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The Darwin to Adelaide River Rail Trail is Australia's only long-distance rail trail that starts in a capital city, offering an unforgettable journey through the Northern Territory's tropical landscapes, railway history and remote Top End wilderness. Following the route of the historic North Australian Railway, the complete adventure stretches 137km, combining sealed shared paths, gravel rail corridor, quiet roads and remote backcountry riding. The ride begins in the heart of Darwin, where a high-quality 28km sealed shared path follows the original railway alignment to Coolalinga. Along the way you'll pass restored railway bridges, heritage-listed rail infrastructure, interpretive signage and the beautifully restored 700m section of original railway track at The Narrows, providing a fascinating glimpse into the Territory's railway past. Beyond Coolalinga, the trail becomes a true adventure. Riders travel through tropical savanna, creek crossings, rural landscapes and remote bushland as they follow sections of the original rail corridor towards Adelaide River. Historic railway bridges, embankments, culverts and relics from both the 1880s railway and World War II are scattered throughout the route, making it as much a history tour as a cycling adventure. While the urban section is suitable for most riders, the remote sections are unmaintained, with loose gravel, sandy patches, seasonal creek crossings and limited services. These sections are best suited to experienced riders on mountain bikes, bikepacking or adventure bikes who are well prepared with water, food, navigation and repair equipment. During the wet season (typically January to March), some sections may become impassable. Whether you're looking for a relaxed ride out of Darwin or tackling the full 137km Top End adventure, the Darwin to Adelaide River Rail Trail delivers a unique combination of tropical scenery, rich railway heritage and remote exploration unlike anywhere else in Australia. It's a bucket-list ride for history lovers, adventure cyclists and bikepackers alike.

Charles Darwin National Park offers some of Darwin’s more technical mountain biking, with a network combining rugged 4WD tracks and purpose-built singletrack just minutes from the city. Rated moderate to hard, the trails feature switchbacks, rocky sections, logs, steps, short punchy climbs and technical features, with surfaces ranging from smooth hardpack through to very rocky terrain. The network includes a mix of hand-built trails and professionally constructed sections by Dirt Art and TrailScapes, plus a pump track near the main access road. Trails can be accessed near the park entrance or from the main picnic area, which also offers great views across Darwin. Some trails are one-way while others are bi-directional, so follow the directional signage as you explore the network. Wet-season conditions can create muddy sections and add another level of challenge to the riding. RTS Tip: Bring the insect repellent! Charles Darwin National Park is prone to mosquitoes and biting insects, with numbers influenced by Darwin Harbour’s tide cycles. The park’s main gate is open 8am–7pm, so factor closing time into your ride. For your first visit, use the official trail map or Trailforks to navigate the network and keep an eye on directional signage.

Bagot Park Velodrome, also known as the Darwin Velodrome, is a dedicated cycling facility in Millner, Darwin, providing a place for track cycling, training, racing and recreational riding in the Northern Territory. Located within the wider Bagot Park sporting precinct, the velodrome features a 330m asphalt cycling track and underwent a major upgrade in 2022, including resurfacing, improved safety barriers, new LED track lighting and upgrades to the spectator area. The facility is used for cycling and triathlon training and competition, including activities associated with local cycling organisations, but it isn't exclusively for organised sport. Outside scheduled club and triathlon sessions, the velodrome can also be accessed free of charge by members of the community for personal use. For riders looking for cycling tracks in Darwin, track cycling in the Northern Territory or somewhere to practise riding in a traffic-free environment, Bagot Park provides a unique local cycling facility close to the city. The wider Bagot Park precinct also includes sporting fields, pathways and recreation facilities, making the velodrome part of an important community sporting hub in Darwin. RTS Tip: The velodrome is an active training and competition venue, so availability can vary around organised cycling and triathlon sessions. Check current facility information before making a special trip, particularly if you're planning to ride during popular training times or require access to the track lighting.

