Quick answer: The Great Ocean Road (VIC) is Australia's best-known scenic ride, but riders rate Tasmania's East Coast, WA's Munda Biddi Trail and the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail just as highly. Pick a route that matches your fitness and time — several are easy half-day loops, others are multi-day tours — and pack navigation, storage and eye protection for anything past a short local ride.
Australia has no shortage of spectacular cycling, from coastal highways to rail trails through old-growth forest. Here's a state-by-state look at the roads and trails that consistently top Australian riders' lists, and what's worth packing before you tackle one.
Victoria: The Great Ocean Road and Beyond
The Great Ocean Road is arguably Australia's most famous cycling road — roughly 243km one-way along a coastline that includes the Twelve Apostles, with most riders splitting it over two or three days rather than riding it in one push. Victoria also holds the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail (Wangaratta to Bright, about 100km), a gentle, well-formed path with snow-capped mountain views that suits a much wider range of fitness levels, and the Grand Ridge Road through the Strzelecki Ranges for riders after quiet forest climbing.
Tasmania: East Coast and Mount Wellington
Tasmania's East Coast route, running from St Helens down toward Hobart, strings together beaches, bays and small coastal towns with relatively little traffic. For a shorter, more dramatic ride, the North South Track descends Mount Wellington through cool temperate rainforest — a genuinely different kind of scenery within a short drive of Hobart.
Western Australia: Munda Biddi and the Rainbow Coast
The Munda Biddi Trail, stretching around 1,000km from Mundaring to Albany, is the world's longest continuous off-road cycling trail and a serious multi-day undertaking through WA's forests. For something achievable in an afternoon, Albany to Frenchman Bay is an easy 60km return along the Rainbow Coast, with a real chance of spotting whales during the season.
New South Wales and South Australia: Alpine and Outback Contrasts
NSW's Barry Way runs from Jindabyne to the Victorian border through alpine country and the Snowy River Valley — a hard, remote ride best left to experienced tourers. South Australia's Mawson Trail covers roughly 900km from Adelaide into the Flinders Ranges, trading coastal scenery for forest, farmland and genuine outback landscape.
ROCKBROS 5-Claw Phone Holder — 360° Rotation$32.00
ROCKBROS 1.2L Triangle Frame Bag$32.00
Polarised Cycling Sunglasses — 5 Interchangeable Lenses$30.00
Picking the Right Road for You
Match the route to your time and fitness before the scenery. Easy, well-formed options like the Bass Coast Rail Trail or Albany to Frenchman Bay suit casual riders and families in a single outing. Longer hard routes like Barry Way, the Mawson Trail or the Munda Biddi Trail are multi-day tours that need proper supplies, navigation and, in many cases, an experienced group or support vehicle.
FAQ
What is Australia's most famous cycling road?
The Great Ocean Road in Victoria — roughly 243km along the coast past the Twelve Apostles, usually ridden over two or three days.
Do I need special gear for long scenic rides?
A frame or saddle bag, a phone mount for navigation, and eye protection for wind and glare cover most day rides; multi-day routes add lights and reflective gear.
What's the best time of year to ride Australia's scenic roads?
Spring and autumn suit most routes best. Tasmania and the alpine high country are the exception, where mid-summer usually gives the most reliable weather.
Are these roads safe for casual riders?
Some, like the Bass Coast Rail Trail, are easy and family-friendly. Others, like Barry Way or the Munda Biddi Trail, are long and remote and better suited to experienced tourers.
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