It has been said that the best gravel bike is whatever bike you own now. And in the same vein, the best way to start bikepacking is to use what you have already and plan a trip that suits. Afterall, what’s better than spending a day riding your bike? Spending two or more days riding your bike! While riders have been touring for decades, bikepacking has become a popular way to explore a little further off the beaten track, using luggage that can be fitted to almost any bike, meaning just about any route could be a bikepacking adventure.

Queensland has some incredible opportunities for bikepacking, especially with dry and mild winters and shoulder seasons. Queensland’s numerous rail trails are ready-to-go adventures in themselves, however they can also be the launching point for further adventure. Through some route planning, you can use rail trails to link to old stock routes, forest roads and back roads to make some incredible routes through the state.

Heading off on a multi-day ride might seem a bit daunting – so we’ve got a basic guide to help you get started.

Start small, ride local

We’d suggest not overthinking it early on. You can tackle a well-known route, even something you have ridden before, but break it up with an overnight stay. And remember, that doesn’t necessarily need to be camping. Bikepacking isn’t so prescriptive that you need to be totally self-sufficient. You can book a room in a pub, a hotel or a cabin in a caravan park if that suits your ride.

The point remains though, your first overnight trip should be a route that isn’t over reaching for you as a bike rider. Even if you think you can ride 70km in a day, consider that you will be carrying at least some equipment for an overnight stay. So maybe 55km is a safer bet? You can always push the distances out if you feel the need to on later trips. Your first ride should allow you to have the time to fine tune your luggage, what you need to carry (and what you don’t!) without any undue time pressures.

If you’re in south east Queensland, a trip along the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail might be the ideal place to start, given it is so well marked, has numerous places to fill up with water and has accommodation options at several towns. Just remember to book!

The ideal bikepacking bike

If your bike is off-road capable, such as a mountain bike, cyclocross bike or gravel bike – then you’re probably ready to go. Remembering that a bikepacking trip does not need to match the adventures you might see on social media – a bikepacking trip needs to match your sense of adventure, and what you have access to.

Most bikepacking trips will involve more hours on the bike than you may otherwise do – so comfort counts. Having a saddle, grips and fit that all suits you is ideal. If you have been riding for some time you will have this all figured out. Just remember that a multi-day bikepacking trip is unlikely to be the best time to try a new saddle, new bike shorts or new bike fit!

There is often a lot of discussion around whether a mountain bike or gravel bike is the best fit for bikepacking. The answer is all down to the terrain you will cover, and the luggage you will carry. Many riders find that a hardtail mountain bike can carry more, and have the riding position and gearing to suit longer, hillier routes, especially with camping gear.

Gravel bikes may be a better choice for extended rail trail adventures with accommodation – where you can travel faster with higher gears, and carry less thanks the accommodation services along the way.

Regardless of your bike choice, pay attention to gear options. Having access to lower gears will often be a leading decision maker, unless you will only tackle routes on rail trails. Tyres and wheels are another major consideration, as they will determine comfort, grip and reliability. Seek advice from your local bike shop, remembering that a more remote trip will likely have different needs to one on a frequently travelled rail trail!

Pack the gear you need – and pack it properly

The Ground Effect Cycle Clothing staff are all very keen bike riders, especially when it comes to getting out, and staying out, with bikepacking trips. They have a wide variety of resources on their website.

‘The desire to travel light, fast and far – with minimal exposure to wear ’n’ tear – has seen the rapid development of nifty bags and pockets that attach to your bike. They have quickly become the preferred choice for many on multi-day mountain bike trips…’

This is where bikepacking differs to bike touring. Touring will involve panniers, and more traditional marked routes in the countryside. Bikepacking will often spend a lot more time off-road – so taking only what you need and packing it so it stays out of harms way becomes essential.

Bikepacking luggage aims to move any equipment off your body and onto your bike, with key locations being a bar roll, plus frame bags and huge saddle bags. There are also some nifty racks that do suit full-suspension bikes. The luggage you use is very much dependant on the bike you have – with the options for fork bags, toptube bags and custom made pieces for all the little areas on different frame designs.

Bikepacking mountain bike routes are the true speciality of the Ground Effect staff. This is when weight, pack size and reliability come to the fore.

