AMB Alpine Guide

Big peaks, deep valleys, long descents and panoramic vistas are inextricably part of what makes mountain biking great. Images and stories from high places draw us in, as bikes and riders are dwarfed by the scale of the landscape in which they play.

This Alpine guide celebrates big mountains, and Australia’s alpine areas are alive in summer with people who enjoy the outdoors by bike and by foot.

Big rides in these places leave us more vulnerable but also reward the planning and preparation. If you’re considering a trip to one of the great alpine bike parks, read on and enjoy our Alpine guide.

Words: Neil Martin    Photos: Matt Staggs, Andrew Railton and supplied

THREDBO
SEASON : 17 Nov 2018 – 28 Apr 2019

If you keep standing still, then you ultimately go backwards. Thredbo certainly understands that concept as they continue to develop their network to offer longer and more interesting trails to keep mountain bikers coming back every year.

It’s not that long ago that the Cannonball DH run was pretty much the be-all and end-all of the action in the shadow of Mt Kosciuszko. Of course it was an exhilarating roller-coaster of a ride, but (as they also say) variety is the spice of life.

The next progression was the emergence of the Flow Trail, offering a somewhat smoother and more gradual descent, but still plenty’o’fun.

And now, taking it up another level once more, the All-Mountain trail is fully open and fully linked up for the summer season – providing what is believed to be the longest purpose-built MTB descent anywhere in Australia.

The track extension, which properly joins the All-Mountain trail to the Thredbo Valley Trail that is now even more technical – resulting in a 35km long ride from the Eagles Nest Mountain hut, down into the village and through the valleys dropping around 900m vertically overall.

And there are plans for even more, with the ultimate goal being a sensational 60km trail from the very top of Thredbo down to the shoreline of Lake Jindabyne, which should be open in early 2019.

Of course, there’s still the classic 4.6km Cannonball run that drops 600m from the top of the Kosciuszko chairlift, featuring technical rock gardens and berms, optional huge jumps – and dare you attack the famous Milk Run Wall at the bottom?

As well as that, the Flow track’s popularity remains high, thanks to its seemingly never-ending rollers and smooth berms. With the chairlift running regularly every day from 9am-4pm, perhaps the biggest danger is burning out too quickly – especially given the fact that it’s perfectly possible to do 10 completely different adrenalin-inducing, thill-packed runs between breakfast and dinner (and still have time for a spot of lunch).

Thredbo also boasts numerous valley trails that are perfect for families, which means there really is something to keep everyone well satisfied.

And then there is the village itself, which has a distinctive European vibe and is increasingly buzzing throughout the summer months with shops and bars and restaurants. If you want to mix it up and have some time off the bike, there’s even the chance to do a bobsled run, or play some disc golf, or normal golf, or go horse-riding, or play tennis – so there’s absolutely no excuse if you claim to be bored on an extended visit.

Thredbo knows how to throw a party too, with the Cannonball Festival perhaps the best of the bunch featuring more than 600 competitors battling for a combined $70,000-worth of prizes in a range of events, attracting some of the best riders in the world – plus banging entertainment.

The Thredbo Super Enduro will take place in late February to test the true all-rounders by utilising all three gravity trails – or if you like some 12-bar melodies to go with your riding then head to the Blues Festival in mid-January.

 

FALLS CREEK
SEASON : 17 Nov 2018 – 21 Apr 2019

With so many great Alpine bike resorts in the summer, competition for mountain bike business is getting fiercer and fiercer. Proof of that can be seen at Falls Creek where they have been on a blitz of development and expansion – adding more than 45km of purpose-built trails in the past four years.

They now proudly boast that they have something for every type of rider, whatever flavour of trail they prefer and whatever their level of experience and skill – although the focus is mostly on intermediate riders.

And even trails that might appear straightforward at first can easily become a lot more tricky at Falls Creek given the relatively thin soil and rocky base that can become exposed if and when the weather conditions change.

Flowtown is one of the newest trails at Falls Creek and marks the ‘coming of age’ of this surprisingly young MTB destination. Smile-inducing and face-contortingly awesome, the 6km descent – with 300m total elevation loss – offers fun in spades. You can then jump in a Blue Dirt shuttle or take the Packhorse trail that meanders its way back to the village.

One of the beauties of Falls Creek as a MTB resort is the fact that it is set into a bowl, with a number of trails such as Vortex, Jump Start and Wishing Well bringing you out close to the central plaza and within a few pedal strokes of a welcome brew.

With 19 trails on offer, long looping routes can be linked together for extended rides, or easily broken up depending on your personal fitness and level of skill.   

Falls Creek’s summer vibe has gone from sleepy to vibrant in just a few years, but they are refusing to rest on their laurels – highlighted by an 85 page detailed Masterplan for the whole resort being produced last year. In terms of mountain biking, expect even more developments (such as a pump track) and a push to become the leading altitude training base in the country.

There are plans for new singletrack additions, but there are plenty of trails in the National Park that are ready to expore if you're handy with a map. One example is the Big River Firetrail that links with the Little Bogong Firetrail that ultimately takes you about 35-40km all the way over to Mt Beauty.

In terms of best times to visit, Falls Creek is putting on a wide range of events over the coming summer – from the Ignition Festival through to lots of events covering enduro and XC and the  the MTB de Femme (a ladies mountain bike social gathering that is one of a kind).

Costs
1-day MTB shuttle pass: $65
2-day MTB shuttle pass: $120

Book via Blue Dirt.

Events
17-18 November: Ignition MTB Festival

24 November: Gravity Enduro

30 November: Interschools

8-10 February: MTB de Femme
More are listed online!