Casuarina Coastal Reserve / Lee Point offers a diverse mountain bike network stretching between Royal Darwin Hospital and Lee Point, with trails catering for everyone from beginners through to experienced gravity riders. The southern end is known for fast, flowing trails such as Playground and Roller Coaster, while the central network gets more technical on trails like Blair Witch. Head further north and you’ll find short downhill runs for riders looking for steeper, gravity-focused terrain. The network mixes singletrack, 4WD tracks, hills and shared trails, with most trails able to be ridden in both directions. Some of the main singletracks are designed with a preferred downhill direction, so keep an eye on signage and be aware of walkers and oncoming riders on shared sections. With everything from cruisy coastal riding to technical singletrack and mini downhill runs, there’s plenty here to explore over multiple visits. RTS Tip: Check the tides before you ride — mangrove sections of the network can become impassable at high tide. Mosquitoes and biting insects can also be particularly active depending on standing water and tide cycles, so insect repellent is well worth packing. Use the DORC/Trailforks map for your first visit and watch for walkers on shared trails.

Howard Springs Pine Forest is one of Darwin’s most accessible mountain bike areas, offering a network of easy, flowing trails through the pine forest on both sides of Howard Springs Road. The mostly flat terrain and lack of major technical obstacles make it particularly well suited to beginners, families and riders building confidence, while faster riders can still have plenty of fun carrying speed through the flowing singletrack and testing their cornering skills. The trails have a hard-packed surface topped with loose pea gravel, creating fast riding but adding an extra challenge through the flat corners. The Pine Forest is a popular riding and racing location for Darwin Off Road Cyclists (DORC), with plenty of interconnected trails allowing riders to put together anything from a relaxed family spin to a longer cardio-focused session. Parking is available from several access points, including around the Stow Road intersection and Old Pine Forest entrance. RTS Tip: Howard Springs is a great choice if you’re new to mountain biking or riding with the family. Don’t underestimate the loose pea gravel though — the trails may be relatively flat and easy, but the surface can make faster corners surprisingly challenging. For your first visit, use the DORC/Trailforks map to navigate the network and bring plenty of water for Darwin’s tropical conditions.

Spokes Track is a short but technical mountain bike trail near Palmerston, running for around 3km alongside the Howard Springs Bike Path. Designed to be ridden west to east, the singletrack packs plenty into its short distance, with punchy climbs, technical descents, tight switchbacks, rocky sections and a couple of drops providing a fun challenge for more confident riders. The surface varies from hard-packed dirt to very rocky terrain, with sections becoming muddy during Darwin’s wet season. While it may only be a few kilometres long, Spokes is considerably more technical than the nearby Howard Springs Pine Forest and is best suited to riders comfortable with variable terrain, rocks, steep pinches and technical trail features. It can also be linked with surrounding bike paths and trails to create a longer ride around the Palmerston and Howard Springs area. RTS Tip: Don’t judge this one by the distance — 3km can pack a punch. Spokes is best for confident intermediate and advanced riders, particularly if you’re comfortable with rocky terrain, switchbacks and short, steep climbs and descents. Conditions can become muddy during the wet season, so check the trail before riding and use the linked DORC Spokes Track page for local trail information.

Litchfield Backroads – Gravel & Adventure Cycling Just south of Darwin, Litchfield National Park offers a completely different kind of Northern Territory cycling adventure, with remote backroads, old 4WD tracks and unsealed routes winding through classic Top End landscapes. Rather than one defined gravel loop, Litchfield Backroads is about exploring the network of roads and tracks surrounding the national park. Riders can expect rugged surfaces, tropical woodland, creek crossings and long stretches through remote country, with waterfalls, swimming holes and dramatic escarpment scenery adding plenty of reasons to stop along the way. Litchfield has a long history of mountain biking and off-road cycling, with riders using old four-wheel-drive and service tracks throughout the park. For gravel and adventure riders, the combination of sealed park roads and rougher unsealed sections creates opportunities to build anything from a shorter day ride to a much bigger Top End cycling adventure. Some of the more remote tracks can be genuinely rugged. Routes such as the Reynolds River Track access deeper parts of Litchfield and can include rough surfaces and significant water crossings, while other roads and tracks provide more approachable ways to experience the park by bike. The reward is riding through one of the Northern Territory's most spectacular landscapes, with destinations including Florence Falls, Wangi Falls, Tolmer Falls, Buley Rockhole and the wider Litchfield wilderness all adding to the experience. With Darwin within reach, Litchfield is also a brilliant addition to a Northern Territory cycling road trip, particularly for riders looking to combine gravel, mountain biking and adventure riding across the Top End. RTS Tip: Litchfield's remote tracks and access conditions can change dramatically between the wet and dry seasons. Some roads may be closed, restricted to 4WD access or affected by deep water crossings, so never assume a route is rideable based on an old map or GPX. Check current NT Parks and road conditions before setting out, carry plenty of water and supplies, and be croc-aware around waterways. Ride The State will work on adding suitable Litchfield cycling routes as individual Ride Cards over time. Until then, use the available mapping and official park information to plan your adventure carefully.

