Destination Guides

Live in Darwin and keen for a place to ride your dirt bike? There happen to be a few great places you can ride registered and unregistered bikes.

We’re going to share with you what the best places are and this is based on where others are riding. We’ve done the research for you so you can load up the trailer and head off sooner.

Darwin’s best places to ride dirt bikes

We’ve certainly got some options for you! Some of these are also suitable for adventure bike riders looking for a quiet escape.

Here are the best (legal) dirt bike riding spots near Darwin:

1. Gunn Point, Darwin

The closest place in Darwin to take your dirt bike easily has to be Gunn Point. This is a great place to also take 4×4 and is only about an hour out of the CBD.

You can ride a dirt bike here on the beach or take one of the numerous scrub tracks. Watch out for other vehicles. The NT police often patrol this area so you’ll need to have a registered trail bike + full license to avoid any troubles from the local constables.

2. Top End Motocross Club

A strong recommendation from Frontaer is to join the Top End Motocross Club down in Palmerston. As a non-for-profit association, they provide coaching for kids while also having a great track setup.

If you’re looking for a place to ride an unregistered dirt bike anywhere near Darwin, then this is the place to do it. TEMCC welcomes beginners of all ages.

3. Darwin Motorcycle Club

One good alternative is the Darwin Motorcycle Club. They run group rides and enduros quite regularly with racing itself not required.

Membership is quite cheap and they welcome locals and those out of state as well. If you’re looking to make some friends and find some undiscovered riding spots, then this is a solid starting point.

4. Litchfield National Park 

Located only 90 minutes from Darwin is Litchfield National Park. You simply head straight down the highway. There are 2 unsealed roads making this a great spot for adventure motorcycling as well as registered dirt bikes.

If a day trip is what you’re looking for, then this is a good solution. You can leave in the morning and return by the afternoon. There is fuel available nearby for those who have small fuel tanks, though we recommend following the road trains down the highway. Bring your own water.

The track you’ll want to take is the Reynolds River Track which is a tough spot and not for the beginner rider. 4x4s often struggle with this route.

5. The Daly River

While you’re at Litchfield National Park, you may as well do The Daly River too. This is a beautiful spot for a weekend camping adventure.

You can stay overnight at the Daly River Inn which offers meals and camping facilities, or a hotel room if you’re looking for a bit of luxury.

Be mindful that this river is loaded with saltwater crocodiles. This isn’t so much of a dirt bike riding place but more of an adventure stopover.

6. Cox Peninsula

There are many tracks and spots within Cox Peninsula that dirt bike riders have formed over the years. Little trails that head into the scrub lands. This spot is only about 40 minutes from Darwin and is basically the ‘long way around’ to the other side where Darwin faces.

There isn’t much to see or do here apart from ride your dirt bike. Also, some spots are restricted to locals only based on the heightened pollution in the area.

7. Mary River National Park

This is a beautiful spot and not too far from Darwin. Mary River National Park has multiple offroad tracks that you can explore on 2-wheels, provided your motorbike is registered.

The fishing here is also remarkable so if there is space in your panniers, pack a collapsable fishing rod. The two tracks you’ll want to take is Hardies track or the Wildman track, both popular with 4wd vehicles.

8. Kakadu National Park

Who hasn’t heard of Kakadu National Park? There are certainly some places where you can take your adventure bike or registered dirt bike.

The ideal track to tackle is Jim Jim Falls. It’s a rugged spot but also very popular in the cooler tourist months. For fast flowing open country, this is a good spot to be riding on 2 wheels.

Also while you’re in the area, check out Nitmiluk National Park and Edit Falls. It’s not really a good spot for dirt bikes but a great stopover for a swim without the crocodiles.

9. Butterfly Gorge

If you head down to the famous Douglas Hot Springs, then there is a gate that leads down the 4×4 only track to Butterfly Gorge. Being a dirt bike, you generally will be given the OK to travel down this track. It’s the NT after all with less of a police state.

This track is closed for the entire wet season and often for 2 months afterwards. It becomes simply impassable until around June. However, once you take this 17km offroad track you arrive at a beautiful spot that very few grey nomads will ever experience.

10. Judbarra/Gregory National Park

Fancy a 5.5 hour trip down the highway? Load up the dirt bike and head down to Judbarra/Gregory National Park. This is a great place to let loose.

