Saturday 28 November 2015

Get on your bike & ride! 10 must-do pedal power adventures in Sydney and NSW

Scale mountain tops, meander through ancient forests, ride alongside lush vineyards, coast beachside paths and cruise city streets to enjoy the sights of Sydney and NSW on board a bicycle.

Destination NSW CEO Sandra Chipchase said: “Cycling and mountain-biking continues to grow in popularity amongst travelers looking for outdoor adventure with more visitors than ever choosing to explore the state on a bike.”

“There has been a 22 per cent increase in the number of domestic overnight visitors including a cycling experience in their itinerary over the last five years*. Destination NSW recognizes the high-level of interest in cycling and is bringing the L’Etape Australia by Tour de France event to the Snowy Mountains in December 2016 with more than 30,000 people expected to participate,” she said.

NSW boasts plenty of places to go cycling and mountain-biking ranging from short, easy rides suitable for the whole family, to half-day and full-day rides through some of the most beautiful scenery and challenging terrain for more experienced riders.

Here is Destination NSW’s pick of 10 things to do on a bike for both leisurely and more competitive riders:

Leisurely exploring on a bike

1. In the city: Grab a Swipe & Ride share bike from Interbike Ibis Darling Harbour and cruise The Goods Line, a disused rail corridor linking Railway Square with Ultimo and Darling Harbour. The line has been transformed into a shared path featuring buskers, picnic areas and table tennis tables

2. Cruise the coast: BYO bike and choose from six self-guided cycling adventures on the South Coast with Australian Cycling Holidays. Download an itinerary and fact sheet and set your own pace with a two to six day trip for all the family

3. Take a tour: Join skilled local guides from Mountain Bike Tours Byron Bay on a two-wheel adventure through fire trails, single tracks, exhilarating downhills and log jumps with an overnight camp and morning hike up Mt Warning

4. Art and bikes: Admire sculptures created by local Indigenous artists on the 5 km Yindyamarra Sculpture Walk along the Murray River. Learn the story of the regions Aboriginal history and cultural significance of the River with interpretative panels and videos via smartphone.

5. Mountain climbing: Ride around the family-friendly trails at Lake Crackenback Resort & Spa. There’s 25kms of scenic tracks encompassing the lake and nearby Thredbo River, with views of Kosciuszko National Park and Bullocks Hut.

Heart racing adventure

1. Wild trail: Experienced riders will love the Wylde MTB Trail at Western Sydney Parklands where the hard-core trails feature tight winding loose, irregular surfaces and steep hills, long steep descents, numerous natural and human-made obstacles including jumps, ramps, elevated features, berms, drops, rocks and other terrain variations. Requires off road riding experience and a high level of fitness

2. City to city: Pedal the scenic 90km’s from Sydney to Wollongong via the Royal National Park and the breathtaking Sea Cliff Bridge as part of the Sydney to the Gong race. The event is one of Australia’s most celebrated mass participation bike events attracting around 10,000 riders each year raising money for MS Australia

3. Loop-the-loop: Not for the faint hearted, the 22 km Big Yango loop trail traverses through the Yengo and Wollemi wilderness areas in Yengo National Park featuring steep climbs, descents and tight switchbacks. Admire the rugged landscape and keep an eye out for wombats, wallabies and goannas. Stay at the nearby Big Yango Homestead or camp at Blue Gums to really experience the remoteness

4. Multi-day ride: Attempt the Wollemi Cycle Trail, a 442 km, six-day adventure not for the faint hearted in the Blue Mountains. Riders pass through prehistoric pines in Wollemi National Park, the charming village of Katoomba, the Newnes Plateau and The Glow Worm Tunnel

5. Tour de Snow: Join more than 30,000 riders in December 2016 at the inaugural L’Etape Australia by Tour de France in the Snowy Mountains. The amateur event is run under professional conditions and features closed roads, a challenging route, sprint and a King of the Mountain section with riders competing for yellow, green, polka dot and white jerseys.

Share your favorite NSW cycling adventures with Destination NSW @Visitnsw #NewSouthWales

For more ideas for cycling in Sydney and NSW go to sydney.com/cycling and visitnsw.com/cycling

*Source: National Visitor Survey, YE June 2015

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