Mulga Bicycle Tours seeks new owners

In a tourism industry increasingly defined by speed, spectacle, and personal storytelling, Mulga Bicycle Tours offers something rarer and more reflective: a deliberately paced encounter with landscape, culture, and personal achievement. Founded by Mark and Denise in 2016 and inspired by a transformative, year-long bicycle journey around Australia, Mulga represents more than a business. It is, in many ways, a distillation of values—care, community, resilience, and discovery—refined over thousands of kilometres and countless conversations on the roadside.

The impetus for the business was born from a mix of experience, adversity, and reflection. After running a previous business focused on event management and multimedia content creation, the couple took a sabbatical to cycle around the country. What began as a personal sabbatical unexpectedly laid the foundation for a new venture. As they pedalled through the vast and varied Australian terrain, they were often met with the same wistful refrain from strangers: “I wish I could do what you’re doing.”

“In the early days of our trip we’d reply, ‘You can,’ but they’d say, ‘Oh no, it’s not that easy.’ and we’d reply, ‘Actually, it is, you just need to take the time to plan and tackle the trip in small chunks,’” Mark recalled.

Over time, they realised it wasn’t just about planning—it was about confidence and support. “Not everyone feels comfortable heading out on the road alone, especially in remote areas,” Denise added. “That’s why Mulga is appealing. It gives people the support they need to go on multi-day rides they might not otherwise attempt.”

This insight—pairing access and safety—became the conceptual core of Mulga Bicycle Tours. It wasn’t about enabling elite cyclists or chasing records; it was about making adventure achievable for the ordinary rider, many of whom are far from ordinary in spirit or intent. The emphasis on logistics, compliance, and personal support creates a quiet but powerful distinction from many commercial tour offerings.

“Safety is our top priority,” Mark explained, highlighting Mulga’s comprehensive risk management approach. Support vehicles, clearly marked with ‘Cyclists Ahead’ signs, are positioned both in front of and behind the group. The team stays in contact with truck drivers and other road users to ensure they’re aware of the cyclists’ presence. Riders receive real-time updates via radio about approaching vehicles, keeping everyone informed and alert.

“It’s all about situational awareness — for our riders and other road users alike,” Mark added.

“We measure the success of our safety and risk management plan by the fact that the first aid kit rarely gets opened during the tour,” he continued with understated pride. “More often than not, we’re replacing expired items, not used ones.”

This meticulous care builds genuine rider confidence and loyalty. Many participants return again and again — not just for the magnificent scenery or the joy of the ride, but for the sense of security they feel. As one rider put it, “I feel safe.”

But the appeal of Mulga lies not just in operational excellence. It lies equally in their commitment to crafting experiences layered with narrative, local knowledge, and memory. “We don’t just go for a bike ride,” Mark explained. “One of the taglines we have with the business is discovering unforgettable stories… and it’s mostly the unforgettable stories of the people we meet.”

Whether it’s the dish-to-dish tour from Tidbinbilla to Parkes, inspired by the couple’s own winter ride along some of New South Wales’ quietest back roads, or a sunrise at the Undara Lava Tubes in Queensland, each tour is curated to balance challenge with reward, and movement with meaning.

“There’s one fellow I remember,” Mark said. “I discovered after the trip he’d had some health issues the year before. But there he was at Karumba, holding his bike above his head, looking out over the Gulf of Carpentaria. And he said, ‘I couldn’t have done this 12 months ago.’” For Mark and Denise, that single image contained volumes. “That,” Mark said simply, “was quite special.”

Mulga’s name, drawn from the many-coloured parrot native to inland Australia, captures something of its character—vivid, community-oriented, and tuned to the rhythms of the land. The company’s pop-up morning tea stop is affectionately dubbed “Bill’s Roadside Café,” a tongue-in-cheek homage to Banjo Paterson’s Mulga Bill, who famously crashed his bicycle into ‘Deadmans Creek’. In contrast, Mulga Bicycle Tours offers assurance and guidance—enabling riders to venture beyond what they imagined possible.

There’s something inherently philosophical about Mulga’s approach. It’s not simply a commercial service with room for growth. It’s a deliberate practice of hospitality and encouragement.

A new era for Mulga Bicycle Tours

The couple is now preparing to hand over the reins to someone with the energy and focus to grow it further. “We’re certainly not going to stop touring,” Denise clarified. “We’re just going to stop taking people on tour.” They’ve run between five and seven tours per year—often in remote or logistically complex areas such as Cape York, the Eyre Peninsula, or Carnarvon Gorge. The next owner could feasibly expand this, with custom itineraries and social groups presenting particular areas of opportunity – especially as interest in gravel riding grows.

For the right person, this is a business that combines meaningful work with genuine lifestyle appeal. “You don’t have to be a bike rider,” Mark said, “but it helps. What really matters is that you care about people, and that you can put together the best available experience for them.” Event management, logistics, customer service, and a deep respect for both landscape and guests are all essential ingredients, all guided by a system of proven processes that make it easy for the new business owner to follow.

The sale of the business will include all intellectual property, registered domains, hire bikes, branded trailer and the customer database, along with the project plans, documented processes and budgets for their diverse itineraries.

Mark and Denise can be contacted on 0412 309 711 to discuss their business and what a training and handover period can look like, to be able to set new owners up for ongoing growth and success with Mulga Bicycle Tours.