8 Overnight Bikepacking Routes in NSW

An overnight bicycle adventure – or bikepacking – is an amazing way to discover what’s just beyond your doorstep. Here’s our top picks for bikepacking routes in NSW.

We Are Explorers acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Countries on which these adventures take place who have occupied and cared for these lands, waters, and their inhabitants for thousands of years. We pay our respects to them and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.

Bikepacking Routes in NSW

You don’t need to lust over spray-on lycra or drool at the thought of carbon-fibre to enjoy riding a bicycle. Cycling is the most accessible mode of transport on the planet and there’s no better way to explore said planet than from the seat of a bicycle. Below is a selection of bikepacking routes within a few hours of Sydney, with some even starting on the city’s outskirts!

1. Long Plain Hut to Hainsworth Hut & Beyond in Kosciuszko National Park

Distance: 50km
Duration: 2 days
Start point: Long Plain Hut
End point: Long Plain Hut
Route: Ride With GPS

Written by Mattie Gould

The High Plains of Kosciuszko National Park, particularly the region around Long Plain, is a great option for a weekend bikepacking mission. Away from the more mountainous terrain that surrounds Mt Kosciuszko, the ride from Long Plain Hut to Hainsworth Hut and beyond offers the feel of the alpine without the extra elevation.

@timmeh500

2. Orange Villages Bike Trail

Distance: 360km
Duration: 6 days
Start point: Orange
End point: Orange
Route: Ride With GPS

Written by Mattie Gould

Starting and finishing in Orange, the 360km route is the brainchild of a local cycling group called the Treadlies. They’ve dubbed it the Orange Villages Bike Trail as the route passes through many of the smaller towns and villages of the area. This means it’s the ideal route for bikepacking and bike touring as there are plenty of opportunities for food, accommodation, and camping along the way – not to mention plenty of historic sites and museums.

Split into six sections, The 360 has been designed to be ridden over six days, each day riding around 50-70km.

The terrain is generally smooth and undulating, but you’ll need some road sense about you as you’re sharing the roads with cars.

@mattiejgould

3. Newcastle to Wyee Bikepacking

Distance: 79km
Duration: 2 days
Start point: Adamstown Station
End point: Wyee Station
Route: Ride With GPS – Route by Timmy Doman

Written by Ben Ogden

This beginner bikepacking itinerary (with easy roll-on train access) departs Newcastle NSW (Muloobinba) for a cruisy 80km overnighter, ending in Wyee via the Central Coast.

As far as bikepacking goes, this route is beginner-friendly, although you should have some experience and gear specific to the outdoors.

A basic level of bike fitness is required as there are some hills including a pinchy climb in the Munmorah State Conservation Park.

We camped at Frazer Campground which has only a handful of sites and you need to book well in advance on the NSW National Parks website. A little further down the road is Freemans Campground which is another option if Frazer is full.

@benogdenau

4. The Northern Rivers Rail Trail (Murwillumbah to Crabbes Creek)

Distance: 24km
Duration: 2 hours
Start point: Murwillumbah
End point: Crabbes Creek

The Tweed section of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail passes through the World Heritage region of Northern NSW. The route’s located less than 30 minutes from Coolangatta / Gold Coast Airport and takes approximately 1.5-2 hours to cycle at a leisurely pace and 4-5 hours to walk.

This is just stage one of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail, and it’s jam-packed full of highlights that’ll make the smile on your face reach your ears.

18 historic railway bridges (five heritage), glow worms inside a 500m+ tunnel, winding rivers, panoramic landscape views with Mt Wollumbin towering above, cafes, and a pub – not bad for less than two hours turning your pedals (depending on how long you spend in the pub).

Once completed, the whole rail trail will total 132km.

@henry_brydon

5. Lithgow to Mittagong (via Jenolan & Wombeyan Caves)

Distance: 210km
Duration: 2-3 days
Start point: Lithgow Station
End point: Mittagong Station
Campsite: Werong State Forest

A hefty mountainous route, this bikepacking adventure from Lithgow to Mittagong meanders past Jenolan Caves and through the towering pines of Jenolan State Forest. Pitch up for the night in Werong State Forest, before putting tyre to dirt again on the Oberon-Colong Stock Route via Mt Werong the next day. Fly past Wombeyan Caves and down into the valley at Wollondilly before crunching it back up the hill to Mittagong.

Catch the train to Lithgow Station to begin and end up at Mittagong Station for the trip back to Sydney.

6. Bundeena to Kiama (via Royal National Park)

Distance: 120km
Duration: 2 days
Start point: Bundeena ferry wharf
End point: Kiama Station
Campsite: Bass Point

The ride from Bundeena to Kiama follows the coastline, providing an abundance of ocean views and sea breeze to fly through your hair.