Make it a long weekend trip and stop at any of these other spots along the way. Once you get to Katherine, turn right instead of heading south to Mataranka.

In summary

We hope this has helped you in finding some good offroad motorcycle tracks where you can ride your dirt bike, or places where you can take your 4×4. Darwin is the ultimate destination place and the territory way of life is alive and well.

As with anything:

• Take plenty of water with you, even in the cooler months
• Be croc-wise! There are salt water crocs in many of these areas
• There are others using these tracks so be mindful and respectful
• Wear all your protective gear out there on the tracks
• Bring a mate who can join along apart of your tour
• Join a club! It’s honestly the best way to meet others

Stay safe out there and we’ll see you on the tracks! Just keep in mind that some of these spots can close due to seasonal changes.

Finding a good riding spot on the Gold Coast for your dirt bike can be a challenge. Luckily, we did the research to find you 5 great spots to ride.

Despite all the sun, surf and sand, sometimes we just want to twist the throttle in the hinterland and have some fun on our trail bikes. But where?

Gold Coast city council rangers are out in full force to stop dirt bike riders having any sort of fun. Even legally registered dirt bikes can’t enter state forests and national parks, apart from publicly accessible dirt roads which are seldom found.

As it turns out, you’re going to need a dirt bike trailer to get just about anywhere. And yes, that means going down the coast or heading out west.

Riding a Dirt Bike on the Gold Coast

We’re going to show you where you can legally ride your dirt bike. However, let’s start off with the places you simply CAN’T ride:

• Nerang State Forest. Pretty much every day the Rangers check this area for illegal activity and given there are many houses nearby, any noise complaints are responded to immediately. There are also heaps of mountain bikes that frequent here.
• Coomera area. Years ago this was open swampland. Today there are houses galore and you will be quickly reported to the police. Not worth it!
• Pacific Pines. Sounds tempting but there is limited space and you’re probably going to cop a ticket pretty soon.
• Black Duck Valley Moto Park. This place got closed down and unfortunately hasn’t reopened due to council red tape and noise complaints from local residents.
• Ripley Adventure Park. This MX track has since closed down too.
• Stradbroke and Moreton Islands. You can’t take a motorcycle of any type here (yes, even if it’s registered) unless you actually live on the island. They did this to ban dirt bikes and hooligan behaviour.

No wonder everyone wants a place to ride their dirt bike on the Gold Coast! All the good local riding spots are now gone and have effectively made way for housing developments.

With that in mind, here are the 5 best places to ride a dirt or trail bike in or near the Gold Coast:

1. Mike Hatcher Race Track

Located in Arundel, the Mike Hatcher Race Track is an awesome place to ride your dirt bike. You can bring unregistered MX bikes here as well as registered enduro bikes.

This place is a family-friendly affair. They help kids develop their dirt bike skills in an enclosed environment while also letting adults of the Gold Coast let loose.

Quad bikes are welcome here as are all unregistered dirt bikes. Most riders here started at the BMX club in Ashmore before moving on to the petrol-driven varieties.

With a lease ending in 2025, the future of this club doesn’t look certain. Let’s hope the greenies don’t get their way and we can all continue this sport, as can our kids.

2. Gold Coast Motocross Club Yatala

Another motocross club worth checking out is Yatala’s motocross club. This is more than just an MX track as there are enduro tracks and tight technical sections.

The tracks here are well maintained and you’re able to hire out the entire complex for your group during the week. Bookings recommended in advance and we advise that you phone ahead.

3. Queensland Moto Park

For the ultimate adventure, you’ve gotta head out west! The Queensland Moto Park is the place where the Gold Coast and Brisbane people head out to every weekend. There literally is something for everyone here.

Kids are more than welcome here, as are quad bikes, dune buggies and unregistered MX bikes. They have a cafe on-site as well as camping and shower facilities so you can go home clean as a whistle.

Located on 1800+ acres, there is literally something for everyone. Even trails, peewee and junior MX! Check out the Moto Park map here:

For the parents, the school holiday coaching camps run every 3 months will help your child develop MX skills for the future. There are very few places that offer this coaching to young dirt bike riders wanting to improve their skills and become professional dirt bike riders in the future.

