Noosa Biosphere Mountain Bike Rides - Self Guided

Some previous mountain bike experience is highly recommended. Routes can be tailored to your ability and fitness to some degree.

Yes. Most riders bring their own mountain bike. If you don’t have one, we’re happy to rent you a premium mountain bike or e-MTB.

Meet at our Noosaville shop at 12/20 Venture Drive, where there is free, untimed street parking. From there, we transport riders into the heart of the hinterland, allowing you to enjoy an incredible point-to-point riding experience back toward the coast through the forests, valleys, ridgelines, and country towns of the Noosa Hinterland and surrounding regions.

Most routes start at James McKane Lookout near Cooran, and some start in Pomona. Every ride finishes back at our Noosaville shop, opposite Land & Sea Brewery.

Most of our routes are designed to be achievable for confident recreational mountain bikers with a reasonable level of fitness and experience riding off-road. Routes typically utilise a combination of management tracks, forest trails and intermediate-grade singletrack, creating rewarding adventures without requiring advanced technical riding skills.

For more experienced riders, we also offer more challenging options featuring longer distances, greater elevation gain, more remote terrain and extended trail sections.

After booking, riders gain access to our wider route collection, allowing us to help match you with the ride best suited to their experience, fitness level and preferred style of adventure.

Our MTB routes range from approximately 30km to 80km, with elevation ranging from around 300m to 1300m depending on the route selected.

We offer everything from relaxed scenic rides through to longer endurance-style adventures for more experienced riders. Once booked, you’ll gain access to our wider route collection and can discuss the best option for your fitness, experience, and riding goals with our team.

Our routes traverse a diverse mix of terrain typical of the Noosa Biosphere and Hinterland. Depending on the route selected, riders can expect a combination of forest trails, management vehicle tracks, flowing singletrack, quiet country roads, farmland access tracks and sections of the renowned Noosa Trail Network.

Terrain varies throughout the day, with routes often transitioning between dense forests, open farmland, ridgeline lookouts, creek crossings and country towns. While most rides avoid highly technical mountain bike trails, riders should be comfortable on natural surfaces including dirt, gravel, leaf litter, loose sections, shallow water crossings and uneven terrain.

Exact terrain and technical difficulty vary between routes, and we can help recommend an option that best suits your experience and riding style.

We make every effort to keep riders on trails, management tracks, quiet backroads and low-traffic areas wherever possible. However, most routes will include some sections on public roads, including occasional stretches through busier areas when required to connect trail networks, towns or points of interest.

Road sections are typically short and form only a small part of the overall experience. Riders should be confident riding on public roads, obey all road rules, and remain aware of vehicles and other road users at all times.

Specific road exposure varies between routes, and we can help recommend options that minimise on-road riding where possible.

Transport to all hinterland start points is included, along with route planning, your GPS route files (loaded onto your own phone or GPS device), and local guidance and recommendations on the best routes and riding options.

Snacks including energy bars and coconut water for hydration and electrolytes are provided. Basic tools, riding backpacks, drink bottles, locks, and other accessories are also available on request.

Phones are not included in the tour price. Mountain bike routes need a securely fixed navigation device, such as a bike computer or a phone on a Quad Lock style mount. Our universal phone holders are not suitable off-road. If your phone has a Quad Lock compatible case, we can provide a Quad Lock mount for $5 per booking. Otherwise, you can hire one of our phones with a Quad Lock mount for $40 per phone (most groups only need one; select it when booking).

Bikes are not included. Most riders bring their own, but we’re happy to rent you one. Premium mountain bikes and e-MTBs can be added when you book.

These rides are self-guided, but guided rides may be available on request, depending on guide availability, group size and the style of ride you’re after. Please contact us to discuss guided options.

We provide GPS route files compatible with most popular cycling navigation devices and smartphone apps. The route files are included in the price and are loaded onto your own phone or GPS device. On mountain bike routes your device must be securely fixed to the bike. Our universal phone holders are not suitable. If your phone has a Quad Lock compatible case, we can provide a Quad Lock mount for $5 per booking.

