The Tweed Valley is home to the recently opened Northern Rivers Rail Trail and is an extraordinarily beautiful and diverse cycling destination. Enjoy riding through World-Heritage listed rainforest-filled national parks and mountain ranges, follow the coastline overlooking stunning beaches, or do both in the same ride.
You'll love the laid-back vibe and the charming local gourmet treats and arts and crafts and you will love having the power of an ebike to enjoy climbing into the many national parks.
If you are heading to the Tweed Valley, here are some rides to put on your list to explore thanks to our Ride.Share.Win entrants who have shared some of their favourite local rides.
Only 1.5 - 2 hours drive from Brisbane, with these rides you can enjoy a day trip or else stay for a few days and enjoy exploring.
- Northern Rivers Rail Trail - a must if you are in the area
- An overnight circuit to whet your bikepacking appetite
- A beautiful coast to bushland route
- Put your legs to the test and head for the Border Ranges
- Some Mullumbimby-based day rides
Northern Rivers Rail Trail, 24km one way
Start point: Murwillumbah Railway Station
End Point: Crabbes Creek Station (see the full route on Komoot here)
Distance: 24km
Ride Description (courtesy of Michael): The first section of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail opened on 1 March 2023 from the heritage listed Murwillumbah Railway Station to Crabbes Creek via the villages of Stokers Siding, Burringbar and Mooball. The section is 24km long and has 18 bridges and 2 tunnels. At 524m, the Burringbar Tunnel is the longest tunnel on the what will eventually be a 132km trail which, when complete, will stretch from Murwillumbah to Casino.
The surface makes for easy riding with its compacted gravel and 6km of bitumen. Bike lights are advised for the tunnels. Return by the trail or be more ambitious and create a loop ride along the coast.
For more information on the Northern Rivers Rail Trail visit the NRRT website.
Murwillumbah Mullumbimby Circuit, 120km
This is an excellent ride of approx. 120 kms, on a mixture of sealed and unsealed low traffic roads, bike paths & tracks. Breaking it into 2 days makes it a very manageable 60 kms each day with 650m climbing on Day 1 and 400m climbing on Day 2.
Start and End point: Murwillumbah
Distance: Day 1, 61km (see full route here) and Day 2, 60km (see full route here)
Ride Description (courtesy of Ron):
Day 1 - takes you through the village of Stokers Siding, then on to Uki (a great coffee stop), through farming country along Rowlands Ck Rd, up into the beautiful Mt Jerusalem National Park and into Mullumbimby. There is a selection of accommodation & camping in Mullum’ “The biggest little town in Australia”. We camped at the Mullumbimby Rugby League Football club.
Day 2 - Leaving Mullum’ and over to the coastal town of Brunswick Heads, on to Ocean Shores, New Brighton & South Golden Beach. The route then follows the Optus Trail for about 4 kms through the Billinudgel Nature Reserve (there is a small creek crossing), it then turns onto Wooyung Rd before joining with the southern section of the Tweed Coast Cycle Path. Follow this path for about 9km then onto Round Mountain Road which becomes Reserve Creek Rd & takes you back to Murwillumbah.
NOTE: If you want to shorten the ride you can utilise the Northern Rivers Rail Trail with a couple of options:
1. Day 1 - Riding on the NRRT from Murwillumbah to Stokers Siding.
2. Day 2 - At the end of the Optus Trail turn left at Wooyung Rd and a 5km ride will take you to the southern end of the Tweed section of the NRRT. From there it will be an easy 24km ride back to Murwillumbah. This option will save 14km distance & eliminate the climbs on Round Mountain Rd.
Beach, Bush and Rail Trail, 90km
A ride when you want a bit of everything: spectacular coastal views, a stunning beach ride, a bit of road and gravel cycleway, plus a stretch of singletrack bush path.
Start point: Ballina
End Point: Stokers Siding
Distance: 90km
Ride Description (courtesy of Linda):
Starting at Ballina, it's a beautiful 10km ride along a shared coastal path to Lennox Head with spectacular views over the coastal headlands and the beaches of the Ballina region.
From Lennox to Byron it's then 15km of road riding. There is a small shoulder most of the way but this is the only teeth clenching part of the ride. Once you hit the outskirts of Byron Bay, near Suffolk Park, it's a shared pathway again all the way into Byron.
After a lovely stop at Main Beach follow the shared path to North Byron where you join Belongil Beach (low tide only) for a SPECTACULAR beach ride to Brunswick Heads. 