‘For multi-day mountain biking and off-road touring the knack is to travel light, but safe,’ they note on their website. ‘On technical singletrack in particular excess weight becomes quite a handicap – requiring both increased skills and effort. So pack smart.

• Lightweight bike-specific rainwear goes without saying. 
• The ‘killer app’ is a modern, lightweight, low volume down sleeping bag. The Sea to Summit Traveller has 200gm fill. An adequate rather than cosy pit for the night but weighs just 400gm in total and occupies a paltry 1.5 litres in your bag.
• A lightweight down or primaloft jacket comforts you around the hut or campsite, and extends your lightweight sleeping bag if the nocturnal temperature sinks a bit low.’

Here at Bicycle Queensland, our local bikepacking trips won’t go to the same places the Ground Effect staff get to, who can call Old Ghost Road and the Heaphy Track local trails. So we have a few other suggestions of must-have items:

• First Aid kit including compression bandage
• Water purification tablets
• 1 spare tube for each wheel (minimum)
• Proper bike pump, plus patch kit, multitool, chain links and tyre levers
• Ideally, long sleeve coverage and SPF50 suncream

Your particular route will have equipment specific requirements based on distance, terrain and the season you travel. Plan ahead so you’re equipped.

Finding a route

Andrew Demack is not just Bicycle Queensland’s Director of Advocacy, but he is a life-long cyclist who believes that life is better on two wheels.

‘What I really enjoy is the mental freedom you get when you’ve decided to say this day, and maybe the next four days I’m just gonna ride my bike.’

This, at the heart of it, is the escapism and freedom that bike riding and bikepacking offers, And Demack finds that he’s got a virtual escape as well – planning a multi-day bikepacking trip.

‘I’ve got about 10 different tours planned that I haven’t done yet that I really like the look of but I just haven’t got around to doing them yet.’

For those who want to get out and see some new places, Demack believes we’ve got better tools at hand now than ever before, thanks to online route planning.

‘You can plan a ride anywhere in the world, look at the Strava heat map and see who’s riding around there. You can have a look at Komoot or Ride With GPS and see what other routes exist in that area. There are so many resources, and I think that encourages me to go somewhere new as well. From, time to time I’ll convince myself it’s research for Bicycle Queensland!’

In terms of breaking down any barriers to planning multi-day routes, Demack is adamant that the growth of rail trails around Australia is playing a big role, getting more people on bikes, off-road, and into the great outdoors. All without needing to master a map and a compass, or even the vagaries of downloading a .gpx file. Still, there’s an element of adventure in making it all click.

‘We’ve got a perfect four or five day ride from Kilkivan back to Ipswich that lots and lots of people have done now. One of the barriers to doing it without a vehicle is working out how you get from Gympie to Kilkivan, there isn’t an easy way to do that other than the school bus, so you have to go on a school day for the school bus. Then you can ride on the two rail trails and the link trail in between. This is a tour that is achievable  by almost anybody. You don’t need to be any sort of athlete to be able to ride your bike for 60-70kms a day across four or five days. But it’s an interesting and fun tour, and a way to see some pretty rugged areas in south east Queensland.’

Here at BQ we will be adding some longer gravel riding routes to our Where to Ride page, including some routes ideal for bikepacking.

‘I think that what rail trails are great for is giving people that first go at something and then saying, “oh, I saw a trail going off into the bush near Yarraman. I wonder where that goes?” Maybe next time those riders will explore away from the rail trail. ‘I’m hopeful that we will have even more rail trails across the state over the next 10 years or so, with a network that provides these opportunities for local people all across the state to be able to have an adventure and see what’s possible for them.’

When Bicycle Queensland’s CEO Alton Twine and Director of Advocacy, Andrew Demack, travelled to Cairns for the 2025 Queensland Mountain Bike Forum, it wasn’t just another stop on the advocacy circuit, it was a powerful reminder of how much mountain biking can shape the future of cycling in Queensland. 

The forum was held between the 2025 UCI Masters World MTB Championships and Crankworx Cairns, two international events that called the Smithfield trail network home in May 2025. Cairns is a spiritual home of Australian mountain biking, with iconic trail features like the Alien Tree, Jacobs Ladder, The Croc Slide and Ronnings Ramp all in the forested hills of the mountain bike park. If you look closely, you’ll even find the Bowl of Death! A dirt bowl that featured in culture creating films like Mud Cows, and even made the 90’s show Pepsi Max Extremists. 

