Riding a bike will always remind you of your childhood so if you’ve got kids it’s time to create those same fun memories for them. Oh, and always stop for an icecream.
Our weather makes cycling an activity well-suited for Barrington Coast holidaymakers.
Cycling is a great way to get around a destination like the Barrington Coast, our weather makes it an activity well-suited for holidaymakers. Plus it’s a great way to spend time with your family or friends, heading out to explore new places or revisiting an old favourite.
Of course it’s a little easier if the terrain is flat but you’ll always remember your first big hill, both up and down!
Cycling is helping to activate our public spaces with bike paths, along our coastal waterways and in our regional towns. Place activation is about ensuring diverse human activity in a location. Activated places are used by people as part of their daily life and in turn having a place full of people will attract more people. “What attracts people most, it would appear, is other people” said William H Wyte, the American urbanist. No wonder the Barrington Coast is always busy… and a good way to see more of it is by bike.
Popular spots for cycling:
Forster - Tuncurry
Forster and Tuncurry is the ideal cycling and family fun location with over 20 km of bike paths. Adults and kids have freedom to explore and relax together, surrounded by lakes, beaches, parklands and playgrounds of all sizes.
There’s always lots of things to do and see in Foster-Tuncurry, from quirky shopping to fabulous cafes and restaurants. The rides here are easy: virtually flat, shared bike paths that are great for all ages.
Click through to try some of these recommended routes around Forster-Tuncurry.
Tea Gardens - Hawks Nest
The local area is all flat so it’s a great way to explore Tea Gardens and Hawks Nest. Take a leisurely ride around the beaches and waterways as well as the parks and forests, it’s the thing to do in this southern edge of the Barrington Coast.
Click through to try some of these recommended routes around Tea Gardens-Hawks Nest.
Don't have your own bike with you? Then try a Boomerang Bike, located at the entry to Reflections Holiday Park Hawks Nest. Hire duration is flexible, depending on your mood and your energy levels, and don’t worry about flat tyres, these bikes use tubeless tyres. Free helmets and bike locks are available.
Shared paths
You’ll find shared paths throughout the Barrington Coast, designed for pedestrian and bicycle use. Shared paths are signposted and marked so you can tell if you are meant to share the path with pedestrians. Here are some tips for a happy ride and with happy pedestrians:
- When riding on a shared path, keep to the left at all times unless it is impractical to do so, and give way to pedestrians.
- You should also adjust your speed to suit the environment.
- Use your bell or horn to signal your presence to other users of the shared path, especially when approaching pedestrians and other riders.
- As a bicycle rider, you must overtake on the right hand side.
- Be particularly careful around young children, older pedestrians and animals.
Bicycle riders are also encouraged to allow pedestrians one metre of space on shared paths, where possible. If it’s not safe to provide the one metre distance when passing, bicycle riders should continue to ride slowly and give way to pedestrians.
Road rules for cyclists
It’s important to stay safe out there so make sure you follow the road rules:
- Wear a helmet (it’s the law!)
- Check bike before riding
- Do short test ride to check brakes and your ability
- Use hand signals
- Stay off footpaths
- Respect others on bike paths
- Use bell to alert people and animals when approaching
- Ride defensively
