It’s officially 2026, and although hoverboards aren’t as commonplace as futuristic movies from the 90’s might have us believe, there are still a lot of ways to travel in 2026. That being said, one of the most reliably fun modes of transport has been around for a while, and the humble push bike is having a moment. Cycling holidays are one of the most underrated and sustainable ways to explore the world – and based on recent travel trends, we’ve got a feeling that cycling holidays will surge in popularity in 2026. If you’re keen to saddle up, there’s no better place to start than our very own backyard – with two of Australia’s best cycling routes right here in NSW.
Our state’s wildly diverse landscape offers something for every type of rider – from gentle rail trails to epic routes through majestic mountain ranges. To help us get the wheels turning, we asked the biking gurus at Australian Cycle Tours to round up the ten most popular cycling holidays across the country.
Coming in at number five on the list is the Northern Rivers Rail Trail, which you can get the lowdown on over here. Tracing a former railway line in the Tweed region, the family-friendly Northern Rivers Rail Trail deserves a spot on your NSW holiday hit list. Expect a scenic, car-free adventure that winds through tunnels, villages and rainforest canopies.
The other NSW journey to make the list was the ‘Kosciuszko to the Sea’ trail, and based on what we know about this mountain-to-coastline route, it’s firmly earned its place. Few journeys let you travel from the highest point in the country to the lowest – but this route does exactly that. You’ll hike to the summit of Mount Kosciuszko (2,228 metres), then ride downhill to the shores of Lake Jindabyne before continuing along the beautiful Sapphire Coast.
These are the top 10 cycling holidays in Australia for every kind of rider
Brisbane Valley Rail Trail, QLD
Distance: 161 kilometres
Days: Four days
Difficulty: Moderate
Murray to Mountains Rail Trail, VIC
Distance: Up to 233 kilometres
Days: Four to seven days
Difficulty: Introductory to moderate
Munda Biddi Southern Cycle, WA
Distance: 207 kilometres
Days: Six days
Difficulty: Moderate
Brisbane Valley & Kilkivan Combined Rail Trails, QLD
Distance: 314 kilometres
Days: Six days
Difficulty: Moderate
Northern Rivers Rail Trail, NSW
Distance: 48 kilometres
Days: Three days
Difficulty: Introductory
Great Victorian Rail Trail, VIC
Distance: 155 kilometres
Days: Four days
Difficulty: Introductory to moderate
East Gippsland Rail Trail, VIC
Distance: 149 kilometres
Days: Four days
Difficulty: Introductory to moderate
Kosciuszko to the Sea, NSW
Distance: 279 kilometres
Days: Six days
Difficulty: Moderate to challenging
Gippsland and Snowy River National Park Supported Cycle, VIC
Distance: 295 kilometres
Days: Five days
Difficulty: Moderate to challenging
Barossa Valley Cycle Short Break, SA
Distance: 79 kilometres
Days: Two days
Difficulty: Introductory to moderate
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