While the routes are generally considered straightforward to follow, all self-guided experiences rely on riders being comfortable navigating independently and able to do so safely throughout the ride.

Yes. You are free to leave, modify, shorten, or rejoin the suggested routes at your own discretion. These are self-guided rides, and ultimately the route choices you make during the day are entirely up to you.

We provide recommended routes, transport, navigation support, local knowledge, and bike hire where applicable, however riders remain responsible for their own navigation, decision-making, and route selection throughout the ride.

Yes, as long as it is securely fixed to your bike. We provide GPS route files compatible with most popular cycling GPS devices and smartphone navigation apps. If you would rather not use your own, you can hire one of our phones with a Quad Lock mount for $40 per phone (most groups only need one).

Mountain bike routes need a securely fixed device, and our universal phone holders are not suitable. If your phone has a Quad Lock compatible case, we can provide a Quad Lock mount for $5 per booking. If you don’t have a GPS device or a compatible phone, you can hire one of our phones with a Quad Lock mount for $40 per phone (most groups only need one; select it during booking). Phones are never included in the tour price.

Ride times typically range from approximately 3 to 7 hours depending on the route selected, riding pace, fitness level, and how often you stop for food, photos, or sightseeing along the way.

Shorter scenic routes can usually be completed comfortably within a few hours, while longer endurance-style rides are designed as full-day adventures.

These rides are completed at your own pace, allowing flexibility for stops, sightseeing, food breaks, and ride speed throughout the day. Every ride finishes back at our Noosaville shop, opposite Land & Sea Brewery, where your car is parked.

If you have hired bikes from us, please return them to our shop by 4:00pm, which generally allows approximately 6 hours to complete your ride. If you are riding your own bike, you can finish whenever suits you.

Land & Sea is a great place to finish, with locally brewed beer, gin and vodka and burgers, and we will give you 2-for-1 drinks vouchers. Their trading hours vary, so check before you ride.

Yes. Premium e-MTBs are available to hire for riders wanting extra support on climbs and longer distances.

eBike range depends on a number of factors including rider weight, fitness, terrain, wind, tyre pressure, riding style, and assist mode selection.

However, our eMTBs are capable of completing all standard routes for most riders when battery usage is managed appropriately. On longer rides, this will generally require spending significant time in lower power modes and using higher assist settings strategically on steeper climbs or more demanding terrain.

These are self-guided rides and riders are expected to be reasonably self-sufficient. We provide basic tools to help manage common issues such as flat tyres, and riders should be comfortable handling simple repairs independently.

Please note that we do not offer a dedicated roadside support service. If assistance is available, significant call-out fees may apply and wait times can be several hours depending on location and availability. In some remote areas, assistance may not be possible at all.

If you are unsure about managing basic mechanical issues, we recommend considering a guided experience or riding with someone more experienced.

No. Ride start times are scheduled around transfer logistics, route timing, shop opening hours, and in some cases factors such as tide windows and daylight hours. Riders are expected to arrive ready to depart at their scheduled start time.

If you are looking for a different departure time, larger groups or custom departures may sometimes be possible for an additional fee. Please contact us to discuss custom options.

Our self-guided rides pass through remote areas where vehicle access and mobile phone reception can be limited. Please choose a route that matches your fitness, riding ability and confidence.

If you are unable to complete your ride, we will do our best to assist where possible. However, assistance cannot be guaranteed, and depending on your location and staff availability, it may be several hours before help can reach you.

Where vehicle recovery is available, it is charged from $75 per hour, with a one hour minimum. Remote locations and the Noosa North Shore cost more. These costs are the responsibility of the rider.

Before booking, please take a moment to honestly assess your capabilities and select a route you are confident you can complete. If you're unsure which ride is right for you, we're happy to help you choose.