Noosa bike hire, self guided rides and mountain bike coaching, from a local team that rides these trails every day.
These are the rides for people who want a proper day out without crossing into ultra-endurance territory. Under 100km, but far enough into the Noosa Hinterland and Mary Valley to reach country that shorter loops never touch: rolling farmland, rainforest gravel, quiet country towns, flowing descents and wide valley views, strung into a point-to-point line.
The payoff is variety rather than distance. The further the route reaches inland, the more often the landscape changes: new angles on Mt Cooroora, long quiet forest stretches, classic country roads, and the feeling of actually travelling through the region instead of circling it.
Whether you want a relaxed full-day gravel adventure or an endurance ride that still fits in a single day, these are the best gravel rides under 100km in the hinterland.
Who runs these. Each of these routes starts with a transfer out to the hinterland, so they are run by By Earth and Ocean, our sister company in the Element Outdoors Group. Bike On covers bike hire, coaching and the easier coastal and river rides around Noosa; By Earth and Ocean takes over when you want more adventure.
One-way shuttle with By Earth and Ocean
You could ride out of Noosa to reach the trails, but a good part of your day would go on suburban streets getting there and back. Our sister company, By Earth and Ocean, runs one-way shuttles instead. They drive you and your bike straight into the middle of the hinterland, so almost all of your time on the bike is spent in forest, farmland and country towns. Every ride finishes back at our Noosaville shop.
Start in the best of it
The shuttle drops you deep in the hinterland, so the kilometres you ride are the scenic ones, pointed back toward the coast.
One car, no retrieval run
Doing these routes yourself means juggling two vehicles and an extra hour at the end of the day fetching the second one. Park once, for free, at our shop, and when the ride is done, just relax.
Leaves at 9am
We load you, your bike and your gear and drive you out to the start. Hiring a bike from us? It’s ready at the shop when you arrive.
GPS maps included
Downloadable GPS route maps come with the shuttle. Load them on your own GPS unit, or use the Ride with GPS app on your phone for spoken turn by turn directions.
Phone mounts
Mountain bike routes need a securely fixed device, such as a bike computer or a phone on a Quad Lock mount. On gravel we can lend you a free universal phone holder, but some routes get rough, so we recommend a more secure mount. Quad Lock mounts are $5 per booking if your phone has a compatible case. No secure setup? Hire one of our phones with a Quad Lock mount for $40 (most groups only need one).
Finish with a drink
Ride back into our shop, where your car is waiting. Grab a 2-for-1 drinks voucher and head to Land & Sea Brewery for a locally brewed beer, a locally distilled gin or vodka and a burger. Trading hours vary, so check before you ride.
A scenic hinterland gravel journey from forested ridgelines out to the rolling farmland of the Mary Valley.
Why We Love It
What to expect
The ride starts high in the forests around Woondum National Park and falls away steadily along quiet hinterland roads towards Cooran and Pomona, before the country opens out into the Mary Valley. Along the way: smooth gravel, quiet sealed backroads, rolling farmland, forest corridors, creek crossings and a lot of very peaceful rural scenery.
Mt Cooroora keeps reappearing from different sides as you go, and there are long stretches of flowing riding through open valley country. The back end eases into the cooler forest around Ringtail and Yurol, which makes for a relaxed but genuinely absorbing day.
Difficulty and surface
Mostly smooth gravel and quiet sealed road, with achievable gradients and terrain that flows. Suits most riders who are comfortable on a bike for a few hours. Forest sections and the low-lying gravel can go soft or muddy after rain, which lifts the difficulty in places. Our rating: Generally Relaxed.
A full day of gravel through forest, farmland, country towns and the rolling Mary Valley.
Why We Love It
What to expect
Magic Mary is the longer hinterland gravel day, built for riders who want more time in the saddle. It links forest sections, quiet sealed backroads, smooth gravel, open farmland and rolling hills as it works through the wider Mary Valley and Noosa Hinterland.
The landscape changes plenty across the day, moving between shaded forest corridor, open rural valley and quiet country road, with Mt Cooroora appearing from new angles. Pomona lands naturally as the lunch stop before the run home through more hinterland roads and forest.
