Cape Pallarenda & Town Common

Cape Pallarenda and Townsville Town Common deliver some of Townsville’s most scenic mountain biking, combining coastal views, rocky hillsides, wetlands and open tropical landscape just a short ride from the city. The standout MTB trail is Under the Radar, a long, technical singletrack that winds around the slopes of Mount Marlow with rocky sections, tight corners, creek crossings and plenty of natural features to keep intermediate riders busy. The wider network links into trails and shared tracks including Smedley’s, Lagoon Trail, Shelly Cove Trail and Freshwater Trail, giving riders plenty of options to create longer loops through both Cape Pallarenda Conservation Park and Townsville Town Common Conservation Park. RTS Tip: Under the Radar is the one to ride if you’re here for the MTB, but allow time to explore the wider network too. Townsville’s heat can make this ride much tougher than the distance suggests, so an early start, plenty of water and sun protection are worthwhile. Check Queensland Parks alerts before heading out, particularly during the wet season when trail conditions and access can change.