Australia’s newest mountain bike destination at Warburton east of Melbourne officially opened at Easter.
The park has been open on limited trails as construction progressed over recent years.
With the official opening, the size has effectively doubled, expanding beyond Mt Little Joe to Mt Tugwell with more than 15 new trails now available for riders of all abilities.
Daily shuttle services are now operating.
As well as offering a full range of trails of varying degrees of difficulty and distance, Warburton is both close enough to Melbourne for easy access, and far enough away to be a mountain resort that you can spend a weekend in.
And a rare feature is that you can ride your bike there from the centre of Melbourne to have the total adventure, although more likely you will catch the train to Lilydale and then ride the attractive rail trail to Warburton.
The park has currently has 70 kilometres of trails with up to 650 metres of elevation.
When fully complete, the park will feature an epic 160-kilometre trail network, climbing to 800 metres of vertical elevation, delivering Australia’s premier mountain biking experience.
The trails are rated to ensure a match for your skill level, and there is guidance on trail etiquette as well as a code of conduct to ensure safety.
Emergency services had a role in planning the facility and have been training and familiarising themselves with the site in recent weeks.
There is extensive information on the facility and about how to make the most of a visit on the park’s website.
Yarra Ranges Mayor, Cr Richard Higgins, said the opening of Warburton Bike Park marked a significant milestone for the region.
“The Warburton Bike Park has been a highly anticipated project in the region for more than a decade, and we’re incredibly excited to officially open it,” Cr Higgins said.
“This project will get more people active, bring visitors to the region and help support our local economy.
“I know plenty of locals and visitors are looking forward to exploring this incredible new trail network.”
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