The Queensland Mountain Bike Forum exists to help this growth, bringing together land managers, local government, trail builders, clubs, tourism leaders, and advocacy groups to share what’s working, what needs work, and where the opportunities lie. It was a melting pot of ideas and inspiration — and Bicycle Queensland was there to listen, learn, and connect. 

Where does mountain biking fit for Bicycle Queensland? 

“Bicycle Queensland attends mountain bike forums and talks to councils and state government about mountain biking,” Andrew explained. “because Bicycle Queensland members are mountain bikers.” 

As a broad church of cycling advocacy, Bicycle Queensland has long championed rail trails, urban infrastructure, commuting routes and safety. Mountain biking has always fit within that but never truly been in the spotlight. However, with more members riding singletrack and more regional communities seeing mountain biking as a path to economic and social growth, it’s clear this part of the cycling world deserves deeper focus from Bicycle Queensland. 

Read Bicycle Queensland’s position on mountain biking in National Parks

“We cover all sorts of cycling and all sorts of cycling people who ride bikes,” said Andrew. “It’s really important that we include mountain biking in our regular advocacy activities simply because that’s one of the things our members do — they ride their mountain bikes… to work, on rail trails, and on purpose-built singletrack across all of Queensland.” 

Learning from leaders, listening to locals 

The forum showcased some of the best minds in the business — including legendary trail builder Glen Jacobs, whose work with World Trail started in Cairns and now spans the globe. World Trail’s evolution is closely matched to that of mountain biking, with a shift from building World Cup tracks to building the mountain bike trail networks that form the foundations of mountain bike destinations, including Blue Derby in Tasmania and Atherton in Far North Queensland. His presentation reinforced how trail networks, when built with vision and purpose, can turn regions into international destinations. And Queensland has quite a number of networks being reimagined or expanded. 

“There’s a real network of networks being developed across Central, North and Far North Queensland,” Andrew noted. “It is pretty exciting to see.” 

But this growing network isn’t just about attracting tourists. It’s about connecting communities, offering youth engagement, and creating healthier regional towns. 

“Mountain biking is actually great for all ages,” Andrew said. “It’s one of those things you can do as you get older that is still really good for you and builds different cycling muscles.” 

He added that mountain biking also helps make more confident, capable riders. 

“Mountain bikers are generally better riders because they’re more aware of their surroundings and what’s going on in front of them on the trail. So if you want to become a better bike rider, get on a mountain bike.” 

Risk, reality and responsibility 

One key discussion point at the forum was the perception of risk. While many councils and land managers are cautious about investing in mountain biking due to assumed danger, the data often tells a different story. 

“Mountain bike risk is often lower than anticipated,” Andrew explained after the forum. There had been some excellent insights from Glen Jacobs on this, given World Trail build trails to reduce forced risk, with how they design trail features. 

“The real challenge is helping stakeholders understand that with good design, education and maintenance, mountain biking can be a safe, sustainable and low-impact recreational option — and one that delivers significant community benefits.” 

Andrew was particularly inspired by stories from communities where trails have become platforms for youth development — with kids not just riding trails, but helping build and maintain them. 

“Young people are engaging with sport, community and responsibility through these trails,” he said. “And in some places, older teens are taking part in supervised trainee programs — working on trail crews three days a week, learning hands-on skills and being part of something bigger.” 

The Mackay opportunity — connecting trail and town 

Among the many points discussed at the forum, Andrew was impressed with how a rail trail project in Tumbarumba in southern NSW ended up driving a project for a mountain bike park – given the increase in tourism and demand. Andrew can see a clear opportunity to use infrastructure to connect to other infrastructure in northern Queensland – using the Pioneer Valley region west of Mackay. 

“There’s huge potential in Mackay,” Andrew said. “The Finch Hatton trails are already gaining attention, and the idea of connecting them to Mackay via the Pioneer Valley Rail Trail is really compelling.” 

Such a link would create not just a destination, but a journey — one that blends singletrack with rail trail, adventure with accessibility. It’s the kind of project that aligns with Bicycle Queensland’s broader vision for integrated active transport and tourism networks. Over $2 billion is spent in Australia on riding tourism activities, but barely 10% of that is spent in Queensland. Such projects would help shift that and move the tourism impact to Queensland’s regions. 

