PLACES THAT ROCK: Cringila Hills MTB Park

Words: Samara Sheppard
Photos: Teel Studios

Wollongong’s Cringila Hills Mountain Bike Park is a family friendly riding facility that offers 12km of beginner – intermediate trails, jumps and challenging features to test the best. There’s also a state of the art asphalt pump track and bike skills play area. The mountain bike trails are part of a bigger recreation space with 3.4km of shared use walking trails and an impressive inclusive playground designed for children of all abilities. 

In 2022 Wollongong held the UCI Road World Championships and achieved international recognition as a UCI Bike City – Cringila Hills is one of the cycling projects that feature around Wollongong to foster cycling opportunities for the city.  

Once overgrown with lantana, Wollongong City Council has transformed Cringila Hills into a welcoming community space with maintained trails that wrap around the site for Lake Illawarra vistas. Opened late in 2021, this Park is perfect for playing around on for an hour or so and has been a hit with locals and families. For us lucky locals, it’s about a 20-minute ride from the CBD on mostly bike and shared paths. If you’re planning a trip to Wollongong, be sure to check it out, and keep an eye out for updates on the trails planned for the escarpment. 

• GETTING THERE 

The Park is approximately 10 minutes' drive south of the centre of Wollongong. Entry to the car park is off Lackawanna Street, Cringila. 

• TECHNICAL NATURE 

The trails are diverse, offering everything from beginner to intermediate jumps, flat corner switchbacks, sweeping berms, a wall ride, step up, asphalt pump track and skills area.    

• YOU’LL NEED  

Whatever you have. The cool thing about this place is there are trails to suit all abilities and any mountain bike from a hardtail to e-trail bike.  

• DISTANCES 

There are signs throughout the Park to help you find your way and explore different trails.  

• LOCAL KNOWLEDGE 

The Park is a free public facility open 24/7 but you can expect trail closures or partial closures following heavy rainfall. Always check the City of Wollongong website for the current status.

There’s 50+km of mountain bike trails scheduled to be built on the Illawarra escarpment over the next 12 months, which promises to put Wollongong on the map as a mountain bike destination and cater for national and international events. 

• BEST TIME OF YEAR 

The time you are there. Wollongong has mild winters and warm summers. You could ride in a t-shirt all year round.  

• WHILE IN THE Area  

Ride or drive up Mt Keira to the lookout for a magnificent view from the escarpment. You may recognise this climb from the 2022 UCI Road World Championships. 

Head down to Wollongong’s northern beaches and two lighthouses on the peninsula – Wollongong Breakwater and Flagstaff Hill Lighthouse. Belmore Basin is a great place to park up for a splash in Wollongong’s harbor, a coffee or home-made gelato from Levendi cafe and take a walk along the Blue Mile. Take a cruise on your bike from Thirroul to North Beach along a shared path that hugs the coastline. Nan Tien Temple is also nearby offering an immersive experience if you’re looking for something cultural. Heading north out of Wollongong? Check out Grand Pacific Drive that takes you across Wollongong’s famous Sea Cliff Bridge! 

• LOCAL BIKE SHOPS  

The nearest bike shops are in Wollongong city; Wollongong Bike Hub, Trek Bicycle Wollongong, Giant Wollongong, Local Cycle Co and B-Line Bikes. 

FACILITIES

Toilets: Yes 

Drinking Water: Yes

Parking: Yes

Trails Signposted: Yes. There are also 3 trail heads with large trail maps of the Park. The first of which is the at the Park entrance – you can’t miss it! 

Mobile Reception: Telstra – yes, Optus – yes

Shelter: Yes, there’s a picnic shelter with bike racks, tables and seats to take an extensive snack break. 

BBQ Facilities: No

Accommodation: Located in Cringila, Five Islands Hotel provides accommodation with a restaurant and a bar. More accommodation options can be found in Wollongong city.    

Ratings

technicality 2.5/5 

fitness level 2/5 

x-country 3/5 

trail 2/5 

all/mtn 2/5 

downhill 1/5 

JUMP 4/5