Cycle tourism contributes about $1 billion annually to the visitor economy and the Capital region has some of the best trails on offer. Photo: DSNSW.
A new initiative that incorporates more than 550 km of dedicated mountain bike trails across the South Coast, alpine and ACT regions has been launched in a bid to tap into a billion-dollar tourism market.
Destination Southern NSW (DSNSW) has officially launched Great Southern Trails, a tourism initiative that aims to position southern NSW as Australia’s premier mountain biking destination.
“Mountain biking is one of the fastest-growing tourism segments in regional Australia,” DSNSW general manager Richard Everson said.
“Tourism Research Australia estimates cycle tourism contributes $1 billion annually to the visitor economy. Every trail network brings riders to local cafes, pubs, accommodation, visitor attractions, and tours.
“The Great Southern Trails tourism initiative aims to inspire visitors to choose southern NSW for their next MTB trip. The initiative helps them plan, and encourages longer stays, higher visitor spend, and stronger year-round tourism visitation – delivering real economic and social benefits to our local towns and communities.”
DSNSW has developed the Great Southern Trails brand and website with support from MTB clubs, tourism industry operators, local councils and government. It provides an epic 1000 km mountain biking road trip taking in 10 locations that can easily be broken into smaller segments of two, three, and four-day MTB adventures.
Southern NSW is home to some of Australia’s best mountain biking trail networks. Photo: DSNSW.
Batemans Bay had a taste of the tourism dollars mountain biking can bring when the internationally renowned Sea Otter Australia MTB Festival hit town in October.
About 1500 riders competed in race events and an estimated 6000 people attended the demonstrations, events and exhibitions held as part of the festival, which is expected to generate up to $4 million for the region’s visitor economy.
Sea Otter originated in California 30 years ago and is the world’s largest mountain bike festival. It has a licensed European event held in Spain each year, and Sea Otter Australia is the first to be licensed in the Southern Hemisphere.
Founder and marketing director of Rocky Trail Entertainment, Australia’s leading MTB event business, Juliane Wisata, said the international visitors would stay on beyond the festival to explore.
Rocky Trail Entertainment organises more than 40 mountain bike events from Mackay to the Mornington Peninsula, which are promoted nationally. They have a 10-year contract licence for Sea Otter Australia.
A boost in mountain bike visitation could help mitigate the seasonal nature of tourism on the South Coast, where the crowds of holiday tourists traditionally decline in the cooler months.
“Southern NSW is home to some of Australia’s best mountain biking trail networks,” Ms Wisata said.
“From the iconic Stromlo Forest Park to Thredbo Resort and the recently opened Mogo Trails, Gravity Eden, Narooma MTB and Mt Tumbarumba, nowhere else in Australia comes close to the quality and diversity of MTB riding on offer in the region.
“It makes sense to collectively market the MTB trail networks in this region and ensure the MTB riders of Australia know the incredible MTB experience on offer here.”
In addition to showcasing the region’s trails, DSNSW plans to strengthen collaboration and sustainability within the MTB tourism sector through capacity-building skills workshops, networking, and advocacy.