From Brunswick, it's a shared pathway to Ocean Shores, then a few kms further along through South Golden Beach until you hit "the Optus Track".
The Optus Track is a 5km single track bush ride through Bilinudgel Nature Reserve.
At the end of the Optus Track, turn left onto Wooyung Road, ride 8kms to the end of the road and you join straight onto the Northern Rivers Rail Trail at Crabbes Creek.
I rode as far as Stokers Siding and then headed home, which is 5km from the Rail Trail, however the Rail Trail continues for an additional 10km into Murwillumbah.
All up it's just over 90km one way, and an absolutely stunning ride which covers a bit of everything: beach, bush, road and trail.
Wake Up Legs! Border Ranges, 45km (1,500m climbing)
If you feel like giving yourself a workout with a big climb (yes, you get a great workout even though its an ebike) and you love nature, mountains and rainforest then this is a top ride.
Start point: Blue Knob
End Point: Blue Knob, turnaround point at Bar Mountain
Distance: 45km with 1521m climbing
Ride Description (courtesy of Linda):
This is an out-and-back ride that dips your tyres into neighbouring Kyogle Shire as you ride from Blue Knob to Lillian Rock. You then dip back into the Tweed Shire and up into the Border Ranges National Park.
It has a mix of tarmac and dirt roads and plenty of elevation - over 1500m. So much elevation that we were riding in the clouds in the beautiful World Heritage Border Ranges National Park ☁️
And of course no ride is complete without coffee, and the Blue Knob Gallery, Cafe & Ceramic Studio was just the ticket ☕️
Mullumbimby Day Rides
Local Mullumbimby resident, Hans, shares four lovely scenic rides that all start and finish in Mullum and take between two to four hours.
1. Mullum to Tyagarah and Possum Shoot Road, 45km
Out of Mullum we ride towards Byron Bay on the Myocum Road. Turn left into the Tyagarah Road. Ending up parallel to the M1 motorway.
Turning south going through swampy bushland along a hardly used bike path parallel to the highway to Kennedy Lane where we turn right and back towards Myocum Road.
Reaching Myocum Road we cross it and climb up on the Possum Shoot Road. It's a steady 5% climb for 4km and we end up on Coolamon Scenic Drive. The ride along the ridge brings us back to Mullum.
Roads are mostly sealed and in good conditions. Great views and cooling breezes.
2. Mullumbimby to Minyon Falls, 46km (1200m climbing)
Follow the Coolamon Scenic Drive up the hill out of Mullumbimby.
Turn right, you’ll pass the Crystal Castle and you are still going uphill. A good time to be using the Turbo setting on my trusty Riese & Muller Homage with its Bosch CX motor! Easy going :)
Now for a beautiful ride through old growth rainforest. Traffic is light and roads are sealed. The destination is well sign posted.
On the way back you can do an extra loop via Federal on the Coorabell Road.
Overall this is a lovely ride up in the hills with rewarding views.
3. Mullum Loop via Cooleman Nursery, 36km
The ride starts easy riding from Mullumbimby to the MainArm General store. The road is wide and flat and recently sealed.
Before the General store you turn right into the forrest for a modest 3km climb towards Billinudgel. A few hills through magic rainforest and you are on the flat again surrounded by lush farmland, mainly cattle, horses, goats, sheep and the odd alpaca.
From Billinudgel we head to the Cooleman nursery for lunch. Beware the kitchen closes at 12.30 !!
Fully recharged, I mean the body not the bike, we hit the Tunnel Road towards back to Mullumbimby. It's a winding, steeper and narrow road through beautiful old rainforest. Watch out for cars but it's ok because they have to slow down too because of the tight corners.
The end of the loop trip is a downhill roll into Mullumbimby. The trip is 36km and can be done in 1 1/2 hours.
4. Mullumbimby to Byron Bay, 50km return
Starting in Mullum it is an easy, slightly hilly ride along the sealed Myocum Road.
You will pass paddocks and paddocks with cattle, horses and the odd donkey and cows.
From the Byron district Hospital there is a bike track all the way into Byron Bay.
Stay for a coffee or lunch. Go for a swim or check out the latest fashion.
Byron's got it all.
If riding back to Mullumbimby the same route you will have covered around 50kms return and the ride can be done in 2 hrs if you don't stop in Byron for a break.
You couldn't get a more contrasting towns on either end. A pleasant outing with lots of impressions.
Our thanks to Michael, Ron, Linda and Hans sharing these rides for us all to enjoy. Happy riding!