The North Mount Lyell Rail Trail, south of Queenstown on Tasmania’s West Coast, follows part of the historic North Mount Lyell Railway through remote rainforest towards Kelly Basin and the abandoned port settlement of East Pillinger on Macquarie Harbour. The historic route is around 12 km, travelling through the extraordinary wilderness of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area on an old railway formation surrounded by dense temperate rainforest. For cyclists, it’s important to understand that only the first section is currently rideable. From the Bird River turnoff, approximately 5 km of the old railway formation to Bird River is accessible to bicycles and 4WD vehicles. From Bird River onwards to Kelly Basin and East Pillinger, the route is walking-only, so riders cannot cycle the full historic 12 km trail. The rideable section uses compacted earth and follows relatively gentle railway gradients, but its remote West Coast location gives it much more of an adventure feel than a typical recreational rail trail. The original North Mount Lyell Railway was built to connect the North Mount Lyell mine with the company’s industrial operations and port at Pillinger in Kelly Basin. Passenger services began in 1900, with stops including Gormanston Junction, King River and Ten Mile, but the railway had a relatively short life and finally closed in 1929. Parts of the original alignment between Linda and Darwin were later submerged beneath Lake Burbury. East Pillinger itself is one of the fascinating remnants of Tasmania’s mining era. Established by the North Mount Lyell Copper Company in the late 1800s, the settlement once contained wharves, a sawmill, brickworks, ore-processing facilities, railway infrastructure and workers' accommodation. Today, walkers reaching the site can explore surviving brick kilns, boilers, railway relics, a jetty and building ruins slowly being reclaimed by the rainforest. RTS Tip: Don’t plan this as a 12 km bike ride to Pillinger — bikes are only permitted for approximately 5 km from the Bird River turnoff to Bird River, with the remainder designated for walking. This is remote West Coast Tasmania, so carry food, water, repair gear, warm and waterproof clothing and offline navigation. If you want to continue to Kelly Basin and East Pillinger, secure your bike appropriately at Bird River and allow around 3–4 hours for the return walk, plus extra time to explore the historic ruins.

Pine Creek Rail Trail – Pine Creek, NT The Pine Creek Rail Trail is a short 1km sealed trail through the historic township of Pine Creek, around 225km south of Darwin. Following part of the former North Australia Railway, it’s an easy ride that packs a surprising amount of Northern Territory railway history into a very small distance. The trail winds through parkland from the old Pine Creek railway station towards the northern end of town, passing numerous pieces of surviving railway infrastructure. Along the way riders can see the old railway yard, elevated water tank, water column, signal infrastructure and other remnants, with interpretive signage explaining the role the railway played in the development of the region. Pine Creek was once an important terminus on the North Australia Railway, which reached the town in 1889 before eventually being extended south towards Katherine. The railway played an important role in the growth of the Territory's mining and cattle industries and later became a vital transport link during World War II. With its sealed surface and essentially flat terrain, this isn't a challenging cycling adventure, but it is an interesting little ride for anyone passing through Pine Creek. Mountain bikes, touring bikes and hybrids are all suitable, and the short distance makes it easy to explore at a relaxed pace. RTS Tip: 🚲 This one is definitely about history rather than kilometres. At only around 1km, take your time, stop at the interpretive signs and explore the surviving railway infrastructure around the old station. It’s walking distance from the town’s accommodation, so it also makes an easy little spin if you're staying overnight in Pine Creek.