Starting at the northern end of Royal National Park, follow Bundeena Drive, Bertram Stevens Drive, and Lady Wakehurst Drive to the southern end of the park. Jump on the winding coastal road/bike path that meanders between the ocean and toppling cliffs of the Illawarra Escarpment to fly down the coast to Wollongong. Stick to the bike path as it saunters along the sand and sea, past Windang, Shellharbour, and roll into the surf beaches of Kiama.

To get to the start of the ride, catch the ferry from Cronulla to Bundeena. The train at Kiama will take you back to Sydney in just a few hours.

Read more: Your Guide to a Unique Adventure Weekend in Kiama

Kiama Pool | @jonharris_photography

7. The Bundian Way

Distance: 274km
Duration: 4 days
Start point: Jindabyne
End point: Eden

Written by Georgia Doherty

The Bundian Way is an Aboriginal route that traverses from Targangal/Mt Kosciuszko to Bilgalera/Twofold Bay in Eden. 274km of ancient pathway that Yuin people travelled seasonally on the South Coast of NSW.

We had the notes, maps, and short synopsis from surveyor John Blay to reconstruct our own bikepacking trip along the Bundian Way. The land, campsites, and track are part of a songline, freshwater to saltwater, coast to mountains, the ancestors singing and keeping us safe on our journey.

8. Thirstypacker Threehundo (Canberra loop via Wee Jasper)

Distance: 150km
Duration: 2 days
Start point: Canberra
End point: Canberra
Route: Day 1, Day 2

Written by Adam Samuelson

The Thirstypacker Threehundo loops out west from Canberra, crossing the Brindabella Ranges on one of the region’s best dirt road climbs, before taking riders down a stunning descent to pastoral river flats and the Tumut River Brewery for refreshing sports recovery drinks.

After snoozing the night in wonderful Tumut, Thirstypackers make their way through the hills to Wee Jasper Distillery for lunch, before wending their way back to Canberra via Mountain Creek Road. If you’re fit and like riding your bike, this is a great way to do it for a whole weekend.

Want to stick around longer? A Holiday Park Might Be the Perfect Choice

@existentialrollicking

Essential Gear for Bikepacking

The most important thing to remember here is that expensive equipment is not essential! In fact, with some crafty Gumtree purchasing and some cheeky borrowings from friends, you could get everything you need for a bikepacking weekend for less than $100.

The main things to get your hands on are;

• your bike
• a rack (which sits on the back)
• two rear panniers to put your worldly weekend possessions into

For camping you’ll need;

• tent or hammock
• sleeping bag
• fresh change of warm clothes
• plenty of food and water
• first aid kit
• portable gas cooker (including pots, pans etc)

Additional kit should include;

• camera
• bike spares
• a map!
• duct tape
• cable ties

You should never step out the front door without these (and your bike repair kit!) in your possession – whether you’re Macgyver or not.

@jm_cleversuffix

In Case You Weren’t Convinced Already, Here are 10 Reasons to Love Bikepacking

1. It’s ridiculously cheap
2. It’s beautifully uncomplicated
3. Getting completely lost in your own dreamworld of thought and that immense feeling of freedom
4. Truly connecting with Mother Nature (without a window between you and the world)
5. It keeps you fit as a fiddle
6. Provides a challenge to overcome and a sense of achievement once you’ve done it
7. You’re doing your bit for carbon emissions
8. Camping in the bush, cooking in the woods, and sleeping for free at the million-star hotel
9. It’ll restore your faith in humanity
10. Anyone can do it – just pick a sensible distance!

FAQs Overnight Bikepacking Routes in NSW

What other overnight bikepacking routes can I do in NSW?

There are heaps of bikepacking routes in NSW to enjoy. Consider the Thirstypacker Threehundo, bikepack from Canberra to Batemans Bay, hit up the Boboyan Divide, or take it up a notch on the Hunt 1000, or Gronk 690.

Are there shorter day rides I can do in NSW?

Of course! Go for a lazy meander around Lake Burley Griffin, hit up the best mountain trails in Canberra, or go dirt surfing at Gravity Eden Mountain Bike Park.

What’s the best place to go mountain bike riding in Sydney?

Ooft there’s a can of worms! Everyone has their own personal favourite but we gathered those together and put them in a handy list of the best mountain bike trails in Sydney. Check it out!

How do I know where to put my tent when bikepacking?

Making sure you’re camping legally is step number one! Once you’ve done that, it’s all about choosing the perfect spot. Check out our guide to choosing the right place to set up your tent for everything you need to know.

Table of Contents photo by @patcorden