Andrew also noted that these kinds of multi-modal links could encourage new ways of thinking about travel — including combining rail, road trips, and trail riding. 

“Maybe the road trip up the coast is the way to go,” he mused. “There are so many developing networks between Rockhampton and Port Douglas that are all worth a visit — but aren’t destinations in themselves.  

E-bikes, maintenance, and managing growth 

 The growth of mountain bike destinations isn’t without challenges, and e-mountain bikes also had their moment at the forum — both as a growing part of the scene and as a challenge to manage. 

“With an ageing cohort of bike riders, lots of people have taken e-bikes as part of their mountain bike experience and absolutely love it,” Andrew said. “But we were hearing from folks at Finch Hatton that e-bikes can ride up hills in ways that cause trail damage — so that’s an awareness and education piece we need to get right.” 

Andrew was also candid about one of the major takeaways: trail building is only half the job. Maintenance is critical. 

“One of the big learnings of the last couple of years is about maintenance — and making sure when councils step into a project, it’s a whole-of-life project,” he said. “If the project is designed so we just build a set of trails, we’re going to have a big problem — because actually, we’re building and managing a set of trails.” 

He praised some of the newer models being trialed, where local governments and communities partner to train and support ongoing trail crews. 

“There are some good examples coming forward of how it can work — where the local owners put the time and effort into managing the trails. Where that doesn’t happen in Queensland, the trails degrade pretty quickly. We’ve seen examples of that around Southeast Queensland and elsewhere.” 

Bicycle Queensland’s role: advocate, ally, amplify 

 For Bicycle Queensland, attending the MTB Forum wasn’t just about gathering insights — it was a statement of intent. Mountain biking is continuing to grow and evolve, and BQ intends to be part of its growth. 

“We were there to learn and to listen,” Andrew said. “And to find out more about the current state of play for mountain biking in Queensland.” 

“Part of what Bicycle Queensland needs to be doing going forth is advocating for mountain biking as an activity — as part of the cycling world,” Andrew said. “It’s such a great cycling activity. A good forum like this gets a lot of smart people and passionate people in the room, and as you leave, you’re thinking, ‘Where can I ride my mountain bike tomorrow?’ and ‘What can BQ do to help the growth of mountain biking?’” 

One of the strongest takeaways from the Queensland Mountain Bike Forum was the vital role local councils play in the early stages of trail development. “Getting the local council to have the vision to be part of the development of a trail network is a key step,” said Andrew. 

“What Bicycle Queensland can do is be in the middle of those conversations — there with the local community, supporting their efforts in advocating with council for developing trail networks that are accessible to all people and link to the local communities.” By helping local groups articulate their vision and navigate the planning and funding processes, BQ can play a crucial role in turning great ideas into rideable realities. 

This support is especially important in ensuring that trails deliver long-term social value.  

“Mountain biking brings other aspects to the mix that are super helpful,” Demack added.  

“One of the aspects is getting kids on bikes, and mountain biking is brilliant for that.” Trails close to home give kids and teenagers an active way to engage with sport, community, and personal responsibility — all while having fun. As Andrew often says, it’s all about local trails for local kids. That’s why mountain biking advocacy is a growing and essential focus for Bicycle Queensland, not just in expanding the sport, but in growing cycling culture as a whole. 

As Queensland’s mountain biking culture matures — and as local governments increasingly look to trails as a way to deliver social, health, and economic benefits — BQ’s role as a connector and catalyst will only grow. 

Thank you to Outdoors QLD, FNQROC and Blue Sky Trails for facilitating this forum.

Corry Cycles are a prominent bike shop in Mackay, who have recently set up a second store at Finch Hatton, right at the new Finch Hatton mountain bike park. Both stores are BQ Link retail partners, offering 10% off for Bicycle Queensland members.

We caught up with the owner of the stores Evan Corry, who set up the main shop in 2007. Evan had been studying in Bendigo, Victoria, and racing extensively at the same time. This took him to Belgium for a season as well.

‘But I realised it was easier to sell bikes than to race them. I came back to Mackay and realised there was a massive gap in the local cycling culture. We did have some bike shops around but there were no bunch rides – no cycling community.’

