Canberra to Batemans Bay Off-Road

Swap the highway for fire trails and turn the classic Canberra-to-the-coast trip into a proper bikepacking adventure. This approximately 150km point-to-point route connects Canberra with Batemans Bay on the NSW South Coast, using mostly fire trails with shorter sections of sealed road at the beginning, middle and end. Rather than taking the busy highway over Clyde Mountain, the route heads through the backcountry, delivering a much quieter and far more adventurous way to reach the coast. There are a few ways to tackle it. Riders looking for a more comfortable introduction to bikepacking can split the journey over two days, staying overnight around Araluen and covering roughly 70–80km each day. Those wanting the full bikepacking experience can carry camping gear and spend the night in the bush around Deua National Park, while strong riders looking for a serious challenge can attempt the entire route in a single day. Expect remote fire trails, long stretches through the bush, plenty of climbing and some rougher terrain along the way. Once past Araluen, conditions become more adventurous, so this isn't simply a smooth gravel-road cruise to the beach. There are stretches of around 50km without reliable food or water resupply, along with areas of limited mobile reception, so riders need to be self-sufficient and prepared for changing conditions. And after around 150km of riding, there's a pretty good reward waiting at the other end — rolling into Batemans Bay and reaching the coast by bike. RTS Tip: This is a remote point-to-point adventure, so plan your food, water, overnight gear and return transport before setting off. Carry offline navigation and consider a PLB or satellite communication device. Trail conditions can change considerably after rain, so check current forest, park, road, weather and fire information before leaving. Follow the mapping and route information links for more detail when planning your adventure.