The very active Bike Leichhardt Touring Group has just completed a 6-day tour of the Northern Rivers for the second time in two years.
To encourage more Bicycle NSW friends and Members to make the trip north, Ride Leader Tim Coen has shared his notes about the scenic rides the group did on and around the Northern Rivers Rail Trail – as well as some recommendations for essential coffee and lunch stops!
Tim also highlights the ongoing campaign to improve access to regional trains and coaches with bicycles.
The Bike Leichhardt tour group at Murwillumbah Station on the Northern Rivers Rail Trail (Image: Bike Leichhardt)
Travelling with bikes to the Northern Rivers
Of course, it should be possible to reach the Northern Rivers by train for a cycling holiday. The XPT runs to Casino. But NSW TrainLink still requires partially disassembled and boxed bikes limited to a total of 20kg. There are a limited number of bike spaces on each train, and e-bikes are not allowed at all – even if the size and weight limitations didn’t rule them out. Our touring group included eight people using e-bikes.
So everyone drove up from Sydney.
Regional trains could be a great enabler of cycling tourism if the rules around bike carriage were changed.
There has been some recent progress in the long-running campaign by Rail Trails for NSW, Bicycle NSW and the Central West Cycle Committee to allow bikes to be rolled on to regional trains.
Following a short trial in Spring 2024, a second trial roll-on bikes trial is currently underway on the Dubbo XPT.
"Bicycle NSW strongly encourages bike riders to take advantage of the trial before it winds up in November," said Bicycle NSW CEO Peter McLean. "The weather will be perfect for exploring the Central West region and it is important to show Transport for NSW that there is a lot of demand for rolling bikes onto trains."
For details about the second trial and to sign the petition to further unbox bikes, head to the
Out with boxing bikes on TrainLink services campaign page.
Bike Leichhardt would really like the trial extended to the Casino line as soon as possible.
Bike riders from Brisbane, Kyogle, Grafton, Coffs Harbour, Newcastle and Sydney, as well as the other stations along the line, would have easier access to Northern Rivers. The NSW TrainLink coach network, which services most of country NSW and provides public transport to Lismore, Byron Bay and the northern segment of the rail trail at Murwillumbah, also has the same restrictive requirements which need to change.
Casino was the base for the first two nights
The group tackled the southern Casino to Lismore section of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail during the first half of the trip.
The tour started on Day Zero in the Casino RSM (Returned Services Memorial) club for a group dinner. We wanted to set the tone for a holiday centred around good food and coffee!
The weather on the first three days was great. Although the many pools and waterlogged paddocks either side of the shared path attested to much recent rain. The trail surface is well drained and it was in excellent condition for our trip.
The group gathers at the Northern Rivers Rail Trail trail head in Casino (Image: Bike Leichhardt)
Day 1 was a ride of 60km from Casino to Lismore and return on the rail trail. We set up morning tea at the picnic table atop 'Heartbreak Hill', the short, steep hill that bypasses the Naughtons Gap tunnel, now home to many endangered micro-bats of multiple species and therefore not open to the public.
Soon after the break, 2 riders requested a pick up one with bike issues and the other fatigue. So I swung into sweep bus mode, driving to the next rest stop to collect both riders. Luckily, the riders were back in the saddle swiftly with the help of a Lismore bike shop and a hearty lunch.
We lunched at 'The Bank' café in Lismore, a tip from a local. They serve good food and have lots of space for bikes (Image: Bike Leichhardt)
There were many walkers at the Casino and Lismore ends of the trial, and we also passed a horse rider near Casino. The Casino to Bentley stretch has a bridle trail along much of the route to the shire boundary at the Back Creek bridge. For the Bentley to Lismore section, Lismore City Council built a wider shared path to accommodate horses as well as the many walkers, runners and bike riders.
On Day 2, a dozen of us ventured along the rail trail to the Naughtons Gap Road. From there we ascended to the gap crest, turning right in Rambaldinis Road. This unsealed road serves local farms and descends in numerous undulations to become the sealed Gores Road, which joins Spring Grove Road ending back at the trail head in Casino.
A rest break on Spring Grove Road near Casino (Image: Bike Lechhardt)
This was a short ride of about 30 kilometres, so we had time for brunch before the 90-minute drive to Murwillumbah. Zeebras in central Casino has good food and plenty of bike parking.
On to Murwillumbah
We dispersed to Murwillumbah, some taking the scenic route via Kyogle or Nimbin or Uki and others opting for speed on the M1 motorway. We gathered for dinner at the Riverview Hotel, overlooking the Tweed River.