Difficulty and surface
A longer ride made up mostly of smooth gravel and quiet sealed road, with achievable gradients and flowing terrain. The challenge is the distance rather than anything technical. Forest sections and low-lying gravel can turn soft, muddy or more demanding after rain. Our rating: Generally Relaxed.
A demanding gravel adventure across the full spread of the Noosa Biosphere: subtropical forest, rolling farmland, scenic valleys and management tracks, then the shores of Lake Weyba on the way back to our Noosaville shop.
Why We Love It
What to expect
Few rides anywhere pack this much variety into one day. Subtropical forest, remote management track, rolling farmland, wide valleys, coastal lakes and a busy foreshore precinct all appear between the start and the finish.
The route threads beneath towering eucalypts, crosses gravel roads through working farmland, and keeps serving up views of the region’s peaks and hinterland ranges. Gradually the country changes character until you arrive at the shores of Lake Weyba and the coastal landscape that defines Noosa.
If you want one ride that captures the whole region, from rainforest and farmland through to waterways and coastline, this is it.
Difficulty and surface
This is not a gentle gravel cruise. Serious climbs, long stretches of management vehicle track, rougher surfaces and real distance make it physically demanding and best suited to experienced, well-prepared riders. Several sections turn extremely soft, rutted or impassable after rain, so pick a dry spell. Our rating: Significant Challenge.
Common questions
Mary Valley Bound (59.5km), Magic Mary (84.5km) and Forests, Farms and Foreshore (89.5km).
Mary Valley Bound and Magic Mary are rated Generally Relaxed. Forests, Farms and Foreshore is a Significant Challenge, with 1,117m of climbing.
Yes. Many riders link routes with a night in a hinterland town. Our multi day journeys handle the accommodation and luggage.
A gravel bike. We hire premium gravel bikes, see our bike hire range.
These point-to-point gravel days are run by By Earth and Ocean, our sister company in the Element Outdoors Group. A self-guided booking covers the transfer out to the hinterland start, downloadable GPS route maps with spoken turn by turn directions in the Ride with GPS app, bike hire if you want it, and local route knowledge so you spend the day riding rather than second-guessing junctions.
Staying closer to town? Bike On handles bike and e-bike hire and the easy coastal and river rides around Noosa.
New to gravel? Start with the top 3 gravel rides under 50km. Chasing something bigger? See Noosa’s iconic point-to-point gravel rides over 100km. Prefer dirt? Try the Noosa Trail Network by mountain bike.
Our gravel routes vary a lot in terrain, surface and technical difficulty. Distance and elevation matter, but the thing that most changes how hard a ride feels is the ground under the tyres.
Most routes combine quiet sealed backroads with gravel roads, forest trails and sections of the Noosa Trail Network. Conditions shift with the weather, with maintenance and with the season, so these ratings are a guide rather than a guarantee.
Generally Relaxed: within reach of most riders comfortable spending a few hours on a bike. Well-maintained gravel, quieter sealed sections and smoother surfaces with very little technical riding. Fine on a gravel bike, hybrid, flat-bar bike or e-bike. Scenic exploration without the technical demands.
Moderate Challenge: for confident riders happy on varied terrain and extended time off sealed roads. Expect rougher gravel, loose surfaces, forest tracks, roots, rocks, short technical sections and more remote country. Gravel and flat-bar bikes both work, but you need to be comfortable on uneven ground. Wet weather lifts the difficulty considerably.
Significant Challenge: for experienced riders chasing something more adventurous. These use the rugged end of the Noosa Trail Network: management vehicle tracks, rough forest terrain, steeper gradients and sustained technical riding. Rideable on a capable gravel bike in the dry, though many riders prefer a hardtail or eMTB for comfort and control. Strong bike handling and real off-road experience required.
Discover Noosa with premium bikes built for comfort and adventure. Choose from road bikes, e-bikes, mountain bikes, cruisers, kids’ bikes and more. Hire by the day or longer.
Discover sealed riverside paths, hinterland gravel, quiet country roads, purpose built singletrack and a long stretch of open beach, all on routes locals actually ride.
Fun, inclusive and progressive coaching for all ages and abilities. Learn new skills, ride with friends and take your mountain biking to the next level.
