Activity Time: 60+ minutes
The mountain bike trails at Parklands Conservation Park in Queensland offer an incredible experience for riders in the autumn. The park was designed with riders in mind, and boasts a range of terrain, from towering eucalyptus trees to lush rainforest, rocky platforms, steep gorges, and babbling creeks. Parklands Conservation Park, also known as “Parkies” to locals, has an array of trails to suit every level of rider, ranging from beginner-friendly routes like Lush, Rookie Road, and Skills Park to fast-paced jump trails like Blue Tongue, Lower New Zealand, and Tazer for those looking for a thrill.
Parklands has two car parks, one located on Radar Hill Road near the Bruce Highway and the other on Atkinson Drive off Bli Bli Yandina Road. If it’s your first time visiting the park, we recommend parking on the Radar Hill road side, as it provides easy access to the skills park and a range of beginner-friendly trails. A map of the park is displayed at the entrance, showcasing over 35km of trails.
For novice riders or families, we suggest starting on the green route Rookie Road. This trail winds through the park’s lowlands before ascending three switchback bends and a small descent down to the Parklands Skills Park. The Parklands Skills Park is equipped with various obstacles that allow riders to learn essential skills to make them more comfortable on the many trails at Parklands.
If you’re up for more adventure, take a spin around the green cross country trail Lush, which is accessible from the skills park. Lush is a looping trail that takes you through some stunning forests before returning you to the skills park. It is suitable for riders of all skill levels.
For more experienced riders, you can explore the trail offerings further by heading up the main fire road parallel to the skills park and accessing the flowing blue trail Blue Tongue or the thrilling black trail Taser, which will both take you back to the skills park when descending. When your legs are feeling tired, it’s a brisk pedal back down Rookie Road or the fire road that runs parallel to return to the car park.
If you’re interested in trying mountain biking and don’t have a bike, there are over 20 businesses on the Sunshine Coast that offer mountain bike and electric mountain bike rentals. We recommend bringing water with you when riding Parklands, and if you plan on a lengthy ride, take a backpack bladder with 1.5 liters of water.
