Growing a riding community in Rockhampton

Tucked into the slopes of Mount Archer and rideable from Rockhampton’s city centre, First Turkey Mountain Bike Reserve is one of Queensland’s most impressive riding destinations. Despite hosting state level events and attracting attention from national media, many first-time visitors have the same reaction – surprise at just how extensive and varied the trail network is, and how close it sits to town.

First Turkey didn’t come from a large capital works program or a top-down tourism plan. It exists and continues to improve because of a committed local mountain bike community, led by the Rockhampton Mountain Bike Club, that has built momentum through people, persistence and planning.

A park that builds community

First Turkey might have a great mix of trails, but it’s more than that. It’s a place where a mountain bike community has formed and grown. That sense of connection is visible every day in the car park and on the trails with families unloading bikes, kids riding in all conditions, and visitors discovering the network for the first time.

Over the Christmas period, club members noticed a steady stream of travelling riders stopping in at First Turkey. “There was quite a few people I met in the car park who had those scratch maps of mountain biking in Queensland,” says Myall Stevens, Club Vice President of Rockhampton Mountain Bike Club. “They’d come to First Turkey to scratch it off and then end up staying an extra night or two.”

Recent trail openings have drawn crowds of 150 to 200 people, many of them children. “Easily 70 per cent of the people there were kids,” Stevens says. “They’re in there regularly – rain, hail or shine.”

That regular use has helped foster a strong local riding culture, supported by social rides, women’s rides, coffee rides and a growing youth program. As club member Rolley Tickner explains, “It’s about building the community up. We run a lot of social rides, and they’re all a little bit different – not everything has to be serious riding.”

2025 was a big year for Rocky MTB, given the extensive damage from severe rain events. Volunteers spent 1000 hours trying to keep the trails maintained. Rocky MTB also had Stanwell Corp donating $33,000 to rebuild the green flow trail Whipsnake, and thanks to ongoing support from donations and businesses they could engage a local builder for ongoing trail maintenance or rebuild works.

For those looking for airtime, the popular jump line Dirtclowns has also been rebuilt by local builder CQ Mini Excavations.

The importance of volunteers

Maintaining a trail network the size of First Turkey is no small task, particularly in a region prone to heavy rain and extreme weather. The club relies on volunteers to keep trails safe and rideable, prioritising the most popular routes and responding quickly after major weather events. Their Facebook page has regular updates about conditions, trail closures, working bees and of course – rides.

“Primarily it’s volunteer-based,” Stevens says. “We go in with a purpose. We’ll run working bees focused on the most popular trails and what needs attention after weather or heavy use.”

Those working bees aren’t just about shovels and rakes. The club has been actively looking for new ways to involve people who can’t make traditional weekend sessions. “There’s only a finite number of people that are willing or able to turn up,” Stevens explains. “So we’re looking at reaching out to other community groups.”

Importantly, the club has found that giving people responsibility builds long-term commitment. “People like to have responsibility,” Stevens says. “They want ownership of stuff. If they feel like a trail is theirs, they’ll turn up for it.”

Trails as a regional opportunity

First Turkey is increasingly recognised as a regional asset, not just a local one. State-level events are now firmly on the calendar, bringing riders and spectators to Rockhampton and helping showcase the park’s potential.

“What that’s shown council is that we have the ability to run events of that scale,” Stevens says. “And that’s sparked a bit more interest in what this place can be.”

The park’s location is a major advantage. “It’s not a 10-minute drive, or a 20-minute drive to get here,  you can ride to the trail from the centre of town,” Stevens says. That accessibility makes First Turkey valuable for locals and appealing for visitors looking for a rideable, stay-and-play destination.

With the Queensland Government pushing regional and eco-tourism as part of a Queensland 2045 campaign – the work that Rockhampton MTB Club has undertaken over decades may just be a perfect example of how a community can create a nationally significant outdoor recreation attraction, while still benefitting from it themselves.

People matter

One of the most important lessons from Rockhampton is that there’s no special formula or hidden advantage at play. Progress has come from people: strong leadership, skilled volunteers and a willingness to keep building momentum.

“It’s definitely people,” Tickner says. “There’s always been great leaders and a lot of passion for mountain biking. When those things mix together, people feed off each other and it generates a lot of goodwill.”

Local businesses also play a critical supporting role, helping cover everyday costs such as tools, fuel and consumables. While council support has improved in recent years, particularly around approvals, the club remains largely self-driven.

First Turkey into the future

To move from incremental improvements to long-term impact, the Rockhampton MTB Club has developed a master plan for First Turkey. This isn’t just about new trails; it’s about embedding mountain biking into broader regional planning.

“We had to put a master plan in place,” Stevens says. “If a club wants to build and get bigger and better, that plan needs to be embedded in the strategic intent of council.”

A central part of that vision is a proper trailhead, with toilets, change rooms, skills areas and space for families and beginners. “That’s a huge ticket item,” Stevens says. “It’s not just for mountain bikers, it should be a community hub.”

Facilities like these help address equity and access, making it easier for women, kids, new riders and visiting families to use the park comfortably and confidently.

Another potential project in the region is the Yeppoon to Rockhampton rail trail – a foundational piece of riding infrastructure that assists active transport planning but can also attract a greater tourism base.

First Turkey Mountain Bike Park shows what’s possible when community, planning and persistence come together. It’s proof that regional trail networks don’t need to wait for perfect conditions to thrive.