Just across the border from us in Queensland, and extending further down into central and southern NSW, there are some top new rail trail and cycling trail networks. This article covers three epic (and epic-in-the-making) trail destinations for multi-day adventures, plus we also include some shorter rail trail and day rides.
Venture into small country towns and rural communities that welcome cyclists with accommodation, refreshments and country hospitality at its best. Whether you're just getting started with trail rides or are a seasoned long-distance tourer, these cycle destinations are well worth putting on your list to do.
Central West Cycle Trail
Launched in July 2020, the Central West Cycle Trail (CWC) takes cyclists on a 400km circuit of the central west region, visiting numerous small towns and taking in some beautiful, outback countryside in the Wiradjuri nation.
The trail has been mapped to avoid busy roads and encourage visitors to enjoy some great country hospitality and culture along the way, with farm morning tea and lunch stops one of the highlights.
If you choose to ride the whole 400km circuit, you'll be riding through the backroads of Mudgee, Gulgong, Dunedoo, Mendooran, Ballimore, Dubbo, Geurie, Wellington and Goolma, finishing back at Gulgong and Mudgee. You can also choose to ride stages of it too, of course.
Download the full and sectional maps and Ride with GPS coordinates here: Maps – Central West Cycle Trail.
Looking for navigational apps? Check out our recommendations: Best Cycling Apps | Electric Bikes Brisbane.
Trail Sections
There are ten trail sections and a host of food, accommodation and off-bike things visitors can do. For example, spend a couple of days in the town of Dubbo and see the impressive Dubbo Zoo.
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Image credit: Destination NSW
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Visit the Central West Cycle Trail information page for more details on accommodation, tours and transport options. The visitor information centres are very helpful with route planning and things to do too, and we list the main ones along the trail here.
Orange360 – Orange Villages Bike Trail
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The Orange Villages Bike Trail is a picturesque cycling route that offers a 360km circuit around Mount Canobolas in the Central Tablelands region. It starts and finishes in the town of Orange, passing through the smaller towns and villages of the area.
The route was developed for bikepackers and cycle tourists and shows off the natural beauty of the region, encouraging visitors to enjoy the food and wine the region has become known for along the way.
The trail utilises secondary rural bitumen roads and gravel tracks, and there are some sections with quite a bit of climbing... so it's great for ebikes!
Ride some of it. Ride the whole circuit. The options are there for you to create a memorable and enjoyable cycling trip. Visit the Orange360 website for a section-by-section breakdown to help you plan your route, and see our EBB Owners Club trip overview for our adventures in May 2026.
Bicentennial National Trail
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This is an epic indeed! The Bicentennial Trail actually starts in Cooktown, Queensland, and finishes at Healesville, Victoria, so it covers the entire length of NSW.
You'll ride through some stunning countryside, and there's plenty of adventure with this trail as much of it isn't on sealed or groomed tracks.
The trail exits Queensland through the town of Killarney and enters NSW through the village of Ebor. From there, riders follow the river through Guy Fawkes National Park, to Barrington Tops and through Oxley Wild Rivers National Park.
In a nutshell, it follows the Great Dividing Range from Barrington Tops through to Jenolan Caves in the Blue Mountains, and from there you make your way to Mount Kosciuszko. Keep going to Omeo, and you cross the border into Victoria along the way.
This trail isn't recommended for beginners, and the faint-hearted — recent riders have taken 9 months to complete it end-to-end! However, if you're looking for an epic adventure, this is one to put on your list, or just pick a section of it that appeals.
The best place for further information, including trail maps, is the Bicentennial Trail website.
Northern Rivers Rail Trail
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The proposed Northern Rivers Rail Trail, when fully built, will span 128km from Casino to Murwillumbah, passing through Lismore, Byron Bay, Ocean Shores and Burringbar.
Once fully open, this trail will traverse a World Heritage region, renowned for its beauty, food, music and arts, and the wonderful laid-back vibe of the northern NSW towns.
Stages / Proposed Stages
-  • Stage 1 (24km): The Tweed Valley Rail Trail runs from Murwillumbah to Crabbes Creek. The first section to open and has been incredibly successful.
