Quick tips for creating cycling experiences

NSW at the forefront of Australia’s $6 billion cycling tourism market

Cycling tourism in Australia generated 4.6 million trips, 42 million visitor nights and $6 billion visitor expenditure in 2024, with NSW identified as one of the top states for cycling tourism accounting for $1.8 billion in visitor expenditure. Source: Tourism Research Australia

What are the types of cycling experiences?

• Mountain biking (MTB): riding a mountain bike/bicycle off-road, often on purpose-built single tracks and, sometimes, multi-use trails.
• Road cycling: cycling on paved roads using lightweight bikes (narrow tyres, aerodynamic posture), often for fitness, racing or long-distance rides.
• Touring/bikepacking (cycle touring): multi‑day, multi‑week or multi-month rides with gear and supplies often combining travel, exploration and accommodation (camping or lodging).
• Gravel cycling: riding on unpaved or mixed-surface roads (gravel, dirt, fire trails) using bikes optimised for stability and comfort on rough surfaces.
• Rail trail: former railway lines that are mainly used for cyclists and walkers, offering flat and accessible tracks that appeal to a range of visitors from casual riders and families to experienced cyclists.
  
  Source: Rehook and NSW Rail Trails Framework

Where to find cycling trails in NSW

Start planning your next bookable cycling experience by exploring these key resources that identify trails across NSW. These platforms can help visitor economy businesses design and package cycling adventures for all types of riders.

• Rail Trails Australia helps you locate established, under-construction and proposed rail trails across the state.
• Great Southern Trails shares mountain biking trails through the South Coast, Alpine Region and The Capital.
• Trailforks provides an extensive map of mountain biking and cycling locations across the state including options for gravel, e-bike and adaptive riders.

Getting started

Creating a nature-based experience involves careful planning and consideration of various factors for a successful and memorable visitor experience. Explore key factors to consider before getting started by visiting our Considerations when creating a nature-based experience guide.

E-bike safety: Visitor economy businesses offering e-bike experiences are to promote rider awareness of fire safety as part of their briefing. For more information visit NSW Fair Trading requirements for manufacturers and suppliers of e-micromobility products.

Case studies

Northern Rivers Rail Trail – Tweed section

Managed through strong collaboration between multiple councils, the Northern Rivers Rail Trail (NRRT) is an example of how a regional rail trail can drive economic growth and community benefits.

Since opening the Tweed section in 2023 (Murwillumbah to Crabbes Creek), the trail has injected more than $3.7 million into the local economy, boosting tourism, supporting local businesses and preserving the area’s railway heritage.

Explore how this trail is transforming the Tweed region, supporting local businesses through the Business Connect Program and creating lasting value here.

Sea Otter Australia Festival

Sea Otter Australia Festival, is Australia’s largest cycling festival. The October 2025 inaugural event attracted more than 9000 attendees to Batemans Bay and Mogo Trails. The estimated visitor economy impact exceeded $5 million, delivering strong economic benefits to the NSW South Coast by boosting visitation and local business spend during a traditionally quieter period.

As a long-term event with an initial 10-year license secured, Sea Otter Australia presents valuable opportunities for businesses to develop cycling-friendly products, packages and experiences, and align marketing to capture future visitor demand.

Source: Sea Otter Australia

Quick tips for including cycling elements in your experience

Opportunities for cycling experiences can be a unique and rewarding addition for your business. Here are several ways to develop or enhance cycling experiences for visitors.

Tours, activities and attractions

• Develop a suite of guided experiences: create half-, full-, or multi-day tours incorporating scenic trail rides, nature insights, sharing local history or Aboriginal stories. Include expert commentary, equipment hire, shuttle support* and itineraries suited to a range of fitness levels, ages and riding abilities.
• Offer support amenities: beyond key considerations for route planning, ensure facilities like bike-repair stations and trained staff are available to assist in case of an emergency.
• Ensure safety and accessibility: beyond key considerations for route planning, encourage helmet use, offer beginner- and family-friendly routes and clearly communicate trail difficulty.
• Collaborate: partner with accommodation, cafes and restaurants, bike hire shops and visitor information centres to promote services, bundle packages and co-host events or festivals.

