How to go Bikepacking in Australia | Routes, Gear & Tips
Words by Max Hobson | Media by Lachlan Ryan, Mattie Gould & Limmel Co
Everything you need to know about bikepacking in Australia.
Bikepacking in Australia is tough, remote and spectacular all at the same time. It boasts open landscapes through rough, rugged country roads and firetrails, to historic rail trails, Australia offers some of the best bike packing adventures for cyclists to explore.
Whether you’re pub packing (staying at local pubs), bikepacking (camping), or ultra endurance cycling, your experience on the bike is going to vary widely. This guide will break down different types of bikepacking, the essential gear you need, top Australian bike packing routes, safety tips, and how to plan your route.
What Type of Bikepacker Are You?
1. Pub Packing – The Best Way To Start Bike Packing
Pub packing is for riders who prefer a more relaxed approach, cycling from town to town and staying at local pubs, motels, or AirBnb’s. This style is ideal for those who want to experience bike packing for the first time without having to purchase and carry all of their camping gear.
Essential Gear for Pub Packing
Bike
Any bike will work, as long as it’s suited to the terrain you plan to ride on. Always go for wider tyres if you’re riding a gravel bike. Hardtail MTBs work perfectly for your first bike packing rig.
Clothing
A set of cargo cycling knicks, loose fitting MTB jersey or running shirt provides more comfort, tighter fitting road cycling jersey will provide extra room with the back pockets, weatherproof layers, lightweight casual wear for evenings. Don’t forget PJ’s.
Pro tip: Ensure you check the weather of the areas you’re riding and camping at. If you’re camping up on a mountain you can expect it to be colder.
Bike Bags
Saddle bag, handlebar bag, small frame bag should cover most people for their first trip.
Navigation & Tech
GPS device (Garmin, Wahoo, Hammerhead), smartphone with Ride with GPS or Strava, power bank, PLB for emergency if going remote.
Safety
Helmet, high-vis vest for night riding, bike lights (front & rear), compact first aid kit with snake bite kit.
Essentials
Toiletries, lightweight bike lock, airtag electronics (chargers etc), sunscreen, mozzie spray, credit card, and cash.
Food & water
Ride food for during the day + emergency dehydrated meal . The goal with pub packing is to eat breakfast and dinner at pubs or local town restaurants.
Water should be 2 large bottles minimum. Riding your bike when it’s loaded is much harder and slower than normal.
Tools & Repair Kit
Multi-tool, spare tubes, pump, tubeless repair kit, quick links, cable ties, sealant, chain lube, spokes & nipples to fit your wheels, electrical tape, Di2/ AXS charger and spare battery.
Find the best pub packing gear here.
Top Pub Packing Routes in Australia
The Great Victorian Rail Trail – Victoria
134km of mixed sealed and gravel trails linking country towns and pubs. More info – here.
The Brisbane Valley Rail Trail – South East Queensland
160km of gravel rail trail stretching from Wulkuraka to Yarraman. There are plenty of towns and pubs along the way. More info – here.
Mawson Trail – South Australia
900km of trail from Adelaide to the Flinders Ranges, passing historic outback towns. More info – here.
2. Bikepacking – Remote riding and camping
Bikepacking is generally more hands on and remote than pub packing. Instead of sticking to popular trails or paths, you might venture out further deep into state forests and national parks. When bikepacking in remote areas you must be self reliant as wrong decisions can be dangerous. When bikepacking, you will take all the same gear as you would pub packing, plus your camping gear.
Essential Gear for Bikepacking
Bike
Any bike will work, as long as it’s suited to the terrain you plan to ride on. Always go for wider tyres if you’re riding a gravel bike. Hardtail MTBs work perfectly for your bike packing rig.
Clothing
A set of cargo cycling knicks, loose fitting MTB jersey or running shirt provides more comfort, tighter fitting road cycling jersey will provide extra room with the back pockets, weatherproof layers, lightweight casual wear for evenings. Don’t forget PJ’s.
Pro tip: Ensure you check the weather of the areas you’re riding and camping at. If you’re camping up on a mountain you can expect it to be colder.
Bike Bags
Saddle bag, handlebar bag, full to half size frame bag, feed bags and hydration vest (optional).
Navigation & Tech
GPS device (Garmin, Wahoo, Hammerhead), smartphone with Ride with GPS, Wikilok, TrailForks or Strava, power bank, PLB for emergency if going remote.
Safety
Helmet, emergency bivvy, high-vis vest for night riding, bike lights (front & rear), compact first aid kit with snake bite kit.
Essentials
Toiletries, lightweight bike lock, airtag electronics (chargers etc), sunscreen, mozzie spray, credit card, and cash.
Shelter
Lightweight tent is the most comfortable and best for long afternoons at the campsite, bivy, or hammock with tarp.
Sleeping System
Sleeping bag (appropriate for climate), in most parts of Australia a 3 season bag plus a quality inflatable sleeping pad and inflatable pillow will do you fine. If you’re going in winter in colder parts of the country you will need to bring a warmer set up.
Cooking Equipment
Jetboil, MSR cooker or a gas canister + compact stove, fuel, small pot, spork, cleaning equipment, small collapsible mug, lighter and matches.
Food & Water
Dehydrated meals, rice, tinned tuna, instant oats, energy drink mix, energy bars, gels, no-doz, Haribo lollies.
