This Thursday (3 June 2021) is World Bicycle Day which also marks 23 days until one of the world’s most famous cycling events takes place, the Tour de France. Watching Europe’s most iconic race from an alpine mountain retreat may not be an option for Aussies this year but a ‘Tour de Queensland’ is. Tick off these six ‘wheely’ epic experiences to get your heart racing and legs pumping.
Chopper in and shred Ipswich’s Hidden Vale Adventure Park
The idea of ‘dropping in for a spin’ takes flight with Brisbane-based tour company, Elite Helicopters transferring thrill-seeking mountain bikers via helicopter to Hidden Vale Adventure Park. You can’t get more Rockstar rider than that!
Located on the Spicers Hidden Vale property, Hidden Vale Adventure Park is an hour drive from Brisbane (or less via helicopter) where mountain bike aficionados can spend the day shredding 110km of carefully crafted tracks. Elite Helicopter’s Adventure Tour packages start from $440 per person and your tour to Hidden Vale Adventure Park includes helicopter transfer, e-bike hire, three-hours of mountain biking at Hidden Vale Adventure Park and the chance to bail out for an energy-fuelling burger at the Spicers Hidden Vale Barn.
‘Wheely’ heart racing world-class Smithfield Track, Cairns
Ride the tracks of mountain bike royalty when you tackle the famous Smithfield Track in Tropical North Queensland – the oldest mountain bike park in Australia. The Smithfield Track is the brainchild of world-renowned mountain bike trail designer and Cycling Australia Hall of Fame inductee, Glen Jacobs, who has created hundreds of tracks across the world, including the course for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. The Smithfield Track itself has hosted premier mountain biking events including the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup (1995, 2014 and 2016) and the UCI World Mountain Bike Championships (1996 and 2017).
With more than 60km of trails ranging from easy to advanced, the best way to make the most out of this trail network is to book a tour with an experienced guide from Biked Palm Cove. The four-hour tour costs $180 per person and starts with a 20-minute ride from the Biked office in Palm Cove and includes the hire of a bike, helmet, hydration backpack, gloves and plenty of adrenaline pumping action at the Smithfield Track.
Spin out at the Brisbane Cycling Festival
Seat up for Queensland’s biggest cycling celebration when the Brisbane Cycling Festival kicks off in the River City on 1 July 2021. The 11-day event features a wide variety of cycling and festival activities including the Tour de Brisbane, Active Lifestyle Expo and free SBS Festival Village – making it an entertaining and exhilarating experience for both leisure and professional cyclers alike.
Closing out the festival, the Tour de Brisbane brings riders of all abilities together to cruise through downtown Brisbane without the traffic. Cyclists looking to participate competitively can purchase entry tickets online, or those preferring a fun spin with family and friends can join the Trek Free Community Ride which is free to enter. Make the most of your time in Brisbane and stay a little longer to explore everything this transformed and trendy city has to offer.
Try your ‘hand-lebars’ at the longest rail trail in Australia
Take a ride along Australia’s longest rail trail and explore charming country towns on the historic Brisbane Valley Rail Trail. The trail runs for 161km between the city of Ipswich and the small town of Yarraman, approximately a 2.5 hour drive north-west of Brisbane. Riders can choose to conquer a section of the trail in a day or embark on a multi-day ride overnighting along the way.
On the trail, riders pass the communities of Coominya, Esk, Toogoolawah, Moore, Linville, Benarkin and Blackbutt where grand Queenslander pubs, comfortable overnight accommodation, campgrounds and country hospitality awaits. Easy riders should choose the less strenuous north to south route, noted for its downhill terrain. It is recommended riders plan ahead to map out their journey and stops before embarking on the ride. Out There Cycling provides a pre-booked shuttle service to transport riders and their bikes along any section of the trail. Bikes can also be hired through Out There Cycling prior to departing.
Push it to the limit at the Paluma Push
Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2021, The Paluma Push is one of Townsville’s most action-packed events combining the thrill of mountain bike racing with a vibrant festival atmosphere. Taking place on Saturday, 17 July 2021, the race starts at the village of Paluma, a 1.5-hour drive from Townsville, and includes of a variety of cycling courses suited to different abilities and lengths, ranging from 42km to 100km. Competitor spaces are still available with adult registrations starting from $125 per rider.
Whizz through Wet Tropics World Heritage rainforest, cattle country and timber forest as you climb and drop through the course, before kicking up your heels at the afterparty with live music, food trucks and spin-tastic celebrations. Dedicated and super-energised peddlers can hit the tracks one last time in the Rockwheelers Recovery Race on the Sunday morning.
With increased flights into Townsville announced in recent weeks, including QANTAS’ new Adelaide – Townsville route, visitors from Sydney, Melbourne and South Australia can fly direct to Townsville (note: new direct flight dates start after the Paluma Push event) to enjoy everything North Queensland has to offer.
The coffee of cycling champions
Take a weekend ride around the Gold Coast and pull in to Piccolo Espresso at Miami, where café owner Robbie McEwen also happens to be a three-time Tour de France green jersey winner. You never know… the brew here might be infused with champion peddling power!
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