While Evan was a school teacher at the time, he decided it was the time to jump in and open a bike shop. And it was good timing. There was a mining boom, and while the local Holden dealer was Australia’s leading dealer of HSVs, Evan wasn’t far behind as one of Australia’s leading Giant TCR road bike dealers around the same time – or at least that’s what he told us.

‘It was good timing in retrospect. We were really busy with the mining boom – but reality struck with the collapse in 2012. We had to weather the storm’

And weather they did. From small groups who were training for the National Road Series, Mackay developed more of a riding culture over time.

‘In Mackay there’s now about 7 or 8 different bunch rides who all end up at a coffee shop afterwards,  and the range of riders has totally changed.’

Corry Cycles have also backed a number of events in the region over the years including a number of charity rides, which Evan says helped the community see bikes as something for recreation – and not just for sport.

‘We have tried to be involved in the community, at schools and with charity events. So while riding in Mackay did start with a foundation of elite racing it has grown from there.’

One of Evan’s friends introduced mountain biking to the school he worked at, which resulted in an in-depth mountain bike program, and even a pump track built on the school grounds.

With the trail network at Finch Hatton opening about 12 months ago, with two more stages of development in the pipeline for a connected trail network from atop the range at Eungalla and into the valley – there is huge growth for mountain biking in the region. And of course there is scope for a 50km rail trail. Which seems like a lot for a regional town. We had to ask – what makes Mackay so special?

‘Well, you can’t beat our winters!’ laughed Evan.

With the options to head up the range, out to the reef, or enjoy warm sun and cool nights along with typically stable and dry weather, there is a lot to like about winter in northern Queensland.

‘Whether you’re a roadie or a mountain biker we have everything on offer, we have every kind of terrain from the hills to the flat, along with the Blue Water Trail for tourists and families.’

When BQ was in Mackay in August, it is clear the region is still growing, with more residential developments being built – which need connections for active transport options.

‘Looking back, we  have seen Mackay come ahead in leaps and bounds. From having nearly zero cycling infrastructure, we now have massive infrastructure developments. The mountain bike club has their own spot at Rowallan Park, there’s Finch Hatton as well and the Blue Water Trail… but we really need to see all that come together.’

‘There are a lot of standalone projects and Mackay really misses the integration opportunities with its cycling infrastructure.’

And that is where Evan hopes Bicycle Queensland can help.

‘Bicycle Queensland have their fingers in just about every pie, so you’re the perfect people to help, with contacts at local and state government. Mackay needs that experience of seeing what works in other areas to give advice around how we maximise any investment and projects here. Maybe we can spend less money and get more, if there is a master plan we can work to that is developed via taking lessons from other places.’

Corry Cycles have two stores, with the store in Finch Hatton specialising in mountain bike hire for the trails at Finch Hatton. If you’re a Bicycle Queensland member, you’ll receive 10% off at Corry Cycles stores, including bike hire.

Anyone who has travelled by bike, or with their bike, knows that finding accommodation that is not just welcoming of bike riders, but also suitable, can be challenging. Some regions and indeed some countries are more up to speed with what travelling bike riders may need; secure bike storage, a laundry service or washing machine, maybe some bike tools – and exceptional coffee!

Chevonne Arrowsmith, the owner of the Rail Trail Refuge at Linville, had ridden and travelled extensively while racing bikes and bikepacking, and was convinced that making accommodation suited to bike riders would work.

‘On bikepacking rides I found there isn’t much suitable accommodation. Motels don’t usually like bikes being brought into the room, and self-contained cabins don’t have much room for bikes either. And of course old country pubs can be hard work getting bikes up old staircases!’

Based on these experiences Chevonne felt there was a need for accommodation that worked for bike riders. A stay in New Zealand at a property designed for bike riders and hikers showed what was needed.

‘You could have a comfy bed, breakfast, a kitchen and bike storage. Everything was there. I like packing light and travelling fast, so the Rail Trail Refuge allows people to do that – we have bedding, linen, a kitchen, breakfast provided and a washing machine.’

With 161km of Brisbane Valley Rail Trail to cover – Chevonne narrowed her location down to Linville.