To get discount pricing at Queensland Moto Park, get yourself an MA membership in advance. This will pay for itself in the long run.

4. Toowoomba

As we say, the best tracks are out west! Toowoomba is 2 hours from the Gold Coast and has great enduro and technical tracks for the experienced rider.

You’ll need to make it a weekend adventure as this is really on the limits for a day trip. Still, the stunning scenery is worth it.

Deongwar State Forest is one good recommended spot as is Lockyer National Park for registered dirt bikes. We’re working on a big guide for this region so stay tuned!

5. Sunshine Coast

If you truly one some great tracks to explore, then the Sunshine Coast is what you’re looking for! There are literally so many here.

In fact, we’ve written a complete guide to dirt bike riding on the Sunshine Coast for those ready to test their skills and twist that throttle.

Getting up to the Sunshine Coast from the Gold Coast is quite the trip. It’s 2.5 hours return approximately, however, it’s 200% worth the drive up north. Try and avoid the crowds on weekends and on school holidays.

Getting started

Now that you have 5 good areas to ride your dirt bike, it’s time to make a start. We’d recommend getting a registered dirt bike. The Yamaha WR250R is one good example of an MX-inspired bike paired with mirrors and a numberplate. Most riders take off the mirrors when riding on trails and tracks with the police not minding at all.

Place name	Orientation	Free	Terrain
Mike Hatcher Race Track	Dirt bike raceway	No	Flat
Gold Coast Motocross Club Yatala	MX track	No	Mostly flat
Queensland Moto Park	Mixed	No	Everything
Toowoomba	Crown land	Yes	Open grasslands
Sunshine Coast	Crown land	Yes	Mountain terrain

Joining a general riding club is often the best idea. These clubs get access to private properties and are fully covered by insurance. The sort of properties that you wouldn’t be otherwise able to ride due to liabilities and red tape. Often the best alternative to MX clubs is a riding club as you don’t need to do any racing.

As with any place, be respectful. Clean up after yourself, look out for other trail users and don’t venture off formed tracks. Let’s keep these riding spots for all riders across the Gold Coast for generations to come!

Getting to Cape York from Cooktown on an adventure motorcycle is a lot of fun! In fact, it’s even more fun than those who do it by 4×4.

In this guide, we’re going to look at how you can get to Australia’s most northern tip completely offroad.

Cape York Adventure Motorcycle Guide

The best way to experience the journey is on two-wheels in our opinion. Those in beefed up 4×4’s simply are doing it the easy way…and where’s the fun in that?

There is nothing better in life than the sound of a humming 4-stroke in the ears tearing through the rainforest and over the savannahs.

Let’s look at the basics:

Cooktown to Cape York Distance	857.6km (shortest route)
Fuel required for motorcycles	50 liters minimum one-way
Fuel required for four-wheel drives	90 liters minimum one-way
Best time of year	Dry season May to September
Are there toilets?	Yes, at some campsites
Can I bring dogs?	Yes, excluding National Parks
Biggest non-fuel stretch	Only 140kms
Fuel prices	$2 to $3 per litre (yikes!)
Alcohol permitted?	Yes, but banned in some areas
Travel permits required?	Only for camping in some spots

The best motorcycle to do the trip to Cape York is an enduro motorcycle. Anything in the 250cc to 450cc range is plenty. We personally like Yamaha’s WR250R and KTM’s 450 for this trek.

If you choose a heavier bike, say the KTM 690, then you might feel challenged. Likewise, the BMW F800GS and F1200GS are too heavy to do the Cape York trip unless you stick to the well-formed tracks. There are actually tracks where a 2wd can travel on, as long as they don’t enter the Telegraph Track.

Because you might want to choose a different route on your return leg.

Preparing For The Trip

Any great Australian motorcycle adventure starts with a solid plan. I’d recommend that you pack the bare esssentials.

There are fuel stations regularly along the trip up to Cape York. For that reason, you won’t need to install additional fuel tanks to get you between stops. The longest distance without fuel in the Cape York Peninsula is 140kms. This is doable for a stock standard 250cc trail bike.

You should think about:

• Packing a suitable adventure tent for the journey
• Bringing 2 extra spare tubes in your tool box
• Having your engine serviced and the oil changed
• Mounting a motorbike GPS to your handlebars
• Buying yourself a decent set of luggage panniers

and finally, packing just enough food. There are shops/cafes along the way.