Day 3 took in the full length of the Murwillumbah to Crabbes Creek section of the rail trail with a diversion at Stokers Siding to explore 'Richards Deviation', a short, unsealed road through forest adding about 8km to our ride.
We had morning tea at the new 'Station 22', just after the 524m long Burringbar tunnel (don't forget your lights!). There are lots of spots at Station 22 to relax. Most of us went on to the trail end at Crabbes Creek then returned for lunch at the Victory Hotel at Mooball.
A leisurely ride back to Murwillumbah gave us views we missed on the outward journey. Dinner that night at the Imperial Hotel in Murwillumbah included a birthday celebration for one of our riders.
The northern part of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail ends at Crabbes Creek. We are all looking forward to the trail being extended to Mullumbimby and beyond (Image: Bike Leichhardt)
The next day after various coffees around town we gathered in Knox Park in central Murwillumbah for a late start to our Day 4 ride to Tyalgum.
Though overcast, we managed to miss the rain. Out along the Tyalgum Road through Eungella, most drivers passed safely apart from one bus driver who seemed determined to not use his brakes. Otherwise, it was a good ride.
We lunched at Flutterbies Cafe, strolled about the small town then back through a smidgen of drizzle. The rain faded and we dried up by halfway back. We all managed to get to our accommodation before heavier rain started. Another group dinner, this time at the Namyeng Vietnamese Restaurant.
Day 5 was to be a late afternoon ride along the rail trail back to the Victory Hotel for dinner then return in the light of the full moon. The weather forecast however was grim so we decided to have a day off. Tyalgum was revisited by some, more went to the excellent Tweed Regional Gallery and others headed home early. It rained heavily that night and the cloud was thick.
Wrapping up with a big road ride in the hills
On the final day, we headed north from Murwillumbah in slight drizzle that soon stopped. There was a helpful tail wind and lots of puddles as we passed the cane fields on the way to North Tumbulgum. It was a long haul up Hogans Road through thick rain forest with very steep drops alongside at times before a lovely undulating descent to Bilambil where we stopped for morning tea.
Urliup Road took us back towards Murwillumbah. It started with a gentle ride through a small valley with lots of horse paddocks. The narrow, twisting road is unsuitable for heavy vehicles so there was not much traffic. Then we climbed steadily, up, up, up. There were some spectacularly steep hillsides and high drops from the roadside to the creek below. We were joined at one point by two local lads on undersized BMX bikes. After a rest on the crest to take in the great view across the cane fields to the sugar mill at Condong and hills on the horizon, we enjoyed a fantastic descent back into Murwillumbah.
Bike Leichhardt’s trip was a lot of fun with excellent company and great riding. We definitely had a positive impact on the local economy, spending plenty on accommodation, fuel, meals, drinks, bike hire and bike repair.
We can’t wait for the completion of the full 132km Northern Rivers Rail Trail. When a new section opens, we'll be back. Feel free to join us! Our rides are advertised on Meet Up.
A map showing the alignment of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail and the four council areas it passes through. The Lismore to Eltham section should be built next, with funding being sourced currently. The Crabbes Creek to Eltham section, through the Byron Shire, is in the feasibility study stage (Image: Northern Rivers Rail Trail)
For more info about rail trails around Australia and ongoing advocacy to build more, head to the Bicycle NSW rail trails campaign page.
Would you like to go on group rides and explore NSW?
Bicycle NSW supports a state-wide network of affiliated local Bicycle User Groups (BUGs). BUGs organise inclusive recreational rides and promote bicycle riding for fitness, recreation, transport, and social engagement.
Many BUGs are also deeply committed to bicycle advocacy. Alongside their jobs and family commitments, BUG members can be found working closely with governments and decision makers to campaign for improved infrastructure for bike riding.
“We are incredibly grateful to the many BUG members who contribute countless hours as volunteers,” says Bicycle NSW CEO Peter McLean. “Their detailed knowledge of local conditions really amplifies our advocacy to make NSW better for all bike riders.”
Head here to find out how to become a member of your local BUG or set up a new group, and read some great stories about BUGs from across the state.
But first, make sure you join Bicycle NSW to support our advocacy and benefit from top-of-the-range insurance and a myriad of member benefits.
Not quite ready to join as a full Member? Then please consider becoming a Bicycle NSW Supporter for just $29 per year.
Membership fees and donations are the only source of funding for our work to make NSW better for bicycle riding. Thank you!