‘I really like Linville as a place to stop on multi-day rides or when doing the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail. I’d often stay at the pub but it can book out pretty quickly as it is popular. So I realised there was a need for some more accommodation in Linville.’

The Rail Trail Refuge was built from the ground up for bike riders. While Chevonne wasn’t sure if they would be able to find land or an existing premises, she worked with an architect on a few concepts, based on what she had sketched out. After securing land around late 2020, they found a local builder, with much of the framing all done onsite given the difficulties getting building supplies at the time. With three rooms, a communal kitchen, chill out area, bike wash and plunge pool… the Rail Trail Refuge was born!

From databases to hosting

With a background in database management, Chevonne started working at Epic Cycles in Paddington when she knew the Rail Trail Refuge was going to proceed.

‘I wanted to get more hands on experience in the bike touring space, which wasn’t really my world at the time. Epic’s customers were a great fit so I got to learn a lot more about touring cyclists.’

‘Our first guests at the Rail Trail Refuge were friends of friends – they had a good stay but I got so much feedback from the first visitors!’

Since then, the Rail Trail Refuge has continued to attract more bike riders, and others keen on active pursuits in the area.

‘About 70% of our guests are staying for one night, usually riding the BVRT from the Yarraman end. I also get a lot of repeat guests, doing sections of the trail or loops from Linville, staying overnight. But I also get bushwalkers, trail runners and bird watchers who stay.’

‘There is a lot to do from Linville for multi-day riding though. Some people ride from Wulkuraka, then do Yarraman return the next day, then ride back to Wulkuraka on the third day, doing an end to end to end with accommodation in the one spot.’

One of the most exciting groups of guests was a group of New Zealanders, who came to stay for about 5 days and wanted some riding suggestions – but not on the rail trail, as they were riding that with friends the following week.

‘I had five different routes in mind and accompanied them. They really enjoyed the variety of landscapes around.’ Chevonne has a wide range of rides listed on the Refuge website – if you’re looking for inspiration, you have to take a look!

The Refuge has been really well received by everyone who stays and Chevonne believes there is scope for more accommodation like it in Linville, or elsewhere on the rail trail, as the area grows in popularity for bike riding.

‘I’d like to see Linville becoming a little biking hot spot. It is already happening a little bit, all along the rail trail. Encouraging people to arrive here by bike does little to interrupt the fabric of a town, but they need to eat and drink. I think it is great for the towns.’

The Rail Trail Refuge, Linville, is a bespoke cycling accommodation provider on the northern end of the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail. Offering accommodation for solo riders or small groups, the Rail Trail Refuge is ideally located on the Rail Trail at Linville, with a kitchen, bike tools, bike washing, laundry, plunge pool, chill out area and much more. The Rail Trail Refuge is the perfect base for a few days exploring this stunning part of Queensland by bike. Bicycle Queensland members can stay three consecutive nights for the price of two between Sunday and Thursday – book directly to secure this saving.

Email: hello@railtrailrefuge.com.au

Just like any not for profit organisation, Bicycle Queensland gets a lot of support from our volunteers. Some volunteers have been able to assist year in, year out, helping BIcycle Queensland deliver events or programs around the state. Some volunteers are able to help for a specific event or role in their region or area of interest. Every single one is valuable to our organisation, as we strive to make Queensland a safer and more connected place to ride.

Hans Willemsin lives in Brisbane and has volunteered with Bicycle Queensland in a number of roles, and recently helped out at our Orientation Day stalls that we held at a few universities this year.

• Why did you sign up to volunteer with BQ? 
  Hans: Volunteering is a chance to contribute to our community. For BQ, I am rather passionate about cycling (even though I know I should do more).
• What events have you volunteered at – what was it like on the day? 
  Hans: I have volunteered at a couple of uni O-week events. Previously I have helped run e-bike awareness sessions and have helped at a BQ stand next to City Hall for Bike Week.
• Do you volunteer anywhere else? If so – where abouts and why? 
  Hans: I volunteer for Red Cross, Australian Conservation Foundation and with a local revegetation group. Once again to help our community (Red Cross) and another passion, this time for our environment.
• Would you encourage other people to volunteer with BQ, and if so, why is that? 
  Hans: Yes, it is a worthwhile activity.

If you would like to volunteer with Bicycle Queensland, head to our Volunteers page to sign up.