Discover the best bike rides in Queensland

Two individuals bike riding at Burleigh Heads, Queensland

Bike riding is a wonderful way to explore the outdoors, move your body and have fun with family and friends. Regular bike riding boosts heart and lung health, builds strength across lower body and core muscle groups and improves joint mobility and coordination.

While there might be a bike path right outside your door, we suggest searching for interesting and safe bike routes to ensure an enjoyable ride. From stunning scenic outings to family-friendly paths, discover the best places to ride a bike in Queensland. 

Bike riding with a view 

There’s nothing quite like riding a bike surrounded by the soothing sounds of nature or with breathtaking views toward the ocean, bush or city lights. Thankfully, Queensland provides an abundance of quality bike tracks around lakes, along boardwalks and through bushland, all of which can make for an enjoyable ride. 

Two individuals bike riding on gravel road with bush land.

Explore your next scenic bike ride: 

Mackay 

A wonderful way to explore Mackay by bike is to unwind on the Bluewater Trail. As scenic as it sounds, this 16km trail takes you past top tourist spots, like the Mackay Regional Botanical Gardens and Iluka Park. Don’t forget to pack swimmers for a dip in the Bluewater Lagoon, a free, three-tiered swimming pool, to cool off at the end of your journey. 

Sunshine Coast 

Bring the family for a sunny day out and cycle Mooloolaba’s scenic 5km stretch to Cotton Tree. Why not stop at Cotton Tree Park for a rest before pedalling back? 

Kangaroo Point Bikeway 

Take a leisurely bike tour of Brisbane City, minus the traffic! Follow the Kangaroo Point Bikeway beside the Brisbane River, spotting the CityCat ferries and local wildlife. Glide under the Story Bridge before pausing for a bite to eat at South Bank or continue across the bridge to see the Brisbane City Botanical Gardens. 

Port Douglas Coastline Ride 

Imagine bike riding on the compact sand of the famous Four Mile Beach. This one-of-a-kind coastal bike ride will have you pedalling alongside palm trees on one side and the warm coastal waters of the Great Barrier Reef on the other. What an experience!

Adult and child bike ride on a gravel road with helmets on.

Family-friendly bike rides 

One of the most memorable milestones as a family is going on a bike ride together. Whether you’re a family with young kids using training wheels or teenagers on mountain bikes ready to tackle rougher terrain, bike riding offers plenty of physical activity, fresh air and lasting memories. One thing to remember when riding with children in tow is to plan ahead for a safe and enjoyable ride, such as researching the trail first, ensuring helmets meet the mandatory standard and packing healthy snacks and water bottles.

Here is a list of the top family-friendly bike rides around QLD: 

The City of Moreton Bay 

Scarborough Cycleway is a family-friendly bike path that takes you along 11km of the Redcliffe Peninsula’s foreshore. Enjoy salty sea breezes, soft white sand, playgrounds, and ample coffee stops along the way. 

Regional Queensland 

Bring the whole family along for this compact gravel trail of the Mary Valley Rail Trail. The rail trail follows the old railway corridor through bushland, plantations, rainforest and farmland. You might even spot a few horse-riders along the way! 

Brisbane City 

Ideal for beginners, Kedron Brook Bikeway is a fun and safe cycleway for the whole family. Spanning up to 16km from Mitchelton to Nundah, cruise along the off-road pathways and marked bikeways before enjoying a packed picnic to recharge by one of the creekside parks. 

Gravel tracks and advanced rides 

Ready to advance your bike rides? Explore places not seen by car, tackle mountains, and glide down hills with the following gravel tracks and mountain bike paths for a more challenging adventure. Bask in the countryside or experience a heart-pumping ride with these trails offering a little of both, depending on where you begin and end the journey.  

These are advanced bike ride trails, so make sure you do your research and gear up for the adventure ahead. 

Advanced bike trails in Queensland: 

Regional Queensland 

Pedal the sights of Regional Queensland and spend the day exploring heritage-listed sites, charming country towns and peaceful countryside during this challenging 161km track. Follow along the old Brisbane Valley railway line from Wulkuraka to Yarraman to put your mountain bike riding skills to the test. 

Tropical North Queensland 

The Misty Mountains are filled with rainforests, clear creeks, waterfalls, and 130km of dirt roads and wilderness tracks for mountain bike riders to explore. However, mountain bikes are only permitted on three tracks: Koolmoon Creek, Gorrell and Cardwell Range. Due to the isolated and rough terrain, these tracks vary in distance and difficulty and are only recommended for experienced and well-prepared bike riders. Less experienced riders can still enjoy the stunning rainforest sights on the more beginner-friendly dirt roads throughout the region.

It pays to be prepared for any bike ride, whether local or remote. Often, roads and trails are closed seasonally or due to weather conditions, so always check park and council alerts for updates. Discover more places to ride in Queensland by visiting Bicycle Queensland.