Cape York Motorcycle Deaths

We all know about the dangers of dirt bikes, trail riding and extended touring. At any moment, you could be seriously injured or killed.

Unfortunately, Cape York has dangers which have led to multiple deaths over the years to motorcyclists attempting to reach the tip, or on their return journey back down the coast.

There are multiple reports:

• A motorcyclist on a group tour crashes near the town of Coen
• A 19-year old female Canadian died in a motorcycle crash at Cape Trib
• Byron Bay man dies in off-road motorcycle crash in a remote part of the Cape York Peninsula
• Memorial motorbike ride on Cape York leads to double tragedy

It’s unfortunate but it does happen, even for those wearing all of their protective gear and even a neck brace.

Join a Group Trip

There are numerous group motorcycle trips that are run regularly across Cape York. It’s the best way to see the area, and yes, you can bring your own dirt bike if you wish.

There are some really good advantages actually:

1. You don’t have to carry luggage since there is a support vehicle
2. You’ll make a whole new bunch of mates to share an experience with
3. There will be help in river crossings meaning you can see alternative tracks
4. If you do injure yourself, there is an opportunity to become a passenger in the expedition support vehicle.

I can recommend the following dirt bike tour companies which are based in Cooktown/Cairns:

• Cape York Motorcycles
• Fair Dinkum Bike Tours
• Trapp Tours
• Outback Adventure Treks
• Roy Kunda’s Cape York Motorcycle Tours
• North Queensland Trail Bike Adventures

Generally they supply the bikes and more. You just rock up with your gear and ride. They’ll even cart your stuff for you!

Of all the people who know the Cape York adventure tracks well, it’s Roy Kunda. The reviews about his company are astoundingly high!

In summary

“You gotta do the Cape!” is something you’ve no doubt heard before and something you’ll be sharing with others after you’ve done your trip.

Taking a dirt bike or fully-laden adventure motorbike up to Australia’s highest tip is a true adventure. It’s actually not that hard and you can stay on well-formed gravel tracks for the entire distance, especially along the old telegraph track.

Bring your safety gear and above all else, have fun!

The Simpson Desert by Motorcycle is a dream of many riders and we’ve decided to create a guide to help 1st-time riders traverse the Simpson safely.

Like any desert, you’re going to need to be well prepared to do this on 2 wheels. It’s similar (but easier) than the popular Canning Stock Route crossing and is possible to do solo, as long as you plan.

Simpson Desert By Motorcycle

There have been hundreds of people who have completed the Simpson Desert by motorcycle. Most of these people did it with a support crew.

Let’s look at some of the facts:

Distance	Approximately 900km start to finish
Permit needed?	Yes. Purchase online with the NPWS in South Australia.
Dogs permitted?	No. You cannot bring dogs into the Simpson Desert Conservation Park, unless they are guide dogs.
Dingoes	Yes. You will find dingoes while riding through the Simpson Desert.
Fires	Yes. You can have a fire in the Simpson Desert outside of fire ban season.
Camping	BYO tent accommodation
Toilets	Yes. Available at Dalhousie Springs and Purnie Bore currently.
Animals	Plenty. Snakes, emus, kangaroos, dingoes and lizards.
Fuel	Yes – there is fuel available. More info below.
Time taken	It will on average take 6 days to make the expedition for motorbikes.

The main tracks that 4×4’s utilize is the QAA Line and French Line. It’s best for dirt bikes to follow that same route and no doubt you’ll come across other vehicles on the journey.

On an average week, there are 100 vehicles somewhere on this track. Essentially, you won’t be alone out there and if you do break down, help isn’t too far away.

Also, it takes 4 to 6 days to make a successful crossing of the Simpson Desert. This assumes an average speed of 25km/h and 6 to 8 hours of driving each day.

Whether conditions

Winter is the best time to head into Australia’s deserts. Essentially most ADV riders do this trip between May and September.

This is for several reasons:

• There is a lower risk of dust storms forming in winter
• The wet season has truly passed so no creek crossings
• You won’t need to carry as much water for each day
• If you do get a flat tyre, then it’s much easier to change

Summer is the worst time to go anywhere near the Simpson Desert. It’s hot and dry with the track being completely closed for the entire summer, with access only given to station cattlemen and women.

