Helibiking on Tasmania's West Coast

The call of Tasmania’s West Coast is inescapable for some. Through Australia’s colonial history the area acted as a penal colony for a penal colony – it was harsh, isolated and brutal. The terrain was so rugged that it created the barrier that prevented escape, for all but a few. The rugged nature of the West Coast is not just part of the beauty of the area, but also the broader appeal. Mining and forestry have left permanent scars, acting as a reminder to some about the long term impact of the drive for resources.

All of that is juxtaposed by the fact that Tasmania’s West Coast is also home to huge swathes of conservation and wilderness areas. There are vast tracts of land in impenetrable forests, and near limitless adventures for keen outdoors people. More recently, mountain biking has moved to the West Coast with more prominence than before, and in early 2024 Into The Wild started running helibike trips to help mountain bikers achieve rapid access to the West Coast wilderness and the unique mountain biking experiences on offer.

The new wild west

There are few people who know more about the mountain biking around Tasmania’s West Coast than Rob Potter. If you have ridden in Tasmania, you have probably ridden trails built by Rob. He’s visited the area for nearly two decades, having first seen the scope for riding when working as a mechanic on the Wildside mountain bike event.

‘Wildside gave me a taste for the area. The legacy of the mining roads and trails gave me hope that there would be more trails that would suit mountain bikes.’ Potter did more exploration and pored over aerial imagery, even running tours with Vertigo MTB in the region.

‘I developed a real appreciation of the landscape, but mountain biking was changing, and it was clear we really needed mountain bike specific trails.’ Potter was certain that the West Coast could host mountain bike trails that would be relevant on both a national and international scale. ‘The West Coast presented an opportunity to develop trails in stunning areas with very low natural values. Mountain biking at Mt Owen would be the lowest impact activity there in over a century.’

Over the past few years we have seen the result of people like Rob Potter and many others working to bring purpose-built trails to the West Coast region. With the trails at Oonah Hill, Mt Owen and Silver City just the first of many trail opportunities from Potter’s point of view. 

Potter is adamant that more trails in the region must suit their environment, ‘trails in the mountains need to showcase the iconic mountain environments. They need to be sympathetic to the environment, but they will also be dictated by what is possible working with a machine – the terrain and geology determine that.’ The mountains of the West Coast are steep, and the areas in which its feasible to build trail can be very, very limited. That’s why the trails there have their own nature. ‘There is a desire to have trails built to suit everyone, but that’s not always possible on the West Coast due to the geology and topography,’ Potter explains. ‘The mountain sometimes dictates the grade and where the trail can be built.’

Helibiking in Tasmania 

Mountain biking on the West Coast is often all about exposure, big descents, big climbs, and wild ridge line trails. It’s a wild backcountry experience and one that is unlike riding just about anywhere else in Australia. With the rough, raw terrain of the West Coast being apparent in any imagery of the area, there is immediate evidence to support Potter’s comments about the environment and the challenges it creates compared to some other trail areas. Access can be slow, hampered by reduced weather windows and some trails involve amazing, but long pedal ups for ingress. Given the wild weather the West Coast is known for, getting the best weather window for a big day out on the bike requires patience and flexibility.

Into the Wild are a tour operator with extensive experience on the West Coast and all around Tasmania. They have worked to get access to select drop points around the West Coast for a totally unique mountain bike experience, taking out the time of the pedal in, but none of the challenge of riding the trails of Tasmania’s West Coast. 

‘The only other way to get to these drops is pedalling,’ Rohan Sheehan from Into the Wild has said. While places like Mt Owen has a shuttle some of the way up, you’re still left with a long traverse climb, compared to a drop right at the top which is on offer with the helicopter. ‘Both Silver City and Mt Owen will leave most riders with a bit of fatigue once you get to the descents,’ These are demanding loops and experienced riders may be able to get a couple in in a day. But with a helidrop, you get to ride the demanding backcountry trails with less fatigue for more fun. With options for up to 3 drops a day, riders on a helibike trip will maximise their time on the trails, with immediate access to the long, exposed descents from peak to valley.

‘The descents are amazing, and you can sample it on fresh legs with multiple drops in a day. There’s also the bonus of seeing the trail on the way up – it really adds to the experience seeing it all laid out beneath you as you come up to the drop site.’

There are a few options so far, the first being a weekend visit that should suit anyone in the area already. Into the Wild will provide single, double or triple lift options, but it all depends on the location that you opt to ride. As an example, if you’re riding Silver City, some may to use a third drop as a pick up to exit the trail network, to save the pedal out.

The premium offering will suit those visiting Tasmania for a high impact weekend of mountain biking. The helicopter takes a small group of up to 4 from Hobart airport, while your luggage and bikes will be transported to the West Coast by van. You will embark on a scenic flight of about one hour to the West Coast, an experience in itself as you pass by Hobart and across the wilderness, flying right by Frenchman’s Cap and towards Queenstown.

Once your bikes are built you’ll do 3 drops that day from North Owen Peak, before staying in Queenstown for the night. The next day you’ll head to Silver City, with up to 3 drops there as well, or use one to save the pedal out – that is up to you. After another night in Queenstown, you then take the helicopter back to Hobart to meet your luggage for your flight home.

If you have an extra day available you could book to get taken to Macquarie Heads, then jump on a fast cat to Stormbreaker, a yacht to sail up the Franklin River. You’ll overnight in the Tasmanian wilderness and dine on Tasmanian food and beverages, before getting back to Hobart the following day. The West Coast is a stunningly varied environment, and this extra day will provide a completely different experience to the riding you’ve done – it’s just fast tracked with ingress and egress by using a helicopter.

Into the Wild flew in late summer and there are more dates in the works – head to their website for updates. The West Coast is wild, the trails are in real mountains and because of this the window for operation isn’t as extensive as some places in Australia. What is on offer is a truly unique mountain bike experience in Australia, with heli-drops to places you can only reach otherwise under pedal power. Unlike some other helidrops in New Zealand, you’re not dropped onto a sheep station for farm road descent, you’re riding purpose-built mountain bike trails in one of the most rugged environments in Australia.

If you want to see what custom options the Into the Wild team can put together for you, make sure you get in touch. Much of the west is a blank canvas for adventure, and there’s no doubt they can find just the experience you are looking for. Multi-day trips with take offs from Hobart start at $4995. Single day uplifts are on the near horizon so make sure you get in touch with Into the Wild about what you would love to do on a helibiking adventure on Tasmania’s West Coast.