mountain bike – Bicycle Queensland

Far North Queensland’s next wave of trail development is gathering momentum, with construction underway on the next section of the Wangetti Trail between Ellis Beach and Wangetti.

Cairns-based World Trail has been appointed to deliver the approximately 22km section, backed by more than $31 million from the Queensland Government. It follows the opening of the Palm Cove to Ellis Beach section in September 2024, which has already attracted more than 19,000 visitors.

Once complete, the Wangetti Trail will provide a 94km dual-use walking and mountain biking experience between Palm Cove and Port Douglas, taking riders and walkers through some of Tropical North Queensland’s spectacular coastal and rainforest landscapes.

For Bicycle Queensland, the renewed progress is particularly exciting when viewed alongside the wider investment occurring across the region.

In August, the Queensland Government unveiled the masterplan for the $15.5 million expansion of Smithfield Mountain Bike Park. Also designed by World Trail, it proposes more than 62km of new trails, growing Smithfield from around 25km to more than 85km of purpose-built riding.

Meanwhile, the Tropical North Queensland Regional Mountain Bike Strategy 2024–2034 provides a broader framework for developing and connecting riding destinations across Far North Queensland.

Together, these projects could represent the beginning of another major chapter for cycling and mountain biking in the region.

Cairns experienced a significant period of mountain bike investment and promotion through the Ride Cairns era and the international events held at Smithfield, culminating in the 2017 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships. That investment helped establish Tropical North Queensland as an internationally recognised riding destination.

Almost a decade later, the pieces are coming together for another step forward.

An expanded Smithfield provides a major trail hub close to Cairns. Wangetti adds a completely different multi-day coastal and rainforest experience linking Palm Cove and Port Douglas. Beyond those headline projects, the FNQ regional strategy provides a pathway for investment in trail networks and destinations across the wider region.

For locals, it means more places to ride. For visitors, it creates a much stronger reason to bring a bike, stay longer and explore more of Far North Queensland.

BQ welcomes the renewed progress on Wangetti and the growing recognition of cycling and mountain biking as important parts of the region’s recreation and tourism future.

Advocacy takes many forms in the bicycle world. One of Australia’s most influential cycling advocates, Gillian Duncan, sadly passed away from cancer recently.

Gillian led the cause of legitimising mountain bike trail access in Brisbane, and was the founder of Gap Creek Trails Alliance.

In partnership with Mark Roberts she published the seminal book ‘Where to MTB in South-East Queensland’, which predated online resources, and was a breakthrough in listing all the legitimate trail experiences available.

Gillian was softly-spoken and smiled often, but her gentle exterior only slightly veiled her incredible tenacity and persistence. Below are some further tributes to Gillian, from people who worked closely with her over the years.

Chris Maierhofer (trail builder, mountain biker):

Gillian was a true trail blazer. An instigator, agitator, and advocate; she was tenacious, patient, and strategic.

She shaped the path of mountain biking not only Gap Creek but regionally and nationally. From shaping the direction and construction of trails on ground to being instrumental in bringing IMBA to Australia and helping to author the first ever Australian Mountain bike national trail guidelines and being president of Mountain Bike Australia.

Mark Roberts (mapmaker, book publisher):

During the last 12 years, Gillian and I created 5 books in 11 editions and sold 42,000 copies – 20 tonnes of books! I am proud to have collaborated with Gillian and very proud of what we made together.

Rob George (Roadie Rob, mtb coach and trail builder):

We lost the original driving force of mountain biking and women’s mountain biking in Brisbane when Gillian Duncan passed away.

Without her I can’t imagine mountain biking in Brisbane and also my own businesses wouldn’t be anywhere near where they are today.

She approached me in the early 2000s to tell me that mountain biking was going to be part of the Real Adventure Women’s program and asked if I would run it.

She was always pushing for new mountain bike trails, and boy did she have to fight hard for that, she copped heaps of flack, but she absolutely never backed off.

Mountain biking has lost one of our great leaders this week but she will always be remembered.

Please when you’re riding your favourite trail, remember Gillian because there is a good chance she had a big part in the reason why it’s there.

Vale Gillian Duncan will be deeply missed but never forgotten.