-  • Stage 2 (29.7km): At the other end, Casino to Lismore including the historic Bentley Bridge.
-  • Stage 3: This section runs from Lismore to Booyong, and is still in the planning and funding-acquisition phase.
-  • Stage 4: The Byron section, which is 54km from Booyong to Crabbes Creek is still in the planning and approval phase.
Restoring a disused rail corridor and creating a safe, enjoyable means of transport for the local community, while providing a fantastic destination for outdoor lovers, can only be a good thing. If you agree, check out the petition for the full development of the NRRT and show your support.
Local Suggestions for Northern Rivers
If you're impatient to explore the beautiful Northern Rivers region and can't wait for the Rail Trail to be developed, here are two route suggestions kindly provided by friends of EBB.
-  • Murwillumbah to Kingscliff Loop (65km)
-  • Kingscliff – Murwillumbah – Tumbulgum – Tyalgum – Kingscliff (300km), including Mt Warning — see our own 5-day Mt Warning bikepacking trip for a first-hand account of this exact route.
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Other Rail Trail Rides in NSW
If you're looking for something shorter, here are some other notable rail trail rides that will take you to and through some picturesque countryside and towns. Great options for day and overnight rides.
Tumbarumba to Rosewood (Riverina Highlands) Rail Trail
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-  • Start/End: Wagga Wagga to Tumbarumba
-  • Length: 21km
-  • Surface: Sealed
-  • Terrain: Flat to slight incline
-  • Best seasons: Spring, summer and autumn
-  • Things to see: Tumbarumba Visitor Information Centre and Museum, Hume and Hovell Track, Pioneer Women's Hut Museum
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Wolgan Valley Rail Trail
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-  • Start/End: Glow Worm Tunnel to Newnes
-  • Length: 11km
-  • Surface: Compacted earth
-  • Terrain: Steep
-  • Notes: Former private railway; ascends to 1200m by Clarence Station, drops to 530m in Newnes, passes through a tunnel full of glow worms
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Which EBike Suits These NSW Rail Trails?
Most electric bikes can handle the shorter, sealed trails on this list. But for the longer multi-day routes like the Central West Cycle Trail, Orange360 or the Bicentennial National Trail — where you're carrying gear over gravel and unsealed sections day after day — the bike you choose matters more.
-  • Kalkhoff Entice or Endeavour range — a comfortable, Bosch-powered choice for sealed and lightly unsealed trails like Tumbarumba to Rosewood or the flatter sections of the Central West Cycle Trail.
-  • Moustache Open Xroad — a lighter-weight, more efficient option if you want to cover more ground per charge on longer circuits like Orange360.
-  • Riese & Müller Superdelite5 Rohloff or Nevo4 GT — built for multi-day touring with real luggage capacity, dual suspension comfort, and enough range for the longest days on trails like the Bicentennial National Trail.
See our full Rail Trail Electric Bikes collection for trail-ready options, or our Electric Adventure Bikes collection if you're planning a longer, multi-day tour with gear.
You may also want to check out the EBB Owners Club for upcoming group rides, or to connect with people who share the same passion for electric bike touring.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best electric bike for the Central West Cycle Trail or Orange360?
Both routes mix sealed roads with gravel sections and multi-day distances, so a Bosch-powered adventure or trekking ebike with good range and rack capacity is ideal — the Kalkhoff Entice/Endeavour range and Focus Aventura2 range are well suited to this kind of riding. For the longest days, a bigger-battery option like the Riese & Müller Superdelite5 gives more comfortable range margin.
Can you ride NSW rail trails on any electric bike?
Shorter, sealed rail trails like Tumbarumba to Rosewood are manageable on most electric bikes. Longer or rougher trails — particularly unsealed sections of the Bicentennial National Trail or multi-day circuits like Orange360 — are more comfortable on a purpose-built adventure or touring ebike with wider tyres and greater load capacity.
And if you love your cycle touring, also have a look at our articles on rides in other states.