Water is dependent on the route you’re taking, you must check the fill up points around where you’re staying. If you’re going more than 1 day without water fill up points you will need to come prepared with extra bladders and water treatment kits.
Tools & Repair Kit
Multi-tool with chain breaker, spare tubes, pump, tubeless repair kit, quick links and mini quick link pliers, cable ties, sealant, chain lube, spokes & nipples to fit your wheels, electrical tape, Di2/ AXS charger and spare battery.
Navigation
Offline maps on Ride with GPS, Wikilok or TrailForks, Garmin/Wahoo GPS, printed map as backup if you’re going remote.
Find the best bikepacking gear here.
Top Bikepacking Routes in Australia
BPS 400 (a route I created)
A tough, semi-remote bikepacking route around SEQ’s best bikepacking territory. More info – here.
Hunt 1000
The Hunt 1000 is one of Australia’s most challenging and scenic bikepacking routes, spanning roughly 1,000km through the remote alpine terrain between Canberra and Melbourne. More info – here.
Tassie Gift
The Tassie Gift is a fully remote bikepacking route that loops through some of Tasmania’s most remote and wild terrain. More info – here.
3. Ultra Cycling – minimal gear, minimal sleep, maximal distance
Ultra cycling is not for the faint of heart. It’s arguably the most hardcore style of bikepacking. Ultra cycling involves long distances, remote routes, sleep deprivation, sore legs, the whole lot.
Essential Gear for Ultra Cycling
Bike
Lightweight gravel bike or hardtail mountain bike depending on the route. The key here is lightweight yet durable enough to withstand long distances.
Bike bags
Small saddle bag, handlebar bag, top tube bag and hydration vest (optional). Some people run less, some people run more. Again, the goal is lightweight yet still carrying the essentials for your trip.
Clothing
High quality cargo bib shorts, jersey, arm & leg warmers.
Pro tip: Ensure you check the weather of the areas you’re riding at. If you’re riding up in the mountains you can expect it to be colder.
Hydration & nutrition
Electrolyte tablets, energy gels, high calorie bars, honey sandwiches, nutella wraps, beef jerky. I also would bring an emergency dehydrated meal as back up.
If you’re going super remote, you may need to bring enough food for dinner as well. Most FKT courses in Australia will have shops enroute. Do your due diligence beforehand.
Navigation
GPS with live tracking (Garmin, Wahoo), mobile backup, dot watcher.
Lighting
Dynamo hub or USB-rechargeable lights (minimum 1,000 lumens for night riding)
Tools & Repair Kit
Multi-tool with chain breaker, spare tubes, pump, tubeless repair kit, quick links and mini quick link pliers, cable ties, sealant, chain lube, spokes & nipples to fit your wheels, electrical tape, Di2/ AXS charger and spare battery. Check out how you can build your own trail side repair kit.
Shelter
Depending on your ultra cycling route, you may need to bring a shelter. Most ultra riders will opt for a super lightweight set up or none at all.
Safety
Helmet, emergency bivvy, high-vis vest for night riding, bike lights (front & rear), compact first aid kit with snake bite kit.
Find the best ultra cycling gear here.
Top Ultra Cycling Events in Australia
Technically, any bikepacking route can be turned into an ultra cycling ride.
Race to the Rock
Run by the crowd at Curve Cycling, the Race to the Rock starts at a different location each year and generally finishes at Uluru. This is considered one of the hardest cycling events in Australia. More info – here.
Easy Bikepacking Recipes
Here are some lightweight, high carb recipes perfect for bikepacking:
Overnight oats
- Rolled oats, powdered milk, dried fruits, nuts, honey
- Just add water and soak overnight
Instant chicken couscous with vegetables
- Instant couscous, tinned chicken, dehydrated veggies, stock cube, olive oil
- Mix with boiling water and let sit for 5 minutes add chicken after
Trail side tortillas
- Whole wheat tortillas, peanut butter, banana, honey
- No cooking required, high energy
Bikepacking Route Planning
We could talk about route planning all day, but in a nutshell the best routes are made by doing your research on the routes you create. It is essential to do your due diligence with water and food stops and understanding where you can and cannot camp.
Best route planning apps
Strava
For your first trip, strava is the best for finding popular bikepacking routes with their heatmaps and segment insights features. You can draft out a route using the global heatmap and then further research on google about the roads/ trails you’ll be riding on.
Ride with GPS
Ride with GPS offers far more advanced route planning and navigation tools compared to Strava, including offline turn by turn directions, elevation aware rerouting, and detailed cue sheets. This makes it the better choice for bikepacking and multi-day adventures in my opinion.
Bikepacking Safety Tips
- Do your due diligence on the chosen route. Never go in blind.
- Tell someone your plans, share your itinerary and expected return time.
- Check the weather and be prepared for extreme heat, cold, or storms.
- Be aware of wildlife and keep food sealed to avoid attracting animals.
- Carry extra water as some remote areas have no resupply points.
- Be self sufficient, know how to repair a flat, fix a chain, and use a first aid kit.
- Always bring a personal locator beacon for worst case scenarios.
Planning your next bikepacking adventure? Head to Wild Earth to get fully kitted out with everything you need, from the best bike bags and nutrition to ultralight tents, compact cooking gear, and technical apparel. Whether you’re pub packing, bikepacking or ultra cycling, Wild Earth has all the gear to keep you rolling.
