New travel initiative aims to keep mountain bikers on the right track

Love to push yourself to your limits? 

Destination Southern NSW (DSNSW) has officially launched Great Southern Trails, a new tourism initiative that aims to position Southern New South Wales as s premier mountain biking destination.   

Great Southern Trails connects 10 mountain biking trail networks and towns, offering 550+ km of dedicated MTB trails across the South Coast, Alpine Region, and the Canberra region. 

The initiative was launched at the inaugural Sea Otter Australia MTB Festival in Batemans Bay earlier this month, marking its debut on the national stage. 

“Mountain biking is one of the fastest-growing tourism segments in regional Australia," says Richard Everson, general manager of Destination Southern NSW.

"Tourism Research Australia estimates cycle tourism contributes $1 billion annually to the visitor economy.  Every trail network brings riders to local cafes, pubs, accommodation, visitor attractions, and tours. 

“The Great Southern Trails tourism initiative aims to inspire visitors to choose Southern NSW for their next MTB trip. The initiative helps them plan, and encourages longer stays, higher visitor spend, and stronger year-round tourism visitation - delivering real economic and social benefits to our local towns and communities.”  

The Great Southern Trails brand and website have been developed by DSNSW with support from MTB clubs, tourism industry operators, local councils and government.  

It provides a 1000km mountain biking road trip taking in 10 locations that can easily be broken into smaller segments of two-, three-, and four-day MTB adventures.   

“Southern NSW is home to some of Australia’s best mountain biking trail networks, which is the reason we brought our business and the internationally renowned Sea Otter Australia MTB Festival to Batemans Bay and Mogo Trails," says said Juliane Wisata, founder and marketing director for Rocky Trail Entertainment, a leading MTB event business.

"From the iconic Stromlo Forest Park to Thredbo Resort and the recently opened Mogo Trails, Gravity Eden, Narooma MTB, and Mt Tumbarumba, nowhere else in Australia comes close to the quality and diversity of MTB riding on offer in the region. 

“It makes sense to collectively market the MTB trail networks in this region and ensure the MTB riders of Australia know the incredible MTB experience on offer here.”  

See www.greatsoutherntrails.com.au

Image: Norco Photos 

Tourism operators unite to fight logging of native forests

Many tourists do not notice the damage done to native forests in Tasmania by the ludicrously named Sustainable Timbers Australia.

Loggers are very clever in keeping their devastation from public viewing.

In the town of Derby, in the north-east of the state, local businesses have united on the eve of proposed Krushka forest logging to again call for Government intervention to protect forests.

The Krushka forests wrap around the Blue Derby mountain bike trails and leading local businesses are part of the 200+ business signature open letter to Premier Peter Gutwein and Tasmanian Government calling for "an end to native forest logging to allow our nature-based tourism sector to live up to the Brand Tasmania promise".

Louise Morris, co-ordinator of Blue Derby Wild said: ‘We have seen an unprecedented call from businesses across our island state, and globally, noting that our Gondwana forests are worth more standing.

"From global giants like Paddy Palin and Patagonia to The Tasmanian Walking Company, Franklin River Rafting and numerous businesses here in Derby we are all united in understanding our forests are our biggest eco-tourism drawcard, and our best natural assets for tackling climate change and increasing biodiversity loss. Our communities need our Gondwana native forests intact."

Damien Neilson, owner/operator of the Derby Bike Shop said: "We hear on a daily basis from our customers the beauty that Derby is, with its lush wet forests, the amazing views they get on the trails and how diverse the area is.

"To then tell them that these areas are about to be logged they are shocked and stunned that in this day the Government would agree to this. These forests are what make the experience for many, if not all, who visit and ride the trails in Derby and we need to protect these natural assets."

Jules Seymour, owner and operator of Pinned Property Management said: ‘When there are over 31,000 signatures from the general public, over 200 business owners and conversations from interested and concerned tourists in the main street daily, I really don't understand how they can ignore this.

"Plain and simple, it’s ruining the future of eco tourism in an area that will keep giving back year after year and be sustainable for years to come. Rider separation zones are completely irrelevant when they are ignoring the point that once these forests are gone, there is no getting them back."