Queensland on two wheels

You’ll be hard-pressed to find a place better suited to cycling than Queensland, where wide open spaces and a bountiful network of bitumen create a mecca for two-wheel enthusiasts. Dedicated bike trails weave their way around the state, from the luscious rainforest of Tropical North Queensland, through the burgeoning metropolis of Brisbane’s city centre.

Cyclists with a penchant for sealed roads will find no complaints - lengthy stretches of bitumen reach from border to border. Like David Low Way on the Sunshine Coast, spanning 36kms of coastline from Maroochydore to Noosa, or the neighbouring 90-kilometre Maleny circuit, winding through quaint country towns like Montville in the hinterland. Those craving something more leisurely will find it in the capital; Brisbane has an army of cycling tracks which interlace the prominent river and its array of parks.

Conveniently for mountain bikers, challenging terrain isn’t lacking either. Especially in the north of the state, where national parks and spaces devoted to cross-country cycling are abundant. Sitting on the outskirts of Cairns, Smithfield Mountain Biking Park is the most recognised as the host of the UCI World Championships; while southern residents can divert their attention to Nerang National Park on the Gold Coast, where 1700 hectares and 60 kilometres of varying track will greet you.