Simpson Desert fuel

The longest stretch of no fuel on the Simpson Desert is approximately 500km. So you’ll need at least 50L of fuel carried on your motorcycle remembering that you’ll be doing slower speeds of around 30km/h.

Mt Dare has a fuel station and so does Birdsville. There is nothing between these two spots.

There are sometimes people who do fuel drops. This way they can reduce the amount of fuel carried on the bikes.

Going solo vs Group rides

We recommend going with a group ride for your first time through any of Australia’s big deserts. You can either choose an organized group ride or an impromptu ride between a group of mates.

If you do the Simpson Desert solo, then you’re responsible for taking absolutely everything with you. It’s simply going to be much harder.

Sure, you will come across a few people every day coming the other direction. You might even share a campsite together. But to have a truly enjoyable experience, it’s best to do this with a bunch of mates.

Essentially, a Simpson Desert solo crossing is really for experienced riders. The cost of vehicle recovery could be thousands of dollars.

Simpson Desert dangers

It can be dangerous to cross the Simpson Desert. Here are 7 prime examples:

• You’re bitten by a taipan, black snake or death adder which are common in the region. The RFDS takes hours to reach there.
• You sustain a motorcycling crash on the Simpson Desert which often happens. The sandy conditions aren’t very forgiving.
• The desert heat causes dehydration and fatigue, with personnel succumbing to the elements and later being found dead.
• You are attacked by dingoes late at night which often hunt in packs. This is another key reason why you shouldn’t go for a solo expedition.

Now this isn’t here to deter you from the wonders of the area. You can indeed have fun, but play it safe too. Numerous people have died in the Simpson Desert over the years.

In summary

Crossing the Simpson Desert is a lot of fun! It’s serious freedom with sandy tracks and no restrictions. You’ll certainly feel like you’re a million miles away from everything.

But a comfortable crossing starts in the big preparation. That is: Bringing enough food, water, fuel and essential spares/tools for the big trip.

If this is your first time, then do it with a trusted adventure company.

So you live in the Northern Rivers of New South Wales and want to take your dirt bike for a ride? Well, we’ve found some of the best riding spots around.

Frontaer has done the research and seen where the locals are riding. Those in Byron Bay, Ballina, Bangalow, Lismore, west to Casino and even as far south as Coffs Harbour. There are dirt bike owners in all these towns who know where to ride.

As with anywhere you ride:

• Wear all your protection gear including a good set of riding boots.
• Be respectful of others using the tracks and local land owners.
• It can get seriously hot in summer so pack plenty of water.
• You may need to take additional fuel for your motorcycle.
• And finally – take a safety-first perspective and don’t ride alone.

So let’s get started.

Northern Rivers: Where to Ride Dirt bikes

It’s a shame a lot of the tracks have been closed down due to the hippies in the rainbow region. However, we’ve really dug to find out some top quality riding tracks that you can follow. In most cases, you will need to haul your dirt bike with a ute, van or on the back of a trailer.

We’ll break down this guide into several sections so you can get a fair idea on what’s local for you.

Byron Bay

There isn’t really anywhere to ride a dirt bike in Byron Bay given the high number of tourists that come into town. There isn’t even a motocross track in town because it’s all made way for development. Our advice? You’ve gotta get out of town.

Go to Lennox Head and you can get a beach permit to ride your dirt bike. From there ride south towards Iluka all the way.

Ballina

Head over to the Surf Shack Farm/Moto Retreat. It’s pretty well the best place in the Northern Rivers to let loose on a dirt bike even if it’s unregistered. This place is mad! The sorta place you’d bring a bunch of mates to for a weekend trip.

It’s located about 15 minutes south and you may want to take the ferry.

Lismore

There are places to ride dirt bikes once you get outside of town. Look for the unsealed roads and 4×4 tracks. Bungabee for instances is a good spot. Head over to the Kyogle Dirt Bike Club if you’re unregistered.

They run regular enduro races for both kids and adults, as well as organized group rides for casual fun offroad. One option if ou don’t want to be apart of the club is to head around Woodburn. There are some great forestry tracks down that way.

Murwillumbah

You can ride through some of the unsealed roads in the area. Private land owners may also let you ride on their land provided you source permission first.