*What is shuttle support? Shuttle support provides cyclists with convenient transport between key points on a trail such as returning riders to their accommodation, offering assistance for challenging sections, transferring luggage between stops, or transporting riders to higher elevations, making cycling experiences easier and more accessible.

Accommodation

• ​Promote your location: highlight nearby trails on your website and via in-room guides. Provide detailed maps, trail itineraries and information about local highlights.
• Incorporate bike facilities and amenities: offer secure bike storage with fire-safe charging options for e-bikes and basic repair tools onsite. If possible, offer bike wash stations and partner with local repair shops, sharing their contact details with guests. Consider secure e-bike charging stations.
• Offer transport options: shuttle services to and from the trail streamline the experience for your visitors.
• Incorporate recharge zones: set up outdoor showers, bike washing stations or shaded lounges, which can also be used by day visitors for a daily fee to freshen up.
• Collaborate: partner with tour operators and hire services to bundle accommodation with bikes and guided experiences. This simplifies planning for visitors and provides the opportunity to cross promote the experience.

Food and drink

• Tailor meals and snacks to experiences: partner with cafes, galleries, and attractions to include lunch breaks, snacks, morning or afternoon tea to deliver an enriched visitor experience.
• Streamline pre-order: enable visitors to order meals in advance and be delivered efficiently by implementing a pre-order system for options such as breakfast or dinner. Orders can be fulfilled by a local producer, catering company or café.
• Offer rider-friendly meals: provide nutritious meals and snacks made with seasonal, fresh ingredients. Protein-rich dishes, hydrating drinks and energy-boosting options support physical activity.
• Offer grab-and-go options: make it easy for visitors to take meals on their experience, such as sandwiches, wraps, fruit, refillable water bottles or trail snacks.
• Be flexible with open hours: cater to early and late riders with flexible open and close times. Implement a pre-order system for ready-to-go packed meals or hampers to reduce wait times and ensure availability.
• Tell your story: highlight ingredient origins, focusing on native herbs, regional produce and sustainable sourcing to tell your venue’s story. Learn more about the NSW First Creating bookable agritourism experiences.

For dining venues:

• Promote your location: highlight your proximity to nearby trails. Share maps, suggested itineraries or stopover ideas featuring your venue.
• Incorporate recharge zones: provide outdoor seating with clear bike visibility, bike racks and water refill stations to encourage socialising.
• Incorporate value-adds: offer picnic hampers or trail meal packs and collaborate with nearby attractions or accommodation for ride-and-dine offers.
• Collaborate: partner with local tour operators and accommodation to be part of cycling packages. Sponsor or support local events and festivals to build visibility and community connections.

Promoting your cycling experience

Once you’ve created or adapted these elements to your experience, showcase your new offering with visitors, media, staff and distributors with these tips for promoting your nature-based experience.

Resources

• Creating nature-based experiences is a NSW First webinar focused on the growing interest in nature-based travel and incorporating nature elements into your experience.
• Cycling in NSW national parks guide covers the policy, strategy and guidelines for implementation to ensure cycling experiences in NSW parks are sustainable, located in suitable locations that ensure the protection of natural and cultural heritage values, support tourism and deliver health benefits to communities.
• Bicycle Industries Australia resources promote sound, ethical trading and business practices.
• Bicycle Network and Bicycle NSW are one-stop shops for riding needs, from getting started to keeping up to date with changing road rules.
• Central West NSW Cycle Tourism Opportunities Strategy 2024-2030 showcases the Central West NSW as a safe and connected network of cycling experiences that immerse the visitor in landscapes, communities and produce.

Discover more resources, categorised by experience type: