating stories with local Indigenous operator Ngaran Ngaran Culture Awareness. Its 40-hour Yuin Retreat, named for the region’s Traditional Custodians, begins on the first evening with a traditional welcome, followed by a sunrise ceremony and the option to hike Gulaga (formerly Mount Dromedary) or visit significant sites on the Djirringanj Dreaming Trail. Following a cultural program in the evening, the experience ends with an Aboriginal healing and connection workshop on the final morning, leaving you with a whole new outlook on Aboriginal culture and this storied corner of the country.
Embrace next-level camping and glamping
Deepen your connection to the region’s enriching natural landscapes on a local camping or glamping experience. Soak up the unrivalled seaside location along with the stellar wildlife-watching opportunities at Beachcomber Holiday Park at Potato Point, just south of Tuross Head, where you may be surprised to discover emus are among the menagerie of native animals known to frequent this campground backing onto Eurobodalla National Park.
If glamping is more your style, wake up to sweeping mountain views after a romantic night in a glamping tent at Mountain View Farm in Tilba Tilba. Also tucked in the lush rolling hills of the Tilba Valley is Tilba Lake House, which offers a luxe glamping option as well as four cosy self-contained tiny house stays with views of the lake, ocean and mountains.
Go market-hopping
Get to know the friendly Eurobodalla community at the region’s vibrant markets. Learn about their passion for developing a sustainable local food system as you fill your basket with local goodies spanning vegetables from Old Mill Road Biofarm to McAsh Oysters at the SAGE Farmers Market, held every Tuesday afternoon from 3pm at Riverside Park in Moruya. Find more produce and connect with the local artisans, craftspeople and designers, at the Moruya Country Market on Saturday mornings from 8am, held at the same spot.
Tilba Tilba Lake, Central Tilba Credit: Destination NSW
Scenic views across Central Tilba to Tilba Tilba Lake.
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Tilba Tilba Lake, Central Tilba Credit: Destination NSW
Scenic views across Central Tilba to Tilba Tilba Lake.
Ngaran Ngaran Culture Awareness, Narooma Credit: Destination NSW
Ngaran Ngaran Culture Awareness located at Narooma offers an immersive Indigenous experience on-country in Yuin Country.
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Ngaran Ngaran Culture Awareness, Narooma Credit: Destination NSW
Ngaran Ngaran Culture Awareness located at Narooma offers an immersive Indigenous experience on-country in Yuin Country.