Bike rentals
(from Village Bike Café, Frueauf Village Bike Rental or Be Foodstore)

Hardtail: from $50 per day
Dual suspension: from $70-$90 per day

E-MTB usage
Allowed

Clinics
(on selected dates)

Kids – $50
Beginner – $70
Intermediate – $70
Women – $70

Where to Stay
QT Resort is fantastic, but otherwise look at the Falls Creek website

Eating and drinking
Stingray at the base of QT Resort is open for all meals and does a good coffee. And don’t miss the Last Hoot for drinks or pizza. The Village Bike Cafe on Bogong High Plains Road and the Frying Pan in the Village Bowl will also serve to keep you fed and watered.

MT BULLER
SEASON : 3 Nov 2018 – 28 Apr 2019

Epic by name and epic by nature, the trails in and around Mt Buller really are a cross-country rider’s paradise. Of course, the jewel in the crown remains the 40km Australian Alpine Epic (to give it its full majestic title) that comes with the International Mountain Bike Association’s stamp of approval.

The next closest trail of such standing is approximately 13,000km away in California which puts into perspective how special Buller’s gem really is. You’ll need high endurance to complete the entire Epic, which drops 1,000m overall from the ski village to Mirimbah – albeit with 1,245m of climbing thrown in for good measure to make sure you fully earn the legendary final 10km descent.

If you’re experienced and pretty fit, then there’s around four hours of awesome riding ahead of you. But schedule up to seven hours to complete the entire trail if you’re not quite as experienced or want to take it all at a more leisurely pace.

As per the IMBA’s rules and regulations, more than 80 per cent of the Epic trail is singletrack and it features some tricky rocky sections in the opening stages before offering plenty of flow thanks to big banked berms, rollers and jumps as it progresses over the top of Mount Stirling.

Expect to be blown away by the scenery and the ever-changing landscape, including some mighty cathedrals of ferns, as much as the trail itself.

The Epic turns four years old this December but has already been hailed as one of the best trails anywhere in the world. However, Buller are keen to keep developing and the newest feature is an innovative 120m-long modular pump track featuring 88 interchangeable parts that can be modelled and then re-modelled to create virtually limitless course options.

For downhill riders, there are three trails – most notably International that is full of technical terrain, rock gardens, jumps, 75-degree berms and 1m drop-offs over its 2km distance.

Check in advance if DH is your thing since gravity trails are only open to riders on days when the Northside Express Chairlift or Blue Dirt Mountain Bike shuttles are operating.

A shuttle is operated by All Terrain Cycles from the Lower Tyrol car park to Spurs on select weekends from 9am-4pm. For Epic riders, a shuttle operates from Mirimbah back to Mt Buller daily in Janaury, then each weekend until April 29.

A great time to visit is during the Shimano Bike Buller Festival which runs from March 10-12 and features a wide variety of races from gravity enduro and downhill to XC and All Mountain – and coincides with the ‘Picnic in the Park’ food, wine and music festival to make it a long weekend of great riding and great entertainment.

In order to help you find a great place to stay at any time, the ‘Bike Buller Recommends’ program has been developed to promote accommodation venues that have facilities for riders such as bike washing and adequate bike storage. Those lodgings will also be able to give you the heads up on where to ride, give you a spot to store your bike, chat all things bike and make you and your wheels welcome.

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Costs

All shuttle day pass: $65
Blue Dirt Gravity shuttle two-day pass: $110

Run by All Terrain Cycles.

Events

1-2 December: Shimano Enduro Tour
19-20 January: Vic DH Series

Get the details of more events online.

Bike rentals (from All Terrain Cycles)

Hardtail: from $55 per day
Dual suspension: from $99 per day
Downhill: from $140 per day

E-MTB usage
Allowed

Clinics
Beginner – $50
Downhill 101 – $50
Enduro, All-mountain and Downhill Master courses also available through Alpine Gravity.

Where to stay
There are a number of lodges – check out the Bike Buller listing page.

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BAW BAW
SEASON : 24 Nov 2018 – 14 Apr 2019

While Baw Baw might lack the relative glitz and glamour of its Alpine neighbours such as Falls Creek and Thredbo, it can’t be beaten for ease of access from the south. Lying just 120km due east of Melbourne you can be attacking the black diamond DH1 trail just over a couple of hours after lounging on the beach at St Kilda.

And downhill is Baw Baw’s signature offering – something you’ll no doubt immediately understand as you drive up the mountain on one of Australia’s steepest roads which gains nearly 1,000m in just 12.5kms. Given the fact that what goes up must come down, the scene is definitely set for some white-knuckle gravity riding.

The DH1 trail offers numerous lines, but the best and fastest in the country can descend the full distance (and 300m total elevation) in around 3 minutes and 20 seconds.

To see some of them in action, pencil in the weekend of 16/17 February in your diary when a round of the Victorian Downhill Series takes place.

This year, once again, the gravity shuttles run right to the top of Baw Baw summit which adds black, blue and multiple green run options. Total descents of 3km are therefore possible by linking tracks together through the village before joining up with DH1 itself on the south side of the mountain.

Baw Baw also offers plenty for XC riders and prides itself that all its trails are man-made without the use of any machinery, as well as being free of charge to access.

Easy trails such as Beech, LaTrobe and McMillans will appeal to those with less experience, but more established riders can get their thrills on the likes of Upper Tyres and Tanked, as well as the downhill AM1. Expect to find a wide variety of topography through the snow gum woodlands – from granite outcrops to lush loamy dirt – with natural features dominating the trails.

Soft wet roots and rocks (albeit with some raised decking in parts) will offer a challenge to cross-country riders, especially if you’re coming from interstate where the conditions may often be much drier and dustier.

It may be small, but Baw Baw is beautifully formed, and offers a great MTB package for riders of all levels. And all that just a short drive from the hustle and bustle of inner-city Melbourne.