There is talk of having an MX club opened in Murwillumbah but the greenies have stopped it multiple times.

Casino

Casino has an evolved dirt bike riding community and one of the better places across the Northern Rivers region of NSW to ride a dirt bike.

There is a group of riders that meets regularly as well as another group of MX riders. Put your name out there in some of the local Facebook groups and you’ll find some great connections.

Coffs Harbour

There are numerous dirt bike stores and riding tracks around Coffs Harbour. Head up into the hills and follow the following 4×4 tracks:

• Yaraygir National Park. Only licensed riders on registered motorbikes are permitted to ride on public roads within NSW public lands including Yuraygir National Park and the Orara East State Forest.
• Take the Boambee Beach run. Yes – you can ride registered dirt bikes on the beach here. Registered motorbikes and licensed riders are permitted on North Beach, Boambee Beach, Woolgoola Back Beach and Station Creek Beach
• Take the Sawtell to Gangalore Falls route through the rainforest. Will take 2 hours.
• Do a Coramba loop via Bella Spur Rd and Battery Rd which also takes about 2 hours on trail bikes. This proposed route is via Nana Creek State Forest and Bindarri National Park for licensed riders on registered motorbikes only.
• Ride along the Platypus Flat Trail. Essentially you start in Coffs Harbour and go offroad all the way to Nymboi-Binderay National Park
• For a real adventure bike challenge, ride the Rover and Commando Trails. Not for the faint-hearted but definitely very scenic. Mount Coramba, Rover Trail and Commando Trail in Orara East State Forest are managed by Forestry Corporation NSW. Only licensed riders on registered motorbikes are permitted to ride on public roads within NSW public lands.
• And for the ultimate adventure, the Mount Coramba route is a challenge both up and down. You’ll ascend 500m+ over the 23km route to the top of the mountain.

As these are public roads, you may come across 4×4 users during your ride.

Tweed Heads

There was talk of trying to get an MX track officially opened in the Tweed Heads region but this hasn’t eventuated as yet. The Tweed Shire Council was working on it with the Tweed Valley Junior Development Motorcycle Club but as with all things, they like to drag it out.

The best option is to build a private little dirt track on your own land.

Mooball National Park

You can take registered dirt bikes into Mooball National Park which is just west of Cudgera Creek which is north of Mullumbimby.

Only licensed riders on registered motorbikes are permitted to ride on Cooradilla Road within Mooball
National Park. Cooradilla Road is a single lane road with several blind bends, so take it slow in the corners.

Bundjalung National Park

Only licenced riders on registered motorbikes are permitted on the public access roads within
Bundjalung National Park. This includes The Gap Road, Bundjalung Street, Bluff Road, Back Beach
Road, Woody Head Road, Frazers Reef Road. All other management trails do not permit motorised
vehicles. There is no legal access for motorbikes to enter/exit the beach from Black Rocks
campground via The Gap Road.

This is a great spot for a weekend adventure. You can go camping at multiple spots including Black Rock and Woody Head. Stay on the defined access tracks and look out for other road users. This route takes you almost down to Yamba.

Only licenced and registered riders can ride on the beach between Shark Bay and Black
Rocks campground. Riders are also required to have a beach permit from Clarence Valley Council.
For more information and free maps please refer to information at the following webpage
https://www.clarence.nsw.gov.au/Sports-and-recreation/Beaches

Grafton

There are multiple good tracks in the Grafton area. Join the South Grafton Motorcycle Club or simply find some of these tracks yourself.

A lot of the unsealed roads such as Old Glen Innes Road and Tommys Trail are perfect. Terrain is typical open and fast-flowing gravel tracks.

Other places in the Northern Rivers

Our recommendations are that you head north. Getting up past Brisbane opens up the Sunshine Coast which has some great spots.

Likewise there are a few moto parks west of the Gold Coast worth checking out. You pay an entry fee and can ride your unregistered dirt bike or quad bike all day long.

With most dirt bike trips, it’s worth packing your camping gear and going for a multi-day adventure. Just find a new riding spot every day.

In summary

We hope this has shown you some of the best trail and adventure motorcycle tracks around the Northern Rivers region. Have you got any more tracks to add to this list? Then let us know in the comments below.