It is truly amazing what special treats can be uncovered when you least expect it “just riding along”.
Last week, Andy and I took our annual pilgrimage to the Clarkes Beach Holiday Park at Byron Bay, we stay 10 days and do pretty much nothing: we camp, we make cocktails, we bake ourselves in the sun, we ride to Bangalow to check out the hinterland, we hang around Top Shop with all the cool bods, we frequent St Elmos tapas bar for sangria, we run up the Lighthouse stairs (a form of torture instigated by Davison in an attempt to make me suffer unnecessarily). This year was a slight variation on the regular routine that had me cursing my single speed and wishing I had my super cool Bianchi Methanol 29er to really appreciate the brand spanking new Byron Bay Mountain Bike Park.
The Park opened 21st October 2012 and located on the road to Bangalow on the 300 acre Byron Bay Farmstay property, there is a big sign saying Mountain Bike Park (OPEN) so it is hard to miss. Advertised opening hours are 0800-1500 Saturday and Sunday (or by prior arrangement) with honour system that requires you to clock in/out at the farmhouse and drop $5 (MTBA members) or $10 (non MTBA members) in the box to play as long and as hard as you like. The track is in its infancy and the team behind the park are dedicated to ensuring it is a very dynamic facility with daily upgrades and modifications to the track as required.
The trails start in a paddock. Photo by Naomi Hansen
The track is currently around 2.5km and starts traversing across a cow paddock with real cows and massive cow dung piles, both of which are incentive enough to stay on the track, then dips into a wonderful wooded loop with rock features and nice loamy soil that provides amazing traction. The trail is directional to avoid collisions and any scary obstacles are aptly marked, I would caution anyone planning a virgin ride in the wet as the rock gardens could prove a little slippery! There is also a small pump park for anyone that is that way inclined.
The Byron Bay Farmstay does offer accommodation and hire bikes at very reasonable prices so if you end up in Byron without a ride for $50 (3 hours) you can head out on a Giant TraceX 29er.
For more information check out their website or contact the “Northern Rivers Dirty Wheels” Club: nthriversdirtywheels@gmail.com
The 2.5km trail map. Photo by Naomi Hansen